Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-07-26
onment The law had oppressed him.
a.a ,or, ha u,n11ld hid If dafianca

OnmenC. lne law uau oppIeSSeu ulu,
and now he would bid it defiance
81 will join your band, Captain
Smith, he said after pause. Nov
conduct Us to place where we can rest
without fear of interruption.
The bandit appeared to be greatly
pleased at this decision, and Immediate
ly started up the trail.
"Take the nag by the bride and fol.
low me" he said.
The young man obeyed, and they all
three began clambering up the rough
ascent, the bandit leading the way.
After proceeding about half mile. they
arrived at little clearing. where their
conductor bade Robin unharness the
horse, as they were now about to enter
the woods When this was done. he led
them into thicket to the right and
pushed ahead so rapidly that they found
it exceedingly difficult to keep up with
him
At last they came to part of the for
est where the scenery was chaotic. Huge
fragments of rock lay tumbled together
on all sides-where they had evidently
been piled by some tremendous con-
vulsion of nature-the whole forming
an impregnable stronghold in which a
dozen men might bid defiance to thou
sand.
i've snug little retreat up yon-
der" said the bandit. pointing upward
to the rocks. Yell be as safe there as
birds on a nest. "
With these words he conducted them
by way of winding. dizzy ascent to a
vast platform of stone. and pushing
aside screen of brambles revealed the
entrance to a cavern. AS it was by this
time broad daylight they could see that
the interior had been rendered quite
comfortable. The floor was covered with
the furs of wild animals, deerskins
were stretched on the walls, and arti-
cles of furniture, evidently procured by
the bandit from some farmhouse he had
pillaged. added a homelike appearance
to the place.
ENTER and make yerselves at
home. he said cheerily, "while go
off to fetch ye parson. Then III sum-
mon the entire band to the wedding,
and we'll have a famous merrymak-
ing
Robin led Polly into the cavern.
while the bandit turned to 60 upon his
mission. AS the latter had considera-
BILE journey to perform he pressed Joe
Westbrook's horse into his service and
disappeared in the direction of the trail
When the last sounds of his departure
had died away in the distance, Robin
turned to Polly and exclaimed in tones
of CONSERVATION
"Alas, am undonel Undonel'
"Undone. Edwardf What do you
mean2'
THAT l have joined fortunes with
the enemies of my country. Oh. why
did l not think o. that before2'
In truth his mind had been 80 bewil-
dered by his sudden encounter with the
outlaw and his eagerness to escape pur-
suit had been so great that it was not
until he had reached place of safety
that he became calm enough to realize
the significance of his act. That he.
professed patriot. should have consent
ed to join band of Tory outlaws ap-
peared to him now as the basest trea-
son. But there was a chance yet for
him to escape from the abhorrent situa-
tion, and he resolved to avail himself
of it.
Come, Pollyl" he cried. taking her
by the hand and starting toward the
entrance of the cave II may save my
honor yet if we make haste.
1t was his intention to take advan-
tage of the Tory's absence to make his
escape across the mountains, but just
as he reached the platform outside he
was confronted by two armed men and
brought to a sudden halt.
"Good day to you, friend!" said one.
"The captain sent us here to guard
your slumbers.
cit is too late to attempt escaping