Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-02-20
The Troopers Move With Their Pris'
oners.
CHAPTER XVIII.

Is cause Of his own PAINE,
But he that fiieth in good tide,
Perhaps may fight again.
old Proverb.
1t was with the most earnest solici-
tude that Butler and his companion
watched the course Of events, and be-
came acquainted with the character OF
the rufians into whose hands they hao
fallen. The presence Of James Curry
IN this gang excited painful con-
sciousness in the mind Of the soldier
that he had powerful and secret ene-
mics at work against him, but who
they were was an impenetrable mys-
terry. Then the lawless habits OF the
people who had possession or MIN
gave rise to the most anxious distrus'
as to his future fate; he might be
murdered in a fit Of passion, or tor
tured with harsh treatment to gratify
some concealed malice. His position In
the army was, 1t seemed, known too;
and, for aught that he could tell, his
mission might be no secret to his cap
tors Robinson's sagacity entered fully
into these misgivings. He had mar
rowly observed the conduct OF the par
ty who had made them prisoners, and
with that acute insight which was con-
cealed under a rude and uneducated
exterior, but which was strongly
marked In his actions, he had already
determined upon the course which the
safety of Butler required him to pur-
sue. According to his views Of their
present difficulties It was absolutely
necessary that he should effect his es-
cape, at whatever personal hazard
Butler, he rightly conjectured, was the
principal object Of the late ambuscade;
that, for some unknown purpose, the
possession Of this officer became I'M
portant to those who had procured the
attack upon him, and that James Curry
had merely hired this gang Of despera-
does to secure the prize. Under these
circumstances he concluded that the
major would be so strictly guarded as
to forbid all hope of escape, and that
any attempt by him to effect 1t would
only be punished by certain death.
But, In regard to himself, his calcula-
'tion was different. First" said he, I
can master any three Of this beggarly
crew In an open field and fair fight;
and, secondly, when 1t comes to the
chances Of a pell-mell, they will not
think me Of so much account as to risk
their necks by long chase; their whole
ewes would undoubtedly be directed to
the major" The sergeant, therefore,
determined to make the attempt, and
in the event Of his success, to repair 70
Sumpter, who he knew frequented some
of the Businesses in this region; or,
In the alternative, to rally such friends
from the neighboring country as were
not yet overawed by the Tory domin-
ion and bring them speedily to the res
cue of Butler. Full OF these thoughts
he took occasion during the night
whilst the guard were busy in cooking
their venison, and whilst they thought
him and his comrade wrapped In sleep
to whisper to Butler the resolution he
had adopted.
"I will take the first chance tomor-
row to make a dash upon these raga-
mullins" he said: land shall count II
hard II don't get out Of their claws
Then, rely upon me, I shall keep near
you In spite Of these devils. So be
prepared, If once get away to see me
like a witch travel on broomstick OF
creep through a keyhole. But whist!
the drunken vagabonds mustn't hear
us talking"
Butler, after due consideration OF the
sergeant's scheme thought it, however
perilous, the only chance they had OF
extricating' themselves from the dan
gers with which they were beset, and
promised the most ready cooperation;
determining also, to let no opportunity
slip which might be improved to his
own deliverance. "Your good arm and
brave heart, Galbraith, never stood you
in more urgent stead than they may
do tomorrow" was his concluding re-
mark.
When morning broke, the light OF
day fell upon a strange and disordered
scene. The drunken and coarse
wretches Of the night before now les
sened in number and strength by COM
mon broil and private quarrel, lag
stretched on their beds of leaves. Theii
motley and ill-assorted weapons lay
around in disarray; drinking cups ano
empty TASKS were scattered over the
trodden grass, the skin and horns OF
the buck, and disjointed fragments oi
raw flesh, were seen confusedly cas-,
about beneath the tree, and a conspic'
uous object in the scene were the clots
Of blood and gore, both Of men and
beast. that disfigured the soil. Two
new-made graves, or rather mounds
hastily scratched together and imper'
fectly concealing the limbs Of the dead
prominently placed but q few feet from
the ring of last nights reve!ry, tolc
of the disasters Of the fight at the
ford. The brushwood fire had burned
down into a heap of smouldering ash
es. and the pale and sickly features o.
the wounded trooper were to be dis
cerned upon a pallet Of leaves, hard b!
the heap Of embers, surrounded by tn
remnants Of bones and roasted mea
that had been flung carelessly aside
In a spot of more apparent comfort
sheltered by an overhanging canopy o
vines and alder, lay Butler stretched
upon his cloak. and, close beside him
the stout frame of Horse Shoe Robin
son. In the midst of all these mark
of recent riot and carousal, sat tW'
swarthy figures, haggard and wal
from night watching, armed at ever.
point, and keeping strict guard owe
the prisoners.
The occasional snort and paving o
horses in the neighboring wood show
ed that these animals were alert a
the earliest dawn; whilst among tn
first who seemed aware of the approach
of day, was seen rising from the earth
where 1t had been flung in stupid tor
por for some hours, the bloated an