Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-05-01
HORSE SHOE
ROBINSON
A Tale of the Revolutionary Struggle In
Upper Carolina.
ByJOHN p. KENNEDY.

propose TO pear MIN company, we Will
for the present, leave the family in the
parlor to the enjoyment Of the kind
communion that had already nursed up
a mutual affection between the hostess
and her guests.
The sergeant took his departure
alone, Notwithstanding the urgent i'm
portunities of Henry and his new COM
panion. Alfred Markham, for permis-
sion to accompany him-a request that
was utterly denied by the sturdy and
cautious soldier.
You are apt to talk too much, Mis-
ter Lindsay he said, in answer to the
petition of the young men, "for such
piece of business as have in hand;
for although. consuming your good
sense and valor both, considering your
years, would not be thought to speak
rashly Of them-but on the contrary,
to give you full praise and recommen-
ldation-yet you know you want eXper-
ience and use to these double-dealings
and lodgings that the war puts us to!
Whereupon, you mought fall to talking
when 1t was best to be silent. and, in
case Of our meeting a body, to be let
ting out somewhat too much, which Is
a thing that discommodes in war
more than you would believe. And be-
sides this, Master Henry, there might
be. mayhap a scrimmage, chase, and
what not-in which consideration you
would be only in my way, seeing that
you when all my wits would be want
ing for myself. No, no; upon no ac-
count is it reasonable that you should
be along. 1t Is your business to sarve
as a body guard to our young lady,
who 1 say, may God bless and take
care of in this world and the next!
And so, Mister Henry, you have my or
ders to stick to your post"
well, sergeant" replied Henry, Il
must obey orders, and If you command
me to stay behind, why cannot choose
about it. But, sergeant, let me give
you a word of advice. Ride cautious
ly-keep your eyes to the right and left,
as we'll as straight before you-and
don't let them catch you mapping"
you studied that speech, Mr.. Hen
ry!" said Horse Shoe, laughing. ITO
hear you, one mought almost think you
had shaved a beard from your chin
before this. Look out, or your hair
will turn gray from too hard thinking!
and now, my long headed fellow-sol-
dier, good bye t'ye!" . >..--..-
You are not going without your
rife, Mr.. Horse Shoe?" said Henry,
calling out to the sergeant, who had al
ready trotted off some twenty PAGES.
That's another consarn for you to
ruminate over" replied Horse Shoe, in
the same jocular mood. Mine is a
business of legs not arms, today"
The sergeant was Immediately after
this upon the highway, moving for
ward with nothing, seemingly, to en-
ploy him but cheerful thoughts.
After riding for an hour upon the
road that led towards Camden, he
was enabled to collect from the coun-
try people a rumor that some detach-
ments of horse were, at this time, ira
versing the country towards Pedee, but
whether friends or enemies was not
known to his informants. In following
up this trail of common report, his
vigilance quickened by the uncertain
ty of the tidings, he arrived about
midday at a brook which, running be-
tween low but sharp hills, was crossed
by the road at a point where a bold
mass of rock, some twenty feet In
height jutted down with a perpendicu-
lar abruptness into the water. Here,
as he stopped to survey the narrow and
winding course of the stream, his eye
was attracted by the projecting crag
that thrust it's bulk almost into the
middle of the channel; and, for a mo-
ment, he indulged the speculation Of a
soldier, as he pondered upon the mill
tary advantages Of such a post, either
as a point from which to reconnoitre
an enemy, or as advantage ground on
which to dispute his passage of the
ford. 1t not long afterwards fell to his
lot to turn this observation to some ac-
count.
"A mile beyond this spot, and where
the road, as it yet crept through the
bosom of the hills, was so obscured by
forest as to afford not more than fifty
PAGES of uninterrupted view, his ear
was struck with sounds resembling the
tramp of horses. Upon this conviction,
it was but the action of an instant for
him to turn aside into the woods and
to take a station which might enable
him to investigate the cause of his sur
mise, without exposing himself to the
risk Of detection. The noise grew loud
er, and what was vague conjecture
soon became the certain report of his
senses. At the nearest turn In the
road. whilst protected by a screen of
thicket. he could descry the leading
platoOns of a column of horse advanc-
ing at a slow gait: and upon examining
his own position he became aware
that. although the thicket might guard
him from present observation, 1t would
cease to do so as soon as the squad
ron should approach nearer to his
ground. His thoughts recurred to the
rock at the ford, and, with a view to
avail himself of 1t, he forthwith COM
menced his retreat through the under
wood that guarded the roadside, rs
fast as Captain Peter could get over the
ground. 1t was not long before he was
removed beyond all risk of being seer
by the advancing party, and he thus
found himself at liberty to take the
road again and retire without appre-
henSion.
In Horse Shoes reckoning, ii was q
matter of great Importance that ne
should obtain the most accurate infor'
nation regarding the troop that he had
just encountered; and his present pur.
/ pose was. accordingly, to post himself
in a secure position upon the rock anc
there maintain a close watch upon the
party as they rode beneath 1t. The
brook was gained, the ford passed, ant
the sergeant, after riding a short cir
cult towards the rear of the little pro-
| p,optory diSmounted from his horse