The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-05-15

With cOupialSaOce aDOuOOluS.
My bonnie Maggy love can turn
Me to what shape she pleases
Il in her breast that fame shall burn
Which in my bosom blazes. %.
His voice was not unmusical, and he
had some idea Of rhythm and measure
His comrades joined him, and they
roared out chorus which must have
penetrated to the farthest edge Of the
wood.
.sI'll not only sing for you, Miss
Howard, said Crowder, "but I'll dance
for you too. "
It was plain enough that the man
was drunk and was relapsing into his
natural condition Of savagery. I hoped
that he would fall into the fire, out he
did not. His drunken head swayed from
side to side, but he kept step to the
beat Of the song.
One Of the men drew his empty bot
tie and beat upon its side with his
knife blade. 1t made lively tinkle
that sounded like music, and the others,
seeing his success, initiated him. Crow.
der had not only vocal but an instru-
mental chorus as we'll His zeal IN
creased, and he danced like an Indian
at a scalp dance, while the men reared
out the song and beat their bottles with
enthusiasm.
"Again l congratulate you on your
company, your glorious band of res
cuers, Miss Howard l called out to
her.
1 know she heard me, but she did
not reply. Her lips were set firmly, but
her cheeks were growing paler and
paler, and she seemed to be white to the
hair. tugged at my bonds. but 1 could
not move them.
The song stopped for moment and
Crowder. looking around for further
amusement, spied me.
ga good song, boys, and good fun, "
he cried, ''but here's better fun. Let's
hang the prisoner and see him squirm. :"
The others, as drunk as their leader.
shouted their approval. but the girl
sprang up
"You shall not do that!' she cried.
"And why not, MISS" asked Crow
der. "He is our prisoner. F"
Because l will not permit It'll" she
cried.
They roared with laughter.
"If you do, - she said, II will report
vour act to Colonel Tarleton. This man
is an important prisoner. He can guide
Tarleton to Morgan, and he Will do 1t
to save his life. He must be taken safely
to the British camp Tarleton Will re-
ward you well.
'All right, if you say SO, Miss How
ard he said. Anything to oblige
especially one as handsome as you are
And we won It hang him tonight. Maybe
we will do it in the morning anyhow,
but that's no reason why we should stop
the fun now. A soldiers life is hard,
and he ought to make merry while he
can.
He took large flask from his haver-
sack and shared it with his men Then
they began to sing and dance again. all
Of them wild with drink
It was an orgy of savages The fire
had died down and ceased to blaze;
only the red embers glowed in the dark
ness 1 could feel the blackness Of the
night which rolled up and encircled Us
more closely. The girl was as immova-
bic as a statue Her tawny hair shone
in the dim light. and 1 could see that
her face was still white, but that was
all
One Of the men fell down presently
from sheer exhaustion
LET him lie, said Crowder. He'll
sleep as we'll there as anywhere
The man never moved, but began to
snore, and a second one yielded to e1er-
ton and whisky and. stretching himself
out on the ground, went to instant
sleep Crowder himself was the third
and was followed speedily by the others,
including the sentinel. who had joined
without objection in the orgy. The SIX
men were sound asleep in slumoer
heavy with WEAKNESS and liquor.
A last brand fell over in the Goals and
blazed up. The girl rose from the log,
and by its light could see that her face
had turned from white to red. She
walked quickly over to me and said IN
a voice shaking with excitement and
alarm:
Take me away from here, Mr.. Mar
cell Take me away at oncel l would
rather be with you than these men.
these savages these brutesl Nor is your
life safe herel''
"They wear. the british unifor--