The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-09-06

soon us he was freed, he was fortunate
enough to secure horse which came
GalloPing ridcrless past, and calling to
one or two ofhis brother dragons to
follow, he vaulted into the saddle, and
putting spurs to his horse he rode
iicrccly away.
W hen the troop first broke from
their cover, scarcely waiting to ascer-
tain the extent Of the danger, Harri.
son, trembling for his safety, had turn.
cd his horses head across the field
hoping to escape by a timely and pre-
cipitatc flight. Mounted upon an iron
grey charger of uncommon ncctncss
and strength, he confidently expected
to make good his retreat unpursued.
or at least to distance any one who
might be tempted to pursue. But a
horseman who rode at the head of the
troopers o.: Marion, favored by the
noon-likc brightness of the night, had
already marked his flight, and Sc para.
ted from his troop to follow in pursuit.
Dressed in u suit of black velvet from
head to foot, and riding q horse as
black MS ebony, and with single
ostrich feather Of snowy whitcncss
waving from his black cap, he indeed
presented an ominous appearance, as
gracefully sitting upon his stout char
ger, with his flushing sword in hand,
nc Numbered OH in pursuit. Not a
shadow OF emotion, anger, revenge or
Joy distu' bed the calm gravity Of his
handsome features. His dark, full,
bold and lustrons eye, turned neither
to the right Enor LETT, to regard the
screaming fugitivcs, who covered
from his path rs he swept imperpc,u-
ously by, but was fixed meaningly
and stcrnly upon his uniorgiven foe.
Hearing the thickc ming fall of fec,
behind him, when he had begun to
fancy himself secure from pursuit.
Harrison turned i'll his saddle, and his
check grew pale with fear, when in the
sable horscman he recognised the bold
and daring Conycrs. whom he had
wronged beyond torg;,.etl,;ss. Be.
hlnd him, ut scarcely the distance of n
hundred yards, fvl!oNsasd his sInvetcraic
foe, and before him lay ditch with a
loublc ditch, which must be leaped
tcartully, and ut Il killing pace. Dc.
struction followed in his steps, and he.
dared not hesitate. Pressing his gal.
liant horse to the utmost he cleared it
at II bound, and with a smile of tri
umph lie reincd in his horse, and
wheeling rouud, with his sabre up.
lifted stood ready to confront his
advancing adversary, and hcw him
down before lie could recover himself
from the pcrlous and difficult leap.
Cony1!s saw AT Il glance the design
OF hts enemy, and though he might
have avoided all hazards by drawing
his pistol from his holster and shoot.
ing him dead AS he stood, yet he
preferred to encounter hill in il man
ncr tcttcr calculated to sati:lte tllu,.
stern and vindictive feelings tina. had
been stirred up by injuries too great to
be forgiven. Therefore, finding that
his enemy awaited him, he tiyhtcncl
his rein and permitted his horse to
approach to the difficult leap with slow
aud measured strides. Fixing his eve
firmly upon Harrison, and siniinr
low in hls saddle: he touched his char
ger gently with the spur, and the lean
was yalIantly made. With the pont
of his sword lowered and extended
beyond the head Of his horse. h,.
received the liercel aimed blow of
Harrison, and stiIIiully pnrrcd it with
an upward stroke. 1t required the
quick eye of the eagle and tic unsha.
Ken nerve OF the lion to accomplish SO
d'ihcuIt feat as warding off the
sword stroke Of u well posted udyer.
sary in flying leap, but it was ,lcx.
terously done, and the sword of fIar.
rIson glanced ilarlulcssIy above his
head. Before his disseminated and
astonislcd adversary could prepare to
repeat the blow, Conyers had wheeled
upon: and was raining storm of
blows about his head. In vain the
terrified tory put forth his utmost skill
and strength, and taxed his powers to
their full limit; hc Was soon convinced
that he lay at the mercy OF Convers
who prolonged the contest only to
lcngthcn out his agony, Feeling that
he Was powcrlcss III the hand OF an
adversary, whose sword seemed n
living part Of the arm that welded it,
he uttered al agonizing cry for mercy
which was only answered by q dc.
sccnding blow that laid open his sword
arm to the bouc, and freed tho weapon
from his grasp. With an oath OF
desperation, and cry OF pain, he
again turned his horses head, and
driving the spurs deep into Tho horses
flank At every stride, irantically sought
10 escape: but like bird of prev
thi'stns Tor his blood, the gIcalniny
sword OF Conycrs flashed above his
head, now rising to give the fatal
blow, and now lowered rs chance
diminished OF increased the space
between them. Again as Conycrs
with upllited sword, gained a position
side by side with hin, an tLa. 49,: