The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1903-08-07

They bad travelled but few days
when jeff and McAfee discovered that
their three friends were not the kind
of men they wished TO associate with or
to be found in tic company of. These
fellows showed that they were not as re-
spectful to the people along the lime OF
travel as they should bo and were rather
so jeff and McAfee concluded to dodge
them and try it by themselves.
They had no trouble in getting rid of
their objectional company when they
made the attempt. 50 we drop them
from this narrative.
One day they were riding along and
SAYS jeff: Mack you have been in
charge of our squad all the way through
and am still going to stick to you. 1t
you say fight Pm going to fight, and if
YOU say kill Pm going to kill, aud il you
say run Pm going to run, so that ends
it."
So one day they were riding along
leisurely aud met man who told them |
they were going right into a squad OF |
Yankees guarding a bridge. He told
them that they could turn to the left |
and 60 down the stream some distance |
and find a crossing. They took him at
his word But before they got far they |
saw a man come out of house and
beckon to them. jeff said: INC, do
you sea that man yonder beckoning to
us? When Nc. told him he did jeff
said: .sWhat do you say to it?" Nc.
said: s'Go and see what he wants"
"But," says jeff, "maybe he wants to
Law trap for u.s." "Oh, no, " says Nc,
II hardly think So" And with that
jeff started off and Nc. right behind
him. BY the time the man had tod
Mr.. Hughes that he would show him
the way to the ford Nc. had come up,
and leading the way the man opened
gate that led into the yard which was
Surrounded by high palings. AS they
rode round the kouse Mr.. Hughes dis
covered that the gate on the opposite
side of the yard was shut and fastened.
About that time three men stepped out
of the house with guns and ordered them
to halt. Of course they had to stop for
they were fenced up and could 60 no
further. jeff disnIounted and thought
he would reason the matter with them.
They cursed him and told him that he
and his friend had run away from Il Q
army and they passed severe insults that
were hard to take. Mr.. Hughes pro-
tested and told them that the army had
surrendered and that they were trying to
make their way back home, etc. The
fellow with an oath told him he was a
liar AID jeff told him he was another,
when the fellow struck jeff with the
butt of his gun and cut an ugly cash Oh
on the side of his head which bled pro
fusely. jeff tried to mount his horse
but couldn't make it. The second at
tempt he did so and after wiping the
blood out of his eyes Re saw McAfte
motion toward the gate they had come
in which was still open and they rode
out of it and off as fast as possible. They
knew that in case a firing took place
there the noise of the guns wonld alarm
the military post and perhaps set the
Federal tcoopS. on lheir tIaeks.- the.
bleeding like butchered hog, bscame
very weak and sick and he told Mack he
would have to stop.
Seeing house short distance ahead
they went on there and calling, an old
gentleman came out and Mr.. Hughes
told him of his condition and that he
wanted some help. The old gentls-
man told him to get down and come in.
and by the time he reached the door the
old lady and her daughter took him, one
by each arm and led him into the house.
They took pair of scissors and clipped
the matted hair from about the bloody
wound on his head and wash ID the
wound and applied sticking p,asters to
it and then stripped him to the skin and
put clean clothes on him and got them
something to eat. Mr.. Hughes saws
that that deed of these good ladies' has
ever endeared the ladies to him-they
simply saved his life. If they hadn't
come to his rescue, he would certainly
have died. He was about out.
After pouring out his heart in graft
tude to the ladies who knew he had moth
ing else to give them for their kindness.
Mr.. Hughes told them that if he never
met them again in this world he hoped
they would meet him in a brighter aud
happier one, and he and his comrade.
Mr.. McAfee, rode eff flom the home of
these good Samaritaus. They did not
travel far until they found that u large
force of Federal soldiers were campei at
a church directly on their way. After
making inquiry they learned OF a way
by which they could go round these
troops and so they attempted to dc,
They did not go far until they encoun-
tered three men who came up and tax
irg their horses by their brides demaud.
ed of them to dismount. McAfee in an
undertone, but with the sang froid of
the veteran said "No, l don't suppose
you'll take my horse" and with that
leyelled his gun and sent IA ball crashing
through the fellows heart, who fell a
lifeless corpse with the bride reins still
in his hand. Qnick as a thought jeff
pulled down" on another of the crowd
and was going to send him into eternity
when McAfee caught his arm and told
him to "hold up" The astonished
marauders now took to their heels and
left our two friends to pursue their Jour
ney unmolested They then rode ON at