The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1852-10-22
day must come that. will witness our

But that day is far distant,' she
returned; 'and / fain would bauish it
from my thoughts altogether; for,
come late as it will, it como too soon
for me. Let US not speak of it at all.
1t throws shade upon my spirit
when | gladly would look only upon
the light side of everything =
Hist What is that noiso:9 ex-
claimed Montray, rising partly up,
and casting glance back into the
forest. Look, Wild Bird, if the re-
mainder of our men are in sight
Again starting to her feet at his
command, she mounted slight ele.
vation, when, farther back from the
river, the forms of six or eight men
reclining upon the earth, exposed to
the cheering rays of the morning sun,
or leaning against the trees, met her
sight; while near them was fastened
as many saddle horses. Her eye
roamed over the forest, but no other
living objects were i'll sight, and de-
sccndiAg, she joined NIontray, and
told him the result of her obserya-
tions.
perhaps I was Mistaken he re.
turned. This dcath-like stiffness is
becoming oppressive to mel and
starting to his feet, his eye rested
upon the turn in the river before
mentioned. sAh!' he continued,
raising his hands, 'here comes the
boats at last and right heavily laden,
too, if we may judge from their
movements = and and the bandit,
now all life and animation, paced the
bank with quick and rapid strides.
/ began to fear the worst, but l
might have known Tom Linkcn bet
ter than to suppose he would fall in
to the hands of our foes =
The boats, four in number, moved
slowly on, ilnpclled by broad oakcn
paddles, and at every dip of the oars
the water was forced back from the
sid"s aud t4!aaan, rising in waves, Yes,
gradually rcceded, until the won
cvenness Of the surface was rcstoi
Each little vessel was manned Gys
five men, and while four of that num-
Der laborcd at the oars, the Fifth sat
in the bow, guiding aud directing its
movements.
They approached still nearer, and
the outlaw was upon the point Of
hailing the foremost one, when, like
sudden clap of thunder, rang upon
his ears the report of a dozen rifles
i'll the forest, and, ere he could col
lect his senses, we're followed by the
groans and curses of wounded men,
and the wild ncighs Of attrighted
horses. An instant after he V3as
joined by three of his men; but the
moment they made their appearance
the boats stopped, and the occupants,
each man quickly raising a rifle,
fired; and before the outlaws could
comprehend thoir design, they were
weltcring i'll their own blood. With
a wild, unearthly scream, Wild Bird
fell across the body of the outlaw.
and the red, warm life blood trickTcd
from her polished brow, and stained
her rough garments.
The men in the boats quickly
sprang uponvassaaSshorc, and, when
they reached the bodies of the out
laws, were met by another party
emerging from the forest.
This is sad sight = spoke one
who appeared to be the leader, and
the tear glistened in his manly eye
as it rested upon the lovely form Of
Wild Bird; in my anxiety for the
success Of our scheme, | did not re-
cognizc a female amongst them
When we slew tho robbers in the
boats, and resolved upon the scheme
which has proved so successful, our
hearts were elatcd, and we little
dreamed that a cloud would res! up.
on our victoly. 1t has passed and
cannot be recalled. Some of the men
escaped, and to them wo will leave
the tack of burying the dead. l
have no heart for it. And the men
who had so successfully broken up
the band of outlaws, and accomplish.
ed their mission. rctraced their steps
through the forest with slow steps and
saddcned hearts.
1t was but short time after they
had disappeared that, Montray, revi.
wing and hearing a deep sigh, slowly
opened his eyes and gazcd around
him upon every side. lie essayed
to rise but in vain; and, after many
efforts, only succeeded in dragging
his wounded, bleeding body to a small
bullock, q few feet distant from the
spot where he had fallen. The sun
shone as benisnly above his head; the
BIRDS sang as merrily around him,
and the lnnrlnur Of tho never quiet