Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-03-26
CHARTER XIV.

And pant to close around, and strive
to cling,
And keep the victim down.
1t was a fine, but warm summer af-
ternoon, in August. The Santee river
ran smooth and shining like polish
ed mirror in the unclouded sunlight,
and all nature appeared to revel in the
same luxurious repose. Our OLD ac-
quaintance, Porgy, stretched at lengtn
along the banks Of the river, lay hall
concealed in the shelter Of the brush
around him. The spot which gave him
a resting place and shelter, shot out,
at this point, from the dead level strip
of shore, boldly into the stream;
which, seemingly veXed at the inter-
ruption, beat a pettish murmur upon
its upward side, as If vainly struggling
to break through 1t in its downward
progress. The jutting piece OF land'
thus obtrusively trenching upon the
water, was Of no great extent, but
being we'll covered by the trees and
luXuriant foliage, Ii formed an eX-
cellent hiding place for one desirous OF
watching the river on either hand,
without danger Of exposure. Sweep
ing around the point, both above ana
below, the spectator, thus stationed,
might see for a few miles, on both
sides, the entire surface Of the stream,
commanding, in this scope Of sight,
one or two of the usual crossing places
at low stages Of the water. The river
was probably a mile wide at this
point, not including the swamp, which,
in some places, extended to a width
three or five times that of the main
body Of the stream. From this dead
level of swamp, ii was only now and
then that the banks Of the river rose
into anything like height or boldness.
The point now occupied by Porgy was
one Of those places most prominent OF
elevation. On the upper or northern
side Of the river, directly opposite,
there was another bold ascent to a
bank. from which the boats usually
started when putting across. This
bank was easily beheld by the specta-
tor opposite The trees were but few
upon It: and it's badness, the natural
result Of the frequent use made or II,
contrasted, not unpleasantly with the
otherwise unvarying wall OF woods
that formed the boundary Of the main
current. The trees crowded thickly
down into the river until their bending
branches met it's embraces; and their
tops, sometimes, when the freshet was
great, rested like so many infant
shrubs, depending, without root or
base, upon its swollen bosom.
The afternoon sun streaming from
the west along the rivers surface, Its
beams mingling in an even line to the
east with its current, still farther con-
tributed to the softness of the picture.
A warm flush, tempered by the golden
haze that hangs like a thin veil over
the evening midsummer prospect In
the south, subdued pleasantly the 9TH
erwise binding effulgence Of the day.
The slight breathings of the wind, only
equal to the lifting of the lightest leaf,
whispered to all things-the bud, the
flower, and the insect-Of that dreamy
indulgence and repose which our well
kept epicure, who felt always and ap-
preciated such an inf1uence-had
stretched himself off to enjoy-lying
at length under an overhangtng tree,
lazily watching the scene around him,
and with a dropping eye, that seemed
to say how irksome was the task which
he yet found himself bound to execute.
He was on special duty even then.
The men of Marion were all around
him irf the swamp on the southern
side of the river. The partisan chief
was full of anxiety, and his scouts
and guards were doubled and spread
about on every hand. He looked hour
ly for intelligence from Gates and the
Continentals. Not that he hoped for
much. if anything, of the army or of
good in the news which he anticipated.
He had not been persuaded-in the
brief interview which had been vouch-
safed him by the American general,
and in what he had seen Of his COM
mand-to look for or to expect much
from the then approaching conflict.
Marion was the very opposite OF Gates
in nearly all respects. Modest, yet
firm, his reliance upon himself arose
not from any vague confidence in for
tune or in. circumstances, but In the
timely adaptation of corresponding
means to ends and in the indefatigable
industry and zeal with which he piled
all the energies, whether OF himself
or OF his men. to the successful attain
ment of his object. Gates, he had soon
discovered, was afflicted with his own
infallibility-a disease that not only
forbids precaution but rejects advice
and resists Improvement. How should
he received advice who is already PEI
feet? Such a malady is the worst
under which generals or philosophers
can labor: and Marion. needed no Sec
ond glance to perceive the misfortune
of Gates in this respect. His conf
dence in that commander was lessened
duly as he beheld this failing: and he
returned from the camp, If not full of
forebodings at least warmly anxious
on the score of approaching events.
He had partly fulfilled the duties
which Gates had assigned him; he had
traversed the Santee and Pedee, break
ing up the boats, dispensing the little
bands Of Tories as they leagued to-
gether and came in his way, and con-
tributed largely to the overthrow Of
that consciousness of security, on the
part of the British, which they had
hitherto enjoyed. but of which they
were deprived, in greater or less de-
gree, from the moment that Marion
rose in arms, and led what was called
the Black river inSurrection. He had
now, in pursuit Of the same objects,
brought his brigade again to the San
tee, occupying those positions along
that river by which he would be soon
er likely to receive intelligence, assist
his friends, or haraSS his enemies.
Lieutenant Porgy, on the present oc-
casion, held the post of a sentinel.
This duty, at such a juncture, was
special and complimentary, and Mar
ion employed his best officers upon it.
A good watcher was POrgy, though the
labor was irksOme to him. Could he
have talked all the while. or sung,
with no ears but his own to appreciate
his melodies, he would have been per-
fectly content; out silence and SecreSy
were principles in the partisan war
fare. and tenaciOusly insisted upon by
the commander. Porgy looked east
and west. north and south, without re-
lief. The banks lay beautiful before
him. in a deep quiet. on both sides of
the river. Near him ran dozen lit
tie creeks, shooting into the swamp
dark and bOwery - defiles. whose
mouths, imperceptibly mingling with
the river. formed so many places OF
secure entry and egress for the ca
noes of the warriors. Stretched along
the grass. he might be seen to sur
vey one of these little bayOus. with an
increasing heedfulness which indicated
some cause of disturbance. Then
might you see him carefully rise from
his luxurious posture. and take up his
rifle. and look to the printing. and put
himself in the attitude to take aim ana
fire: when. presently, a shrill whistle
reached his ears; and quietly return
ing the signal. he crawied along the
hank towards it's edge. and looked
down to the little creek, as ii wound
in. behind him, from the river. The
signal which he had heard proceeded
from that quarter: and from the re-
cess. a few moments after, a little
"dugOut" shot forth, propelled by the
single paddle of Lance Frampton.
Concealing the boat behind clump or