Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-04-02


present danger. In that moment
while the alarm was at the highest
and as the officer struggled to keep
his ranks unbroken, the rifle Of one
Of the marksmen in the tree-top sin
gled him out as a victim, and he fell
beneath the unerring aim which the
rifleman had taken.
1t was then that the bugle Of Sin
gleton sounded-a clear, quick and
lively note. That Of Humphries, on
the opposite quarter, responded and
the charge Of the partisan followed
close upon 1t. The officer next In
command to him who had fallen,
however surprised, coolly enough pre-
pared to do his duty. He closed his
men around the prisoner with the
first appearance Of danger, and when
the rushing horses were heard troop
ing from the woods, he boldly faced
in the direction Of the expected ehe-
my.
All this was the work of an instant.
The brands had been we'll prepared
under the direction Of old Pryor; and
with the feeling of a true patri)t, his
own dwelling had been chosen ty
him the very first for destruction. He
had piled the resinous and rich light,
wood in every apartment. He had
filled with combustibles, and had so
prepared 1t, that the blaze must be
sudden, and the conflagration COM
plete. Three other houses were chos-
en- and prepared in like manner; and
once ignited their possessors rushed
away to the place Of execution, cry
ing their alarm aloud, and adding to
the wild confusion.
Their cries resounded violently,
with a new and more emphatic burst,
as, coming out Of the village, they ap-
peared upon the road, just as the bu-
gle Of Singleton had sounded for his
charge. The brave partisan had bent
he now gave all his spirit, and all his
strength, to its manful completion.
His first plunge from. the coppice
placed him in front Of a presented
bayonet Quick as thought, he
wheeled his steed to the right, avoid
ing the lunge which carried the SOL
dier forward. While the fore feet of
the animal were yet in the air, he,
as suddenly, wheeled him back again
and his hoofs were beaten down with
all his weight upon the body Of the
soldier, who lay crushed and writh-
ing under his legs.
This movement had broken the
bristling line in the centre Of which
the strong-limbed partisan now found
himself. He did not stop to calcu-
late. In action, alone, lay his hope
of safety or success. He was pene-
trating the square in which his uncle
was a prisoner. The fatal cart was
before him, and this was enough to
give new vigor to his effort. Right
and left, his heavy sabre descended
a sweeping death, defying the oppos-
ing STEEL and biting fatally at every
stroke. He was we'll supported by
his men, and though not one-half the
number Of his enemies, he had al
ready gained a decided advantage,
and made some progress toward his
object, when the charge Of Humphries
followed up his success. The lieu
tenant hurried over the ground,
cheering and shouting. An old wom-
an feebly tottering to the roadside,
stumbled along the path, but he did
not pause in his progress. Indeed he
could not. The troop followed him
horseman after horseman went over
the PROSTATE body, grinding 1t to the
earth. until there was as little human
in its appearance, as there was in the
heart Of its owner. She gave but one
cry-a dreadful scream. 1t chilled
the heart Of the brave trooper, as the
hoofs of his steed went down upon
her breast. He knew the voice-he
heard the words-and, hag as she
was, foul and malignant, the appeal
to her son, in the last accents OF her
lips, was touching in the extreme. 1t
was his name that she cried In her
death struggle-and Blonay heard
the cry. He emerged from the bush
where he had been sheltered; but
when the contest was clear before
him, he again sank back. He was
cool enough to see that nothing
could save the beldam- he was cal
culating enough to risk nothing
in an effort so hopeless. Steal
ing along the wood, however, he
unslung his rifle, freed his knife from
the sheath, and prepared to take any
possible advantage which the pro-
gress Of circumstances might AFFORD
him.
The fight grew fearful around the
cart in which the prisoner sat. The
clergyman leaped into the crowd,
dreading that conspicuousness in the
ARRAY which the situation gave him.
Colonel Walton alone remained with
in 1t. He had arisen, but his hands
were tied; and though his feet were
free he yet felt that his position was
much more secure, as long as the sa-
bre onlv was employed, than 1t would
be, without weapons, and having no
use Of his hands, in the melee, and
under the feet of horses. But he
shouted elcouragingly to Singleton,
who, indeed, needed now no other en-
couragement than his own fierce fren-
Nv. The fury that impelled him look
ed like madness. He seemed double
armed and invulnerable. More than
once had a strong combatant opposed
him, and hopelessly. He had plough
ed his way through the living wall,
with a steel and strength equally ir-
resistible.
Courage uncle-courage! Can
YOU do nothing for yourself!" And
striking as he spoke, down went an
other soldier.
"I am tied" was the reply as quick
ly. In the next moment, leaping from
his horse into the centre Of the We
hicle, Lance Frampton applied the
knife to the cords.
"Hurrah!" was the cheering cry of
the partisans, as the prisoner clapped
his hands in the air, showing their
enlargement. A soldier seized the
horse which drew the cart, by the
bride, and turning his head among
the crowd, sought to lead him on; But gu
the sabre of Singleton-seemingly
aimed at the soldier, who lodged 1t
by sinking down while yet holding
upon the bridle-was adroitly intend
ed for the horse. 1t went resistlessly
through his neck, and falling among
the crowd about him, the animal
struggled in the agonies of death still
farther adding to the confusion.
Walton at this moment sprang from
the cart, and the partisans gathered
around him. The guard, considera-
bly, diminished, now collected for a
charge; but the pistols Of the parti-
sans, which they could now safely
venture to employ. were brought to
bear upon them. They recoiled, and
in the moment, Colonel Walton gain
ed the cover of the wood; another
found him mounted; and rushing
forth, with a wild shout, he gave the
enemy an idea of the presence OF
some fresher enemy. This was all
that was wanting to the completion
of the confusion. They gave back
at first they merely yielded-then
they broke; and, as the partisans be-
held their advantage, and pressed on
to avail themselves of 1t, the dismem-
bered guard fled down the road IN
the direction of the village.
"Back-back!" cried Singleton 70
his men, as they were preparing TO
pursue. Enough was done for the
purpose-let us hazard nothing In