Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-01-22

greatly subsidized; the rain still con-
tinued falling. however, and, hopeless
of any farther discoveries OF the fugi-
tive they had pursued, and as ignorant
of his character as at first, they moved
onward. rapidly pushing for their biv-
| ouac upon the Ashley.
CHAPTER XVII.
Commune with him. and fear not.
Foul though he be,
Thy destiny is kindred with his own,
And that secures thee"
They had scarcely gone from sight,
when Google entered the dwelling.
The old hag started from her seeming
stupor, and all her features underwent
change. She fondled upon her son
with all the feeble drivelling Of age;
called him by various affectionate
diminutives; and busted herself, in
spite OF her infirmities, waddling about
from corner to corner Of the hut, to
administer to his desires, which were
by no means few. He, on the other
hand, manifested the most brutal in
difference to all her regards, shook her
off rudely as she hung upon his -shoul-
ders, and, with a boisterous manner,
and speech coupled with an oath,
demanded his supper, at the same time
throwing himself. with an air Of ex-
treme Incidence. along the bed.
"And. Neddy dear, what has kept you
so late? Where have you been, and
whence come you last?" were the re-
peated questions of the old woman.
"A'drat It! mother-will you never be
done asking questions? It's not so
late, I'm sure
Later than you said: much later, by
two hours. boy"
"Well, II It is. what then? It's well
you have me at all, for I've had a
narrow chance Of 1t. Swow! but the
bullets sung over my ears too close
for comfort"
You don't say so. Ned! What! that
stark, bull-head Humphries, has he
shot at you, Ned, my SOM"
Him or Singleton, d-m 'em. But
have a hitch on him now that shall
swing him. He plays 'possum no long
er with Huck, If you have a tongue
In your head. mother"
"Who-I? What am 1 to do, Ned,
boy? Is 1t to put Bill Humphries in
trouble? If it's that have the heart
to do It, II it's only for his talk to-
night" ..
"Yes, l heard it."
you! Why, where were you. Ned?"
There"
He pointed to the end of the hovel,
where. snugly concealed on the out
side, his eye. piercing through hole
between the logs, had witnessed all
that had taken place in the apart
ment while the partisans held 1t.
And you heard and saw all?" said
the old woman. You heard his foul
speech and you saw him lift his hand
to strike me because spoke to him as
he deserved. But he dared not-no,
he dared not! Twas as much as his
life was worth to lay hands on me.
His arm should have withered! That
1t should"
"Psho! Psho! withered!" exclaimed
the son scornfully. She might deceive
herself, but not him.
But who was the other man, Ned
dy-the captain?"
His names Singleton. and he's a
major of the continentals-thats all
know about him. He took me prisoner
with some others of Travis's, and /
joined his troop, rather than fare
worse. This gives me pickings on both
sides: for since I've Joined we've had
smart work in skirmishing: and down
at Archdale Hall we made a splash at
Huck's baggage wagons, and got good
spoils. See. here's a watch-true gold!
was this morning in a red-coats
fob, now in mine."
ITS good gold. and heavy, my son;
will give you yellow-boys enough"
LAY. could we sell-but that's the
devil. 1t comes from British pocket,
and we can't venture to offer 1t to any
Of their color. AS for the continentals,
they haven't got any but their ragged
currency. and that nobody wants. We
must keep the watch for good
chance, for that and other reasons.
took 1t from a prisoner by sleight OF
hand. and 1t must not be known that
have It, on either side. Proctor
would punish, and the young fellow
Singleton, who has an eye like hawk,
he would not stop to give me a swing
ing bough II he thought took 1t from
one of his prisoners"
Give It to me, boy; I'll save you
that risk"
You shall do more, mother: but
get the supper. I'm hellish hungry,
and tired out with the chase I've had.
A'drat it, my bones are chilled with
the mud and water"
There's a change in the chest, boy,
besides you. Put the wet clothes on
ITS too troublesome. and they'd
only get wet too; for must start back
to the camp directly"
| What camp"
"Singleton's-down upon the river
five miles below the Barony. must be
there, and let him see me. or he'll sus-
picion me, and move off. You will
have to carry the message to Proctor"
What, boy! will you go back and
put your neck in danger? Suppose he
finds YOU missing?"
well, I'll tell him the truth. so far
as the truth will answer the purpose
Of a lie. I'll say that 1 came to see
you. and having done so. have come
back to my duty. They cannot find
fault, for the troopers every now and
then start off without leave or IL
cense. I'm only a volunteer, you see.'
Take care. boy: you will try the
long lane once too often. They sus-
pect you now. know. from the ask
ings Of that fellow Humphries; and
him too, the other-what's his name
he, too, asked closely after you"