Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-02-08

God help me, cappin, but you're
not In airnest, sure? It's no small diff
ficulty, now, this express, and It's
matter to be well paid for; and II sc
be you are, for certain, one Of Mar
ions men, you mought let'n have
free pass up, for smart chance oi
the guineas. Afore God, cappin, II
you'l only clear the road you shall
have one half"
The pistol was at his head.
Another word, scoundrel, and send
the bullet through your skull. Mount
quickly-quickly!"
With the back of his hand he smote
the Tory upon his mouth as he spoke
and the fire Of insulted patriotism
flashed from his eye, with a threaten
ing brightness that silenced at once
and most effectually, all farther
solicitations from the bearer OF
dispatches. Reluctantly. but without
farther pause. he got into saddle, TAX
ing the place assigned him by his
captor, between himself and the boy
In this manner they took their way to
the Cypress Swamp, and 1t was not
long before they were, all three. lodged
in its safe and deep recesses.
There we find our almost forgotten
friends, the sentimental gourmand,
the philosophic Porgy, and the atten-
uated naturalist. Doctor Oakenburg;
the one about to engage In his favor
ite vocation. and hurrying the evening
meal: the other sublimely employed In
stllffing with moss the skin Of mon
strous "coachwhip," which, to his
great delight, the morning before. he
had Abeen successful enough to take
with crotch stick. and to kill without
bruising. Carefully skinned. and
dried in the shade, the rich colors and
glossy glaze of the reptile had been
well preserved. and now carefully fill
ed out with the soft and plant moss,
as Il lay across the doctors lap, 1t
wore to the eye Of Singleton q very
life-like appearance. The two came
forward to meet and make the ac-
quaintance Of the partisan, whom be-
fore they had not seen. Porgy was
highly delighted, for, like most fat
men, he liked company, and preferred
always the presence Of number.
There's no eating alone" he would
say-"give me enough for a large ta-
BILE, and a full company round 1t;
can then enjoy myself"
His reception of Singleton partook
Of this spirit.
f.Major Singleton,,.I rejoice to see
you; just now particularly, as our
supper, such as 1t Is, Is almost at hand.
No great variety, sir-nothing much
t0 choose from-but what Of that, sir?
There's enough. and what there is, is
good-tta very best. Tom, there-our
cook, sir, he will make the very best
of it-broils ham the best Of any negro
in, the southern country, and his hoe
cake. sir, is absolutely perfection. He
does tIrn a griddle with a dexterity
that is remarkable But you shall see
-you shall see for yourself. Here,
Toni"
And rolling up his sleeves. he took
the subject of his eulogy aside, and a
moment after the latter was seen pfl-
ing his brands and ajusting a rude
iron fabric over the Goals, while the
epicure, with the most hearty good
will for the labor, busily sliced Off sun
dry huge collops from the convenient
shoulder of bacon that hung suspend
ed from contiguous tree.
The labors Of Porgy were scarcely
congenial either with the mood of Sin
gleton or the quiet loveliness OF the
scene. Evening was fast coming on
all the swamp was in a deep shadow,
save where, like wandering but pure
spirit, a rose like effusion, the last dy-
ing but lovely glance from the de-
scendlng sun. rested flickeringly upon
the top Of one. of the tallest pines
above them. A space between the
tres, opening to the heavens in one
sprinkling of fieecy white clouds
sleeping quietly under the sky. their
western edges partaking slightly OF the
same last parting glance Of the sink
ing orb. A slight breeze stirred fltful-
ly among the branches; and the oc-
casional cbirp Of the nimble sparrow
as 1t hoped along on the edge OF the
island, was the only sound. other than
that made by the kissing fire, and the
occasional voice Of Porgy, which came
to the ears Of Singleton. He threw
himself upon the green bank, under a
tree. on the opposite side of which the
boy Lance had already placed himself
little behind him. Suddenly, the
boy started to his feet. The wild, un-
earthly laugh of his father, that eld-
ritch scream which chilled to the very
bones of the hearer. was heard on the
skirts Of the island. Looking to the
quarter whence the cry proceeded
they beheld the huge figure Of the ell
der FramptOn peering from behind a
tree-his eyes staring forth 'vacantly
upon them. while his hands were up
lifted to a stretching branch. above
him, which he grasped firmly. He
laughed repeatedly, and Singleton al
length arose, beckoned and called to
him. But he gave no heed to the call
and when the latter offered to ap-
proach him, the maniac moved away
rapidly, with another eldritch laugh
that seemed to mock pursuit. At this
moment the boy came up in sight OF
his father, and the wild man seemed
to recognized his son.
He will come now, sir" said Lance
to. Major Singleton: "he will come
now, sir: but we must not seem to
urge or to watch him."
They fell back accordingly, took
their old places along the bank, and
awaited the result of their experiment
AS the boy had predicted, the maniac
in few moments after was beside
them. He came forward with bound
ing motion, as If now only satisfied
with an inordinate extreme Of action
corresponding to the sleepless impulse