Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-02-19
afraid Sorrel is hurt a great

his horse, which had also risen to MS
feet, and now remained trembling upon
the spot where he had fallen. Single
ton took the bride in hand, and led
him off a few PAGES. This was suffi-
cient to satisfy him that the animal
was too much lamed to yield him much
IL any service in the fight that night
The danger was pressing, as in the
brief time occupied by the event re-
corded. the pursuing party had re-
gained the ground, and something
more, which, in the increased speed OF
the partisan, they had previously lost
Singleton at once adopted his decision
Lance. you must mount instantly
and fly; I'll take the bush and try to
get into safe cover. There's no time
to waste. so at once about 1t. To
horse, boy. why do you stand?"
Why, sir, it's you that's wanted in
camp, not me. / can hide in the bush
just as we'll as you, sir; I'm not
afraid"
60 to. my poor boy; go to. and be
not foolish; do as you're told. and no
trlfiing. Know you not that II they
take you they'll hang you to the tree
as a rebel?"
But, sir, they will hang you tool
know that; and I'm small can hide
better in the bush than YOU"
Answer not, but do as | have told
you. Mount at once and fly, or shoot
you down on the spot. Go. I shall
save myself"
The boy obeyed reluctantly, and 1t
was high time that he should. He had
barely time to remount, which he did
with a sad slow motion when he heard
the voice of the pursuers, who in all
this while had failed to hear the tread
of the fugitive The boy sped quick
ly on his way, while Singleton, leav-
ing the famed horse in the road. not
having time to remove him, plunged
into the thick woods alongside, just In
season to avoid the immediate obser-
vation of the pursuers. They came up
to the spot, and though his horse, with
a native instinct, hobbled forward fee
bly, as 1t were to escape them, they
quickly surrounded him, and, perceiv-
| ing his condition, at once conjectured
| that the rider was in the neighboring
woods. The voice of Proctor was at
once heard with the promptest order
"Dismount, fellows-dismount, and
search the wood-he must be close at
hand, and cannot escape us II you look
well. The woods are thin and open.
Five guineas, you know, dead or alive,
to the man that first takes him."
"Ah! there's a chance then, for a
choice of death, at least" said Single
ton to himself. bitterly. as standing
Immediately beside the road, he heard
the sanguinary order. His hands fin
| gered his belt unconsciously, where
the pistols had been placed, and he
cursed the thoughtlessness which had
| brought him off from the dwelling
without having first secured them.
| But he made up his mind to resist at
all hazards, weaponless or not, If once
encountered. He had his hope Of es-
| cape, however, and one that did not
seem so very unreasonable. Instead
of rushing off into the woods, where,
from the lack Of underground, he might
have been discovered readily, he chung
to the luXuriant brush, the product OF
a vigorous sun acting freely upon It,,
that skirted the road. The troopers
dismounted, all but Proctor himself,
and single corporal Supposing, very
naturally, that the fugitive would seek
to embower himself as far In the woods
as possible. the troopers scattered
themselves over too large a surface;
and the cries and clamor Of the search
gradually receded from the highway.
| Proctor meanwhile, accompanied by
his single companion, kept moving to
and fro along the road; and as he
moved down the path, a new prospect
of escape was suggested to the active
mind of the partisan. The horses OF
| the troopers were fastened to the
swinging bOughs Of tree only few
PAGES distant. Could he reach them
unheard? He looked out, and waited
until the forms of the two mounted
men grew more indistinct upon the
road. then cautiously skirting the
track, and still behind the bush, he ap-
preached the tree. The horses heard
| him. but did not whinny or show alarm
as he drew nigh; and before emerging
| from cover he sought with his eye to
| L. hn Of cnap6 and
bottom. He did so-one a few yards
| distant pleased him best, and he anx-
iously awaited until the two riders,
who were now returning, should again
wander away from the spot, to rush
out and secure him. In the mean
while the hunt of the troopers contin-
ued in the wood The dancing shad-
ows of the starlight occasionally de-
ceived them into hopes Of the fugitive
sometimes the persons OF one anoth-
er; and on these occasions their hurrahs
and encouraging shouts were prodi-
gious. Proctor passed also beside
the tree as he came up. in the rear OF
which Singleton had sheltered himself.
He was chafed at the delay, and shout
ed to his men as laggards, repeating
the reward offered, and in his tone and
language showing an anxiety to cap
ture the fugitive which could not well
be ascribed to his love for his king.
He must be there. Corporal Turner
HE could not have gone far, sir-but
a moment before he was mounted, and
we heard both horses distinctly. This
beast is Singleton's, for so the fellow
Blonay described him-a bright sorrel,
with long tail, and white blaze on his
right shoulder. This is the animal
1T is SIR the very nag: and, as you
say. sir. he cannot have gone far into
the bush. If he went in at all; but may
he not, sir. have gone double with the
boy on the other horse?"
The devil!-yes-I did not think of
that: and if SO. we have lost him.
| Damnat tiOn.-it must be So"
And in his chagrin Proctor resumed