Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-03-15

that the astonished leaders, who had been in
dulging in tender "reminiscences of the snug
stable and good supper from which they had
been brought forth into the cold, came out of
their reverie with a violent plunge or two,
and dashed off ats gallop. Jim's experienced
hand, however, steadied them down in short
order; and now the coach was rolling along,
as fast as four mettlesome steeds could carry
it over smooth sandy road, through the
gloom and darkness of the windy night
Besides the gentleman and his daughter,
and their Yankee friend, already presented to
the notice of the reader, there we're three more
occupants of the inside seats. Two rough
looking individuals of the miner class, and a
buxom Irish woman, carrying basket and
various bundles and packages which were
somewhat detrimental to the comfort and
convenience of her fellow-travelers, particu-
larly when sudden lurch of the coach from
side to- side flung them against the knees or
elbows of those nearest to her. She very
obligingly tried to remedy this evil, by offer
ing the basket to one of the pen as a footstool.
assuring him that he needn't be afraid Of u.s.
ing it, as it contained nothing that could be
hurt; while to another she profered the soft
est of her bundles as pillow. These propo-
sails being de lined, however, she made pyr-
amid in her capacious lap of as many OF the
obnoxious articles as her arms could enfold,
and presently fell asleep with her chin resting
on the topmost one, and the basket between
her knees. ..... .. ... .
The young invalid, who fortunately occu-
pied the corner of the coach farthest removed
from that in which the portly form of the
daughter of Erin was packed, leaned her head
on her fathers shoulder, and appeared, after
a while, also to yield to the pressure Of IA
tigue. Her eyes were closed, though an oc-
casional weary sigh, or sudden start, indicated
that her slumber was not very profound. The
old gentleman was too fully engaged with
anxious thoughts, and also in caring for her
comfort, to follow her example, and gazed
fxedly out into the darkness Of the night,
where moving shapes, like phantoms, seemed
to glide past the windows as they sped along.
Every one but himself was nodding, while
various unmusical sounds, proceeding from
the open mouths around him, mingled with
the rattling of the wheels and the creaking
of the rusty joints and hinges Of the "old ma
chine" as Mr.. Jones had termed it, when
suddenly Z loud exclamation was heard from
the driver, followed by the sharp crack of
pistol, and the stage stopped.
"What's up now?" cried one Of the men,
rousing himself from his nap. And a gener
al thrill of CONSERVATION ran through the
party, as the light of lantern, flashing past
them, revealed several dark forms grouping
about the horses, though nothing could be
distinctly discerned.
"It's no use for you to show fight, Jim
Norris" said clear, cool voice, deDoting un'
mistakable resolution on the part of the
speaker, whoever he might be. Gust hand
over that box of yours, that you've got inside,
and we'll let you Co."
"Not if knows it," was Jim's sturdy re-
ply:
By this time all was excitement and confu-
sion. The men, with thu exception Of the Ell.
derly gentleman, to whom his daughter clung
in terror, all sprang out of the coach, and the
Irishwoman lifted up her voice in loud cries
of dismay.
"Och it's murthered we shall all be. Oh !
holy saints, presarve US. Oh it's thieves
and robbers, that's attacking us, and we'll
niver escape alive out of their hands.
Ochone! Ochone!"
Loud oaths and execrations, mingled with
more firing, seemed to offer confirmation Of
her fears. The driver, aided by his passen-
gers, made valiant resistance to his assail.
ants, but the latter, (who were all shrouded
in heavy cloaks, and eAsctually masked) had
greatly the advantage in numbers. They
we're, besides, evident desperadoes, who, in
their thirst for booty, would suffer no obstacle
to battle their bold scheme. Suddenly, as one
of their band discharged his pistol, there was
a heavy groan and man fell dead-it was
one of the two miners, who we're travelling in
company, and bound on the same errand.
At the same instant, the mas K fell from the
face of the robber who had discharged the
fatal shot, and for moment, as the light
played on his features, they we're distinctly
visible. The face was that of mere boy,
pale as death, and greatly agitated by emo
tion and excitement; his large, glittering dark
ewes seemed to rest with terror on the pros.
trate form of his victim, and his weapon fell
from his hand. All this flashed like vision
before the frightened gaze of the sick girl,
which was directed toward the scene. But,
in an instant, one of the other robbers, with
an muttered oath, dragged his youthful COM
panion aside, and hastily readjusted his dis
guise. A very brief space decided the issue
of the unequal conflict Morris and his as
sistants were bound and gagged, the box of
valuables dragged from its hiding.place, and
the robbers made off with their prize, leaving
the unfortunate travellers to extricate them.
selves, as we'll as they could, from the plight
into which they had fallen.
Mrs. Malloy, the Irishwoman, who was
somewhat consoled by the discovery that she
had escaped with her life, and her precious
packages untouched, now rendered valuable
assistance in loosening her male companions
from their bonds, while uttering many lamen-