The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1859-05-03

work OF ElHps ard branches disputed tAeir pass
age. Their hands were laccrated by contact
with continually projecting points, and shreds
of their garments were left upon brake and
briar. Urging their way along in the darkness
and terrible intricacy. they soon and unwilling
" became separated while their attempts to
find eaciiother involved them in new labyrinths.
Torn; Bleeding, ainting with fear and exhaus-
ton, Jessie burnside sank upon the earth.
l Foraitime her physical and mental faculties
were in snch a whirl Of tempest, that the con-
sciousness Of everything around her seemed
slipping AWAY from her.. There remained with
her onINs heavy realization of something fear
full and shocking. At length the chilliness of
the gronnd and the nigbt-air cooled herfevered
system and restored her coberency Of thought,
She raised herself and supported her head upon
her hana: Her disheyeled trcsses, her disorder
cd garments, and her lacerated person reminded
her of tie ordeal through which she had passed!
There @as a latticc-work Of vines around and
above her. She thought Of the sudden change
of her circumstances When the sun went down
last, she had n comfortable and beloved home;
now she had none, but was limited, perseca-
ted fagtive, covering in darksome swamp, the
resort of wild beasts and lawlcss men. She
could not be so selfish as not to think of her.
companions. Where were theys She shud-
dercd at the possibility of what might have be.
fallen them. A painful recollection in regard
to her brave defenders added funspeakably to
the distraction of her mird. Farotfin the depths
Of the Swamp she heard the shrek Of the pan
thcr, the howl ofthc wolf and the dismal notes
of the owl. Frightfll contrast to the peace and
security of Laurclwood9 Looking upward
through. the tenacious foliage into the dim sky,
she behcid a black cload of smokc-al that
remained other fathers mansion, save few
charred and snlouldcrng brands that still sent
up a mourntul incense from the family hearth.
stone.; She wept, sorrowed, prayed-for it is
upon God Eat last, that the tossed, stricken and
disappointed mind turns. The instincts and ex
perience of the whole human race prove be
yond the shadow ofqucstion, that He alone can
confer blessing and consolation upon the be-
rcaved, afflicted, and world-crushed soul. Prayer
to Hin made .ier calmer. a strange, balmy
influence, unexpected and sweet, stole into her
being. She would not, she did not quite des-
pnir. 5sz Esfsat' S.1g'sla 2aa a,
There was a sound il. the laurel hedges. She
listened with every sense awake. Persons were
working theiriway through the tangled masses,
in the direction Of her covert. Their progress
was slow and difficult. She fhcafd innttered
curses and simprccations Her fears were i'm
mcasulasly Increased, for the .yoicel: e Martin
; Xa X'IaEtlssSaYas soodious and mado
gfss pres fo1rrpo r,enrory, that she'
cueAd not but recognize it's slightest tones. She
shrank And crouchcd to mother earth for pro-
lection, as the startled partridge hides itself be-
meath bough Or in the friendly brake to es-
cape tic hurting shot of the hunter.
Discovery appeared inevitable, for the crack
ling OF the limbs aud the struggling and the
low brcathed curses came nearer and nearer.
"Bramblcsl' exclaimed Vantassle. "One cah
neither stand up nor lay down, go forrarl nor
60 back"
Jessie heard the speaker cast himself reck-
lessly upon. the ground a few yards from her
The laurel bent and complained beucath his
weight, communicating wave ofmotion tothc
vines around her.. A voley of oaths followed
the remark. r... -
YOU'RE in bad temper, Cap'n," said another,
who proved to be Simon Arrowsmith.
"Who wouldn't bein bad temper to be baficd
in this wayl' growled Nantassc. Twice the
gal seemed to be in my power tonight, and
twice have been defeated by that unknown
One-eyed Saul of the Swamp"
''It's the gal-there's where the shoe pinches.
The loss Of the silver plate is what Troublesome.
Twas fools trick to set the house afire and
burn it up, arter ALL There was enough on us
to take Laurelwood by storm. and VIC ought to
done it. I'd been content with the booty, aud
them that preferred Knight had the beauty, aud
welcome. Woinetiare well enough to do the
cookin' and house work but as for havin' one
on 'cm again her will, can't see no sense in
it, though them may have different views that
please. Whoever gets chance to look among
the ashes youdcr first, VI git richly paid for their
trouble"
"a greater treasure than all the plate Of Burn
side House has slipped through my fingers this
night. Simon Arrowsmith, who in the fend's
name is this One.eyed Saul, who issich terror
to our fellers all along the Santec, especially in
the neighborhood of this cussed swamp"
"It's morcn can tell, Cap'n; but | know
that he fights like hurricane, and is ncverstll.
First you hear of him at one place, then at
another long way of. He goes from pint to
pint like aracehorse, and alters leaves hismark
on the kinmcn. lie has burnin' hatred for
Tories, and woe to them that he puts his eye
on for vengeance, for they don't live long arter.
Jim Pollard has got somethin' to do. reckon.
Pm glad it wasn't me that drew his name from
the hat on the night VIC crossed our sabres over
the red blaze, and sworc-we seven-to stand
by each other to the last, in all cases and under
all circumstances"
"Poor luck we've had" sneered Martin,
"though We had the advantage in pint ofn
bers There's seven on usmatched agin seven;
we'll see how it'll end"
"a dozen ofus seem to be no match for four,
tonight" returned Arrowsnith, morosey. 81
wonder if any our seven got their quietus? Sa-
tan, takes care of his own, they say"
"We'll know, tonight, when we meet at the