Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1892-12-07

behind" said the captain when he heard
the news. "If they can get through
we ought to be able to-"
~ don't like it," answered Joe with a
shake Of the head. "They were des-
perate lot before Taylor Joined them,
ard you know how he feels toward us.
believe they have come this way to
ambush us, and from this on we can't
keep our eyes open too wide"
"That's true" added Harkins. "Tay-
lor knew what we were after, and
through him all the others know: l
think they played spy on Us and dis
covered that we had struck the treasure.
They dared not attack us in the valley,
as we would be on our guard, but !
shall be greatly disappointed if they do
not show their hands before our second
day down the river is over"
The party remained in camp with the
soldiers only one night, and as in the
case Of the outlaws the contents OF the
wagons were not suspected. They were
locked upon as one of the hundred un-
successful expeditions already returning
disguised from the diggings. They were
given three cheers by the soldiers as they
moved out, and camp had been placed
only a few miles behind when vigilant
outlook was maintained for the outlaws.
Three times during the day, when the
party was obliged to pass locations where
8 foe could lie in ambush, scouts were
sent ahead to make sure that no trsp
had been set for them. Their pace was
net so rapid as that Of the outlaws, ana
it was noon of the second day before
they approached the scene Of the tragedy
brought about by Taylor.
While yet two or three miles away
the scout, who was riding in advance,
halted and waited for the others to come
up.
"What Is its' asked the captain as all
had closed up
"Lookw
lowering over the grove straight
ahead was cloud of buzzards. What
their presence signi6ed every man
knew.
"They are low down" whispered the
captain.
(which means death" replied Joe.
while they are waiting for wounded
man or horse to die they sail high"
"The other party has been attacked
and wiped out, fear"
Cant be otherwise. There's certain
to be sight there which the women
should not be permitted to gaze upon.
Some Of Us had best ride ahead and soc
what can be done"
Joe, Harkins and a third man were
dispatched on the errand, and they
found it one to try their nerves. When
they had approached close enough to get
q view Of the camp they knew it to be
the camp of the outlaws, for there were
the horses and wagon. The vultures
numbered hundreds, and while part Of
them were running about on the ground,
others sailed slowly about in short cir
cles and hesitated to alight.
"Look at the horsesr' exclaimed joe.
The animals had been staked out On
ground furnishing scant pasturage at
best. For three days they had had
aeither food nor water, and as Joe spoke
they were making tremendous efforts to
break their lariats or pull the iron pins
from the ground.
There are dead men there!" whis-
pered Harkins, with pale face, "but the
buzzards are afraid of the horses"
The trio moved forward. They were
greeted with whinnies of welcome from
the suffering horses, but for two or three
minutes they had eyes only for the bodies
Of the dead. But for the clothing on
them it would have been hard to identify
them as human beings.
There are only four, and neither Of
them is Taylor" said Joe as he rode
around the bodies. There are no ar
rows here, no empty shells, no signs Of
q fight with the Indians. Let US ride
through the grove and see if we can
find the key to this mystery"
They scattered and hunted for further
evidence, but they found none. Taylor.
living or dead, could not be traced.
Here's his rifle" said Harkins a. he
dismounted and picked up gun lying
by itself on the ground.
"And it has not been discharged"
added Joe as he inspected it. These
dead men are his work, and the fact
that he did not drive away with the
team proves that something happened
him. Let Us relieve the horses and then
get these horrible objects out Of sight"
When the remainder Of the party came
up not an evidence Of the tragedy e1-
listed, but the story told them by those
who had drawn the corpses to the river
and foated them off was shocking
enough without the presence Of the
dead. The horses had been reduced to
skeletons, and it was full hour before
their thirst was sufficiently satisfied to
permit them to enjoy the fresh green
grass at the other side Of the grove.
The next surprise came when one Of
the men investigated the contents Of
the outlaws wagon and found the treas
ure which had been responsible for so
many crimes. While it was known
that the men were hunting for the cave
Of gold, the idea that they had foand it
had Lot been entertained. Whom did
it belong to? The wreckage of the sea
belongs to the finder. So with the
wreckage of the plains.
The wagons were moved to tho other
side Of the grove and the gold hunters
went into camp. If the newly added
treasure was to be taken away it must
be drawn by the horses which had
hauled it thus far and were now hardly
able to keep their feet. 1t would take
week to recruit them for the long pull
to the fort. The camp was therefore
made as comfortable as possible, the
treasure examined piece by piece and its
value estimated, and when this task
had been accomplished even the sweet,
sad face of the orphaned Lizzie carried
smile.
have written much Of adven. .ure and
very little of love. Some Of my readers
may have been disappointed on that
score. There is love among the cast
aways floating on raft in midocean.
There is love beneath the white topped
wagon of the immigrant slowly trailing
across plain and prairie-in the gold
hunters camp, surrounded by perils and
alarms. But it is silent love. born Of