Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-02-13

NO. r.
"No fear of that" was the reply. 1--WE
have guard, and will keep watch on him.
Come, I must beg you to be quick; time
presses !"
Remonstrance would have been useless,
and the unwilling pair, not knowing whittier
they were now to be conducted, were obliged
to follow the directions Of this new leader,
and re-enter the vehicle which had brought
them to the spot Joshua scowled savagely
at them as they did so, but said not word.
The man fastened his own horse behind the
carriage, mounted the box, and drove of:
A turn in the road brought them in sight
of another travelling carriage, evidently in
the custody Of more Of the band. This was,
in fact, mail-coach, the very one for which
the robbers who had captured their party had
been lying in wait; and the driver and pas.
sengers, unable make a successful resistance,
had been forced to yield themselves and what
ever valuables they possessed, into the hands
of the assailants.
The plan of the latter was to conduct their
prisoners, by a roundabout way, to distant
point, while one of their number went off in
an opposite direction with the booty, and
then leave them to shift for themselves. They
accordingly went forward, one carriage pre-
ceding the other, and their guard, six in mum.
Der, riding in line on either side.
The quiet and usually unfrequented wood.
seldom travelled except by this coach, (Which
carried the mail from a small country town
some miles distant, to certain railroad sta.
ton just beyond its borders,) or an occasional
traveller on horseback or foot, was destined,
on this day, to be the scene Of still farther
adventures The violence Of the storm had
driven another travelling party from the high.
road to seek shelter, such as it was, within
the wood, where, at least, they found a partial
refuge from the wind. This party consisted
of Col. Mansfield and his wife, an elderly
couple on their way to Canterbury, with a
son and nephew, young daughter and
her friend, and four other gentlemen, who
were travelling in the same direction, and had
Joined them on the way. All Of the gentle
men we're armed "a fortunate circumstance,
as it afterwards proved) and had, moreover,
to support them, two stout riders similarly
equipped.
"Any one would think" one Of the ladies
had laughingly remarked, "thatwe were trav-
cling in fear of our lives But the only dam
ger that threatens us to-day is the fury Of the
elements, against which pistols and dirks are
no safeguards"
Zone never knows what sort Of fellows may
be prowling about the road" said young
Mansfield. "In fact, have been informed
that some suspicious characters have been
tracked in this direction lately
"It would be rather amusing to meet some
Of them, wouldn't it p asked Miss Mansfeld's
friend. "It would be fun to have an adyen-
ture to write about to mamma"
"Ohl Lena, don't say that-the very idea
of robbers, or anything of that sort, terri6es
me to death, was the reply Of the young lady
to whom the question was addressed. 81 have
no fancy for dangerous adventures"
my sister was not cut out for heroine,
Miss Lena" said Mr.. Mansfield. "The char
acter, think, would suit you infinitely better"
At this instant, the driver of the other car
riage pulled up his horses, and turning round,
remarked to one of the gentlemen inside
There's queer-looking party coming yon-
der, sir. Better be on your guard"
"It's Dick Low and his gang" quickly
added one of the footmen, in tone Of great
excitement. 81 know 'em well by sight.
They've been and captured the mail, I'm blest
if they ain't!" va. & =
"And another party along with the stage
passengers" continued the driver. a9e
A hasty consultation ensued. It was de-
cided to leave the carriage with the ladies in
it, and Col. Mansfield to protect them, while
all the other men should advance in body
to the rescue of the prisoners. The robbers,
perceiving their hostile intentions, and de.
string only to escape, instantly scattered in
various directions, but only two Of them got
off unhurt the horse of one, stumbling over
a root, flung him headforemost to the ground,
and he, with the one who was acting as driver
for the carriage which contained Mildred and
her companions, was Immediately taken into
custody. A well directed shot brought the
fifth to the ground, and another shot broke the
arm Of the sixth, who, however, managed to
elude capture. The one who was shot down
was found to have been instantly killed.
Mildred's nerves, wound up to pitch Of
intensity too high to sustain itself, had at last
given way, and she lay unconscious, with
her head against Clarissa's shoulder. The
latter, believing her to be dead, and overcome
by the combined terrors of the situation, ut
tered piercing shrieks, which soon brought
everybody aocking around them. Young
Mansfield, seeing that Joshua Was bound,
was about to release him, but Clarissa vehe-
mently interposed.
"He's thief and villain, the worst of
'em all, ;" she energetically exclaimed. "We're
his prisoners, and tbs poor girl was stolen by
him from her family, months and months ago.
I can prove it all to you, no matter what he
says"
"She's an escaped lunatic-don't listen to
her." said Joshua, attempting to laugh; but
look from one to the others of the party de-
cided Mr.. Mansfield, and he said, quietly, that