Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-02-06
CHAPTER II.-(Continnedl

Perhaps we cannot show TO better adj
vantage the particular position If af-
fairs at the Tory camp than by giving
the substance of a conversation that oc-
Cured at that time between the major
and Col. Cunningham, an officer who
aiterward commanded body of Tories
distinguished by the not very pleasing
name Of the Bloody Scouts which
ute was bestowed upon them on ac-
count of their unparalleled barbarities
have given orders not to have
strckiand's house plundered," said Cal
ney to Cunningham.
On account Of the pretty Ruth, no
dodbtn' said the latter.
"Of course | have inst been nm
there The little beauty is as proud as
a queen. and cold as an iceberg. She
SAID that If | had come for the purpose
OF plumber, the sooner l accomplished
the business and left the premises the
more agreeable it would be to her and
the rest OF the family. / told her ! had
come 70 offer my friendship and protec-
uon; to which she answered that neither
herself nor friends desired the friend
snip of man who had committed so
many enormities. Her mother came to
the rescue-a very fine-looking, but a
very lmpertinent, woman. She assured
me that South Carolina was not yet
conquered, and though we might triumph
lor a time, our overthrow ultimately
was certain. AS for my protection
she cared nothing about 1t, being willing
70 suffer the same hardships that her
neIghbors did, for the cause of liberty
was provoked, but governed my temper
as well as l could, resolving to have a
sweet revenge"
There's a great deal of spite in these
Wing women" observed Cunningham.
They are worse than the men," re-
torted Gainey. although they do not
WELD the sword with their own hands,
they stimulate their lovers, husbands
and sons to greater exertion and thus
Keep the spirit of rebellion alive through.
out the country"
No one has better opportunity than
myself of knowing that fact" answered
Cunningham. II consider it about as
lawful to make war upon them as upon
their husbands and lovers. As a general
thing, l am inclined to show them but
little mercy. | am in favor of extermi-
nation. Let the sword, the halter and
hre do their work without too nice re-
gard to the particular circumstances of
each particular case. We must terrify
by the promptness and severity of our
punlshments. While | was out yester-
day with some of our fellows collecting
beeves and levying contributions on
granaries L wiscovered a fine dwelling,
Economically situated on the banks of
the river, about two miles above here
! galloped up to the house, followed by
my merry men, and learned that it was
owned by Mr.. Adair, rank rebel. we
olsmounted, and as we entered the yard
a Young man rushed out and made a
desperate attempt to escape; but we
succeeded in securing him. He was Just
making preparations to join the ragged
fellows that, 1t seems, are collecting
somewhere near Lynch's Creek on the
Santee. | ordered the men to hang him
on the spot, when girl of about sew
enteen threw herself AZ my feet and
pleaded most eloquently that the order
might be revoked. Her earnestness at
tracted my attention, and l perceived
that she was endowed by nature with
more than an ordinary share Of beauty.
After enjoying her distress a few mo-
ments, l recalled my order, resolving to
spare the young fellow, in hopes that he
might be the means of acquiring an In
fuence over the fair sister. Young
Adair is now a prisoner, and l expect
soon to secure TIE frieD 1ship of the par
ty in whom Z am interested by sparing
his life"
You'll propose marriage to her next,
/ dare say" said the major with an
ironical laugh.
Il have made up my mind to take
that step, and you cannot laugh me out
of il. If she refuses, young Adair dies I"
"Some people would call that rather
a strange way of wooing," remarked
Carney; and then Immediately added, 81
hear that Marion has collected a lot of
scarecrows in leathern caps at some
place on the Santee. We must learn
their precise whereabouts, and make a
dash at them SOON"
II have also heard of the fellow you
allude to. At the head of handful of
rebels he has been destroying boats on
the .Santee, by the order of Gen. Gates.
l fear he will prove but contemplate
foe, and there will be little glory achiev-
ed in vanquishing him."
81 think we had better go and hunt
him up tomorrow, and make an exam
pie of him; after which we will turn
our thoughts toward beauty and booty"
replied the major.
Both of the Tory leaders walked to-
ward the encampment, conversing earn
estly about Ruth Strickland. Mary Adair
and the rebels in general. Secure in
their own supposed strength, and deaf
to the appeals of conscience, they took
no thought of the morrow, and neither
knew nor suspected what it might bring
forth