The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-07-20
and I believe twas q sursum corda!

and I believe twas a sursum corda!
to all of US.
Billy Pottery was ranged or my
! right, in the first rank, and next to ME,
on the other side, a giant, lee seven
foot high, who said his name was An
thony Payne, and his business to act
as body-servant to Sir Bevill. And he
it was that struck up a mighty curious
song in the Cornish tongue, which the
rest took up with a will. Twas IT,
credible how it put fire into them all;
and Sir Bevill toss'd his hat into the
air; and after him like s~choolboys we
pelted, straight for the masses ahead.
For now over the rampant came q
company of red musketeers, and two
of russet-clad pikemen, charging down
on US. a moment, and we were crushed
back; another, and the chant rose
again. We were graphing. hand to
hand. in the midst Of their files.
Taking breath, I saw the enemy melt
ing off the summit like a mans breath
off a pane. And Sir Bevill caught my
hand and pointed across to where, on
the north side, a white standard en-
broidered with gold grifins was mount
ing.
"rTis dear Nick Slanning!" he cried;
"God be p~raised-the day is ours for
| ~certainr
The rest Of this signal victory Tin
which 100 prisoners were taken, be-
| sides the Major General Chudleigh; and
all the rebels camp, cannon and VIC
| tuals) I leave historians to tell. For
very soon after the rout was assured
the plain below full of men scream
ing and running, and Colonel John
Digby's dragons after them, chasing,
cutting and killing, a wet muzzle was
thrust into my hand, and turning. I
found Molly behind me, with the
groom to whom I had given her in the
morning. The rogue had counted on a
crown for his readiness, and swore the
mare was ready for anything, he hav-
ing mix'd half a pint OF strong ale with
her mash, not half an hour before.
So l determin'd to see the end Of it,
and paying the fellow, climb'd into
the saddle. Billy Pottery strobe at. my
stirrup, munching at a biscuit he had
found in the rebels camp.
We turned into a lane, which grad
ually led US to westward, out of the
main line Of the rout, and past a
hamlet, where every door was shut
and all silent. And at last a slice of
the sea fronted US, between two steep
" shelving hills. On the crest Of the
road, before it plunged down toward
the coast, was a wagon lying against
the hedge, with the horses gone; and
beside it, stretch'd across the road, an
old woman. Stopping, we found her
dead, with q sword-thrust through the
left breast; and inside the wagon a
young man lying with his jaw bound
up-dead, also. And how this sad
spectacle happen'd here, SO far from
the battlefield, was more than we could
guess.
Twas moving away, when Billy, that
was kneeling in the road, Glanced to
cast his eyes up toward the sea, and
dropping the dead woman's hand
scrambled on his feet and stood look
ing, with a puzzled face.
Following his gaze, I saw a small
sloop moving under shorten'd canvas,
about two miles from the land.
She made a pleasant sight, with the
last rays Of sunlight flaming on her
sails: but for Billy's perturbation l
could not account, so turn'd an inquir-
ing glance to him.
"Suthin' j. the wind out yonder," was
his answer. "What's a sloop doing on
that ratch so close in by the point?
Be dang'd! but there she goes AGAIN.
assthe little vessel swung off q point
or two further from the breeze, that
was breathing softly up Channel.
thine to sup, lad, for the both of u.s."
he broke off shortly.
Indeed, I was faint with hunger by
this time, yet had nc stomach to eat
thus close to the dead So turning into
a gate on our left, we cross'd two or
three fields, and sat down to sup on
Billy's biscuits, the mare standing qui-
city beside US, and cropping the short
grass.
The field where we now found our
selves ran out along the top of a small
promontory, and ended, without fence
of any sort, at the cliffs edge. AS l
sat looking southwark, I could only OBJ
serve the sloop by turning my head;
but Billy, who squatted over against
me, hardly took his eyes off her, and
between this and his meal, was too
busy to speak a word. I stetch'd my
self out and found it very pleasant to
lie still; nor, when Billy stood up and
sauntered off toward the far end of
the headland, did l stir more than to
turn my head and lazily watch him.
(To be continued.)
Silk Worm Culture.