The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-01-14
THE MYSTERIOUS GUNNER
An Exciting Story of the War
of 1912.
By JOHN R. MUsICK.
CHAPTER Iv.-(Continued.)

The commander or Man0a h6lQ con.
sultation with his chief officers. While
the council was still in session runners
came in from Belfast with the informa-
ton that about fifty Americans, on their
way to the defense of Manoa, had been
arrested by a British officer that morning,
In command of twenty dragons.
aSimor,n said our hero to the Yankee,
Il am going to leave you In charge OF the
town, take fifty armed men, and go to Bel
fast"
why, Capen," said the Yankee, his
eyes and mouth opening wide with aston
ishment, what ye goin' to that teown
fur?"
10 rescue those prisoners, and capture
whatever dragons may be In the town.
"Better let me 60.
NO: YOU don't know the country. /
can effect complete surprise at Belfast:
The young commander consulted with
others, among them the old sea captain,
who had hobbled down to the village.
"Ye needn't fear the man-o'-war," said
Captain Gatrell; she's been blowed out
o. her course SO far that it'll take three
days to beat back, r. she's got contrary
winds all the time to contend with. Them
land sharks are all we've got to fear"
aAnd it is certain that Major Bridges is
yet several miles march from Belfast.
Only his advanced guard, twenty or
thirty light horse, have been thrown fer
ward, to hold Belfast and stop all who
would come here to our defense. pro-
pose now with fifty well-armed men to
defeat this advance guard"
All could not but admit that Grifhth's
plan was an excellent strategic move
-ment. He selected fifty young men who
could endure fatigue, and who seemed
courageous. Jack Hatchet was his lieu
tenszt, and 81 Cole and Tommy Rufaes
were officers in the expedition.
Griffith before going on the dangerous
expedition paid short visit to the girl
whom he lovod. In as few words as pos
sible he told her Of the coming expedi-
. tion and probable danger which he might
encounter, concluding with:
Il could not leave, Ola, without snatch
ing one moment at least to bid you good
by"
Her face was pale, and he saw she had
been weeping.
sOh, Griffith, there is such a weight on
nv heart. i felt as if all light, all joy
had gone out of my life forever"
1T is only passing cloud, Ola, which
will pass away like last nights storm,
leaving Ou tuc COL III.
THAT terrible revelation last night
the storm and the flight" =.
They are nothing. dearest Ola. The
revelation does not make you any the less
dear to me. I love you the same as ever
yea, even more, for that pathetic little
story Of the death Of your parents on the
wreck has endeared you to me more than
ANYTHING could. The storm was our
friend, for it has beaten the enemy away,
so that We shall now have time to COM
plete our fortifcations. The alarm grew
out of nothing save the capture OF two
sailors, who say they have deserted the
Xenophon; but I am staying too long.
dearest. Take courage; do not despair;
I will come back again this evening""
A moment he pressed her to his breast,
and was gone, while she fell sobbing on
the settee.
The little band of heroes, many Of
whom had never yet "smelt gunpowder,"
were ready when Griffith returned to
start for Belfast. At the head of the
little band, he left the works, on which
labor had been resumed at early dawn.
Silently the little band proceeded up the
hill and along Q thickly wooded road.
The sky was cloudless and the day prom
ised to be warm, but the march Of the
Americans for most of the way lay
through q forest, which would screen
them from the glaring rays OF the fierco
sun.
The Americans, in their shirt-sleeves,
with rifles or muskets on their shoulders,
hurried along through the woods, some
times tanning themselves with their hats,
or pausing to slake their thirst at some
woodland brooklet.
It was eleven o'clock in the forenoon
before they came in sight Of Belfast.
There was cornfeid which extended
quite up to the village, and, hating his
HR1d command in the woods, Griffith
mt Sam Perry, who had had some ex-
feld to reconnoiter.
Perry was gone but a few moments
when he returned and informed the young
commander that he had seen few red
coats in the town. Six were all be had
discovered, but beyond doubt there
we're more.
Griffith resolved to hazard an attack
so cautioning his men to take good aim
and not injure any Of the citizens, he
led them into the field of standing corn.
Some Of the younger members trem-
bled, but no one tried to shirk duty.
When they were near enough to catch q
glimpse Of the town, they discovered two
red-coats sitting on the platform in front
of Layman's store, while third stood
leaning on his fusee near them.
Steady, steady, not SO fast" cautioned
the leader, in an undertone.
They reached the fence without being
discovered. As one man they sprang up
on it, leaped over, and with loud huzzas
charged down the street.
The Briton with the musket fred at
them, but his shot went high. Two or
three shots in return brought him down.
One Of the redcoats on the porch was
wounded, and the other fed.
Where ere the others?" cried Capt.
Alton, rushing on the wounded redcoat
and waving his sword over his head.
They ar in that big 'ouse d-down the
street." the wounded man groaned.
Loud yells from the house were heard,
and half dozen muskets from it belched
forth their deadly contents. Bill Mason
fell, wounded, and his cries so enraged
his comrades that Griffith found his
hands full 10 prevent them from rushing
pell-mell upon the large tobacco house,
to their own destruction.
From the windows of the building the
heads Of American prisoners appeared,
and Griffith knew that the British had
put their prisoners in the tobacco balm to
keep hem, until Major Briggs should
o.. come.
Screen yourselves behind the houses,
said our hero.
why not charge 'em, Griff ?" roared
Hatchet, whose blood was up. We kin
lick EN-"
They have an advantage over us. Be
careful how you shoot, or you will hit