Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-02-01
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exaggerated in due proportion to the
thick obscurity which at that time
hung about the subject. The host
| himself-who was a sturdy patriot,
and more than usually bold. as, Of late
days, he was more than usually un-
fortunate-presided upon this occa-
sion. The party was small, consist
ing Of some half dozen persons. all
impatient of the hourly wrongs, which,
in their reckless indifference to the
feelings of the conquered, the invad-
ers continually committed. The re-
duction of the British force in the
lower county. in the large draughts
made upon IL for the upper posts, had
emboldened disaffection; and the peo-
pie. like snakes long huddled up In
holes during the severe weather now
came out with the first gllmpses OF
the sunshine.
The arrival of Humphries with the
intelligence which he brought, gave
them new spirits. The successes Of
Marion at Britton's Neck, and Single
ton in the swamp, of which they had
not heard before, though small, were
yet held an earnest of what might be
anticipated, and what was hoped for.
The additional news that the ap-
preaching Continentals were to be
commanded by Gates, whose renown
was in the ascendant-so far in the
fhat hn or M
Washington almost sank before it
went far to give hope a positive body
and a form. Doubt succeeded to bold
prediction. and the conspirators were
now prepared-those reluctant before
to begin properly the organization Of
their section. as had. been the advice
of Marion.
Still. they were not altogether ready
for the field. Property was to be Sc
cured, families carried beyond reach
Of that retribution which the enemy
usually inflicted upon the feeble in re-
turn for the audacity and defiance OF
the strong: arms were to be procured,
and. until the time of Sir Henry Clin-
toms indulgence-the twenty days
had expired, they determined to for
bear all open demonstration. To
these, Humphries had already desig-
mated their leader in the person Of
Colonel Walton. whom they all knew
and esteemed. His coming out they
were satisfied would, of itself, bring
na Mt
field. Popular as he was, both in St.
Pauls and st. Georges. it was conf
IDENTIFY believed that he would bring
both the parishes out handsomely, and
his skill as a leader had been already
tried and was highly estimated. The
spirits Of the little knot of conspira-
tors grew with every enumeration OF
their prospects and resources, and
they looked up, as daylight approach
ed. full of hope and mutual assur-
ances. Two of the party agreed to
come out to Humphries, in the contig-
Gus wood. by the first ringing of the
bell for Sabbath service-for the day
was Sunday-and there, at a given
spot. the lieutenant was to await
them.
Before the daylight he took his de-
parture, and leading his horse into
the close swamp thicket on the river,
where his first conference with Single
ton had taken place. he fastened him
carefully. took his seat at the foot OF
tree which overhung the river, and
there unused. half doing, for the brief
hour that came between the time and
the dawning. But soon the light came
winding brightly and more brightly
around him: the mists curled up from
the river. and the breeze rising up
from the ocean. with the dawn, re-
freshed and animated him. He sat
watching the mysterious separation
Of those twin agents of nature. night
and day, as the one rolled away in fog
along the river, and the other burst
worth, in CLEANS from the sky and
bloom upon the earth.
But these sights were not such as
greatly To amuse our lieutenant. and
the time passed heavily enough, until
about 8 o'clock. when from the rivers
edge. he distinguished, crossing the
river at Dorchester. the time-worn,
bent figure of old Dame Bloney. She
was on her way to the garrison for
the revelation of that intelligence
which his father had by this time al
ready unfolded. The lieutenant now
understood a part of the design, and
readily conceived that such was the
purpOrt of her visit to the village.
Yet why had not her son undertaken
the task himself? Why depute to an
infirm old woman the performance of
an object so important? The ques-
ton puzzled him: and it was only a
dim conjecture of the truth, which led
him tn believe that Google had made
| his way back To camp with the view
to some farther treachery.
As the hag grew more distinct to his
eve. in the increasing light, her sharp
features-the subtle cast of her eye
the infirm crazy mOtion-bent should
| eiS, ana NlICU-llhV SNull "hiNh ShN
carried. brought many unpleasant fan
cies to the mind Of the observer: and
the singular. and. to him. the super
stitiouS fear which he had felt while
gazing upon her. through the crevices
# her hut the night before, came
back to him with increased influence
He thought Of the thousand strange
stories Of the neighborhood, about the
witchcraft practicel by her and oth'
ers. Indian doctors were then all over
the country. renowned for their cures
all Of which were effected by trick anC
mummery. mixed up with a due pro-
portion of forest medicines-wild roots
and plants. the properties Of which
known through long ages to the abo'
rigneS. were foreign to the knowledge
and therefore marvellous in the esti-
nation of the whites. To their arts
the Gullah and the Ebo negroes. oI
which the colony had it's thousands
furnished by the then unscrupulou: