The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-02-11
.wnr o1dny 1e say SOY said the picket.

st( Jtin' back there aDoutf askeu tne
guard as they advanced.
Griffith explained that there had been
some of the enemy in their lines and they
fred at them as they ran out, and asked:
Did any one pass you?"
NO" the picket answered, mo un's
passed US; no un could go past Us:
They did; they come through your
lines into our works, said Captain Alton.
"Griff, where are your" called voice
in his rear, and the next moment Jack
Hstchet came up, painting and wlplng the
'erspiration from his face.
JACK, what are you do!ng mere: the
Captain asked.
%Oh, l heered the shootin', an come
ont to see what was the matter; an KEEP
On comm till found ye."
But you had no orders to follow me-.
mo. nor l didn't want any, Grlf. II
re war in danger, that was all wanted
10 know, an I Jest put in to help ye out. =.
well, Jack, I shall not reprove you,
for your motive is evidently good one;
out it does not express very good dlscl-
oline on our part to have soldiers acting
without orders.
.Oh, ding it, Griff! I amt sgoin' to try
% understand anything bout discipline.
Fact is, I don't keer straw. When
:hsrs needed a sledge- hammer blow,
lest count on old Jack. that's all.
come on-we will scour the woods,
laEk as it is, and try and discover some
If these spies.
ever We say, but it seems to me like look
in fur needle in haystack tonight.
Griffith Alton cautioned all to be quiet
ieployed them in the woods and made
forward movement. There was little hope
IT this intense darkness Of finding the
spies in the woods. It would be but a
bare possibility if they came on them al
ILL.,
If the British intended making night
attack, which he believed they did lot,
they would in all probability meet their
advancing lines. The Americans pos
sessed an advantage over the enemy in
being thoroughly acquainted with every
foot of the ground. They were foemen
not to be despised.
American rtfemen have always proved
q match for regulars, and in the singular
warfare in the woods, where SO much de-
pends on accuracy of aim and SO little
military tactics, they are their superior.
The citizen soldiers of Manoa had had
their mettle tested, and were not lacking
in confidence in themselves. For several
hundred yards they had cautiously ad-
vanced in the woods, when suddenly there
came three distinct raps, sounding very
much like some one striking q cartridge
DoX.
The Americans came TO halt.
Can it be possible we have come on
II sr1, k,cO &oiy
asked himself. Not word was spoken
and dead silence reigned over the /Toods.
1t was common Tor pIcKets to rap on
their cartridge boxes instead of hailing
an advancing foe. A moments silence
and then came three loud raps, and a
voice cried:
Who goes there?"
Beyond doubt they had stumbled on
the British pickets, though the land
forces were on the west of the fort and
they were on the north side. This picket
had been thrown out by the marines
from the man of-war.
Here is mystery" the young COM
msnder thought. @This must be seen
into at once. wish I knew how many
they were. We will investigate it any
wav."
He was quick to think and equally
as quick to act. The words had scarcely
escaped the officer hailing them, when
Griffith answered:
1T is friends.
Have Won succeededl7 was mex. asked.
What on earth does he mean?" the
Captain asked himself, but determined
now to play bold part, be answered:
mo, not yet"
They've got strong guard all round
their works have theyl"
Griffith, holding cooked pistol in
one hand and sword in the other, was
slowly advancing toward the Englishman.
His mind was acting with LIGHTNING
like rapiiity, and he concluded beyond a
doubt that this WIS uly party, either OF
the land forces or marines from. the
Xenophon, sent out to accomplish soma
object, which, beyond a doubt, was te
spike the guns.
What did 20 come back for till ye
done iti" the Briton asked.
Il had TO-" he answered, blindly.
WAS it you who tired those shots?"
They were at US.
You have reused the guards by youl
blundering, and the job has not been done
yet."
The man who was addressing Griffith
was evidently on officer. The young
captain now resolved on q bold plan-a
plan which was both bold and desperate
It might result in his losing his life, but
it promised success in ferreting out this
mystery.
Are they there?" asked the voice.
"Who?" he asked.
1The deserters Burnett and Dawes,
the British officer of marines asked.
Yes; We think there can lie no douoi
of it." the American officer answered.
Then Cap'n Mon:e;th was right
Well, won't they swing at the yard-arn
when we get 'em2 1t. was Burnett who
did that execution to our ship"
Then Burnett is not a tlaitor or spy,
thought Captain Alton. we were
wrong"
The American was trying to discove,
how many men the officer Of marines had
with him, but was wholly unable to dc
that. He heard him occasionally speal
to some one, but it was in an undertone
and hs could gain no information from
what he said.
He at last came up to the officer. Two
or three dark forms were standing about
him, but the officer was one pace to the
front.
What are you geing to do now?' the
marine asked.
Come this way q moment"
The officer took one step forward and
then his suspicious being aroused, he
started back, saying:
There's something wrong here"
Surrender" and Griffith seized him BY
the arm and laid the Inuzzle of his pistol
against the Briton's temple.
-Ho, here!" shouted the officer.
Hold! Another word and you are o