The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-11-01

W Nnan tnat ay was breaking. How
that voice cheered us We soon started
in the direction that we heard it from,
and this time went right, for soon we
came to a plantation and houses deserted
by the owners. Everything was in con-
fusion, AS though the family had escaped
with only their lives. We went in at
the open door of the largest house, and
hanging on the posts of bedstead [ saw
large shirt. took it down and put it
on. 1t suited me exactly, for it was large.
and long enough for shirt and pants too.
1t was now day. ] lay down and slept,
Ship standing sentinel again. When he
walked Inc up, the sun was shining bright
ly but oh! how lonely and sad every
thing seemed! We were in lone and
almost uninhabited country-knew not
which way to go to find our friends or to
avoid meeting our foes.
There was rough road that ran para.
lei with thu house. We took the north
end of this road, and had only gone
short distance, when we came in sigbt Of
n large smoke, which was the burning of
Shepa"Is plantation. Then | thought it
was the Fort, and in the Joy of the nIo-
rnent fired off my gun, and expected
every moment to hail some of my com
rades and be i'll place of safety and rest.
Just ut that moment looked down and
saw III the road, almost under my feet, n
cap with a handkerchief and lock of
hair, all matted and CORY with blood
While looking at, snd conjecturing to
which Of our unfortunate companions i,
belonged, we heard horses running round
the bottom Of the hill on which we stood,
and apparently coming towards us. We
ran back to the lone farm house, and "a
We came in sight of it, we saw that the
horses were going in the same direction.
he lot gate was open and they ran into
it. They proved to be one noble sorrel
and two or three colts.
said TO Ship that we must have that
horse. Yes, we must have him and
bride, too, he said. Well, may be We
can find one here, I replied l ran TO q
small clubhouse, and there found an old
head.stali with a pair Of old.f;,shioned
curb bits. We then went to the lot, and
the horse seemed anxious for us to catch
HIM, for lie came prancing towards us as
II 10 claim our protection. We knew him
Tor he belonged to one Of our comrades
We put the head-stall on him, but it could
only come over one ear. We were not
particular-this would do If We only had
reins. The reins, too, were soon applied
for Ship took off his muskct strap and
formed that into reins.
got up before, to guide and manage
the horse. Ship rode behind to look out
for the Indians, as he was a good deal tai
Ter than L WAS. We were now almost
l'appy. With a noble horse under us.
what cared We for blanket or saddle o.
Indeed, the horse was God send TO us ::
for had we been seen and chased by the
Indians with nothing 10 depend ON but
our own feet, our chance for escape would
have been but small, tired and worn Out
| us We were.
" c crossed over the road that ran Lv
the house and took the woods. When
we got into the woods we went by nv
direction awhie-then by Ships. We
had gone about in this style some two or
three hours, when we came to large
broad road. This we took and follow
cd some distance, when we came to "A
lane nearly u quarter Of a mile long
We had gone nearly through the lane
when Ship pressed hard on my arm and
said stop. took u the horse instantly,
and asked, what is itl "lndians," was
his reply, and pointed to the right.
looked, and saw four Indians, with their
guns cleaning brightly, standing lust at
the end Of the lane, ready to fire upon
US as we passed. l wheeled the horse
round instantly, and went back on a full
run, expecting every moment to be shot
by hidden foe for we could not now
console ourselves, as we did hen we ran
back from the burning Of Shepard's plan
taton, that we were an advanced guard.
sent to decoy them out. No! no by
this time they had learned that we were
only i"o poor fag.iyes running from
them. But this reflection only urged us
to fresh speed. Our horse was beginning
to show signs of fatigue, when the first
place that we came to that we knew, was
the ford and the creek that We had visited
so often the night before.
This time we stopped not to deliberate
which way was best, but crossed over
On! on we went--our noble horse at his
best speed. No whip or spur had we
used, for he seemed to know that he car.
ried human freight, and instinct taught
hun when danger was near.
Very soon we came in sight Of men
aud horses and Ship sal draw up and
let us see a little bo,ter whether they are
friends or foes. We have been in too
many close places to run heedlessly into
anew danger. And though they seemed
to be white men, and parading, we stiIl
watched them YEARLY. But soon e.pied
our Captains old Grey, and cried out to
Ship, "ah ! we can risk that crowd"
In few minutes we were in the mids,
OF them, clasping the hands of many Of
our friends, who were getting ready to
hunt up all those who were alive, but
wounded or lost.
| Never have experienced such intense
JOY. Never have felt more secure, than
ll did when surrounded by my comrades