Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-08-20

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O., THURSDAY, T: T T IS T }, e ) !,
IF sentiment of bitter and vindictiys hatred was
stirred in the bosoms Of Southern soldiers, swhr
daily had before them evidence Of the perpetration
Of such atrocites; and If thefa sWelled mp In thei
4 hearts an eager desire for vengeance upon those
who violated all the rules Of cisiized and honor.
able warfare, surely the Recctding Angel wonld
blot out the record Of their trsnsreasion with a
d tear. .5seFt Z -, s1'%
without having met with aiasla individualo or OBJ
served any signs Of living bsinga The country
seemed deserted. At last, along thiekly wooded
portion of the road, where stood primezal grove
worthy of the Druids, o hum a. OF Voices arrested
the attention of the party, and0nsed them stimuli
taneously to halt The grove that overshadowed
their. road was deep and dark get it was evident
to their senses that, at fsM Ipds dhtance before
them, the road led through n sglearng Of some ex-
tent Misty and dark - thehSbf ~as theyould
BEE from the tree tops dimB defined ag,inst the
SKY, that there was considerable deciviy before
them, and, after listening for some seconds, they
copjectmed that the sounds which awakened their
suspicion and aroused their caution, were bat the
brawhng .murmurs Of some brook, flowing at the
foot of the hill. ~ s., -. go,
There are strange voices that seem 10 arise from
waters brawing among rocks. The splashing and
tramping of feet, low Wailipgs of pain, and the
merry sounds Of laughter with the deep hum Of a
multitude speaking in low under tones, al seem to
rise from the channel where the sportive brook
dsshes inis fight causing each rock or ledge that
it touches with its flashing Braresn fingers to re-
Ispoud with some low .utterance, to complete the
wild and witehing melody which it makes in its
course. g. :.
| Once or twice, the scouts thought they heard
the, ,tzamping Of horses feet in the distance when
Sergeant Haley, posting them under the shadow Of
a huge oak short distance from the roadside,
advanced alone some distance down the road, and
listened attentively. Hearing no sound, save now
and then low murmuring, which seemed to be
the noise of some streamlet he returned and eau
tioning his squad to follow him in silence, again
moved forward. They hsdnot advanced abovea hun
dred yards, when they came to a broad avenue lead
ing off to theleh at right angles with the road and
at its further extremity two hundred yards
from the road-buneda dim light just bright e
nough to reveal the outlines of the window through
which it glimmered. An else was swallowed up
in the gloom of the murky night save that one
window standing out like an opening through the
pail of night. -. ...,. s.-,
A good scout, such as Sergeant Haley was,
would not fail to employ the opportunity thus pre-
sented, for obtaining such information Of the 10
cality, and Of the roads before him. as the inmates
of that dwelling by the roadside might afford. Il
was even possible that they might furnish him
with some information in regard to the enemy
which might be turned to good account. Halhng
his squad under one Of the low, spreading oaks,
that lined the avenue on either hand, he held q
brief consultation with them. The result of the
conference was, that two of the party-and bis
choice fell upon Harry Prescott and Victor-should
be sent forward to visit. the house and gather
whatever information the inmates could give him
in furtherance of their mission, while the remain
der of the party were to await their return at the
point where the avenue entered the turnpike.
The party drew back to point where the shad-
ows of the trees lay deepest on the ground, and
Victor and Prescott rejoicing in the duty assigned
them, set off on their mission. .,....
Only one light appeared, gimmering through
the window of chamber on the second story to
the left, and now and then, rs Victor turned his
searching eye towards it, as if to penetrate the
mystery that seemed to enshroud it, q shadow
could be seen to fit across the window Is Of some
person passing between it and the light.
II don't understand what that light means. y
said Victor, soto roee, as he moved along with
Prescott at his elbow. "Evey chamber below is
deserted, or at least darkened suspect there are
none but women at home, and that they have, in
their alarm, huddled together above stairs like a
covey Of partridges. Ifear we shall give them
great fright"
II hope they will give US some buttermilk and
biscuit, was the indolenty uttered rejoinder OF
Prescott, who was thinking more of his hunger and
WEAKNESS, than Of the Autter into which sum-
mons at that hour from armed men, would throw
bevy of timid and defenceless women.
"Pshaw, Prescott! how can you think Of but
termilk and biscuit at such time as this! re-
joined Victor, in tone of reproof b..
Because have missed my supper" returned
Prescott, 'and this is the very hour when bread
and butter naturally come uppermost in ones
thoughts" ..
II verify believe, Prescott, you would set down
to your dinner, with keen appetite, under the
fire of a battery, remarked Victor.
Hardly 30 bad as that, Victor, rejoined Pres-
colt II always like to eat my meals in peace
"And IN ,oar, too, equally as well, 1 would say
from what I have seen Of you," retorted Victor.
II like my bread and butter well enough, too; but
not when an enemy may swoop down upon me at
any moment"
While Sergeant Haley and his squad are guard
ing the road we can rest at our ease, and be safe
enough in this Castle Dismal, l" said Prescott, in
his calm quiet way. Warning will be given III
time enough to take to the.bushes if an enemy
should appear. Our squad will keep wide awake. -
1T is always,the safe course to run no risks,
reioined Victor; I'VE must gather what informa
ton We can, and hasten back to make our report
don't fancy lettering in house at such time
and place as this, even for ten minutes.
1T would be good enough COOP for me-" re
piled Prescott, if only had soft feather bed te
roost in. There would be no.crowing done, either
on my roost, assure you, till good broad ygh'
came with an ordor Of hot mullins and coffee
That would be something then to crow over"
Suppose Prescott, asked Victor, reverting tt
the subiect uppermost in his mind, "we should
run upon squad of Yankees at this house. wha'