The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-02-18
SIT ana hold It between MS

comFtliel 10 slt auu uoio ~ pe@"eeo ni'
hands.
They were again on the march, however,
although Griffith was compelled to limp
slowly along, when they heard the heavy
tramp of feet on their advance.
-Griff, dye hear that?" asked Jack.
YES"
What dye make out O. it3"
The party Of armed men who passed
US are on their return, said Captain Al
ton, after listening a moment.
why are they comm backp"
Il don't kpow-I cannot understand it. I"
BY jingo, Griff, amt they comm this
way2"
NO, they are coming down the ravine,
Jack" said Griffith, considerably puz-
zled. Here. let us lay down behind
these ROCKS ana listen TO them as they 60
by. Maybe We can catch something as
they 60 along. Look sharp; don't let a
single thing escape, but don't let them
get glimpse of you.
Have no fears O that" said Jack
1I've got my eyes peeled, an ef you say,
kin jist knock over them fellers fast as
they come along"
NO, no; by no means. Don't try that
lay whist-here they come"
All was quiet save the tramping of feet
over stones. Not a murmur came from
that dark line Of shadows as it filed down
the ravine, stumbling, shambling, and
staggering along over the uneven ground.
Their march seemed anything but mill
tarv, and yet Griffith Alton thought that
they might possibly be marines who were
uneccustomed to travelling on land.
1t TOOK some rlme 10 get by, ana then,
with his companion Mt lis heels, he
crossed the ravine and proceeded through
a thick forest, intending to cut across
bit of headland and get into the village
sooner.
Jack, you know the way thoroughly,
do you not?" he asked.
-Oh, yes; I could 60 it hlindfolded,'
Jack answered.
We'll. take the lead and let US get
there as soon as possible"
AL right, sir; come on, said Jack,
leading the way. EFF ye say trot, tro'
it is. "
NO, not quite SO fast, and little
more cautious, Jack" answered the
Captain, keeping pace with him. AL.
though We seem to have the enemy
at our backs, there may be struggling
party yet in 'front.'
Don't ye be afeared, Griff, that won't
keep my eyes peeled" said the veteran,
who kept stalking along with giant
strides over the rocks and through the
woods.
Keep your ears open, too, JACK"
Il will"
He stopped 80 suddenly that Captain
Alton almost ran against him. From the
direction of the fort there came two re-
ports in quick succession.
4Griff, they're at it." said the black
smith.
Captain Alton listened. If it was an
attack there would be more firing. But
there was not another shot fired, and
Griffith came to the conclusion that there
must have been more spies in the camp.
Now that It's too late," he said in an
nndertone, we know beyond doubt that
The deserter of the Xenophon is not q
spy"
Jack, who had been loudest in his de-
uunciation Of the deserters, made no an
swer. After waiting a reasonable length
of time they again started through the
woods to the fort. Both were silent, and
there was a burning anxiety on the part
of our hero to reach his deF 'ination. The
fort, the artillery, the pe~ple left in his
charge, tie trust confded TO him by the
and greatest of all, his anx-
iety for that lovely being who was more
than life to him, seemed to fire his nerves
with an impatience wholly unendurable.
AS they were hurriedly trampin9
through the woods his quick ear cauoht
the souna OF footsteps again coming TO.
w.1d them.
Jack. stop"
Yes, Grit, hear it, sal the black.
smith, hating. Il guess it's another
batch O. 'em comm down here"
Lay low and let them pass"
Crouched behind giant oaks the Amer.
leans waited and listened. On toward
them, passing within O dozen PAGES, came
a small party of men. Whether there
were two, three, or dozen, they could
not exactly tell, but they were travelling
in great hurry aud seemed bearing 8
heavy burden.
Did they 'itys, Luke?" one asked.
NO"
Captain Alton at once came to the con.
clus;on that some one of the marines had
been wounded and they were carrying
him away.
His first impulse was to charge them.
but then he remembered that there were
others near, perhaps near enough to pre-.
vent his accomplishing his purpose and
to endanger his return to the fort His
anxiety 10 reach the village he had been
SO foolish to leave overcame every other
feeling.
Bill" one of the men passing BY was
heard to say in AN undertone, there's
Yankees out in these ere woods, amt
theret"
Don't know, Luke"
Better look sharp, for I believe the
woods are full y EN-"
Well, we've got plenty marines ERE to
match en-"
-'Urry hup," said another, who seemed
to be carrying something heavy in Lis
arms; we've got no time TO be 'angin'
back ere"
Again our hero was almost inclined to
swoop down upon them. There We're
only four or FIVE of the Britons at most,
and he and Jack would be q match for
them; but then he reflected it would
cause delay, and it was of the utmost
Importance that he reach the fort.
This small squad passed on, and our
hero and Jack again started toward
Mauoa, which was now not over two or
three miles away. Suddenly there arose
on the night mir, in the direction the
Britons had gone, loud uneaythly
shrek.
It was beyond doubt a females voice,
and 30 wild and shrill did it sound upon
the ears of the Americans that it brought
them to dead halt.
Jack, who is that?" asked our hero.
Its a woman"
At this moment there came another
" Id cry.
Help. help! help! for heavens sake,