Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-12-04

| " OSE 10 iiC iAtttSSASe
"Ah, we shall meet ag4n, Master
Huck, or it will be no fault sof ours. If
we do not, Old Nick takes marvellous
care Of his own. But ha! comrade
keep you here awhile; there is one
that l would speak with"
At a littlea distance tapart, at one
wing of the tavern, stood a man. attired
in the blue hSmespun garments Of the
country. among the humber classes;
and with nothing particular to distin-
guish him. If we except a face some
what more round and rosy than belongs
usually to the people dwelling in Dor
chester and its neighbors. He was like
them in one respect-having a side
long, indirect movement, coupled with
a sluggish. lounging, Indifferent gait,
which is a general feature df this peo-
pie, unless when reused by insult or
provocation. In his hand he carried a
whip Of common leather which he
smacked occasionally, either for the
sharp. shot-like sounds which 1t sent
forth, or when he desired to Send to a
greater distance that most grumbling
Of all aristocrats, the hog. as 1t ap-
preached him. The quick eye Of the
stranger had singled out his person.
age; and. leaving Davis where he stood.
and moving quickly through the strag-
Cling groups that still clustered in front
Of the tavern, he at once approached
him confidently as an old acquaintance.
The other seemed not to observe his
coming, until our first acquaintance
notice. This had no sooner been done,
than the other was in motion. Throw
ing aside his sluggishness Of look, he
recognized by a glance the stranger,
ten. as he saw that he was about to
speak The words Of our old acquaint-
ance were few, but significant
II am here before you-say nothing
lead on, and will follow"
With a nod. the person addressed
looked but once at the speaker; then,
without a word, moving from his easy
position against the tavern, and throw
ing aside all show Of sluggishness, he
led the way for the stranger. Taking
an oblique path, which carried them in
a short time into the neighboring
woods, they soon left the village be-
hind them.
Davis had been reluctant to sepa-
rate from the companion to whom he
had so readily yielded his confidence.
He had his doubt-as who could be
without them in that season Of gen.
eral distrust? But when he re-
membered the warm, manly frankness
Of the stranger-his free, bold, gener-
Gus, and gentle conference.-the did not
suffer himself to doubt, for a moment
more, that his secret would be safe in
his possession. This, indeed, was the
least Of his difficulties. The fair CO.
quette Of the inn had attracted him
strongly, and with a heavy heart, he
turned into the Royal George" and,
| throwing his form at length upon
bench, he solaced or vexed, himself
| with an occasional glance at Bella
Humphries. whose duties carried her
to and fro between the bar and the
sitting room; and with thoughts Of
that vengeance upon his enemy which
his new relation with the stranger
seemed to promise him.
Meanwhile, following the steps Of the
individual he had so singled out the
stranger kept on his way until the VII
lage had been fairly passed; then
plunging down a little by-path. into
which the former had gone, he soon
overlook him, and they moved on close
ly together In their common progress.
The guide was a stout able-bodied
person, Of thirty years. or perhaps
more-a rough looking man. one SEEM
ingly born and bred entirely in the
humble life Of the country. He was
powerful in physical development rath-
er stout than high, with a short thick
neck-a head round and large. with
eyes small. settled, and piercing-and
features even solemn in their general
expression Of severity. He carried no
visible weapons. but he seemed the
man to use them; for no one who look
ed in his face could doubt that he was
full of settled purpose, firm in his re-
solve, and reckless, having once deter
mined, in the prosecution Of the most
desperate enterprise.
The route they were pursuing grew
more and more tangled as they went,
gradually sinking in level, until the
footing became slightly insecure. and
at length terminated in the soft oozy
swamp surface common to the margin
Of most rivers in the low country OF
the south. They were now close on
the banks Of the Ashley, which wound
its way, perceptible to the two in occa-
sional glimpses. through the close-set
foliage by which they were surround
ed. A few more strides through the
copse and over the miry surface,
brought them again to dry elevation,
isolated by small sluices Of water, and
more closely wrapped in brush and
covering. Here their progress was
self arrested, for they were now per-
fectly secure from interruption. In all
this time, no word had been exchanged
between the parties; but the necessity
for farther caution being now over,
they came to a pause, and the silence
was broken as follows by our last
made acquaintance:
1--WE are safe here. Major Singleton,
and can now speak freely. The sharp
est scout in the British garrison could
not we'll come upon us without warn
ing, and If he did, would do so by ac-
cident"
I'm glad Of it, for I'm heartily tired,
and not little impatient to talk with
you. But let US be at ease"
They threw themselves upon the
ground-our elder acquaintance, whom
we now know as Major Singleton. with
an air Of superiority which seemed
familiar, choosing the most favorable
spot. while the other remained stand