Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-01-15
CHAPTER Ky.

"'Tis a wild night, yet there are those
abroad
The storm offends not. 'Tis but op-
preston hides,
While fear, the scourge or con-
science, lifts a whip
Beyond his best capacity to ny.
The evening, which had been beau
tiful before. had undergone a change.
The moon was obscured, and gigantic
shadows, dense and winged, hurried
with deep toned cries along the heaV-
ems. as if in angry pursuit. Occasion
ally. in sudden gusts, the winds moan
ed heavily among the pines: cooling
freshness impregnated the atmosphere
and repeated flashes of sharpest light
ming impaired to the prospect splen-
dor which Illuminated. while increas-
ing the perils Of that path which our
adventures were now pursuing
Large drops, at moments, fell from the
driving clouds, and every thing prom
ised the coming on of one OF those
sudden and severe thunder storms, so
common to the early summer OF the
south.
Singleton looked up anxiously at the
wild confusion of sky and forest
around him. The woods seemed to
apprehend the danger, and the melan-
choly signing of their branches ap-
peared to indicate an instinct con-
seriousness. which had its moral like
ness to the feeling in the bosom Of the
observer. How many Of these mighty
pines were 10 be prostrated under that
approaching tempest! how many beau
tiful vines, which had clung to them
like affections that only desire an OBJ
ject to fasten upon. would share in
their ruin, How could Singleton over
look analogy between the fortune OF
his family and friends, and that which
his Imagination depicted as the prob
able destiny of the forest?
I'VE shall have 1t before long, Hum
phries, for you see the black horns
yonder in the break before us. begin
TO feel the warm breath Of the hurri-
cane already, and we must look out for
some smaller woods. l like not these
high pines in a storm like this, so use
your memory, man. and lead on to
some thicket of scrubby oaks-if you
can think of one near at hand. Hal
we must speed--we have fingered too
long. Why did you not hurry me?
You should have known how difficult
1t was for me to hurry myself in such
a situation"
This was spoken by Singleton at
moments when the gusts permitted
him to be heard, and when the irreg-
ulaIity of the route suffered his COM
panion to keep beside him. The lieu
tenant answered promptly
THAT was the very reason why /
did not wish To hurry you. major.
knew you hadn't seen your folks for
mighty long spell. and so l couldn't
find 1t in my heart TO break in upon
you. though 1 felt dubious that the
storm would be soon upon u.s."
"A bad reason for a soldier. Friends
and family are scarcely desirable at
such a time as this. since we can sell
dom see them, or only see their suf-
fering. Ha!-that was sharp"
"Yes, sir, but at some distance. We
are coming to the stunted oaks now,
which are rather squart. and not 50
likely to give as the pines. There
aint so much of 'em. you see. Keep
n look out. sir. or the branches will
pull you from your horse The road
here Is pretty much overgrown. and
the vines crowd thick upon It,"
"A word in season." exclaimed Sin
gleton, as he drew back before an
Overhanging branch which had been
bent by the wind. and was thrust en-
trely across his path. A few mo-
mentS were spent in rounding the OBJ
structiOn. and the storm grew heavier;
the winds no longer labored among
the trees, but rushed along with force
which flattened their elastic tops, so
that 1t either swept clean through
them. or laid them PROSTATE for ever
A stronger hold. a positive straining
i'm their effort. became necessary now,
with both riders. in order to secure
themselves firmly in their saddles;
while their horses. with uplifted ears.
and an occasional snort. in this man
ner. not less than by shiver of their
whole frames. betrayed their own ap-
prehenSiOns. and, as 1t were, appealed
To their masters for protection.
The dumb beast knows where to
look, after all. major: he knows that
man Is NEST able. you see, To take
care of him. though man wants his
keeper too. But the beast don't know
that He's like the good soldier that
minds his own captain, and looks to
him only, though the captain himself
has a general from whom he gets his
orders. Now. say what you will, ma
jor there's reason in the horse-the
good horse. / mean. for some horses
that I've straddled in my time have
shown themselves mighty foolish and
unreasonable"
Humphries stroked the neck of his
Steed fOndly ana COaXed him by an af-
fectiUnate word. as he uttered to him
self thus with no very profound philos-
ophy. He seemed desirous of assuring
the steed that he held him of the bet
ter class. ana Favored MIN accordingly.
Singleton assen,ed To the notion of
his companion. wh" did not, however.
see the smile which accompanied his
answer.
"Yes. yes. Humphries, the horse
knows his master. and is the least able
or willing of all animals to do with
out him. | would we had our nags in
safety now: | would these five miles
were we'll over"
It's tough ride; but that's $"
much the better. major-the less apt
we are t0 be troubled with the To-
rics'
81 should rather plunge through a
crowd of them, now. in charge
against superior cavalry. than take II
Ia N al