Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-09-09
FMflk FMflk WELDON kSfAf&>
BY ALFRED r. CALHOUN.
Copyright, 1895, by American Press Assoclat
CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER XIV.
Captain Brandon was as much amazed
and set back by Bouton's re-enforce
ments as that person was delighted. H'
knew that fight in the open would b.
madness, and his only hope lay in am
buscading the outlaws Howard Blanch
ard, who, with John Clyde, had beer
watching from the summit Of neigh
boring hill, came running down at sun
rise, and in answer to the captain
question said excitedly:
''They are coming this way"
"Bouton's men?"
eyes; every one of them, and they
look like cavalry regiment Where car
they be going?"
''I cannot say, Howard, unless it be
to hunt us. If that is their object the
chances are all against their having
pleasant time Of it." Then, changing
his manner to one Of command that sc
we'll became him, the captain called
out, "Come, men, to horse and keeI
close together.
From the elevations that crossed theil
course they could look back and see the
cloud of dust that marked Bouton's ad.
vance, and in this way they knew that
they were still keeping the same dis:
tance between them. Late in the after
noon they came to mountain defile
half mile in length and with steep
walls and rocky crests.
"They must come through here, said
the captain, halting at the farther end
Of the defile. "Here we can bring them
to q halt"
The men dismounted and led their
horses up the northern face Of the pre-
cipitous hill through which the defle
ran. They secured the animals on lit
tie plateau, and followed the captain to
the top, which was covered with bowl
ders Of every size and angular masses OF
rock detached from the mountain by
volcanic action.
"Here is our ammunition, said the
captain. "Imitate me-"
He began at once to roll the stones to
the edge Of the precipice, and he set the
example Of balancing one on the rim,
30 that child 8 hand from behind could
send it crashing down. To show how
efficient these would be, he sent one
rock over, and the men breathlessly
watched it as with increasing speed and
irresistible force it tore and crashed to
the bottom, plunging over and against
the opposite side.
"Sakes aliyer' exclaimed John Clyde.
Zone Of them stones would sweep down
a regiment as ball does ninepins. "
Remember, captain" said Howard
anxiously, "that my sister and Louis
Kyle and his sister are with the out
laws We must not hurt them"
II have not forgotten. We must
watch out for them"
"But what if they wait till dark?
We cannot tell then where the prison
ers are "
1--WE must still show them that it is
dangerous to pass If they stay where
they are, they make dry camp, and 80
will break down their animals Seel
Here they comeT
The cavalcade came on again, and as
it moved into sight the men on the cliffs
could see that the line was broken into
three parts; that the horses were massed,
and that in the center Of each party
was one of the prisoners 1t would be
impossible to so guide rock as to be
sure it would not plunge through the
center Of each party and so destroy the
very people they were so anxious to save.
On they came It was growing dark
when the head Of the party entered the
dreaded defile Captain Brandon's men
would not have been 80 anxious and
nervous had their positions and the foes
been reversed Just as the foremost
horseman came abreast Of the beginning
of the obstruction huge stone started,
through the nervousness Of the man be-
hind it, leaped from the crest, and with
the sound Of thunder crashed down A
horse and rider were swept cut of exist
ence like flies under trip hammer. Up
from the depths came shouts Of horror