Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-03-20

not forget a true friend when the war
is we'll fought out. But 1t does go
against my grain. John Ramsay, to
see parcel of cowardly runaways
splitting their malice against women
and children. The barn likewise, see
Is gone" continued the sergeant, look
ing towards another pile Of the ruins
short distance off. "The Williams!
when there's foul work to be done, they
don't go at it like apprentices. No
matter-I have made one observation;
the darkest hour Is just before the
day, and that's a comfortable old say
ing"
BY degrees John Ramsay fell into a
calmer temper, and now began to cast
about as to the course fit to be pursued
in their present emergency. About a
quarter of a mile distant, two or three
negro cabins were visible, and he could
descry a few children near the doors.
With an eager haste, therefore he and
the sergeant shaped their course across
the fed to this spot. When they ar
rived within fifty PAGES of the nearest
hovel, the door was set ajar, and
rifle. thrust through the aperture, was
aimed at the visitors.
stand for your lives!" shouted the
we'll known voice of David Ramsay.
In the next instant the door was
thrown wide open, the weapon cast
aside. and the father rushed forward
as he exclaimed Gracious God, my
boy and Horse Shoe Robinson! We'll
come lads: a hundred times more
welcome than when I had better shell
ter to give you! But the good friends
Of King George, you see, have been so
kind as to give me a call. 1t Is easy
to tell when they take 1t in their head
to visit a Whig"
my mother!" exclaimed John Ram
say.
I'm and see her, boy-she wants
comfort from you. But, thank God!
she bears this blow better than I
thought she could"
Before this speech was uttered John
had disappeared.
And how came this mishap to fall
upon you David?" inquired Horse Shoe.
II suppose some Of your prisoners"
replied Ramsay, must have informed
upon Andy and me for in the retreat
of Innis' runaways, a party came
through my farm. They stayed only
long enough to ransack the house, and
to steal whatever was worth taking;
and then to set fire to the dwelling and
all the outbuilding. Both Andy and
myself by good luck, perhaps, were
absent. or they would have made us
prisoners; so they turned my wife and
children out Of doors to shift for them
selves, and scampered off as fast as
II williams was still at their heels.
All that was left for us was to crowd
in this cabin, where, considering all
things, we are not so badly off. But
things are taking an i'll turn for the
country. Horse Shoe. We are beaten
on all sides.
Not so bad. David, as to be past
righting yet" replied the sergeant.
What have they done with Major But
ler?"
He was carried as l learned, up to
B!ackstock's the evening of the fight:
and yesterday 1t was reported that a
party had taken him back to Mus
groves. believe he is now kept close
prisoner in Aliens house. Christopher
Shaw was here two days since, and
told us that orders had come to occu-
py the miller's dwelling house for that
purpose"
Horse Shoe had now entered the
cabin with David Ramsay. and In the
course of the hour that followed, dur
ing which the family had prepared re-
freshment for the travellers, the SER
geant had fully canvassed all the par
ticuars necessary to be known for his
future guidance. 1t was determined
that he and John should remain In
their present concealment until night,
and then endeavor to reach the mill
under cover of the darkness, and open
some means of communication with the
| family Of the miller.
The rest OF the day was spent In
anxious thought. The situation of the
ladventurers was one of great personal
peril, as they We're now Immediately
within the circle Of operations OF the
enemy and likely to be observed and
challenged the first moment they Ven-
tured upon the road.
The hour of dusk had scarcely ar
rived before they were again mounted
on horseback. They proceeded eau
tiously upon the road that led through
the wood. until 1t intersected the high
way, and. having attained this point,
John Ramsay, who was well acquaint-
ed with every avenue through the
country, now led the way, by private
and scarcely discernible path, into the
adjacent forest. and thence, by tedi-
Gus and prolonged route, directed his
companion to the banks of the Emo
rec. This course Of travel took them
Immediately to the plain on which In
| his Ildu Dttll law iN'N'
of battle. All here was still and desc
| late. The sheds and other vestiges of
the re cent bivouac were yet visible,
but not even the farmhouse that had
constituted Innis' headquarters was re-
occupied by it's original inhabitants
The bat whirred over the plain, and the
owl hooted from the neighbOring trees
The air still bore the scent of dead
bodies which had either been left eX-
posed, or so meagrely covered with
earth as to taint the breeze with
nosOme eXhalations.
There is a great difference, john
said Horse Shoe. who seldom let an
occasion to moralize after his own
fashion slip by, there's great differ
ence between a hot field and stale
one Your hot field makes soldier
for there's a sort of a stir in 1t that
sets the blood to running merrily
through a man. and that's what l cal
pleasure. But when everything Is
fostering like the inside Of hospital
or what's next door to it, graveyard