Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-02-02


Adair strode into the room. The glare
of the blazing fagots of pine which had
been thrown ON the fire to light up the
apartment fell broadly over his per-
son, and flung black and uncouth
shadow across the floor and upon the
opposite wall; thus magnifying his
proportions and imparting pictur-
esque character to his outward man.
A thin, dark weatherbeaten counten-
ance, animated by bright and rest
less eye. expressed cunning rather than
hardihood, and seemed habitually to
alternate between the manifestations
of waggish vivacity and distrust. The
person of this individual might be said
from it's want of symmetry and from
certain slovenly and ungraceful stoop
in the head and shoulders, to have been
protracted, rather than tall. 1t better
deserved the description of sinewy
than muscular, and communicated the
idea OF toughness in a greater degree
than strength. His arms and legs were
long: and the habit of keeping the
knee bent as he walked, suggested a
remote resemblance in his gait to that
of panther and other animals Of the
same species; it seemed to be adapted
to sudden leap or spring.
His dress was a coarse and short
hunting shirt of dingy green, trimmed
with a profusion of fringe, and suffi-
ciently open -at the collar to disclose his
long and gaunt neck; black leather
belt supported a hunting knife and
wallet; whilst a pair of rude deerskin
moccasins and cap manufactured
from the skin of some wild animal,
and now deprived of its hair by long
use, supplied the indispensable gear to
either extremity of his person.
Adair's first care was to bestow in
their proper places his rife and pow
der horn: then to disburden himself
of number Of squirrels which were
strung carelessly over his person, and,
finally, to throw himself into a chair
that occupied one side Of the fireplace.
The light for a moment blinded him,
and 1t was not until he shaded his
brow with his hand and looked across
the hearth that he became aware OF
the strangess. HIS first gaze was d.
rected to Butler to whom he address,
ed the common interrogatory, TRAY
cling In these parts, sir" and, before
time was afforded for a reply to this
accost his BYE recognized the sergeant.
upon which, starting from his seat. he
made up to our sturdy friend, and
slapping him familiarly on the back,
uttered a chuckling laugh, as he ex-
claimed
why, Galbraith, Is 1t you, man?
To be sure 1t is! What wind has
blown you up here? Have you been
running from red-coats, or are you
hunting of Tories. or are you looking
for beeves2 Who have you got with
you here"
"Wat, 1t don't consarn you to know
what brotfEht us here-it is only your
business to do the best you can for us
whilst we are here" replied the SER
geant. "This here gentleman Is Mr.
Butler, a friend of mine that wants to
get across into Georgia; and trouble
enough we've had to find our way this
far, Wat Adair. You've got such an
uproarious country, and such cursed
set of quarrelsome devils in 1t, that
peaceable man is clean out Of fashion
amongst you. We are as wet as
muskrats in swimming the river and
as hungry as wolves in winter
And happy" said Butler, ito be at
last under the roof Of q friend"
well, 1 am glad to see you both''
replied Wat. What put it in my
head, Galbraith, 1 am sure / can't tell,
but | was thinking about you this very
day: said l to myself, should just like
to see Horse Shoe Robinson, the on
conceivable superfluous, roaring devil!
Haw, haw, haw!"
You were ashamed of your own
company, Wat, and wanted to see
decent man once more" replied Horse
Shoe, echoing the laugh.
Mary Musgrove, hustle, GIRL said
the woodman, as the maiden entered
the room with her arms loaded with
ears of Indian corn "bustle, mink! here
are two runaways with stomachs like
millstones to grind your corn. Horse
Shoe, get up from that chist, man; l
can give you a little drop of liquor II
YOU will let me rummage there for II.
Marcus, boy, go bring us in a jug OF
cool water. Wife I'm 'stonished you
didn't think Of giving our friends
something to drink afore."
II am sure l don't pretend to know
friend from foe" returned the dame;
"and it is bad way to find that out
by giving them liquor"
When the boy returned with the wa
ter and the host had helped his guests
to a part of the contents Of flask
which had been extracted from the
chest, Butler took occasion to COM
mend the alacrity of the young SER
vitor.
This Is one Of your children. / sup
pose?"
"A sort Of pet cub" cried the
woodman: lust small specimen OF
my fetching up: trees squirrels like a
dog-got the nose Of a hound-can
track a raccoon in the dark-and the
most meddlesome imp about firearms
YOU ever see. Here t other day go'
my rifle and shot away half the hair
from his sisters head; but l reckon
skinned him for it! You can answer
for that, Marcus, you shaver, eh?'
II expect you did," answered the boy
pertly. but l don't mind whipping
| when I've got room to dodge"
do you know, Mr.. Butler, how
come to call that boy Marcus" SAID
Adair.
1T is one of your family names
perhaps"
Not bit There's mare another boy
nor man in this whole country round
has such a name-nor woman, neither
It's a totally uncommon name.
called him after that there Frenchmar