Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1859-04-30
A REVOLUTIONARY STORY,
One-Eyed Saul
TORY LEAGUE OF SEVEN

| <AAO AyOo 0CSOA
> . t"'~ .t. on THE
TORY EAGUE OF SEVEN
/ A TALE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
BY DR. 4. ROBINSON,
Author OF aNick whipples," "Buck Bison," 'Half-
/ wit.ed Nat" "Marion's Brigade" 1.-THE
l. Pioneers of Kentucky" &C., 10.
! CHAPTER /.
THE LEAGUE OF THE SEVEN.
Seven men, coming from different points
urging their way with great difficulty through
almost impervious walls interlaced and OppOs-
ing shrubbery, met at midnight beneath the
spreading branches of cypress tree, at q
place called Lsurel Swamp, in South Carolina,
in the year IT.. They gathered sticks and
leaves and made Gre. The flames, spring
ing up from the dry heap, threw q red glare
upon their faces, which were scanned and dis
figured by the play of bad passions. They
were young men-the oldest not being more
than thirty years of age. As they stood
in circle around the fire, they resembled a
group of vagabond English gpsies, fresh
from tine stocks of the whipping post. They
were armed with sabres, knives, pistols and
muskets. Their faces were smutched with
powder, their boards and hair long and nsg-
lected, their garments torn by conflict and the
sharp teeth Of tho cypress hedges. The names
Of these men were respectively as follows -
Martin Vantassle, Nathaniel Herrick, Phillip
Langford, Simon Arrowswith, John Nicolson,
James Pollard aud Timothy Becker.
| Vantassle, tall, athletic, i'll visaged fellow,
was the leader of these fierce and intraca-
BILE spirits. Unsheathing his heavy sabre,
and planting its point in the ground between
his feet, he addressed his companions.
"Men," he said, in hard, harsh voice, that
harmonized well with his general prestige,
gether in perpetual fellowship by solemn oath
and mutual agreement. Every mans hand is
agin us-least wise, in these parts-and ours,
in turn, is agin every man. We've sworn al
legiance to his gracious Majesty, the King of
| Great Britain and the rightful ruler of these
colonies, have touched his money, and will do
! his work."
at isn't the king care so much about"
muttered Nat Herrick, "but the utter des-
| truction and extarmination of the Whjgs.-
South Car'liny is already more'n half con-
quered. The rebel cause is rapidly CROWN
weaker, and we'll soon sweap 'em away Nike
| chaff It'll be strange if Nat Herrick don't
have his share of the plunder."
There was an applauding murmur around
the grim circle.
81 was comm to that subject" added
Vantassle, impatiently. 81 reckon l know
the merits of the case, and understand the
natur' of you feelin's, my lads. We never
seed the King of England, any of US /; and if
| we should, it's agin reason to s'pose that he'd
speak to us and to tell the truth, we care
little about him. | love love Martin Vantas-
sic better nor do any king in the world.
| fight the Wings because their side is the
weakest, and hate 'em; and there's pros
pect of maxim somethin' by it. When we've
driven 'em out, which will be soon 'cordin' to
present appearances, we'll be masters of the
country ourselves. Well have houses and
lands, and niggeIs to wait on u.s."
"That's the kind o talk like to hear"
said Jim Pollard.
"It's kind of talk, too, that'd prove pro-
phetic," rejoined yantassle.
81 would, if we could keep Marion and
Sumpter STILL" interposed Langford.
1.-The Swamp Fox will soon be still enough,
I'll warrant ye Colonel Tarleton is on his
track, and he'll trap him afore he's week
older. However, that's neither here nor there; /;
let them fight for glory who will-our motto
is Booty and Beauty"
ave know who your beauty is" said ST.
mon Arrowswith, with leer sit is Jessie
Burnside"
| "And he shall have her, too ~ said Her.
rick, with an oath.
"Thank'e Nat Herrick aud if you dent
succeed with Ruth Haviand, it'll be no fault
of mins,"
"And will nobody speak word for me ?"
asked Langford.
"a hundred if you likes" cried Pollard,
''though to me it appears like the greatest
nonsense to be runnin' after women when
there's so much real tightin' to be done. My
mistressis a bloody one, and | find her where
ever there is a Whig to hang, a till to rifle or
horse to burn. Howsomdever, if you like
Judith Burnside, it's none O my business,
and reckon none on us IL stand in your way.
She's very handsome, and proud as. she
it'll be by foul and not by fair means.
don't want to be hard on ye,Phii
Langford, butrm sure you can't do much
in the way ofwhat folks call honest courtship
But don't be down-hearted, lad, for we're
bound to aid each other under all circumstan-
ces, and in all cases."
Martin Vantassle drew his sabre from the
earth and thrusting it forward, held it over the
blazing fire /; the blade was dinted and serrat-
ed with service, and there were red stains up
on it. The other six unsheathed theirs and
crossed them upon his, when he dictated a
terrible and impious compact which they
severally repeated. 1t was too profane
and shocking to be put verbatim upon
paper. They pledged themselves to mutual
brotherhood and crime to exterminate tho
struggling and hunted Wings; to give no quar-
ter to the captured foe; to pursue the flying flu
gitive with remorseless fury; to commit every
enormity upon the defenseless patriots; to rob,
to burn, to outrage helpless innocence
When this fearful and unnatural compact
had been made, Vantassle turned to Herrick
and asked
"What names have you brought?'
Herrick drew Asoiled paper from his waist.
coat pocket, and bending toward the fire, read
the following names .-..--...
"Paul Hazlehurst, Frank Haviland, Tom
Hutter,, Podijah Makepeace, Gideon Grant
Blinko, nigger, and one-eyed Saul of Lau:
rel Swamp"
"Man," said Yantassle, "these are for the
sword We are to hunt them down andkill
them; By virtue Of my authority, and by
the oath which you have sworn command
you to pursue the persons whose names you
have heard, night and day till you have swept
them out of existence p
There are seven of them and seven of us
"a man for each" said Herrick.
Let US determine our respective men by
! lot" suggested Langford
; "The i ca is good, and by lot the matte,
shall be decided" added Vantassle.
This suggestion was eagerly received its
, novelty made it welcome. The names of the
parties doomed to destruction were written
, Upon seven slips of paper, and drawn from
, Vantassle's cap by his associates. Herricl
drew the first ballot.
Frank Haviland ~ he exclaimed.
l"The brother of Ruth p said Pollard, will
shrug, and looking inquiringly at his com
rade.
Tom Hutter," said Longford, drawing
and reading his ballot.
{ And I, Blinko, the black" said Nicclson