Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-11-30

stopped him in his progress till he
could come up with him by friend
ly hail; and, freely approaching him,
rendered him his open hand in a cor
dial salutation. The other grasped 1t
with honest pleasure.
Master Davis, for such I believe Is
your name." said the stranger, frank
ly, "I owe you many thanks for so
readily, though must say rashly, TAX
ing UP my quarrel. I understand that
your brush with that soldier fellow was
on my account; and though, like your
self, I need nobody to fight my battles,
I must yet thank you for the good
spirit which you have shewn in this
matter"
mo thanks, stranger. I don't know
| what name to call you"
mo matter; names are unnecessary,
and the fewer known the better In
these doubtful times. I care not to
utter mine, though it has but little
value. Call me what you please" The
other looked surprised. but still salts
fed, and replied after this fashion
"Well. stranger, as 1 said, you owe
me no thanks at all in this affair; for
though l did take up the matter on
your hook, 1t was because had lit
tie sort of hankering to take 1t up on
my own I have long had q grudge
at that fellow, and I didn't care much
on whose score 1t began, SO 1t had q
beginning"
HE has done you wrong?" half af-
frmatively, half inquiringly, said his
companion.
Reckon he has, squire, and no small
wrong neither; but that's neither here
nor there, seeing there's little help for
It."
"How! no help for 1t! What may be
the nature Of this injury, for which a
man with your limbs and spirit can find
no help?"
The countryman looked at the speak
er with a curious expression, in which
desire to confide, and a proper hesi-
fancy in entrusting his secret thoughts
to a stranger, were mingled equally.
The other beheld the expression, and
readily defining the difficulty, proceed
ed to remove 1t.
"This man has wronged you friend
Davis; you are his match-more than
his match; you have better make and
muscle, and manage your club quite as
well as he his broadsword:-why
should you not have justice II you de-
sire it?"
IF I q. sire it," cried the other, and
his black eye sparkled, II do desire 1t,
squire; but there's odds against me. or
we'd a been at 1t before this"
What odds?"
Look there! as Davis replied,
he pointed to the fortress upon the op-
posite hill, a few hundred yards of,
where the cross Of Great Britain steam
ed high among the pine trees, and
from the entrance of which, at that
very moment, a small body Of regulars
were pouring into the street, and pro-
ceeding with martial music to the
market place.
81 see," replied the other-"I see. but
why should they prove odds against
you in a personal affair with this SER
geant? You have justice from them
surely"
"Justice!-such justice as a Tory
captain gives when he wants your
horse, and don't want to pay for it."
Davis replied truly, in his summing
up Of British justice at that period.
But you do not mean to say that the
people would not be protected, were
complaints properly made to the off,
cers?"
II do; and what's worse. complaint
only goes after new hickories. One
man was strapped up only yesterday.
because he complained that Corporal
Townes kicked his wife and broke his
crockery. They gave him hundred
lashes."
And yet loyalty must have its ad-
vantages, more than equal to this US
age, else"-and a smile Of bitter scorn
played upon the lips of the speaker
dS lie IlUlSIl6u lIlc SCllChSC SAoS sAANAS
would not be so many to love 1t so we'll
and submit to 1t so patiently"
The countryman gazed earnestly at
the speaker, whose eyes were full of
most searching expression. which could
not be misunderstood.
Dang it, stranger" he cried. what
do you mean-who are you?"
"a mani" answered the speaker
| boldly:-"one who has not asked for
British protection, nor submitted to
their hickories;" and the form Of the
stranger was elevated duly as he spoke,
and his eye was lighted up with scorn-
full fires, as his reference was made
sarcastically to the many in the neigh
borhood who had done both. The face
of Davis was flushed when he heard
this reply, the tears gathered in his
eyes, and with a bitter emphasis,
though In low tones, as II he felt all the
shame Of his acknowledgment he re-
piled
God help me- but I did! I was one
of those who took a protection. Here
1t is-here's the paper. Here's where
sold my country, and put myself
down in black and white, to be beaten
like dog with hickories. But it's not
too late; and look you, stranger, l be-
lieve you're true blue, but II you aint,
why it's all the same thing-I care not
you may go tell quick as you please;
but I will break the bargain" 4,
"Ha!-speak!" and the form of the
stranger was advanced and his eyes
dilated, as he watched the earnest
glow in every feature of his compan-
ion.
"By tearing up the paper; see,"-and'
as he spoke, he tore into small bits the
guaranty of British protection, which,
in common with most Of his neighbors,
he had been persuaded to accept from
the commandant for his security, and
as a condition Of that return, which he
pledged. at the same time, to his duty
and his allegiance.
Your life Is in my hands," exclaim-