Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-04-20
not have the grass growing to our

ward at rapid gallop.
They had not gone far before they
found themselves upon a road which
led through a piece of thin wood that
covered a small tract OF marshy
ground, the nature Of which brought
the party into a more compact body
as they approached the narrowest
point Of the defile. At short dis.
tance beyond this impedirnent the
track became broader, where 1t as.
cended hill thickly covered with ar
underground Of bushes.
Our friends had scarcely arrived ir
the narrow pass before they perceiv-
ed on the hill in front Of them, a COM
pany Of some ten or fifteen horse
rapidly advancing towards them. In
a moment all conversation was check
ed, and Harry Winter turning to his
companions, had barely time to re-
mark:
Il answer all questions; be silent
and IL asked, swear to the truth OF
every word l say-steady; these fell
lows are Tories"
AS he ceased speaking, the foremost
of the strangers had already come up
to them.
Where from, and whittier do you
go?' asked Harry Winter with a stern
accent.
From below Ninety-Six, and on
our road to Fort CRANKY" replied a
clownish voice.
Peace, you knave!" interrupted one
who appeared to be the leader Of the
party, and whose carriage and de-
meanor announced him to be an off,
GER; by what authority do you under
take to answer a challenge on the
highway? Back to your place, sir"
The rebuked rustic hung his head, as
he refined his horse back into the
crowd that now thronged the road.
"As we are Of the larger party" said
the same person addressing himself to
Winter. I'VE have the right to the
word. Who are you and whence come
you?'
I'VE belong to Floyd's new draft"
replied Winter with great GOODNESS,
land left Winnsborough yesterday
morning"
And where bound?"
ITO Augusta, on business with
Brown"
"Ah hal" exclaimed the officer,
Brown is pinched by the rebels. 1t
Is well you have thought Of him. What
have you to say to him? Do you bear
despatches?"
your pardon, sir-that's secret"
"You need not be afraid, good fellow,
we are friends"
81 can hardly tell you the exact
business" replied Winter. you will
meet Floyd himself with a hundred
men before you ride five miles. be-
lieve we are going to reinforce the gar
rison.
you will be very welcome" said the
Tory officer, Brown will give you a
hearty reception, but devllish slim
fare; he Is surrounded with hornets"
so much the better" replied Win
ter, I'VE have knack Of taking the
sting out of the hornets. nowadays.
Good morning sir. Report us, II you
please, to Colonel Floyd, when you
come across him, and tell the hour of
the day when you met US"
oh orla 20
parties had become united into a COM
mon throng, completely filled up the
road; and the proximity Into which
they were severally brought, gave rise
to various inquiries after news
amongst the subordinates on either
siGe. In this press, Butler was star
tied to observe the eyes Of an indi-
vidual scanning him with somewhat
pointed scrutiny, and 1t was with an
emotion that had well nigh betrayed
him. that he recognized In this person
one Of Macdonald's soldiers. 1t was the
man whom the lieutenant had des-
patched, a few days previous, with
an errand to the post at Ninety-SiX.
and who was now returning with this
detachment of militia, The soldier
was evidently at fault, for In a mo-
ment afterwards Butler could perceive,
from his expression Of face, that what
ever might have been his first suspi-
cion 1t was quieted by another glance.
The disguise was so far effectua!. But
another cause of alarm arose, that FOR
an instant brought Butler into great
er jeopardy. The horse on which the
yoke fellow of the lean Wall-Eye, and
the two beasts had been long accus-
toned TO work side by side In the same
wagon. Their mutual recognition, at
this critical moment, became Distress
ingly conspicuous. Their noses were
brought I'm contact, and they began to
whinny and paw the ground In that
ineligible manner which constitutes
one Of the forms Of expression by
which this portion Of the brute crea-
ton acknowledge their attachments.
The presence of mind of John Ramsay
saved the explosion which must soon
have followed. He spurred his horse
between the two noisy and restless
animals, and Immediately addressed a
conversation to the soldier, which for
the moment turned his thoughts into
another channel
BY this time the conference had ter
minated, and the two leaders respect
lively directing their men to move for
ward, the defile was passed and each
party extricated from the other. But
no sooner was the separation completed
than Buffers british steed Wall Eye.
began to neigh with the most clamor-
Gus vociferation, whilst a response was
heard in the same tones as pertina-
ciously reiterated from the retreatlng
companion on the other side of the
defile.
I'VE were In great danger from yon-
der Tories" said Ramsay, addressing
Butler, did you see that one OF these
fellows rode the mate of the beast you
are on? Who could he be-"
1T was one of MacdOnald's men,
replied Butler, 81 knew the fellow the
moment we met: but thank heaven,