Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-02-08
CHAPTER XXI.

NE1AE I@kN <<NAk'
Now, yield thee up thy charge-de'
lay and die
I may not spare thee in a quest like
this,
But strike even while speak"
We have witnessed the sudden cap
ture of the truculent British sergeant
by the brother Of the damsel whom he
had destined for his prey. Aided by
his new recruits, Humphries brought
his prisoner to the camp with little
difficulty. The worthy sergeant, 1t Is
true, did at first offer resistance; he
moutned and struggled, as the BAN
dages compressed his mouth. and the
ligatures restrained his arms; but the
timely application Of hand and foot
which his captors did not hesitate to
employ to compel obedience. not to
speak of the threatening aspect or 'the
dagger-which the much reused lieu
tenant held more than once to his
throat-brought him to reason, and
cOunselled that wholesome resignation
to circumstances, which, though not
always easy and pleasant OF adoption
is, at least. on most occasions, well be-
coming in him who has no alterna-
tives He was, therefore, soon mounted
on horseback, along with one Of the
troopers. and in sta, Of most COM
mendable quietness, - reached. after
an hours quick riding. the encamp-
ment at. Bacon's Bridge. There, well
secured with stout rope, and watch
ed by the guard assigned for the 9TH
er prisoners, close in the thick and
knotty wood which girded the swamp
we will at present leave him.
Singleton had we'll concealed his lit
tie squadron in the same shelter. Like
true partisan, he had omitted no pre-
cautions His scouts-men that ne
could trust-were out in all directions,
and his sentries watched both sides OF
the river The position which he had
chosen was one established by General
Moultrie in the previous season. 1t
had been vacated when that brave old
warrior was called to league his troops
with those OF Lincoln, In defence OF
racks were In good order, but Single
ton studiously avoided their use; and
to the thoughtless wayfarer passing by
the little fort and the clumsy block
house. nothing could possibly have
looked more pacific. The partisan,
though Immediately at hand, preferred
a less. ostentatious position. We find
him accordingly, close clustering with
his troop in the deep wood that lay
behind It, Here, for a brief period at
least. his lurking place was secure. and
he only desired it for few days long
Ell. Known to the enemy, he could
not have held 1t. even for time so
limited: but would have been compell-
ed to rapid flight or resort to the
deeper shadows and Businesses Of the
swamp.
. At this point the river ceased to be
navigable even for the common pole
boats Of the country; and this was an
other source OF it's security. Filled up
by crowding trees-the gloomy cy-
presses striding boldly into its very
bosom-it skunk away into shade and
silence, winding and broken, after a
brief effort at concentrated course,
into numberless little bayous and in
denturas. muddy creeks, stagnating
ponds. miry holes; constituting,
throughout, a region only pregnable by
desperation, and only loved by the
fierce and filthy reptile, the ominous
bird, the subtitle fox, and venomous
serpent. This region. Immediately at
hand. promised a safe place Of retreat,
for a season. to the adventurous par
tisan: and in its gloomy recesses he
we'll knew that unless guided by
genuine swamp-sucker, all Europe
might vainly seek to find the little
now commanded.
Humphries soon furnished his cap
tain with all the intelligence he had
obtained at Dorchester. He gave a
succinct account OF the affair Of Moth
er Blonay, and her visit to the village
of the movement Of Huck to assail
him on the Stono-and of the purpose
of the Tory to proceed onward, by the
indirect route already mentioned. to
join with Tarleton on the Catawba
The latter particulars had been fur
nished the lieutenant by the two troop
ers who had Joined him.
The whole account determined Sin
gletOn to hurry his own movement to
join with Marion. That part OF the
narrative of Humphries relating tC
Mother Blonay, decided the command
er to keep Google still a prisoner, as
one not to be trusted. Giving orders
therefore, for his continued detention
he proceeded to put things in readi-
with nightfal. to their old and better
shelter on the little island in the Cy-
press Swamp. This done, Singleton
commanded his horse in readiness, anG
bidding the boy Lance Frampton ir
attendance. dispatched him to prepare
his own. To Humphries he now gave
charge Of the troOp-repeated his or
derS to move with the dusk to theil
old quarters-and having informed the
lieutenant of the true object Of his owr
adventure. he set forth, only attended
by the boy Frampton, taking an upper
road leading towards the Santee.
The object may as we'll be told now
as ever. Singleton had been for some
time awaiting intelligence of Marion:
movement to Nelson's ferry. A courier
had been looked for daily. since he hat
left his leader: and as, in these sus
piciOuS times. every precaution in th'
conve yance and receipt Of intelligence
was necessary. 1t followed that man!
difficulties lay in the way of its trans
mission. Men met on the highways
to fear. to avoid, and frequently t
fight with one another They assumed
contrary characters in the presence o
the stranger. and the play at cross
purposes even among friends, was tn
natural consequence Of a misunder
stood position.