The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-03-18

ont upon that track walked up the hill!
secretly noting as went each stock ana
stone Of cover, and soon came 10 Ine
first sweep of outer stockade. inis was
a great circle Of pointed timbers sloplng
outward over ditch from the crest OF
tall earthen rampart-strong renee, IN
deed, and one that twenty men might
hold against a hundred. l entered
through the open gate of this and right
in front rose another rampant and an
other palisade that made me sigh to
look on-I had to walk halfway round
the GRASSY fiat between these two before
T fonnd q cate to pass the second tim
hers. But this latter entrance gained,
it made me master of the place. Those
two tall fences, strong IN oaken tim
hers. mossy gates and iron rivets, shut
IN the whole hilltop, OF which the other
boundary was the sheer cliffs that
dropped steep down into the sea below.
And all this space was full Of sheds and
buildings, and huts and houses, and
granaries OF corn and stacks of fodder
for the beasts, and corn for soldiers, and
here thrashing floor, and there well
with rope and bucket, .yonder row OF
roofs a-basking in the April sun, the
blue-eyed children rolling in frolic sport
about the grassy court-the twitterinR
love songs Of the new-c come swallows on
the roof ridge-and then athwart my
sleep the black column OF avenging
smoke leaps to the star-lit midnight
sky, the cruel tongues OF leaping Grim
som flame spring I'D. and The Aerce.
gasplng cry OF stricken men, the pierc.
ing shrek of women, and the low wall
of butchered little ones alright M old
and unstrung ears!
Ay, it seemed a sweet place that un.
touched, ancient English citadel as I
hobbled out from the hazels and humble
and decrepit as became me, craved its
hospitality. All inland - stretching
away into the dim blue distance-lay
fertile fields and woods, shining greener
than any other woods can shine, with
brooks and streams between them flash
ing in the light, and splendid herds,
enough TO feast an army for year, knee
deep in the many colored grasses, and
then all this richness swept round by
the shore of little crescent bay to here
where on q gently rising promontory
the princes castle stood. 1t stood up
on the very topmost fiat Of the hill. and
was approached from below by rough
track fashioned Of beams laid side by
side, which circled up through the gorse
and fern to its outer fence. Gettin1
ovens and drinking trough and much
else. Then came a.grassy green and
next, along tho verge, little ,aloof
from all, the princes house. A fine
wide house it stood upon the crag, with
terraces and courts, doors and windows,
strong stone outer walls and timbered
arches, goodly place, indeed, with the
Sun shining on it, good wind-cock
twirling about, red fish-tail tiles upon
the roofs, brass studs upon the doors,
and a colonnade round it with wide gro
jecting eares supported by unsmoothed
pillars of oak, to which solid oak logs
made steps all round. Partly behind
this was the strong place Of the fort,
tall, rough tower Of solid masonry rising
sheer into the air on the very verge Of
the cliff from the more peaceful dwell
ing places around, and grim and win
dowless frowning down 200 feet into the
white surge that broke and thundered
far below.
AS entered this burgh few children
were playing about upon the grass and
some women we're grinding corn in
stone mill at one place. while at another
a young and fair serving maid was spin
ming flax upon the steps OF the CHIEFS
house. A dog or Two lay basking in the
sun. and as they saw me and fell a-bark-