Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-07-10
RETRIBUTION.

"Hello, stranger, whar ye bound ?'
The speaker was tall, gaunt-looking
man, and it was easy to tell by his
garb, accouterments, and his peculiar
style that he was hunter and trapper.
"Nowhere in particular, and nearly
everywhere in general, perhaps" l
replied. "And now, if I may be so
bold, what is your present destina-
ton ?"
"Summat the same as your'n 80 l
reckon we had better hitch teams.
But folks don't often travel in these
parts less they have some reason for
| it, or are goin' sumwhers ?" he said,
inquisitively.
"Well, my friend"
"You're leetle too fast-can't ad-
zac,ly say whether Pm yer friend or
not, till I hear yer yarn-propel."
"Well, as'I was about to remark, l
left the states in company with a
party of my friends and neighbors, for
California, the newly discovered land
of gold. All went we'll, and the fates
seemed propitious, until three days
ago, when we were attacked by a
prowling band of Indians. Five of
our party were killed, and one-a
lovely young girl-carried off a cap
tive"
$50 you're arter the girl, l take t?"
"You surmise correctly. l will res
cue Eliza Lacy, or give my own life a
willing sacrifice to the accomplishment
of my purpose"
"Bully for you! You're plucky,
and your hearts in the right place,
adzactly and Jack Wintersll stand
by We to the death. But how happens
it that none of yer crowd cum long
with We? Where are the gals
friends ?"
"Her father and mother we're among
the killed. I appealed in vain TO the
rest of the party to accompany me.
They seemed to have lost all energy
since that dreadful night on which we
were attacked"
"Well, they're pack o. Continental
cusses-not Continental cusses, either,
for them Continentallers was bully
chaps; but they're set O. cowardly,
craven hearted, sneakin' cusses, that's
what they are !" Indignantly exclaim-
ed my newly found friend.
Winters insisted on accompanying me,
and was truly grateful to him for his
kindness in thus afording the benefit
of bis skill and experience to an en-
tire stranger. So, resuming the trail
which had been following, and which
the Indians, being large party, took
no trouble to conceal, not dreaming of
pursuit, we pressed forward. Winters
examined the trail, and, from its fresh
appearance, concluded that the In
dians could not be far off, and that by
brisk riding, we might overtake them,
and perhaps make an effort to rescue
the object of our expedition that very
night.
1t was now past noon, and we rode
rapidly forward until near sundown,
after which we advanced with more
caution. Some three hours after night
fall we discerned the campfire of the
Indians. Dismounting and securing
our horses in the forest, we advanced
cautiously, near enough to obtain a
perfect view of the camp. The In
dians, some 80 in number were gathered
around the fire, some reclining listless-
ly on the ground, some cooking, some
eating, and some smoking while, at
the foot of a small oak, her head
bowed in utter hopelessness, sat the
object of our search. Oh, how longed
to speak to her, to whisper even one
word of hope into her ear to buoy up
her dropping spirits; and, but for the
better judgment of Winters, I would
doubtless, by some foolish demonstra-
ton, have betrayed our whereabouts
to the Indians.