Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-12-18

Il In the mean While, let us turn oul
eyes upon the party in waiting fol
them. Following the suggestions OF his
lieutenant, Humphries, Major Single
ton had disposed of his men at con-
venient distances for mutual support
along the more accessible ridge which
the party of Travis had originally pur-
sued. The design had been a good
one: for 1t was not to be supposed that
one who had shown himself so careful
in selecting the least obstructed route
would willingly leave 1t, in preference
for another, so indirect and difficult OF
passage as that upon which Travis
had now turned his horse. The am
buscade had been well laid, and must
have been successful, but for this cir
cumstance Major Singleton himself,
being in advance, was the first to per-
ceive this change of movement, which
taking place just when his anxieties
were most aroused, was productive of
an exaggerated degree Of disappoint-
ment. He cried out to Humphries, who
lurked in a low bush on the opposite
bank and saw not so readily
They leave the trace, Humphries!
they have turned off to the right-we
are foiled!"
The lieutenant rose from his recum-
bent position, and saw the truth of his
commanders suggestion. To effect a
change of ambuscade at this moment
was hopeless: and there remained but
one mode, and that was, to persuade
them to return to the path from which
they departed. At first, the lieutenant
thought to throw himself Immediately
in their way: and, being we'll known,
and looked upon as loyal by all the
dragons, he believed that he might
lure them back by Misrepresentation
Of one kind or another. This thought
he abandoned, however, as he still
desired to keep himself from present
detection, which he could not hope,
should any of them escape to tell the
story.
There is but one way, major" he
exclaimed, while smearing his visage
with the mud around him, and leaping
boldly forth on foot upon the broad
path-"there is but one way, sir; keep
your men fast, while I make myself
visible to Travis. l will run upon the
bank, and make them hear me. They
will follow the tussock, and, by the
time am in cover, you will have them
between you. The rest Of the work Is
yours"
| He waited not for an answer, but the
next instant was seen by Singleton
coursing along the tussock towards the
route taken by Travis. When upon
the highest point, and perceptible to
sharp, swapping sound. which reached
the quick ear Of the leader. Travis
turned instantly, and ordered a halt.
Hold up, men-hold up moment!
See you nothing to the left?"
All eyes were turned in the required
direction, but they failed to distin-
guish any object in particular, other
than belonging to the region.
| Look, Clough, your eyes are young
er than mine-look to the left, beyond
the big water oak, close by the blasted
pine-the very highest point Of the
tussock we just left"
Il see, l see!" cried one Of the
troopers its a man."
Now 1 have it! You are right, Will
kins-its a mana stout fellow, and
must be Frampton." cried Clough; "the
very dog we seek"
| mo, it's not the man we seek" was
the reply Of Travis, who had been
watching intently. This is short,
stout man, not of more inches than
myself; Frampton, though stout Is
tall. But he is our game, be he who
he may. All are outlaws here, and
rebels for the rope. Here, Corporal
bricks, have your string in readiness;
we shall doubtless need cast Of your
office, and the moose should be free for
service. Ride close, and be ready. Ha!
he scents-he sees us! He is on the
wing, and we must be quick and eau
tious. After him, Clough, to the left
right, wilkins! Get upon the tussock,
and, if he keeps it, you have him.
Ride. boys! To the left, Clough-to
the left. He can't reach the pond,
and we are sure of him!"
| Half of the troops dashed after the
suspicious person, who was our ac-
quaintance Humphries; the other
half, slowly returning, re-entered the
old trail, and kept their way towards
the flying object and the pursuit. The
lieutenant found no difficulty in mis-
leading his pursuers, having once
drawn them back to their original
route. They urged the chase hotly af-
ter him, but he knew his course, and
was cool and confident. Doubling con-
tinually through bog and through
brier-now behind this, now under
that clump Of foliage or brush-he
contrived to boggle them continually
in perpetual intricacies, each more diff
ffcult than the other, until he not only
led them into the very thick Of the am
buscading party, still maintaining his
original lead upon them, but he scat
tered them so far asunder, that mutual
assistance became impossible.
1t was then that, gathering himself
up for breath along the edge Of bank,
he coolly wiped the moisture from his
brow. looking from side to side, as he
heard the splashing in the water or
the rustling in the brush of his bewil-
dered pursuers. He, meanwhile, fair
ly concealed from their sight by a
thick cluster of laurels that rose out
of the bay before him, conceiving the
time to have arrived for action, gave
the shrill whistle with which his men
were familiar. The pursuers heard II
reverberate all around them from
dozen echoes of the swamp; they gave
back and there was a pause In the
chase. as If by common consent. The
sound had something supernatural and
chilling in 1t: and the instinct of each,
but d moment before so hot upon the
heels of the outlaw, was now to regain