Smyrna times., 1859-04-21
CHAPTER ".
IN THE 8 w A MP.

fngltives saw the flmes of their burning home
and groups of men struggling in the light O
the red glare. 1t "a mournful, thrilling
spectacle, and then hurried on 10 escape it
Iupe, who had proved courageous and active
encouraged them by prceept aud example,
Ruth HavIIand, being little behind her com
panions, heard the tuOtsteps Of pursuers and ad
monished her friends of the fact, who needed
10 new stimulus to excite them to the creates
effort of which they were capable. They
reached the Swamp and took shelter in il like
frightened birds. The laurel was well nigh
inpene,rable; Innuneruble vegetable arms
were stretched out to oppose them network
of vines aud branches disputed their passage.-
Their hands were laceraled 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 inrlcacy, they soon and unwillingly
became separated, while their attempts 10 tind
each other involved them in new labyrinths-
Torn, bleeding, fainting with fear and exhaus-
tion, Jessie Burnside sank upon the earth.
For q time her physical and mental faculties
were in such whirl of u tempest, that the con.
sciousness OF everything around her seemed
slipping away from her. There remained with
her only a heavy realization Of something fear
ful aud shocking. Al length the chilness of
the ground aud the night-ar cooled her fevered
system and restored her cUherency of thoughts.
She raised herself aud supported her head
upon her hand. ller diseveled resses. her dis
ordered garments, and her lacerated person. re-
minded her of the ordeal through which she
had passed. There was lattice-work of vines
around and above her. She thought of the sud.
den change OF her circumstances. When the
sun went down last, she had 1t comfortable and
beloved home now she had none, but was a
hunted, prosecuted fugitive, covering in a dark.
some swamp, the resort of wild beasts and law
less men. She could not be so selfish as not to
think OF her companions. Where were they |
She shuddered at the possibility OF what might
have beiallen them A painful recollection in |
regard 10 her brave defenders added unspeak |
nbly to the distraction OF her II ind. Far off ia |
the depths of the swamp she heard the shrek |
OF the panther, the howl of the wolf and the |
dismal notes of the owl. FrIghttu contrast TO
the peace and security of Laurelwood LoLk.
ing upward through the tenacious foliage INTO
the dim sky, she beheld black cloud of smoke
all that remained OF her father's mansion.
save a few charred and sm0uldering brands
that st.ll s9nt up m"urnful incense from the
family hearthsione. She wept sorrowed, prayed
for It is upon God, at last, that the tossed
stricken, and disappointed mind turns The in.
stIncts aud experience Ot The whole human race
prove beyond The shadow of question, that H.,
alone can confer blessing aud consultation upon
the bereaved, afflicted, and wOrld-crushed soul
Prayer to Him made her calmer. A strange
balmy influence, unex pected and sweet, stole
into her being. She would not she did not
quite despair.
There was a sound in the laurel hedges
She listened with every sense awake. Persons
were working their way through the tangled
masses in the direction Oi her covert Their
progress was slow and difficult. She heard
nuttered curses aud inprecalI0ns Her fears 1,
we're immeasurably increased, for the voice of :
Martin Vantassle was So odlons, and made 80
many dIsagreeable Impressions upon her memo
y, that she could not but recognize its slioht. q
ISL tones She shrank and crOuched 10 mother
'arih Tor protection, the startled partridge n
'ldes itself beneath bough In the friendly :,
rake, to escape the hurting spot of the hunter.
Discovery appeared inevitable, for the crack. =
ing OF the limbs and the struggling and The RI
ow-breaihed curses came nearer anI nearer. d.
Perdltion seize these brambles /! exclaimed J..
iantassle. 'OOe can neither stand up nor Law
own, go forrard nor go back!'
Jessie heard the speaker cast himself reck. n
essly upon the ground few yards from her, - h
'he laurel bent and complained beneath his n
'eIght, communicating wave of motion to
,wed the remark. re
YOU'RE in bad temper, Cap'n,' said another, re
tho proved to be Simon ArrOwsmlth. Jo
who wouldn't be in bad temper to be baffled O'
! this way!' growled VsulassIe. Twice the 10
al seemed to be in my power tonight, and e.
vice have | been defeat led by that unknown TO
evil, One-eyed Saul of the swamp h
It's the gal-there's where the shoe pinches y
he loss of the silver plate Is what troubles me- Ell
Twas iooi S trick to set the house atre and W
urn it up, arter all. There was enough on Us at
, take Laurelwood by storm, aud we ought to CT
one It. I'd been content with the booty, and IL
hem that preferred it might had the beauty. hl
nd welcome. Women are we'll enough 10 do so
he cookin and housework, but as for hayin' th
ne on 'em agin her will, can't see no sense 81
il, though them may have different views Os
rat please. Whoever gets a chance to look tI'
mong the ashes yonder first. u git richly paid
,r their trouble Is
"A greater treasure than all the plate OF re
1rnsde House has slipped through my fingers IN
lis night. Simon ArrowsmHh, who, in the dI
ends name, is this One-eyed Saul, who is nI
eh terror to our f;ilers oil along the Santee, III
specially in the neighborhood of this cussed sh
xamp!' da
It's more'n can tell, Cap'n; bot know pa
lat he fights like hurricane. aud is never b.
i'll. FIRST you hear OF him one place, then -
another long way of lie goes from pint
pint like raceh0rse, and alters lea yes his III
ark on the kings men. lie has a burnin' ha.
ed for Tories, and woe To them that he onts
q eye on for vengeance, for they don't live .s
ng arler. Jim Pollard has got soinelhin' 10 ,,,a
!, | reckon. I'm glad it WASH me that drew os'
0 name from the hat on the night we crossed ro,
II sabres over the red blaze. aud swufe--we o.,
sen--to stand by each other TO the last, IN all .,
ses and under all circumstances r.
Poor luck we've had soeered Martin.
hough we had the advantage 10 pint OF nun.
rs. There's seven ON ns matched sginI (
ven we II see how it'll end ~ we
dozen OF US seem 70 DC 30 match foi four. strC
night reformed Arrowsmith, morvsely. Il lab,