Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-12-11
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A Romance of the American Revolution
Ry w. GILMORE SIMMS

in dark night as II 1t was
painted. The lightning peeled 1t from
top to toe. It's Almost two years since
l was not far off in the swamp. catching
terrapins, when it was struck, and
was stupified for an hour after, and
my head had q ringing in 1t 1 didn't
get rid of for a month"
What. do we go aside here?' in
quired Davis, who did not seem to rel
ish the diversion, as the first plunge
they were required to make from the
broken causeway was into turbid
pond, black, and almost covered with
fragments of decayed timber and loose
bundles sof brush.
Yes, that's our path" replied Hum
phries. who resolutely put his horse
forward as he spoke.
This Is about one OF the worst
places, major, that we shall have to
go through, and we take it on purpose,
so that we may not be tracked so cas-
lily. Here, when We leave the cause
way we make no mark, and few peo-
pie think to look for us in the worst
place on the line. No, indeed; most
people have love to make hard things
easy, though they ought to know that
when a man wants to hide, he takes a
hole, and not a highway, to do it In.
Here, major, this way-to your left,
Davis--through the bog"
The party followed as their guide
directed, and after some twenty min
utes' plunging, they were deep in the
shadow and the shelter Of the swamp.
The gloom was thicker around them,
and was only relieved by the pale and
skeleton forms of the expresses, clus-
tering in groups along the plashy sides
OF the still lake, and giving meet
dwelling place to the screech owl, that
hooted at intervals from their rugged
branches Sometimes phosphores-
cent gleam played over the stagnant
pond into which the terrapin plunged
heavily at their approach; while on
the neighboring banks the frogs OF all
degrees croaked forth their inharmon-
ious chant, making the scene more hid
eous, and certainly adding greatly
to the sense Of gloom which 1t inspir-
ed in those who penetrated it. A
thousand other sounds filled up the
pauses between the conclusion OF one
and the commencement of another dis
cordant chorus from these admitted
croakers-sounds of alarm, of invita-
ton, OF exulting tyranny-the cry OF
the little bird when the black snake,
hugging the high tree, climbs up to the
nest of her young, while, with shrieks
of rage Tapping his reused wings, the
male flies furiously at his head, and
calamity enough, though vainly, en-
deavors to drive him back from his
unholy purpose-the hum Of the drow-
sy beetle, the faint chirp Of the crick-
ct, and the buzz Of the innumerable
thousands of bee, bird, and insect,
which make the swamps of the south,
in midsummer and its commence
ment. the vast storehouse, in all its
forms, of the most various and ami
mated life-all these were around the
adventures, with their gloomy and
distracting noises, until they became
utterly unheeded at last, and the party
boldly kept it's onward course into
their yet deeper recesses.
We'll Humphries," said Major Sim
gleton, at length breaking the silence,
so far, so good; and now what is our
farther progress. and what the chances
for trapping this Travis? Will he not
steal a march upon us, and be into
the swamp before daylight"
Never fear it, major" replied the
other coolly enough, while keeping on
his way. You remember, sir, what
Huck gave us on his plan. He will
place himself upon the skirts Of the
swamp, high above the point at which
we struck, and keep quiet till morning.
He will be up betimes. and all that we
must do is to be up before him. We
part of our work to stop him before
he gets too far into the brush. l know
his course just as If saw him on 1t.
Yes: SUCH indeed, may have been
the plan; but is there no chance OF
his departing from it? A good leader
will not hold himself bound to pre-
scribed course. If he finds a better.
He may push for the swamp tonight,
ho Shnnli
be in time to strike him efficiently.
I'VE shall, sir" replied the other,
calmly; I'VE shall have sufficient time,
for know Travis of old. He is good
hound for scent, but poor one for
chase. He goes slow to be certain,
and is always certain to be slow. It's
nature with him now. though quick
enough, they say, some twenty years
ago. when he went out after the Cher
okeeS. Besides, he has long sweep to
make before he gets fairly into the
swamp. and the freshet we have had
lately will throw him out often enough
and make his way longer. We shall
be in time"
Il am glad you are so sure Of your
man, Humphries. | would not like to
lose a good chance at the party. A
successful blow struck in this quarter
and just at this moment. would have
a fine effect. Why, man, 1t would
bring out those fellows handsomely
whose ears are now full of this protec-
ton business, which troubles them Sc
much. If they must fight they will
see the wisdom of taking part with
the side which does not call upon them
to strike friends or brethren. They
must join with us to man, or go tc
the West Indies. and that no doubt
some of the dastards will not fail tc
do in preference. God help me. but
can scarce keep from cursing them. as
think on their degradation"
Bad enough. major, bad enough
| when it's the poor man, without house
and home, and nothing to live for ant
nothing to lose, who takes up witt
the enemy and fights his battles; bu
it's much worse when the rich mer