Smyrna times., 1859-04-21
CHAPTER I.
THE LEAGUE OF THE SEVEN.

THE LEAGUE OF THE SEVEN.
Seven men, coming from different points,
urring their way with great difficulty through
almost impervious walls Interaced and oppos.
iup shrubbery, met at midnight beneath the
spreadng branches of a cypress tree, at place
called Laurel Swamp, in South Carolina, IN the
wear I775. They gathered sticks and leaves
and made a fire. The flames, sprnging up
from the dry heap, threw red glare upon their
faces. which were scanned and dsigured by the
pIay of bad passions. They were young men
the Oldest not being more than thrty-hve
years of aye As they stood in a circle arou ID
the Gre, they rcsembed a group of vagabond
EasIish gpsies fresh from the stocks or the
whipping post. They were armed with sabres,
knives, pistols and muskets. Their faces were
smuched with powder, their boards and hair
long and neg lected, their garments torn by con-
aic and the sharp teeth of the cypress hedges.
The names of these men were respectively as
follows: Martin Vantassle, Nathaniel HerrIck,
Philip Lsngford Simon Arrowsmlth, John
Nicolson, James Poll. rd and Timothy Becker.
Vantass'e, a tall, athletic, ill-visaged fellow,
was the leader of these fierce and lntractable
spirits Unsheathing his heavy sabre, and
Planting lis point in the ground between his
feet, be addressed his companions.
Men he said, in a hard, harsh voice, that
harmonized well with his general prestige,
we We met here tonight to bind ourselves to-
geher in perpetual fellowship by SOLEMN oath
aud mutual agreement. Every mans hand is
sgn us-lea stwise, in these parts-and ours, in
turn, is agin every man. We've sworn allegi-
anee 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
1t lsa-t the king | care so much about,
mu;tered Nat IIerrick, but the utter destruc-
ton and determination of the Wings. South
Catliny is already moren halfconquered. The
rebel cause is rapidly CROWN weaker, and we'll
sma sweep 'em away like chaf. I'LL be strange
if Nat Herrick don't have his share of the plum
dsi.'
There was an upplauding murmur around
the grim circle.
Il was comm 10 that subject added Van
tsssie, mpatieutly. | reckon | know the
metits of the case, and understand the natuT' oi
yncr fAeIIn's, my lads. We never seed the
Hug of England, any Of us; and if we should
IT'S agln reason to s'pose that he'd speak to US
ane to tell the truth, we care little about him.
II love Martin Vantassie better nor do any king
10 the world. | fight the Wings because thelI
side is the weakcsi, aud | hate 'em; and there
a prospect of maxim sOmethln by il. When
we've driven 'em out, which will be soon, cord
iD' to present appearances, we'll be masters oi
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
JIM Pollard.
.II'sa kind of talk, too, that'll prove pro-
phttic,' relained Vantassle.
1T would. if we could keep Marion and
Sunpter slill,' interposed Langford.
sThe Swamp Fox will sUon be still enough
I'll warrant ye! Colonel Tarleton is on hi
track, and he'll trap him afore he's week old
er. However that's neither here nor there
let them fight for glory who wlll-our motto i
B',Oy and Beauty''
'We know who your beauty is,' slid SImol
Ariowsmith, with leer; 1T is Jessie Burn
sid,.'
And he shall have her, too! = said Herrick
with an oath.
'Tnank'e, Nat Herrick; and if you dou'
us,eed with Ruth HaviaDd, III be no fault c
mne.'
Sand will nobody speak a word for me
asked Laukford.
"a hundred, if you like cried Pollard
though to me it appears like the greatest non
seaae 10 be runnln' arter women when there
50 much real ightin' to be done. My mistres
is bloody one, and find her wherever ther
aa Whig to hang, a till to rifle, or house
bura. HowsomdeVer, if you like Judith Burr
side, it's none O. my business, and | recko
noue on US II stand in your way. She's ver
handsome, and proud as she is handsome; an
it, you win her at all, it'll be by foul and not
fair means don't want TO be hard on y
Phil Langford, bat I'm sure you can't do muC
in the way of what folks call honest courtshi
Bit don't be down-hearted, lad, for we're bour
10 aid each other under all circumstances aI
40 all cases
AIartin Vantassle drew his sabre from Il
elrlh and thrusting it forward, held 1t over Il
blazing FIRE; the blade was dinted and serrat
with service, and there were red stains upon
Tho other six unsheathed theirs and cross
them upon his, when he dictated a terrible a
impious compact which they seVerally repei
ed 1t was too profane and shocking to be ?
verbatim upon paper. They pledged the
selves to mutual brotherhood and crime; 10 {
terminate the struggling and hunted Whie
TO give no quarter to the captured foe; to p'
sue the flying fugitive with remorseless fur
10 mstesery enormity upon the defenccl'
patriots to rob, to burn, to outrage helpl
iaaocence.
When this fearfuland unnatural compact !
been made, Vantassle turned 10 Herrick o
asked
What names have you broughtr
Herrick drew a soled paper from bis wa
coat pocket, aud bending toward the Gre, &,
tile following names
Paul Hazelhurst, Frank Haviland, I
Halter, PodUah Makepeace, Gideon Grt
Blinko. nigger, and 0ne.eyed Saul of LAT
Swamp
'.AIen,' sld Vantassle, sthese are for
ssord. We are to hsnt them down and
illdm. By virtue of my authority, and by
onh which you have sworn, command yo
puIsne the peTsons whose names you b