Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-06-18

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the store was busy with his customers Victor seat
ed himself few feet from the counter on an emp
ty box as if awaiting his turn to be served. His
action was so natural in itself that no one would
have suspected how deeply his thoughts were
absorbed He had secured seat within four OF
five feet of the parties whose conversation he was
so desirousof oyerhearing and concealed from their
view by the empty boxes which offered no impedi'
ment to the sound of their voices, he could dis
tinctly hear every word that passed between them.
The customers who came and went were too busy
with their own affairs to cast even glance at the
two worthless who were so deeply engaged in their
tete tete, and after short time seeing that they
were unnoticed, they became less cautious and
guarded in their manner.
"Just see here, Mike, said the stranger throw,
ing open his jacket and showing bullet hole
through the left pocket wasn't that close sha.
ving-hey now, wasn't it?'
,''You didn't do it yourself, now, Brack?'' asked
Walsh with ready suspicion. .
"What should I do it for?" asked the other
with something of honest indignation in his tone.
No, Mike; you may safely swear it was bullet
fired by Confederate picket; and it wasn't aimed
badly either considering it was pretty dark night,
and was running down the middle Of the Stono
on rapid ebb. Why, blessyou my boy, Thought
was as safe as a drift log, when here comes q
hail from picket on shore, and bang went his
musket, all in breath. threw myself down fiat
in the boat, and you may swear, Mike, was afraid
to wink my eyes or scratch my head for fear the
fellow would hear it and send another bullet whiz-
zing after me; why the fact is, man, hardly drew
long breath until the tide had carried me full
mile below the bend"
"We have to run risks, Brack, you know, " re,
Joined Walsh. $50 you got through safe withyour
dispatch, it don't matter copper how many bull
lets were sent after you"
"Aye but. Mike, I didn't get my dispatch
through safe that time, responded Brack.
"What!" rejoined Walsh roughly-"you didn't
let one shot, in the dark, turn you back?"
No, went through-you may swear that Mike
and saw the Commodore, too, replied Brack-
"but he didn't read much of that dispatch, for the
bullet must have had the devil in it, for it went
through the secret pocket on the inside Of my jack
ct, and carried away so much of the dispatch that
the Commodore said he couldn't make head or tail
of it. I carried him q goodmail of papers though,
and, you may swear, Mike, the old fellow treated
to some splendid gin. would like to carry the
old boy twenty dispatches day if it wasn't for the
danger of bullets and you may swear that with
both hands up"
"When did you come back, Brack?'' asked
Walsh.
II ran into the harbor this morning, just before
daylight, under heavy fog. The Commodore
must have learned, from the dispatch that block
ade runner was to go out last night, for just after
dark, he stood away from the mouth Of the Stone
river and ran nearly cross the bar, to cut off the
blockade runner from returning into the harbor, il
she ventured out. If she went out at all, she
must have gone about it as silly as mouse, fol
none of the feet got the wind of her. The Com
modore was on deck all night and just two hours
before day there came on heavy fog, when he lei
me down into my canoe, and ran in with the tide
and landed, below the bridge, without difficulty
You may swear, Mike, love to drink gin with
the Commodore, but don't fancy getting bullet
hole in my jacket on the way. And how has il
gone with you, Mike, since saw you?'
"With me? exclaimed Walsh, with terrible
oath, "curse them! they dragged Inc up before
the Provost Marshal as a deserter. l shall have
my revenge for it, YETI
but you come off clear, see, " rejoined Braek
'No need to fret over bad bridge, it it carries
you over safe
"Brack," said Walsh, somewhat abruptly 81
don't intend to make more than one more triI
down to the feet My next trip will be my last. y
"Aha I supposed so. You begin to find there
is danger from the pickets," said Brack, with {
laugh.
"Pshaw that for the pckets |" returned Walsh
swapping his fingers testify. II would run thei
lines in daylight, if the humor took me, mucf
more at night, when bullets and powder are bu
thrown away"
! "What then?" asked Brack. "You don't likt
the business of being spy2"
"Hush-h-hr'. exclaimed Walsh, in low tones
with an earnest gesture Of caution "Walls have
ears. You must not speak so loudly. mol I an
not tired of doing the niger owners all the harm
I can. I am willing to travel night and day, tt
bring their pride down to the dust. l want to SCI
the nigger-owning aristocracy play out, and SCI
hands that would not touch mine, come down tt
the hoe and the wash-tub.'
"Ah Mike, you are too bitter" rejoinet
Brack, with shake of the head "Niggers wer'
born to work, and let them work while the worlt
lasts, say I. don't care about bringing anybody
pride down; but, you can safely swear, [ love tt
earn golden guinea now and then, and to drinl
the Commodore gin, every day. But what an
doing, with hearty good will to every one, you art
doing from hate.
"From hate Yes! from hate hotter and deep
er than the very depths of hell p rejoined Walsh
with an angry oath, and with the scowl of demon
Let this confederacy Of aristocrats be blown SKY
: high, and then let the Commodore and his canting
cheating, hypocritical countrymen, go after then
: with will I care for none of them. I hate th'
2 whole generation of Yankees and niger driver
alike"
"Wel, you are queer one, Nike" said Brack
e with light laugh. ''As for me, wish we coult
shake hands all around, kiss and be friends again
E You may swear that, Mike, with good conscience
I long for nothing so much as peace, and anothe
: pull at the Commodore GIN
eff you do not hate the Confederatcs, growle,
: Walsh, with whom hate was the handspring ofe
: cry action, 'why, then are you running yourhea'
S into danger, in carrying messages to the Yankees
: If you are caught, you know what you will get
t don't you? drumhead court-martial and shor
a cord p
"Ah yes" answered Brack, with sigh, Will
S he moved restively on his seat, and his face be
j came thoughtful and .loc.hy, II know all that