The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1859-04-21

Author of" Nick TVhifeS, ""Buck Bison,
"HalC IT,ned Nat, "Ha, IONS Br5-
gasle, "7He Pioneers Of Kcn-
tUcky," cite, etc.
CHAPTERI.
THE LEAGUE OF THE SEVEN.
Seven men, coming from difcrep
points, urging their way with great Difficult
" through almost impervious walls utter
laced and opposing shrubbery, met a
midnight beueath the spreading branch
os of cypress tree, at place called Lau
rel Swamp. in South Carolina, in the yea
III. They gathered sticks and leaves
ant made a fire. The flames, springin:
up from the dry heap, threw 8 red glare
upon their faces, which were sea ned and
disfgured by the play of bad passions
They we're young men--the oldest not
being more than tbirty-6ve years of age
As they stood in circle around the FIRE,
they rese Hbed a group of vag sbond Eng
lish eipsies, fresh from the stocks or the
whipping post. They were armed with
ssbres, knives, pi,tols and mu-krts.-
Their faces were smutchcd with powder
their boards and hair long and neglected
their garments torn 10y couiict aud the
sharp teeth Of the cypress hedges. The
names OF these men were respectively a.
follows: Msrtin Vantas,le, Nathaniel
HerFick, Philip Langford, Simon Arrows
with, John Nicotson, James Pollard, and
Timothy Becker.
Vantassle, tail, athletic. ill-vissaged
fellow, u as the leader Of these fierce and
intractabic spirits UnshesthiDg his bea-
W sabre, and planting its point in the
ground between his feet, be addressed his
co@panion>.
Men" he said, in a hard, harsh voice,
that harmonized well With bis general
prestige, Twelve met here toni gbt to bind
ourselves together in perpeiual fellowship
tv solemn oath and mutual agreement.
Every mans hard is sein us-leastwise
ia thee psrts-ani ours, in turn, is aaiD
every man We've sworn allegiance to
biz gracious Majesty, the King Of Great
Britain and the rig ghtful ruler of these
colonies, have touahed his ;aoney, and will
do biz work"
"Itisn't the king care so much about,
nutsered Nat Hcrriek, "but the utter de-
struction and determination OF the Wings
South Car 'liny Is already uore u bali con-
quercd The rebel cause is rapidly grow
ing weaker. and we'll soon sweep 'em a
way like chat. It'll be strange if Nat
nerrick don't have bis share OF the plum
der"
There was an appauding murmur a.
round the grim circle.
Il was comm to that subject" added
Eantassle, impatiently. Il reckon know
the merits OF the case, and understand
the nstur' of your fcelin's. ny lads. We
never seed the King of England, any of
US; and il We should, it s agin reason to
s'pose that he'd speak TO u; and to tell
the truth we care little about him. love
Martin Nantassle better nor | do any
king in the world. 6ght the Wings be-
cause their side is tue weakest, and hate
EN-; and there's prospect of maxim
souetbiu' by it. When we've driven 'em
out, which will be soon. 'cordin' to pres
ent appe arances, we'll be masters of the
country ourselves. Wen have houses and
lands, and Diggers 10 wait on us"
"Tbsts the kind o talk like to hear
said jim Pollard.
"Its kind Of talk. too, tbat'll prove
prophetic" rejoiDed Vautassle.
ut would, If we could keep Marion aud
Sumpter still, ioterpOsed Langford.
1.-The Swamp Fox will room be still e.
nougb, III warrant ye; Colonel Tarleton
is on bis track. and he'll trap bin afOre
he's week older. However, that's nei
thcr here nor there; let them 6gbt for
glory who will-our motto is Booty and
Beauty"
awe know who your beauty is" said
Simon Arrowsmith, with leer; sit is
Jessie Burnside
"Aud be shall have her. tOol' said
Herrick, with an oath.
Thank e, Nat Herrick; and if you don't
succeed with Ruth Havilapd. it'll be no
fault of mine."
"And will nobody speak word for
me I" asked Langford.
"a hundred. if you like !" cried Pol.
lard, "though to NE it appears like the
gre eatest nonseDce to be runnin' arter wo-
men when there's so much real 6ghtin' to
be done. My mistress is bloody one.
sDd | End her wherever there is Wbig
to hang, till to rife, or bouse to burn.
Howsomdeyer, if you like Judith Burn
side, it's none O. my business, and reck-
on none on us III stand in your way
She's verv hsndsome and nroud "a she ia