Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1860-09-20
Dnmorous 8eaoing.
AN ALABAMA SKETCH.

AN ALABAMA ShEICd.
Long years ago, when the now populous
State of Alabama was an almost uninterrupt-
ed wilderness, the region of country now
comprised in the county Of Randolph was
infested with wolves, and stocked with game
of every kind. 1t was a very common thing
for companies of men to 60 from the older
settled county of Chambers upt to Randolph
county, for the purpose of "camp-huuting,'
and it is with one of these expeditions that
we now have to do.
In the fall of 1887, four men left the
village of Lafayette, and bent their course
to a place among the hills of Randolph,
known as the White Oak Mountain, a place
where game of all kinds abounded. Just
about the line dividing the two counties,
there was a little one-horse grocery, kept
by one Redman Hornsby, or, as he was
usually called by his associates, 'Redhorn.'
His principal characteristics were an inordi-
nate love of whisky, fear of wolves and In
dians, and an unquenchable desire to swim
die everybody in any manner that present
ed itself. This is description enough for
the present.
Calling at his grocery, the crowd conclu-
ded to take Redhorn along, partly to muse
themselves with his eccentricities, and
partly because he wanted to 60. The camp
ing-ground was reached about nightfall, and
as it was too late to hunt any that evening,
they built up as6re, prepared supper, and
set about enjoying themselves. A pack of
greasy cards was produced, but one of the
boys declined to enter into the game.
Here. RedhorD,' said Ben Walker,
"there's but three of US to play; take a
hand with u.s.
who? me p said Redhorn who had been
~intently watching the proceedings, Il don't
know no more about them cussed things
than l do about the twelve Apostles!
oh, nonsense said Ben, you certainly
know something about it,
sDarned if know one keard from tother,'
persisted be-.
@sWell, COM on, you can soon learn urg-
ed Ben.
NO. said Redhoru, you three do it a
while, ontwel I sorter git the hang of it,
and then I'll give you turn
Accordingly they played a few games
without any bets, until Redhorn thought he
seed into it,
Now, boys said Ben, winking at the
others, give me and Redhorn three IN sew
en-, and wen try you for half-dollara game
This was agreed to, and at il they went.
AS may be supposed, Ben and Red los; all
the time, the latter cursing all the time,
and swearing it was no better than stealing
ito take a feller's money Hathaway, an he
not know a thing about the game But
they thought differently.
, At length Red appeared very much ex-
cited, and rising to his feet, broke out,
You've made a bargain to cheatm me out'n
my money, an III be cussed eff I stand it q!
You jest had Ben on my side to help you,
an III be burned eff l can't beat the best
of you, even pop. Come ahed, eff you want
the silver jerked out o ye by hatfuls.
sTm your man. said Joe Blount: and
pulling out his money they went at it, the
bet being raised to a dollar a game. 1t soon
became evident to Joe that he had caught
a Tartar. None of his tricks would sue
coed, while Redhorn was continually 'rak.
ing down the pile After playing about an
hour, Joe found himself minus a stake, and
threw down the cards with an oath.
These is curious fxens,' said Red, as he
viewed them one at a time. 1'll bet FIVE
dollars l kin turn Jack, as you call it, the
fust pop
dome! said Ben, pulling out the money:
Diet me shuttle EN-
The cards were duly shufled, and han.
ded back to Red, who carelessly took off q
few and turned up the bottom one for Bea's
inspection.
1t was the Jack of Spades!
'Confound you ! said Ben, handing over
q V, you've seen cards before
This is a quare world said Red, throw
ing up and catching a dollar; 'the quares
world I ever lit into. Here's you three
fellers been tryin' three hours to swindl'
me, an I've wore out more keards than yor
ever seed, by a burned sight! When 20,
want to learn another green hand, jest in
vite me, will you"
This avowal vexed them not a little the,
discovered that the biters had got bitten
and that in their endeavors to chouse Red
horn out of his money, they had walked NJ
the wrong man, and, as is usual in suct
cases, they determined to be revepged OF
him. Processing to be very we'll satisfied
with the turn affairs had taken, they pre-
pared themselves for sleep, telling Red t.
hold himself in readiness, as they were 60
ing out before daylight next morning t.
kill some turkeys. AS soon as he was a
sleep, Ben got Redhorn's shoes and rubbed
the soles of them with asafetida, a sub
stance which will attract wolves from ar
almost incredible distance.
A little after midnight, theyaroused Red
and together they set off, to find the tur