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

takes
The wolfdog from our throats, and
yields us his"
Travis, the faithful coadjutor Of the
Tory Huck, was on his march into
the swamp before daylight. AS Hum
phries had anticipated, he took the
path. II so it might be called, on which
the ambuscade had been laid for him.
He might not have done so, had ne
dreamed for an instant Of the exist
ence in this quarter Of such body OF
men as that now preparing to receive
him. Looking on his object, however,
simply as the arrest Of Frampton, and
the securing of the swamp OF such
stragglers besides as might have been
led for shelter into its recesses, he
adopted the route which was obviously
most accessible, and most likely, there
fore, to be resorted to by the merely
skulking discomfort. The half militia
ry eye, looking out for an enemy In
any respect equal in strength, would
have either studiously avoided the
ridge over which Travis now presum-
ed to ride or would have adopted some
better precautions than he had trou-
bled himself to take. 1t was naturally
a strong defile, we'll calculated for an
easy defence, as only a small force could
possibly be Of use upon 1t. But two
persons could ride abreast in the pre-
scribed direction, and then only with
great difficulty and by slow movement;
for little gullies and assures contin-
ually intersected the path, which was
circuitous and winding, and, If not al
ways covered with water and swamp
quite as difficult to overcome, from its
luxuriant growth Of umbrage.
Though an old traveller in such
Businesses, these obstructions were In
no sort pleasant to the leader Of the
British party. who. being a notorious
grumbler, accompanied every step
which he took with q grunting sort
OF commentary by way Of disapproba-
tion.
Now, may the devil take these gull
lies, that go as deep when you get in
to them as II they were made for him.
This Is a days chase, and the next
time Huck wants q hunt, he shall en-
Joy it himself. like not this service.
It's little less than a disparagement OF
the profession, and speaks not we'll for
an old soldier"
The leader spoke with feeling, and
no little emphasis, as his steed scram-
bled up the bank from the slough in
which his legs had been almost fas-
tened, the Shiny ooze of which, left by
the now-receding tide. rendered the
effect to release himself a matter Of
greater difficulty than usual. The
grumbling continued, even after he
had gained the tussock.
Thou a soldier!" cried one who rode
up behind him, and who spoke In
terms Of familiarity indicating close
companionship-"th a soldier, Ira
Wis, indeed; What should make thee
a soldier?"
Am not. Clough?" was the reply.
And wherefore dost thou grumble,
then?"
Wherefore? Because, being SOL
dier, l am sent upon any but SOL
dier's service. A dog might do this
duty-a dog that you had we'll beat
en-"
And what better service, Travis,
couldst thou have to keep thee from
grumbling? Art thou, now, not sor-
nv bear with a sore head, that kind
ness cannot coax, and crossing only
can keep civil! Send thee on what
service Huck may, 1t is all the same;
thou wilt grumble at the toll, even
when II likes thee best. What wouldst
thou have-what would please thee?'
"By Saint Jupiter, but he might ask,
at least! He might give man his
choice" responded the other, gruffiy.
It's but a small favor l ask to be suf-
fered to choose for myself whether 1
shall work for my master on hill or
in hole-with a free bit, or hand to
hand, close struggle with a hungry
alligator in his wallow."
And thou wouldst choose the very
service he now puts thee to. What!
do we not all know thee better than
Huck? He sees thou art the best man
for the swamp; that thy scent is keen
with the bloodhound, thine eye like the
hawks, and thou art quick for fight as
the majors bull-pup. 1t is because he
knows thou art fond Of this sort OF
venture that he puts thee upon 1t;
and what thou grumblest at, therefore
II will be out of thine own wisdom to
llNy 6iSrOn-
tented with the duty. which I believe
not"
It's a dogs life only, this scenting
swamps for the carrion they had bet
ter keep-wearing out good legs and
horses. and making soldiers do the duty
Of a hungry dog. Rot 1t, but I'll re-
sist after this! Let them send others
that are younger. and like it better
I'll give it up-Tll do no more of it,
Say so to Huck. and lose command
Of the scouts-the best game thou
hast ever played at, If the baggage
wagons speak true" was the reply
What! shalt thou grumble to dc
what thou art best fitted for? What
wouldst thou be after-what other
service would please thee?"
Thou mayst see me in charge yet
Sergeant Cleugh." replied Travis
boastfully, provided thou hast blood
enough to stop until it's over. When
thou hast seen this, thou wilt ask me
no child's questions. What! because
am good at the swamp, am 1 there
fore worth nothing on the highway
1t were a sorry soldier that could moi
take clear track and bush and bog
alike when the case calls for 1t, and dc
good service in all. But thou shalt
see some day, and grow wiser"
We'll, thou dost promise largely
like an old debtor; but, to my mind
thou art just now where thou shoulds
be-in the swamps; for, truth to speak
thou lowest them-tEou lowest the
wallow and the slough-the thick oozt