Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-01-16
composure corresponding to that exhi'

COHlpOSuTe COIIeSpoiluiii6 W sheAt ~-
bited by Horse Shoe.
"Ho, ho! 1 don't want to hurt you'
man." replied the sergeant. "You Will
get yourself into trouble. You are hot
headeder than is good for your health
"As the game was mentioned, l
thought you might have a fancy to
play It."
ITO besure I would" said Horse
Shoe, rather than disappoint you In
any reasonable longing. For the sake
Of quiet-being a peaceable man,
will take the trouble to oblige you.
Where, do you think, would be the
likeliest spot to have it?"
1--WE may readily find a piece OF
ground at hand" replied the other. 1T
is a good moonlight play, and we may
not be interrupted IL we get little
distance off before the negro comes
back. Toe to toe, and face to face,
suits me best with both friend and
foe"
"A mule to drive and a fool to hold
back, are two Of the contrariest things
know" said Robinson, land so, see
ing that you are In arnest about it, let
us go about 1t without more ado upon
the first good bit Of grass we can pop
upon along the river.
In this temper the two antagonists
left the vicinity Of the stable, and
walked some hundred PAGES down
along the bank of the stream. The man
with whom Horse Shoe was about to
hold this strange encounter, and who
now walked quietly by his side, had
the erect and soldierly port Of gren-
adler. He was square, -shouldered, COM
pact and muscular, and the firmness Of
his gait, his long and easy stride, and
the free swing Of his arm as he moved
onward in the moonlight showed Rob-
inson that he was to engage with an
adversary Of no common capacity.
There was, perhaps, on the other side,
some abatement in this mans self
confidence, when the same light dis
closed to his deliberate inspection the
brawny proportions Of the sergeant,
which, in the engrossment of the top
les banded about in the late dialogue,
he had not so accurately regarded.
When they had walked the distance
l have mentioned, they had little diff
fculty to select a space Of level ground
with a sufficient mould for the purpose
of the proposed trial of strength.
Here's as pretty a spot as we
mought find on the river" said Robin
osn, land so get ready, friend. Be-
fore we begin, have word to say.
This here bout is not thing Of my
seeking, and l take 1t to be close akin
to downright tomfoolery, for grown up
men to set about humping and ham,
mering each other, upon account of
brag of who's best man, or such like,
when the whole universe is full Of oc-
casions for scuffies, and stands In need
of able-bodied fellows, to argufy the
pints or right and wrong, that can't
be settled by preachers, or books, or
lawyers. l look upon this here coming
out to fight no better than a bit Of
arrant nonsense. But, as you will
have it, it's no consarn Of mine to
stop you"
you are welcome to do your worst"
replied the other, land the less
preaching you make with it, the more
saving of time"
"My worst" interrupted Horse Shoe,
"is almost more than have the con-
science to do to any man who isn't
flagratious enemy; and,
once more I would advise you to think
before you draw me into a fray; you
are frustrated, and sot upon quarrel,
and mayhap, you conjecture that by
drawing me out from behind my re-
trenchments, by which is signified my
good nature, and forcing me to deploy
into line and open field, you'll get the
advantage of an old sodger over me;
but there, Mr.. Dragon, you are mis-
taken. In close garrison or open field
in siege or sally. crossing a defile or
re connoitring on a broad road, am
not apt to lose my temper, or strike
without seeing where my blow Is TO
hit. Now. that is all have to say; so
come on"
You are not what you seem," said
the antagonist, In a state of wonder
at the strain of the sergeants COM
posed and deliberate speech and at the
familiarity which this effusion mani
tested with the details Of military life.
I'm the devils name, who are you?
But don't fancy I pause to begin our
fight, for any other reason than that
I may know who I contend with. On
the honor of a soldier I promise you'
will hold you to your game-man, or
imp Of HE'LL care not Again. who
in the devil are you?"
You have hit It," replied Horse
Shoe. my name is Birthstone, L am
first cousin to Belzebub."
You have served?"
Il have"
And belong to the army YETI"
True again: and I am as tough a
sodger, and may be I mought say, as
old sodger as yourself"
your hand, fellow-soldier. 1 mis-
took you from the beginning. You
continentals-tha the newfangled
word-are stout fellows, and have
good knack at the trick Of war,
though you wear rough coats, and are
savagely unrudimented in polite
learning. No matter what colors
man fights under, long usage makes
good comrade of him; and, by my
faith! l am not amongst the last TO
do him honor, even though we sta nd
in opposite ranks. AS you say, most
sapient Birthstone, we are not much
better than a pair of fools for this
conspiracy to knock about each other
oates, here at midnight; but you have
my pledge to it. and so, we will go at
1t, If it be only to win a relish for
our bed l will teach you, tonight
some skill in the art Of mensuration'
You shall measure two full ellis upon
this green sod"
There's my hand" said Horse Shoe;
7 otcn