Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-01-18
CHAPTER XVI.


bites the heel"
The troopers had not we'll gone, before
the fugitive they had so vainly pur-
sued stood upon the very spot which
they had left. He rose from the mire
of the pond in which he had not paus-
ed to imbed himself when the search
was hottest and close upon him. The
conjecture of Humphries was correct,
and Google or Blonay was the person
they had chased He had left his post
in the bivouac when the storm came
on. and was then upon his way to his
mothers cabin. From that spot his
farther course was to the British gar
rison with his intelligence. His de-
termination in this respect, however.
underwent a change, as we shall see
in the progress of the narrative.
Never had better knowledge of char
acter been shown than in the estimate
made by Humphries Of that Of the de-
serter. Google was as warped in NOR
ais as he was blear in vision; wretch
aptly fitted for the horse-thief, the
Tory. and murderer. His objects were
evil generally, and he had no scruples
as to the means by which to secure
them. Equally Indifferent to him
what commandment he violated In
these practices: for, with little regard
from society, he had no sympathy
with II, and only obeyed its laws as he
feared and would avoid their penalties.
He hated society accordingly as ne
was compelled to fear 1t. He looked
upon 1t as a power to be destroyed with
the opportunity, as a spoil to be ap-
propriated with the chance for its at
tainment; and the moods Of such a
nature were impatient for exercise,
even upon occasions when he could
hope no addition to his pleasure or
his profit from their Indulgence.
SQUAT in the ooze and water Of the
creek, while the horse Of Singleton at
one moment almost stood over him,
he had drawn breath with difficulty
through the leaves Of a bush growing
upon the edge Of the ditch in which
his head had found concealment; and
In this perilous situation his savage
spirit actually prompted him to thrust
his knife into the belly Of the animal.
He had drawn 1t for this purpose from
his belt, while his hands and body
were under water. Its point was al
ready turned upward, when Singleton
moved away from the dangerous proX-
unity Here he listened to the dia-
logue which the two carried on con-
cerning him: and even in that predica-
ment of dirt and danger in which he
lay, his mind brooded over thou
sand modes by which he should enjoy
his malignant appetite, that craved for
revenge upon them both. When they
were fairly gone. he rose from the
mire and ascended cautiously to the
bank. shook himself like a water-dog,
while he almost shivered in the satu-
rated garments which he wore: then
rubbed and grumbled over the rifle
which he had taken with him into
the mire, and which came out as full
Of its ooze and water as himself
so ho!" said he, as he shook him
Sell Tree uluu- oO lhCy
are gone to old Moll's to look after
me, eh! Now would like to put this
bullet into that Dorchester skunk.
Humphries. d-n him. / am of bad
blood, am I!-my father q horse thief
and a mulatto and / only fit for hang
ing! The words must be paid for;
and Moll must answer for some OF
them. She Is my mother, that's clear
she shall tell me this night who my
father is-for Blonay, or Google, or
the devil, 1 will know. She shall put
me off no longer. No! though she tells
me the worst-though she tells me
that am the spawn Of Jack Drayton's
driver, as once before I've heard It,"
Thus muttering, he looked to his
flint and inspected the printing Of his
rifle. With much chagrin he found
the powder saturated with water, and
the charge useless. He searched his
pockets, but his flask was gone. He
had purpOsed the murder Of Hum
phries or Singleton. had this not been
the case. He now without hesitation
l'ph NldNh olhSA N'AN - ''S''
not long before he came in sight Of
the miserable clay and log hovel in
which his mother. odious and dreaded
as she was. passed fifty her existence.
This spot was dreary in the extreme;
an old field: a few cheerless pines rose
waved it's equally bald. though more
crowded forms in uncurbed vegetation
among them. The hovel stood in a
hollow. considerably below the sur
Of light stealing from between the
logs only made it's location seem more
rounding level, and the little glimmer
cheerleSs TO the observer.
Blonay-Or. as we shall hereafter
call him, according to the fashion OF
the country. GOggle-cautiOusly ap-
preached a jungle. in which he hid
himself, about a stones throw from
the hOvel. There he watched, as well
as he might. in the imperfect light OF
the evening. for the appearance OF
the troopers Though mounted. they
had not yet succeeded in reaching the
spot. which, familiar to him from chill
hood, he well knew to find in the
darkest night. and by a route the most
direct. He was there before them,
snug In his cover. and coOlly looking
out for their coming. More than once
he threw up the pan of his rifle, care
fully keeping it from its usual click by
the intervention Of his finger. and
cursed within himself his i'll fortune.
as he found the powder saturated
with water. soft paste beneath his
touch. He thrust his hand into his
pocket. seeking there for some strag-
CLING grains. Of which in the emer-
gency he might avail himself; but he
looked fruitlessly. and was compelled
to forego the hope Of a shot. so much
desired. at one or other Of the persons
now emerging from the wood before
him.
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