Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-03-13

him to explore the doubtful traces OF
the road, which frequently became sc
obscure as to render 1t necessary te
seek passage in the bed Of the
stream. During all this progress Horse
Shoes good nature and light
ness were unabated. He conversed
with the prisoner in the same terms OF
friendly familiarity that he did with
Shaw, and neglected no attention that
might in any degree relieve the irk-
someness of st. Jermyn's necessary
thraldom.
That peculiar conformation Of coun-
try which had given rise to the name
of the place to which they were con-
Quoting the prisoner, was now to be
discerned at some little distance
ahead. 1t presented a series of bold
cragsi of granite intermixed with slate
In which rock piled upon. rock pre-
sented a succession Of shelves, each
beetling over it's base, and thus fur
nishing a shelter against the weather
Some of these were situated near the
bank Of the stream, projecting over
water whilst others lowered at differ
ent heights, In such a manner as to
bear "a resemblance to a flight of huge
steps cut in the slope of the mountain
and by this likeness, doubtless, sug-
gestihg the imaginative name by which
the spot was known to the few hun
ters to whom 1t was familiar. The
cavefnlike structure of these lodges
aboun ndantly supplied the means OF
concealment to both men and horses,
from the casual notice Of such persons
as accident might have brought into
this sequestered defile.
When the party arrived at the foot
of the Devils Ladder, 1t was with
great satisfaction to all that they now
made halt. A short time was spent
in selecting a spot, amongst the i'm
pending cliffs, Of such a character as
might afford the advantage of shelter,
as We'll as the means of ready lookout
and escape in case Of discovery or pur-
suit The place chosen was about
half way up the hill, where the ridge
Of al promontory enabled the occupants
to see some distance up and down the
valley; whilst the crag itself contained
within it's recesses a chamber suffi-
ciently large for the purpose to which
1t was to be applied. A natural plat
form, near this point, allowed suffi-
cient space for the horses, which might
be conducted there by a sidelong path
up the slope; at the same time, the
means of retreat were furnished by
the nature of the ground towards the
top of the hill.
To this place Of security the ensign
was ordered by his guard, and being
released from his bonds, he dismount-
ed and threw himself at length upon
the mossy surface Of the rock, where
he lay wearied in body and detected
In mind. The horses were taken In
charge by Shaw; provisions were pro-
duced, and all arrangements Of caution
and comfort were made for passing the
next two or three days in this wild So
journ.
Here, for the present, we must leave
our adventurers, to tell Of other mat
ters that are proper to be made known
to the reader of this history.
In due. time David Ramsay returned
from Musgrove's. Precisely at three
o'clock in the morning, the soldiers
were released according to the terms
of the parole and my reader will, no
doubt, be pleased to hear that Andy,
being discharged from duty, went to
bed as drowsy as e'er man Of mould
after a feat Of glory, and slept with a
sleep altogether worthy of his heroic
achievement.
The next day passed by, at Ramsay's 8
dwelling. with a varied and fearful in
terest to his family. They had receiv-
ed intelligence, before night of the
event Of Buffers trial, and had reason
to rejoice that Mary Musgrove had so
played her part in the delivery Of the
letter They were apprised also of the
reward that had been offered for the
discovery of the bearer of this letter,
and were informed that detachments
Of horse were out to scour the country
in quest of the ensign. These tidings
filled them with apprehension. 1t oc-
Cured to Ramsay that IT, perchaace,
the released prisoners should fa!l In
with any of the parties Of the loyal
it's they would of course, relate their
story, and thus bring down the full
rancor of the Tory wrath upon his
lhousehold-this would also lead with
more certainty to the pursuit Of Horse
Shoe. There was still good reason to
hope that the liberated men might not
so soon be able to give the alarm In
asmuch as they were more likely to
shape their course towards Fort Nine
ty-Six than to repair to Innis' camp,
where they might be forced to do
duty as much against their inclination
as against their parole. They might
even, from a natural aversion to labor,
prefer lettering about the country rath-
er than put themselves voluntarily In
the way of military operations.
Come what will of It," said Ram
say, summing up the chances for and
against him: II will be ready for the
worst. Many better men have given
all they had to the cause Of independ-
ence, and l will not finch from giving
my share. They may burn and break
down; but. thank God I have a coun-
try-aye, and a heart and an arm to
stand by it,"
On the same evening, towards SUM-
down, a horseman drew up his rein at
Ramsays door. He was young-in the
prime of early manhood, his dress was
that of a rustic, his equipment showed
him to be a traveler-a weary one'