Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-03-12
You say your name is Thumb


screw?"
"Yes, my boy-name; but at the
christening they gin me another, that
aint so easy to mention. The true
name is John Wetherspoon, at your
sarvice; but Thumbscrew comes more
handy, you see, and them that knows
me thinks 1t suits me better"
VERY well, Mr. Thumbscrew, or
Wetherspoon-now, will you tell US
what you're doing here in these parts
at this time Of day."
"Well, that's Jest as easy to larn
now, sence you see I'm mending my
bride, and looking arter my critter
that's been stolen, / reckon, by some
thieving soldiers-saving your pres
ence. and axing your pardon"
What soldiers?"
| why, how do / know? Sometimes
they're one thing, and sometimes an
other; now they're Wings, and now
they're Tories. One time they're
Gainey's, another time they're Marion's
men, just as the notion suits EN-"
And what are you? Are you Whig
or Tory?"
Neither, thank God, for all his civ
ilties and marcies. I'm a gentleman,
and not soldier no how, I'll hev you
to know"
And where do you live when you're
at homer"
I'm the Big Bend, by Red Stone Hol-
low. close to the Clay Church, and
right side Of Black Heifer Swamp.
My farm Is called Hickory Head
Place; and the parson who does our
preaching Is named Broadcast-he
breaches through his nose, and has a
way with him."
What way?"
"Margery Way. what does his mend
ing: all the parish knows her"
well, but don't know any Of these
places or people you've been telling
me about" said Davis.
II reckoned as much. They say.
though I've never been In them parts,
that you folks, from low down by the
sea, are most numerically stupid"
"Humph! and how far are we here
from the river?"
"A small chance of a run IL so be
you mean the Santee. This morning.
when I left 1t, 1t was ten miles on:
but it's been running ever since; and
God knows. stranger, can't tell how
far it's got to by this time"
I'm jub'ous, Mr.. Thumbscrew, that
you're playing possum with me. after
all; and IL so be I find you at that
work. I'll hang you, d-n my buttons,
IL don't, by your own bride, and no
two ways about 1t, old fellow-how
far Is the Santee"
"Well, now, you're mighty like get
ting in a passion, and that'n be quite
too ridiculous. The Santee, now, II
1t stands still, you see. is jest about
ten miles away to the right. It mought
it's tharabouts, IL II stands where II
ought: but tell you II runs mighty
fast, and thars no knowing whar you
may catch up with 1t, the next time
you happen to find It.
"Ten miles-and what have you seen
In the shape Of men and soldiers about
there? Have you seen any Tories or
any Wings? Marfon's men. they say,
are thick along the swamp"
TITS bad business that, stranger,
hunting after sodgers. knows moth
ing about them. If could only find
Nimrod, now, stranger. you can't count
up how little I'd care about all your
big sword men, Tories or Wings, red
coats or blue. Thar all the same to
Thumby. They've stolen the nag, and
may he ride to the ugly place with
the rapscallion that straddles him.
drop him fairly inside the door, and
come back minute after q Red Stone
Hollow"
In this way. until Singleton's ap-
proach. did Davis seek, In vain to OBJ
He communicated his i'll success to
his superior, and the incorrigible
Thumbscrew was brought before him.
The partisan surveyed him closely, and
saw at a glance that the fellow, In
southern phrase, had been playing
possum," and knew much more than he
delivered. But the, key was at hand.
and the first words Of Singleton un-
sealed the mystery.
IInr thn 81 th.y a1Hop
"At roost, but ready for the moon"
was the instant reply; and every feat
ure was full Of awakening intelligence.
Singleton ordered his men back, and
conferred with him alone. !,
"The swamp fox is at hand-not
moving?"
HE waits for Major Singleton. and
prepares for the continentals; but
must lie close for the present as the
Tories under Pyles. Huck, Tynes and
Harrison, are all around him"
"And how far are we now from Nell
son's?"
"Just nine miles, and the road clear,
all but our scouts. Horny, with twen-
ty men, scours to the left, and ten OF
US skirt the track to Nelson's. partly
on the look out for you, sir, and partly
for the Tories"
"Tis well-you have horse?"
cay, sir, close in the wood"
"Shall we be able to reach the San
tee before dark?"
Impossible, sir, with all your men;
but a detachment may, and had better
ride on to prepare for the rest. Col
onel Marion Is fast transferring the
boats to the other side, and as the
road is clear. sir. you would do best to
spur forward with few, while the
lieutenant brings up the remainder"
DESTROYS Of securing the passage,
Singleton adopted the counsel, and
singing out dozen Of his best horses,
he led the way with his new guide.
and left Humphries to bring up the
caYalcade.