Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1859-04-23
CHAPTER |.
THE LEAGUE OF THE SEVEN.

polHIS1 VI SIHS 'uei' "dJ WV" s'ea' u"'
ficulty through almost impervious walls
interlaced and opposing sIIrubbery, met
al midnight beneath The spreading bran
ches Of cypress tree, at place called
Laurel Swamp, in South Carolina, in the
year l77-. They gathered sticks and
leaves and made a fire. The flames,
springing up from the dry heap, threw a
red glare upon their faces, which were
scanned and disfgured by the play OF bad
passions. They were young men-the
Oldest not being more than thirty-fve
years of age. As they stood in circle
around the fire. they resembled group
of vagahond English giPsies, fresh from
the stocks or the whipping post. They
were armed with sabres, knives, pistols
and muskets. Their faces were smulch-
ed with powder, their boards and haI
long and neglected, their garments torn
by conflict and the sharp teeth of the cy-
press hedges. The names of these men
were respectively as follows !: Martin
Vantassle, Nathaniel Herrick, Philip
Langford, Simon Arrowswith, John Mic
olson, James Pollard, anG Timothy Bee
ker.
Vantassle. a tall, athletic, ill-visage1
fellow, was The leader Of these fierce and
intractable spirits. Unshea,hiUg his hea-
Wy sabre, and planting its point in The
ground between his feet, he addressed his
companions.
Men, he said, in a hard, harsh voice,
that harmonized well with his general
prestige, we've met here tonight to bind
ourselves together in perpetual fellowship
by solemn oath and mutual agreement.
Evay mans hand is agin us-leastwise,
in these parls-and ours, in turn, is agin
every man. We've sworn allegiance to
his gracious Majesty, the King of Grea,
Britain and the righGul Iuler of these
colOnies, have touched his money and
will do his work."
1t isn't the king care so much about,
muttered Nat Herrick. but the utter des-
truclon and extermination OF the Wings.
South Car'linv Is already more'n hall
conquered. The rebel cause is rapidly
CROWN weaker, and we'll soon sweep
'em away like chaf. ItII be strange II
Ma, Herrick don't have his share of the
plunder.",
There was an applauding mWmur
around the grim circle.
Il was comm to that subject added
Vantsssle, impaiienly. Il reckon know
the merits Of the case, and understand the
natur' of your feelin's, my lads. We
never seed the King OF England, any OF
us and if we should, its agln reason to
s'pose that he'd speak 10 US and 10 tell
the truth, we care little about him.
love Martin Vantassle better nor | do any
king in the world. | fight the Wing:
because their side is the weakest, and
hate EN- and there's prospect of ma
kin som methin' by it. When we've driv,
en- 'em out. which will be soon, 'cordin
to present nlappearances we'll be masters
of the country ourselves. Well have
houses and lands, and niggers TO wait on
u.s."
That's The kind O. talk like to hear,
said Jm Pollard.
Its kind of talk, too. thatu prove
prophetic rejoined Vantassls.
1t would, If we could keep Marion and
Sumpter STILL interposed LangfOrd. .
The Swamp Fox will soon be still
enough, I'll warrant ye! Colonel Tarie'
ton is on his track, and he'll trap HIN
afore he's a week older. However, that's
neither here nor there lie! them fight Tor
glory who will-our motto is Booty and
Beauty
We know who your beauty is. said
Simon Arrowsmith, with lcer; 1T is Jes-
sic Burnside
And he shall have her, too y said Her
rick. with an oath.
.Thank'e, Nat Herrick and if you
don't succeed with Ruth Hayiland, it'll
be no fault of mine
And will nobody speak word for
me g asked Langford.
"A hundred, il you like, cried Pollard,
though to me il appears like tho greatest
nonsense TO be runnin' arter women when
there's so much real fgh,in' to be done.
Nh mistress is a bloody one, and | find
her wherever there is Wing to hang, a
till TO rife, or house TO burn. How
somdever. if you like Judith Burnside,
its none O. my business, and reckon
none on us II stand in your way. She's
very. handsome. and proud az she IS
handsome and if you win her at all. III
De Oy foul and not by fair means. dom