The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-07-25

bay of st. Louis at late hour in the
night. The road in most places was
wide enough for two of the cavaliers
to 30 side by side, and four of them
chatted as they rode, while the fifth,
who evidently was the leader, held
his way somewhat in advance, sitting
on his horse like statue, and main.
tanning a strict and apparently moody
silence.
Seen in the deep gloom of the wood,
the moving figures were more like
shadows than realities, and but fol
the heavy tramp of the horses and the
occasional sharp jingle of spur OF
the clink of bridle-bit, they might
have been regarded by supersti.
tious fancy as ghosts of the followers
of De Soto or Bienville. Their voices,
how ever, were evidently real, and
what they we're saying referred to the
present. ...
"The king is breaking his own law
tonight" said one to another. 'tand I
don't expect anything out Of it that'll
pay for the trouble. What have these
people down here got that's worth CO.
ing after?" -.r
"You might wager your head" re-
marked the other, ''that the king
knows what he is about. When did
he'ever fail to do just what he wanted
to? There's more'n we dream of at
the end of this ride;."'
s.Maybe so; I don't say there
amt; but it's queer move, you may
say that" =. b.
'.All of our moves are queer
enough, for that matter"
eyes, but" e.. -....
"But-hut-wbat's the use of yer
'buts?' Yer q constitutional grum-
bier, Tom Newkirk-a chronic, incur
able growler."
"Mebbe 80, but"
"on, grumble at my foot, my head
aches!" I II q
At this point the last speaker burst
forth singing in o low mellow voice an
old and not very elegant ditty about
a maid Who : t. 2
event away, went a-wa-y-ft
With her love to fair countria."
He had reached what was perhaps
the last stanza and was droning out
the fact that
"Her lover was false and cold was his
heart e,
And she died by his cruel hand" -
when the leader suddenly exclaimed
in a tone shat indicated irritation:
e'I'm tired of that. Stop it'll This
is no time for your songs"
The singer obeyed promptly; but
could not refrain from muttering
under his breath:
lawful particular all at once; must
be ailing!"
"Who's got the grumbles now?"
said his companion, tauntingly. "Told
you that something queer was at the
bottem OF this here move"
"Humph! I'll admit that when
the king gets 80 particular that lie
won't let fellow sing, there must be
something kind O. bilious on hand"
At certain place at the edge OF q
marsh, over which there came sharp
tinge of salt air and far-away boom
of sea-water, the leader of the cava-
liers drew up his horse and called the
others around him, so that his strik-
ingly tall and shapely figure made the
centre of dark group sketched
against the marsh rushes and the
shining line OF the bay.
'What is done tonight" he said,
"is between us; not another soul upon
earth is ever to know even O hint of
it. I have chosen you four, as the
best OF my men, to join me in an affair
of great Importance to me. 1t may
turn out profitable in itself; it may
not; but, in any event, you four will
be we'll paid"
The men drew closer, leaning to-
ward him over their saddles, as he
proceeded to describe his plan and its
purpose. Like most leaders, he de-
ceived his followers, while at the
same time he told them the truth as
far as he went.
He was going to rob Vasseur; that
much was openly avowed. He had
good reason to believe, he said, that
Vasseur had in his house q treasure
of precious stones, probably of great
value, besides large amount of gold
coin. How this information had been
obtained he did not say, nor did the
men inquire; they were in the habit
of taking his word without question
and were ready now to follow him
without fear.
zone thing is to be borne in mind" I"
he went on: "There is to be no per-
sonal hurt done to the man or to any
of his household. We are to gain our
point by clever work"
(To RE rcNTJSTED