Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-01-05

dwelling house, near at hand, which,
in the engrossment of my occupation,
had not observed. We lifted the boy
in our arms and bore him into the
house.
/ was now in comfortable quarters
for the night. The gentleman was Col
onel T, as l was made aware by his
introduction, and the kindly welcome
he offered me, and very soon found
myself established upon the footing Of
a favored guest. The boy was laid up
on a bed in the room where We sat,
suffering great pain, and In want OF i'm
mediate attention. / entered Into the
family consultation on the case. Never
have I regretted the want Of an ac-
QUESTION, as then regretted that / had
no skill in surgery. I was utterly in
competent to make a suggestion worth
considering. The mother Of the fam
lily happened to be absent that night;
and, next to the physician, the mother
is the best advisor. There was an ell
der son, about my own age, who was
playing fiddle when we came in; and
there was a sister younger than he,
and brothers and sisters still younger.
But we were all alike incapable. The
poor boys case might be critical, and
the nearest physician, DR.. Anderson,
resided at Pend!eton, thirty miles Off.
This Is one Of the conditions Of frontier
settlement which Is not always thought
of.
In the difficulty Of the juncture, a
thought occurred to Colonel T., which
was Immediately made available. Il
think / will send for Horse Shoe Rob-
i2son," he said, with a manifest light
ening up Of the countenance, as II he
had hit upon a happy expedient. Get
a horse my son." he continued, ad-
dressing one Of the boys, land ride
over to the old man, and tell him what
has happened to your brother; and
say. he will oblige me II he will come
here directly" At the same time, SER
want was ordered to ride to Peldleton,
and to bring over DR.. Anderson.
In the absence OF the first messen-
ger the lad grew easier and II became
apparent that his hurt was not likely
to turn out seriously. Colonel T., as
sured by this, drew his chair up to the
fire beside me, and with many express
sions Of friendly interest inquired into
the course Of my journey, and into the
numberless matters that may be sup
posed to interest a frontier settler in
his intercourse with one just from the
world of busy life. It happened that
! knew an old friend Of his. General
-, gentleman highly distinguished
In professional and political service,
to whose youth Colonel T. had been a
most timely patron. This circumstance
created a new pledge in my favor, and,
I believe influenced the old gentleman
In fi7al resolve to send that night for
his wife. who was some seven or eight
miles off, and whom he had been dis
i1clined to put to the discomfort of
such journey In the dark, ever since II
was ascertained that the boys case
was not dangerous. I am pretty sure
this influenced him, as I heard him
privately i~structing a servant to go
for the lady, and to tell her that the
boys injury was not very severe, and
that there was gentleman there
who was we'll acquainted with General
-" I observed, hanging In little
black frame over the fireplace, minia-
ture engraved portrait Of the general,
which was the OILY specimen OF the
fire arts in the house-perhaps In the
settlement. 1t was my recognition of
this likeness that led, I fear, to the
weary night ride of the good lady.
In less than an hour the broad light
Of the hearth-for the apartment was
only lit up by blazing pine faggots,
which, from time to time, were thrown
ure. There was first sound Of hoofs
coming through the dark-a halt al
the door-a full, round, clear voice
heard on the porch-and then the en-
trance into the apartment of wood
land hero. That fine rich voice again
In salutation, so gentle and so manly!
This was our expected counsellor
Horse Shoe Robinson. What man
saw! With near seventy years upon his
noll. time seemed to have broken its
hillows over his front only as the
ocean breaks over a rock There he
stood-tall. broad, brawny. and erect
The sharp light gilded his massive
frame and weatherbeaten face with a
pictorial effect that would have re-
toiced an artist. His homely dress,
his free stride, as he advanced to the
fire.; his face radiant with kindness;
the natural gracefulness Of his motion;
AL offorded ready index to his char
acter. Horse Shoe, 1t was evident, was
man to confide in.
II hear your boys got flung from his
horse, colonel" he said, as he advanced
to the bedside. do you think he Is
much hurt?" mot so badly as we
thought at first, Mr.. Robinson" was
the reply. 81 am much obliged to you
for coming over tonight. 1t Is a great
comfort to have your advice In such
times"
"These little shavers are SO venture
some-with horses in particular" said
the visitor; 'it's Providence, colonel,
takes care Of 'em. Let me look at
moved the bedclothes, and began to
handle the shoulder Of the boy, Hes
got 1t out Of joint" he added after a
moment. "Get me basin Of hot wa
ter and cloth, colonel. ! think ] can
soon set matters right"
It was not long before the water was
placed beside him, and Robinson went
to work with the earnestness of prac-
tised surgeon. After applying wet cloths
for some time to the injured part, he
took rhe shoulder In his Lroad hand,
and with sudden movement, which was
followed by a shrek from the boy, he
brought the dislocated bone into its
proper position. "It doesn't hurt" he
said, laughingly; you are only pre-
tending. How do you feel now"
The patient smiled, as he replied,
well enough now; but ! reckon you
hurt"
Horse Shoe came to the fireplace, and
took a chair, saying II larnt that, COL
onel in the campaigns. A man picks
up some good everywhere, If he's a
mind to: that's my observation.
This case being disposed Of, Horse
Shoe determined to remain all night
with the family. We had supper and
after that. formed little party around
the hearth. Colonel T. took occasion
to tell me something about Horse Shoe;
and the colonePs eldest son gave me my
cue, by which he intimated might
draw out the old soldier to relate some
stories Of the war.
ASK him." said the young man,
"how he got away from Charleston af-
ter the surrender; and then get him to
tell you how he took the five scotch
men prisoners"
We were all in good-humor. The
boy was quite easy, and everything
was going on we'll. and we had deter
mined to sit up until Mrs. T. should ar
rive which could not be before mid
night. Horse Shoe was very obliging,
and as 1 expressed a great interest in
his adventures, he yielded himself to
nv leading. and I got out Of him a
rich stock Of adventure, Of which his
life was full. The two famous pas
sages to which I had been asked to
question him-the escape from Char
lesion and the capture Of the Scotch
eoldiers-the reader will find preserved
in the narrative upon which he Is about
20 enter. almost in the very words Of
my authority. / have-perhaps with