The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1901-10-16

an oyerhanging CHI. L saw through
the gloom a large and n small figure
climbing Just ahead of us and knew
they were Ginger and Buck. Helen led
the way up to recess In the cliff, and
1 saw at once n position that we could
hold against dozen men so long as we
bad food and ammunition.
"Hellow 1t was Jacks CHEEKY voice.
"Goody! Amt 1 glad to get out o. the
| wilderness!"
"Im glad enough" said as soon as
could get breath to speak, "but you
| women
There was no time for words. We
J set about rolling big stone into gap
| between two others, and as soon as 1t
was In position had n continuous
breastwork. The guerrlllas were call
ing to each other in the woods below,
but they did not seem to know where
we were. 1 picked up one Of the guns
Ginger had thrown down, Buck had
one in his hands, Ginger kept one, and
Helen seized the remaining one.
"Where dc come int" chirped Jack
Here handed her the revolver,
IN which there were five loaded cham
bers, and told her to hold on to 1t, as
she would doubtless need 1t. We all
took position behind our breastworks
ready to repel an assault, at the same
time seeing to the condition Of our
pieces. They were cavalry carbines,
all loaded and capped ready for use.
"Where are your horses" asked.
"Picketed down there" Helen re-
piled, pointing westward, Gin thicket
not far from the road"
"Have you anything to eat?"
She glanced ut n parcel on the
ground. "I got that in q cabin. There's
some corn pone and pork"
Barely enough for one meal Any
water?"
"There's some water trickling be-
tween the rocks back there"
"That pone and pork means a chance,
but it's slim one"
Helen set her lips, Jack turned pale,
Ginger showed no emotion whatever
while Buck remarked that he'd be
"darned if he didn't plunk one of 'em
anyway" AS for myself, was aghast
at the terrible fate that threatened
those WHO had so nobly and SO bravely
risked all in my behalf.
"What brought you herew I asked
impatiently, of Helen.
"When you were taken from ouI
house resolved to follow. Buck came
in just as l started, and insisted OIL
Joining me. We traced you to Colone
Rutland's plantation"-
"I see. 1t was you 1 heard coming
IN after i went up stairs"
"Ginger took the horses to the stable
and was returning to the house wher
he saw two men climb tree near your
window and enter your room. He
watched from distance and saw
them bring you out, but he could not
tell whether they were taking yor
away by force or assisting you to es
cape. Coming into the house, he told
us what had happened.
"Jack started to awaken Captain
Beaumont, but l stopped her. If yor
had been assisted to escape, this would
be fatal Besides, from what Jack haG
told ne Of the captain, l judged h,
would have his nights rest befor,
surfing In pursuit. told Jack would
follow you myself and she was wild
to come with me. Ginger had seen yol
leave the plantation and knew the di
rection you had taken. We sent hin
near enough to you to hear your horses
hoof beats, then waited for us to come
up. Soon after we lost track of you
but, hearing something come crashing
down the mountain"-
"a stone"
1--WE followed the direction Of tht
sound. In the early morning Buck ant
Ginger came upon you unexpectedly
AS soon as you had gone they rejoinet
US. we shadowed you and yesterday
afternoon laid plan for your escape
"a wild, impractlcable scheme. On,
circumstance has led to another, eacl
involving you more deeply. My God
what a load of obligation! We cam
stay here. Wen starve. Buck, couldn't
you slip out In the darkness and fine
help?"
"No, stree; Pm not goin out O. hyar
I'm goin t. stay an fight with the rest
"But you may save all our lives"
"Why don't you go, Mr.. Brandy
stone?"
"I? must stay with your sister ant
cousin. Besides, Pm big and couldn't
get through as easily as yeu.''
"Weii, 1 amt a-goin 20 sneak away
if am little"
"Bucky," said Jack, 'yo' needn't 20
I'll go myself"
"Yo' dom do muffin like dat, Missy
Jack" cried Ginger. "Dem grillers
shoot vol Wha' mars say ef go back
an tell 'em de apple OBJ he eye 20 dowr
'mong grillers fo' to git shot2 gwine
mars" he added to me.
But by this time there was more call
Ing among the men below, a streak OF
light appeared In the east, and did
not dare let any one attempt to evade
the enemy. Besides, l could now see
by the lay Of the land that 1t would be
impossible.
Something must have given the guer-
rillas an inkllng of our whereabouts,
for as soon as II was light we could
see them standing, looking up at our
position. l told every one to lie low,
hoping that some Of the outlaws would
climb up to investigate and we might
pick them off. For more than an hour
we remained concealed. only speaking
In whispers; then we saw the knot of
men below divide, three going to the
west. three to the east, while three be-.
gan TO climb toward our fortress. One
remained below, and as the light in
creased saw 1t was the captain.
We four who were armed with car
| Dimes knelt behind fha rooLo %o 49,