The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-08-23
information he had received.

sent down food of light upon the
scenery through which lie passed, ma.
king it yet more beautiful than day,
yet the attention of the trooper was
not aroused by the visible objects
around him. Moodily pressing the
rowcl into the ilanlis of his already
jadcd stccd, he abstractcdiy continued
his journny in the meditativc mood
that leaves the outer senses to slumber
and rcposc. He had already rctraccd
some ten miles Of the road, over which
he had SO latel y passed, when suddenly
awaking from his rcveric and finding
that lis good stccd had fallen into Il
slower pace than the urgency Of the
case, and the short time before him
permitted, he Iuickencd his pace into
a gallop, and with new life his horse
answered to the touch Of the spur, and
dashed gallantfy onward. Rctore him
the read turned off abruptly to the
right, and as at Il rapid pace ko turned
the corner, Michael found himself un.
cxpcctcdIy face to face with body of
horscmcn, some twenty-five or thirty
i'll number, who had halted in the road
and before he could check his fiery and
imipctuous stced, lie was borne into
their very mi.is=.
Halo! who tine deuce have we
here - exclaimed the leader Of the
band, suddenly wheeling upon Nlichcal,
who found himself in an instant hem.
med i'll by the armed horscmen who
closed around him, rendering resistance
or escape alike impossible.
"Sonic ID rebel, colonel, I'll stake
my life OH it," replied one Of the mum.
Der.
"Who arc you?" again demanded
their leader III an authoritative tone
Your namc-your business! answer
briefly and to the point, we have no
time to lose i'll idle questions;
Hang him up" shouted one of
their number, who Was scarcely able
to sit on his horse, brandislling ut the
same time sabre above his head
" Hang him up, and let us on to old
Wharton's before the rebel we are after
makes his escape"
Put up yoar sword, Randall" in.
tcrposcd another sf the band. ''rut
up your sword, and let's hear what the
fellow has to say
In al instant Michael co,nprchcndcd
the full peril of his situation. lie at
once understood from the language
that met his ears that the party before
were at that time in pursuit of himself,
and as he correctly. OWNED, at the in
stigation Of the bloody Harrison
Knowing we'll that they were bent upon
his destruction, he scorncd to attempt
to deceive them by falsehood. As
dearly as he loved life, he set still
higher value upon truth.
" hat have you to say ?''again
sakcd their leader in an irritatcd tone.
Sour time is prccious-spcak-y
name" !"
Were your time ten times as pre-.
cious," answered Michael boldly, "you
should tarry here long while before
| should answer questions of such Il
character upon the common highway" !"
"Da.arn me, kernel" squeaked a
voice in the crowd, " if thi amt rank
treason agin upon you. F.f it Was left
to me, I'd say swing him up ON grape
vine"
"Nlove!' shouted harsh but com.
manding voice from the outer circle OF
the crowd, and the speaker, tall and
stalwart man, whose face was bandagcd
up, made his way into the midst Of the
circle, to get a better view cf the
prisoner. Michacl's heart began to
beat thick and fast, for in that fierce
voice and stout horscman he recognised
that vindictiye tory whom his hand
had that evening stricken at his feet,
and who he we'll knew cherished feel.
ings oftlle deadlicst hatred against him.
knowing that to fall into his hands
would be scarce less than instant
death, with the anxious cagerncss OF
despair he looked from side to side.
with the desperate resolution ofmaking
an effort to break from the band of his
captors.
"That's your man! seize him %
shouted llarrson-fur it was hc-thc
moment his glance rested on our hero.
With Il desperate hope Of escape,
Michael tightcncd the rein Of his good
stecd-planted himself firmly in his
stirrups, and driving the rowel home
i'll the nanks Of his high mcttlcd char.
ger, gave him the rcins and attempted
to rush by Harrison.
The attempt, desperate as it was,
had nearly succeeded. Two Of the
i'orsemen who stood in his path were
borne before him to tho earth, and
staggered by the shock, his good horse
for moment fultered. Time was thus
afforded to Harrison, who was mount,
cd upon an iron grey of surprising ac.
tiyity, to wheel his horse suddenly
around, and raising heavily loaded
whip which he carried in his hand, he
dealt Michael a blow that felled him tc
tile Garth. In an instant dozen OF
the companions Of Harrison were upo,
him, and stunned by the shock, before
hc rccoyurcJ iaIu his r,nfrnrtnr, a.,