Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-12-07

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Frampton himself Nobody knows any
thing more about it; and what heard,
is jist now what i tell YOU"
The man had narrated truly what he
had heard; and what, in reality, with
little exaggeration, was the truth. The
company had listened to one Of those
stories of brutality, which-in the
fierce civil warfare of the south, when
neighbors were arrayed against one
another and when, on one side, negroes
and Indians formed allies, contributing,
by their lighter sense Of humanity, ad-
ditional forms OF terror to the sanguin-
airy warfare pursued at that period
were Of almost daily occurrence. Huck,
the Infamous Tory captain, Of whom
we have already obtained a slight
glimpse in the progress Of our narra-
tive, was himself character we'll fit
ted, by his habitual cunning and gross
want Of all the softening influences of
humanity. to give countenance, and
even example, to crimes of this nature.
His dragons, though few as yet in
number, and employed only on maraud-
ing excursions calling for small parties,
had already become notorious for their
outrages OF this description. Indeed,
they found impunity in this circum-
stance. In regular warfare, under
the controlling presence Of crowds, the
responsibility of his men. apart from
what they owed or yielded to himself,
would have held them certainly in some
greater restraints; although, to their
shame be II said, the British generals in
the south, when mortified by defeat
and vexed by unexpected resistance,
were themselves not always more ten
aclous of propriety than the Tory Huck.
The sanguinary orders Of Cornwallis.
commanding the cold blooded execution
Of hundreds, are on record, in melan-
choly attestation of the atrocities COM
mitted by the one, and the persecu-
tions borne by the other party, during
this memorable conflict.
1t could easily be seen what was the
general feeling during this recital; and
yet that feeling was unspoken. Some
few shook their heads very gravely,
and few, more daring yet, ventured
to say, that 1T was very bad, very bad
:ndeed-very shocking"
What's very bad. my friends? what
Is 1t you speak Of as so shocking"'
WIS the demand Of one just entering.
The crowd started back, and Huck
himself stood among them. He repeat
ed his inquiry, and with manner that
left 1t doubtful whether he really de-
sired to know what had been the sub
ject Of their remarks, or whether, hav-
Of them to the honest utterance Of
their sentiments upon 1t. Singleton,
who had listened with a duly excited
spirit to the narrative of the country
man, now advanced deliberately to-
wards the newcomer whom he ad-
dressed as in answer of his question
why, sir, it is bad, very bad indeed,
the treatment received, as l learn, by
one of his maiesty's dragons, at the
hands Of some impudent rebel a few
nights ago. You know, sir. to what /
allude. You have heard, doubtless"
The bold, confident manner of the
speaker was sufficiently imposing to
satisfy all around of his loyalty
Huck seemed completely surprised.
and replied freely and with confidence
"Ay, you mean the affair of that
scoundrel,, Frampton. Yes, know all
about it; but we're on his trail, and
shall soon make him sweat for his au-
dacity. the blasted rebel"
do you know that his wife is dead?'
asked one Of the countrymen, in a
tone subdued to one of simple and in
expressive inquiry.
"No-and don't care very greatly
It's a bad breed, and the misfortune
Is, there's quite too many of them
But We'll thin them soon. and easily
by Cd! and the land shall be rid of
the reptiles"
Yes. captain, we think alike" said
Singleton. familiarly-"we think alike
on that subject. Something must be
done. and in time, or there will be no
comfortable moving for a loyalist
whether in swamp or highway. These
rascal rebels have II in their power to
do mischief, If not taken care of In
time. 1t Is certainly our policy to pre-
vent our men from being ill-treated by
them. and To do this. they must be
taken in hand early. Rebellion grows
like joint grass when it once takes
root, and runs faster than you can fol-
low. 1t should be seen to-"
THAT is my thought already, ano
accordingly have a good dog on trail
of this lark, Frampton, and hope soon
to have him in. He cannot escape
Travis. my lieutenant. who is now af-
ter him, and who knows the swamp as
we'll as himself. They're both from
Goose Creek. and so let dog eat dog"
You have sent Travis after him
then, captain?" inquired a slow and de-
liberate voice at Huck's elbow. Sin.
gleton turned at the same moment
with the person addressed, and recog'
nized in the speaker his own lieuten'
ant. the younger Humphries, who hac
gone back to the tavern almost as soor
as himself. Humphries. OF whose
Americanism we can have no sort o.
question. had yet managed adroitly u
conceal it: and what with his own cum
ming and his fathers established loyal
ty. he was enabled, not only to pas!
without suspicion, but actually to i'm
press the Tories with a favorable opin'
ion of his good feeling for the British
cause. This was one of those artihce'
which the necessities of the times i'm
posed upon most men, and for whici
they gave a sufficient moral sanction.
"Ah, Bill, my boy" said Huck, turn
ing as to an old acquaintance. "is tina
you! Why. where have you been?-
haven't seen you for an age, and didn'
well know what had become OF you
thought you might have gone into TIT
swamps too with the skulking rebels
so have" replied the other calml!
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