The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-09-12
conxricht 1892 and 1899 By Robert Boomers Sons

so that his weight was all on his left
stirrup.
Suddenly he let fall the bridle-reins
and, with lightning celebrity, snatched
both the pistols from the saddle bow.
Burns and Vasseur found them
selves looking each into the yawning
muzzle of a weapon held by hand as
steady as stone wall.
"Dismount-both on the same side
there, gentlemen" came the cold, de-
termined order, "and hold up your
hands, or I'll bore you, center through,
before you can wink!"
Then and there the young preacher
robbed Vasseur OF his money, dagger
and his horse; and, after placing the
fine bride and saddle upon the latter.
mounted, and, with mocking laugh,
q rakish bow and kiss of the fingers,
rode away. He had touched nothing
belonging to Mr.. Burns.
It is not known whether or not Mr..
Burns was taken by surprise when
Vasseur began to rage and swear
and curse like q buccaneer, his
etpletives ranging through the scale
of three or four languages; but that
he stood quietly Iby, his face inscru-
tably mournful in its expression, his
thin, bony hands hanging at his sides,
is we'll authenticated.
Vasseur exhausted himself Of pro-
family, and then was fain to put his
own saddle and bride on the strangers
lame horse in order to proceed on the
journey. :.
Burns objected to this.
"Take my beast" he said, cit will
serve your purpose better, brother.
The lame one will be good enough for
me-"
Vasseur looked abashed, for the
thought had flashed into his mind
that very second to do for Burns
what the other preacher had done for
him.
"You need this strong beast of
mine," Burns urged, "to carry out
your plans. Do not hesitate; he is
yours, take hin. and welcome. I can
get on with the other" -.
The little Fr :nchman was inwardly
startled. Wh&E did Burns know of
his plans? Hai he suddenly OWNED
them?
"You have undertaken o difficult,
IN almost impossible thing, brother,
and you cannot afford to be poorly
mounted in case of need" went on
the old man. '"This is good, strong
horse, and, although he does not look
so, is very swift one. Take him; I
give him to you"
1t was while they were parleying on
this subject, Vasseur pretending that
he was ob;ecting to Burns's generosity,
that the old man stopped and picked
up folded letter, the seal of which
had been broken. He opened it with
out hesitation, and found it to be q
short note addressed to John A. Muir
rell-a name which, few years later,
was that of the most desperate and
enterprising outlaw ever known in
America.
It would have been better for Vas
seur had he accepted the profered
horse at once; then he might have
escaped the unpleasant experience
which soon followed.
Like many another pretender he
fingered too long to accentuate and
collaterally reinforce his assumed sin.
cerity.
It may have been the steady, search.
ing gaze that Burns bent upon him, it
may have been the old mans singular
expression of kindliness, or it may
have been the peculiar turn of the
adventure just passed through; at all
events, Influenced by some power,
Vasseur stood hesitating and demur-
ring until three galloping horsemen
armed to the teeth were close upon
them.
Burns saw the new -comers first and
with spasm-like movement he fixed
his eyes upon the leader, his face
shriveling and blanching in startling
manner.
Vasseur turned quickly as the sound
of horses feet behind him shook him
out of his insincerity, and it was now
his turn to show amazemont, surprise
and despair all condensed in single
stare.
The riders reined in their horses
and halted a rod distant, forming q
finely picturesque group set against
the dull, gray trunks and dusky inter-
spaces of the wood.
Pierre Rameau was in front, mount
ed on q bold, proud horse, whose nos
trils breathed the air of the wilderness
with savage delight.
Vasseur, with the air of wild beast
caught in close place, looked this
way and that and was on the point of
running off among the trees as fast as
his legs could carry him, when Rameaa
leveled pistol on him and bade him
stand.
''What are you, gentlemen, doing
here9" inquired the cavalier; but
neither Burns nor Vasseur could an
swer promptly, SO dry were their
throats and so stiffened their tongues.
Not that either wanted courage. But
| the situation under the circumstances
was absolutely overpowering.
'fAre you deaf, you frogeater?" con-
tinued Rameau, as he recognized Vas
seur. "Speak instantly or I'LL
Evidently Ramesu was astonished,
| although his face retained its calm,
cold, almost Indifferent expression.
He had not expected ever to meet Vas