Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-05-12


away from the horizon coach, drawn
swiftly by four horses-three grays and
black-appeared around turn Of the
road. retired from the door. and,
through a crack in the wall, watched it
draw near and pass. and in a few
seconds my ears told me that it had
stopped at the inn
Though my knee was still somewhat
stiff. | managed to crawl up to the
edge of broken manger, and, through
a hole in the thatcb. watched man
change the horses. and a maidservant
handed in covered dish at the coach
window
The ride back to Blatenburg was
painfully uneventful saw my charge
drawn up at an obscure house on the
edge of the city and then made all
haste to our lodgings. handed Harry's
horse over to a servant and flung the
saddle across Hagart's stout back
barry and Tom came to the door
while drank off a cup of mulled wine.
When l came again in sight of the
tavern at the edge Of the town. the
coach was just rolling out Of the stable
yard Upon passing the city gates and
striking the level road that runs to-
ward the coast. the. driver put his
horses to a sharp trot and Hagart
swung easily after
For several miles our way led through
low farming country Red and white
cattle clustered around the barns and
in the fields; the sheep pushed away the
snow with their feet and noses and
cropped the grass beneath Passing
these pictures of good yeoman life. we
came to place of short hills and woods
full of underbrush Hares leaped away
across the snow at our approach, and
winter birds chirped in all the trees.
At times ! would lose sight of my
charge as it rolled down in valley
ahead. After we had covered more than
half of our journey. upon topping a
hill saw the coach at standstill. and.
barring the road a horseman The
driver was gesticulating vehemently
and ever and anon jerking his thumb
back in my direction
The horseman threatened him with
pistols A slight pressure of my sword
sent Hagart laundering down the hill
toward them held the bride in my
teeth and in my left hand dag. in my
right my rapier The horseman looked
at me. fired hurriedly in my direction.
and. wheeling. fed
Hagart passed the coach like black
wind. and over the next hill we went
Not far in hont. travelling level road
and lying forward in his saddle, sped
the highwayman My blood sang hot,
and the coach was forgotten Once
when / had drawn well up on my quarry
I turned and saw the four horses bring
ing along the coach at their best pace
so swiftly indeed that it lurched like
boat
On we dashed, Hagart still running
fresh Of sudden the man ahead jerk
ed his horse back, leaped from his sad
die with great skill and fired his other
pistol The ball whispered in my ear
Upon seeing me come on unhurt he
tossed the weapon into the air and dis
appeared into the woods 1t was mad
ness for man with weak leg to think
of following him. So l rode on. intend
ing tc await the coach at the span Of
the gradual hill ahead When reached
this spot, | saw in front Of ME, net half
mile away, the little village the blue
winter sea beyond and ship lying at
anchor Across the sand dunes trotted
the riderless horse, it's head high in the
a. and turning this way and that. as if
in search of something. Its shrill whin-
nying was blown back to me on the salt
breeze. and felt true sorrow for the
faithful brute Thus. thought. would
my brave Hagart look and call for me
and patted his cleaning neck.
The coach passed me while stood
with my back turned to the read. gaz
ing out at the sea. A boat was beacheu.
and a number Of seamen waited on the
sand The coach was driven to the edge
of the waves, and in few minutes the
driver turned his horses heads inland
and the boat put out for the ship The
Rose lay some distance from shore
When the coach passed on its return,
the fellow on the box saluted me with
much respect He was a lusty. gray
haired man, with the look Of trusty
servant Are you armedf'' | cried
And for answer he brought to view a
bell mouth gun
The highwayman's 8 horse disappeared
after him. with stirrups flying wide.
Seeing now that the boat had reach
ed the ships side, rode down over
the dunes and through the single street
of the village to the lip of the sea.
And now came large boat. and. up
on it's nearing, l saw that an officer sat
at the tiller 1t was soon. nose up, on
the sand. and the officer stepped out
and saluted me.
81 am Captain Anderson. sir. he
said.
| bowed, gave him my name and
drew my papers from my coat He but
glanced at the seal and said all was
right