Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-12-30

throwing some clothes In big bundle.
Father met me with feather bed in
his arms. He threw 1t over the back
of the cow and bound 1t on with bed
cord. That done, he gave me the lead
ing-rope to tie about her horns. The
hoofs of the flying horse were hardly
out of hearing when we were all in the
road. Ny mother carried the baby, and
my father his sword and rife and one
of the little ones. I took the three
older children and set them on the
feather bed that was bound to the
back Of the cow. They clung to the
BEDFORD, their hair flying, as the old
cow ran to keep up with US. for at first
we were all running. In a moment we
could hear the voices Of people coming
behind. One of the women was Weep
ing loudly as she ran. At the first
cross-road we saw Arv Law and his
family coming, in as great hurry as
we. Arv had a great pike-pole in his
hand. Its upper end rose 20 feet above
his head.
What ye goin' t dew with theft"
my father asked him.
"Goin' t. run 1t through the fust In
jun I see," said he. II We broke the
lock o. my gun"
There was crowd at Jerusalem
Four Corners when we got there
Every moment some family was arriv-
ing in q panic-the men, like my ia
ther, with guns and babies and baskets.
The women, with the young, took
refuge at once in the tavern, while the
men surrounded 1t. Inside the line
were youths, some oddly armed with
slings or clubs or cross-guns. had
only the sword my father gave me
and q mighty longing to use 1t. Arv
Law rested an end OF his pike-pole
and stood looAing anxiously for red
devils" among the stumps Of the far
ther clearing. An old flint-lock, on the
shoulder of a man beside him, had
barrel half as long as the pole. Da-
vid Church was equipped with ak and
gun, that stood at rest on either side
of him.
Evening came, and no sign Of In
dians. While it was growing dusk l
borrowed q pail of the innkeeper and
milked the cow, and brought the pail,
heaped with froth, to my mother, who
passed brimming cups Of milk among
the children. AS night fell, we boys,
more daring than our fathers, crept to
the edge of the timber and set the
big brush-heaps afire, and scurried
back with the fear Of redmen at our
heels. The men were now sitting In
easy attitudes and had begun to talk.
Don't blieve there 8 no Injuns
COMM" said Bill Foster. EFF they
wus they'd come"
"Cordin' t my observation" said
Arv Law, looking up at the sky, "In-
juns mos gen'ally comes when they git
resdy."
---..An' It amt when yer ready they
,em, nuther," said Lon Butterfield.
"B'lieve they come up n peeked out
o. the bushes n see Arv with thet
air pike-pole, n med up their minds
they hedn't better run up ag'in' it"
said Bill Foster. "Scairt 'em-thet's
whut's tn matter"
Man 'et meks light o. this pole
oughter hev t carry it." said Arv, as
he sat impassively resting it upon his
knee.
"Cne thin 8 sure" said Foster; "ef
Arv sh'u'd cuff an Injun with thet air
he'll squ'sh i'm"
"Squ'sh inn" said Arv, with look
Of disgust. "Tain't med t squ'sh with.
I cal'late t pint it at 'em n jab."
And so, as the evening wore away
and sleep hushed the timid, better
feeling came over us. sat by Rose
Merriman on the steps, and we had
no thought of Indians. l was looking
into her big hazel eyes, shining in the
irelight, and thinking how beautiful
she was. And she, too, was look
Ing into my eyes, while we whispered
together, and the sly mink read my
thoughts, l know, by the look Of her.
| Great flames were now leaping high
Is the timber-tops at the edge Of the
learing. A dead spruce caught fire
Is we were looking. The flames
hrew over it lacy, shimmering,
Gackling net of gold. Then suddenly
burst into a red, leaping tower. A
ew moments, and the cavern OF the
woods, along the timber side, was
doked with fire. The little hamlet
had become a spring Of light in the
darkness. We could see the stumps
ad houses far afield, as if it had been
monday. Suddenly we all jumped to
or feet. A wild yell came echoing
through the woods.
There they BEL" said Asher East
nan, as he cooked his gun. Il toll
" So"
AS a matter Of fact, he had told us
n,thing Of the kind. He was the one
nan who had said nothing.
Arv Law stood erect, his pike-pole
pdsed in both hands, and we were all
ready for action. We could hear the
rattle of many hoofs on the road. AS
som as the column showed in the fire.
light, Bill Foster up with his mus.
Ike. and pulled the trigger. could hear
tn, shot scatter on stump and stone.
Every man had his gun to his eye.
Wait till they come nearer" said
As1er Eastman.
The Indians had halted. Far behind
thm We could hear the wild halleoing
Of many voices. In moment we could
see those on horseback 60 galloping
off in the direction whence they had
cone. Back in the house a number
Of the women were praying. My
mother came out, her face whittier than
l hid ever seen it before and walked
to lly father and kissed him without
ever saying a word. Then she went
bact into the house.
'!cairt?" I inquired, turning to
Ros., who now stood beside me.
Il should think 1 was" she whis-
perei. 81 m all Of tremble."
II, anything happens, I'd like