Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-05-25

ton" T
These words drove every vestige of color
from the listeners face; they told her who
the men below were, though she could not
even see the outlines of their persons. One
week prior to her visit, her father, one of
the Kings Mountain heroes, was found
dead in palmetto grove, and the words
of Ferguson's Avengers lay on his breast.
Then she had deserted her home, knowing
that TIC hand that had struck the father
would not spare the uaushter.
Well might the poor girl tremble wneu
she found herself so near the scourges of
the country, and she did not move until
she heard the front door opened by a
kick, and heavily booted feet in the room
below.
Then calm thought of her situation
drove fear from her heart, and Alice Beau
champe prepared for one of the most dar-
ing deeds of the Revolutionary War.
The noise in the house increased, and
oaths drude jests preceded aid followed
the lighting of a fire on the hearth
Alice, who had longed for a sight of
the dreaded six, crept to a spot near the
bureau where there was crack in the
floor Then applying her eye to the peek
hole, she saw six wild looking men direct
ly beneath her.
They were, beyond doubt the avengers
of Ferguson's death, for several masks lay
on the table, along with three or four bot
ties OF wine which they had taken from
some patriots cellar. Tall, rough, devil
may care looking fellows they were, armed
with pistols, carbines and sabers, the kind
Of men who never court the smiles of
mercy or listen to the pleading of inno-
cence. Just such fellows as they were,
Alice had supposed them to be, for she
had seen many Of the prisoners taken at
the Kings Mountain, and she longed for
the presence of a band Of patriots. There
were true men in South Carolina at the
time who would have given their right
arms for a chance to eXterminate the
Avengers, and Alice knew where little
party of patriots lay, but alas! they were
not very near. '@
Wen rest here and finish that wine!"
said one of the leaders of the band, whose
face told thathe had already imbibed freely.
Bring in the poultry, and on old Beau
champe's hearth We'll prepare feast''
At his command, one of the men left
the house, but soon returned, bearing with
him duck and several chickens, from
whose freshly-Wrung necks the blood was
dripping.
How's the horses 2" asked one of the
Avengers, as the man flung the poultry
on the table.
Standing like rocks" was the reply.
Such horses as they don't need watch
ing, and, beside, there isn't rebel with
in ten miles of this accursed place." -H
Why, there's the Widow Hartzel."
q dion't think of her" was the reply.
How bitterly old Hartzel hated us, but
we caught him at last"
"And presented him with breast-pin!
Ha! hal"
And the laugh went round the room.
Alice Beauchampe did not wait till the
laugh was ended; while yet it filed the
house with its devilish echoes, she glided
across the room to a window that looked
out upon the dark palmetto grove, be-
hind the building.
There was no sash in the window, and
the cold wind Of the night kissed the pal
lid cheek Of the partisan 5 daughter. For
a moment she tried to pierce the dark
ness beneath the window; but, failing in
her endeavors, she crept over the sill, re-
solved to trust to fortune for success.
The distance to the ground was not
great, and the daring girl ahghted with
out injury. s.
Now she was free to make her escape to
diate flight in that direction was not her
intention.
"Heaven aid mew she murmured as
she glided along the old house and APP
preached the horses which the tories had
left tetEered to the small trees few yards
from the door. ri. ...7.
A glance into the room revealed the
forms Of the Avengers discussing the wine
with oaths and jest, or watching the roast
ing of the fowls. They did not fear
danger, for their horrible deeds had com
pletely terrorized the country, and under
the sway of their lawlessness it was be-
coming desert.
Alice counted them before she touched
single rein; and then in brief period of
time she loosened the horses and quietly
led them into small copse not far away.
The steedS did not refuse to obey her
guidance and when she reached the
copse she struck them with whip which
she found beneath saddle. 1t was a
smart blow which she administered, and
the horses started forward and disap
peared in an instant.
Thus in a few moments Ferguson's
Avengers had been deprived OF their
horses.
Flushed with triumph, Alice Beau
champe returned to the house, and again
looked in upon its hilarious tenants.
She now held pistol in her hand-a
weapon which a holster had granted her
and she crept to the edge of the porch
before she halted. There was a flash of
IL