Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-01-30

and as for you. Archy, I'll hold you
accountable for the good conduct of
your whole squad. But, major. you
are about the hardest man to take a
wink I ever knowed. There was a
motioning of you, and signifying to
get your horse and be off, at least ten
minutes before you took the hint"
II was near spelling all, Galbraith,
for from your familiarity with these
fellows at first thought them friends"
"They were mighty dubious, you
may depend. And it was as much as
I could do to keep them from break
ing in on you. They said 1t was
strange, and so 1t was, to see a par
son riding with pistols; but I told
them you was obliged to travel so
much after night that it was as much
as you could do to keep clear Of pam
theirs and wolves; and in fact, major,
I had to tell them monstrous sight.of
lies, just to keep them in talk whilst
you was getting away; 1t was like a
rare guard scrummaging by platoons
on a retreat to get the advance off. I
was monstrous afeard, major, you
wouldn't saddle my horse"
II understood you at last, Galbraith
and made every thing ready for mas
terly retreat, and then moved away
with a very sober air, leaving you to
bring up the rear like a good soldier.
And you know, sergeant, didn't go so
far but that l was at hand to give you
support, If you had stood in need Of It..
wonder now that they let you off so
easily"
"They didn't want to have no uproar
with me, Major Butler. They knowed
me, that although want quarrel
some man, they would a got some Of
their necks twisted If had seen occa-
sion; in particular, would have taken
some of mad Archy's crazy fits out of
him-by my hand I would, major!
But I'll tell you'll made one observa-
ton, that this here sort Of carrying
false colors goes against a mans con-
science; 1t doesn't seem natural for a
man, that's accustomed and willing to
stand by his words, to be heaping one
lie upon top of another as fast as he
can speak them. 1t really, Major But
Ter. does go against my grain"
THAT point of conscience" said But
Ter laughing, has been duly consid-
nd I 70 n
ting 1t down as entirely lawful to use
any deceit Of speech to escape from an
enemy in time Of war. We have a
dangerous trade, sergeant, and the
moralists indulge us more than they
do others; and as am a minister, you
know, you need not be afraid to trust
your conscience to my keeping"
"They allow that alT's fair in war,
believe. But it don't signify, man Is
a good while before he gets used to
this fiat lying, for l can't call it by
any other name"
IF we should be challenged on this
road, before we reach Wat Adairs,"
said Butler, 1T is your opinion that we
should say we are graziers going to the
mountains to buy cattle?"
That's about the best answer can
think of. Though you must be little
careful about that If you see me put
my hand up to my mouth and give a
sort Of a hem. major, then leave the
answer to me. A gang of raw lads
might be easily imposed upon, but 1t
wouldn't do If there's an old sodger
amongst them; he mought ak some
hard questions"
Il know but little of this grazier
craft to bear an examination I fear /
should fare badly If one of these bull
lies should take 1t into his head to
cross question me-"
IF a man takes on too much with
you," replied Robinson, ut is well to
be little saucy to him. If he thinks
you are for a quarrel, the chances are
he won't poster you. But If any Of
these Tories should only take 1t into
their heads. without our telling them
right down in so many words. for /
should take roundabout way. that we
are sent up here by CORVALLIS. Row.
don, or Leslie, or any Of their people
to do an errand, they will be as civil,
sir, as your grandmother's cat, for,
major they are a blasted set of Grim
gin whelps, the best of them, and will
take anything that has G. r. marked
on 1t with thanks, even If 1t was q
cat-o-nine tails, which they desarve
every day at rollcall, the sorry devils!"
II am completely at my wits end,
Galbraith. 1 have not done much JUS
tice to your appointment Of me as a
parson, and when I come to play the
grazier it will be still worse; even in
this disguise Of plain countryman /
make a poor performer; fear shall
disgrace the boards"
IF the worst comes to the worst,
major, the rule is run or fight. We can
manage that, at any rate, for we have
had a good deal of both in the last
three or four years."
God knows we have had practice
enough, sergeant to make us perfect
in that trick. Let us make our way
through this treacherous ground as
quickly and as quietly as we can. Get
me to Clark by the shortest route, and
keep as much among friends as you
know how"
"As to that, Major Butler it is all
matter of chance, for, to tell you the
pain truth, l don't know who to de-
pend upon. A quick eye, a nimble
foot, and a ready hand, will be our
surest friends. Then with the pistols
at your saddle, beside a pair in your
pocket, and a dirk for close quarters,
and my rife here for a long shot, ma
jor, am not much doubtful but what
we shall hold our own"
How far are we from Adair's?" ask
ed Butler.
Not more than a mile," replied
Horse Shoe. You may see the ferry
just ahead. Wat lives upon the top
of the first hill on the other side"
rs that fellow to be trusted SER
NJ