Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-02-19
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A Romance of the American Revolution
BY w. GILMORE SIMMS

I more upright with the feeling OF con-
fdence, as 1t swelled in his bosom; he
began to imagine the events of q
struggle; he began to fancy the fea-
lures Of the collision; and, with all Its
disadvantages, to hope for the strife
There was much of the same mood al
work in the mind of his leader; and
his chagrin may not be expressed
when, under its stimulus, he reflected
upon his want Of his weapons. There
was an air of vexatious Indifference, a
sort of reckless hardihood in his de-
meanor. which looking occasionally be-
hind him, the boy could not avoid
perceiving. Singleton caught the
movement once or twice; and. at length
in sharper tones than usual address
him
why do you look around. sir? are
you afraid?"
mo, sir-oh mol don't think l am
that Is to say-but 1 never tried"
Tried what?"
'"TO fight with men, sir, and to shoot
them; and don't know, sir, whether
should be afraid or not"
Singleton smiled; the feeling Of the
boy rebuked his own, as it was some
what boyish also.
go on, sir: look not behind you
again. unless you would have your own
shoulders rise up to frighten you. And
you may urge your nag little faster;
those fellows are now out of the bush'
and in the heavy sand: you will soon
hear them on the ridge, and then they
will have the same clear track with
ourselves: go on, now, and to keep
you from looking behind you more fire.
quently than Is needful, remember that
1 am between you and danger. Touch
up your nag: let him feel the thorn,
and be lively"
The boy felt mortified that Single
ton should think that he looked round
from apprehension; and thought how
happy he should be to show his supe-
rior that he was not afraid; but with
out word, he did as he was directed
struck the spur quickly into the yet
unbreathed animal which bounded
away under the keen impulse with a
far more generous movement.
AS the partisan had said, the pur-
suers were soon upon the pineland
track. over which they had themselves
passed but recently. Proctor led them
with an earnestness which arose, not
less from his own estimate Of the value
of the game, than from a personal
feeling, If not interest, which he SEEM
ed to entertain in the arrest Of Single
ton. He had preserved his temper,
under great provocation. dealing with
Katharine Walton; but he remembered
with bitterness that her sharp sar-
casms had been uttered in defence of
the very person he pursued. This
quickened his eagerness.
AS he entered the little negro trail
running by the fence, he heard the
shout of the party from the avenue
below: and, as this seemed to say
that the fugitive was within his reach,
a new impetus was given to his eXer-
ton. BY dint of hard riding he soon
got up with the party which led on
the pursuit; and the spur was not
spared in order to diminish the van
tage ground which the partisan had
already won, in the space thrown be-
tween them. The composure and cool
90 Aieyl, IN object
not less than the speed of the pur-
suers: and ii was with no small sat
isfactiOn that Proctor was now enabled
to distinguish the regularly recurring
tread Of the flying horses He readily
imagined, that Singleton would put his
animal to it's fullest speed, and so
thinking, he did not doubt that little
more effort must result in their over
hauling him; believing this, he shouted
encouragingly. crying out to his men,
while bending forward with all speed
in the chase himself
Five guineas to the man who first
lays hands on the rebel. so to it, men
he cannot now escape us. We gain
on him at every leap, his horse Will
soon be breathed. Heed not the boy
but see that the other is secure at all
hazards-alive if you can take him.
dead if he resist you: we must have
him. dead or alive; and the reward is
the same. On-on!"
A cheer-a hearty cheer-thoroughly
English. followed this speech. Five
guineas. The spell was potent. Fierce
ly did they urge the rowel in the
warming TANKS of their chargers. They
dashed headlong through the thicket;
they wound about following the sinu-
Gus pathway. and at length found
themselves upon the broad trace over
which Singleton and the boy were rid
ing. Their horses feet were heard
but they themselves remained unseen
The thick shadow of the forest lay over
the road ahead and under its friendly
shelter the two fugitives were then
speeding. with a pace somewhat quick
ened in obedience to the necessity
The boy wondered at Singleton's cool
ness as their pursuers drew more nigh
He knew not the recklessness Of danger
which follows habitual strife. He
heard the cries of the pursuers to theil
steeds. He remembered that their own
had not been forced. and he felt more
assured.
Now. bOy-nOw is the time; they
are drawing higher, and we may as
well leave them for a while. Bend tc
it and keep beside me-"
The boy did as he was hidden, anc
the difference was soon perceptible, the
noble animals sprang off with all the
elasticity of freshness. while those OF
their pursuers. which had been ridder
rapidly 10 The Oaks" and then as
rapidly after them. failed. in spite OF
the repeated urging of their riders, tc
increase their speed a second. Grad
ually. the sounds grew less and less
distinct upon their ears. and were
nearly lost. when all on sudden. anC
quite Unexpectedly, the steed of Sin
gleton stumbling along the ground
precipitated his rider clean over his