Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-12-01
CHAPTER VII-C6ntinued.

mousse was close, ana 1 cOulu near III.
own heart beating against the floor
There was scarcely any use to look ou
now, for nothing could be seen, and
arose and sat with my back agains
the wall, taking care to keep clear o.
the small opening which l had made
1t was so dark in the room that l coulc
not see Aif, but could hear him, fol
softly he was humming a tune: Hi
Bette Martin, tiptoe fine" For days
he had been heavy with the melancholy
of his love, but now in this hour OF
danger his heart seemed to be light
and attuned to a rollicking air. have
known many man to breathe deli
ciOus thrill in an atmosphere of peril
to feel a leap of the blood. a gladness
but it was at a time of intense excite
ment, a sort of epic joy; but how could
a man. lying in the dark, waiting fol
he knew not what-hOw could he put
down a weighty care and take up
lightsome tune?
Down in the hollow a screech owI
was crying, and his mate on the hill
top replied to his call, while in the
room near me was the Whit of bat
And Alf was now so silent that
thought he must have fallen asleep
but soon I heard him softly whistling:
Hi. Bette Martin, tip-tip-toe fine
You seem to be enjoying yourself
said l. IF you had brought a fiddle
we might have a dance"
l heard him litter as he wallowed on
the floor. This is fun" he said, "the
only real fun I've had since-I was 60
ing to say since the war. but 1 was
too young to go into society at that
time"
What do you think they are up to
now. Alf?" asked.
Blamed If know. Getting tired?"
We'll, 1 don't want to stay here all
night. What are we waiting for?"
It's hard to tell just at present, and
Il we don't get a more encouraging re-
port pretty soon We'll break the en-
gagement and go home. What's that
l listened and at first heard nothing
and was just about to say that 1t must
be the screech owl come closer, when
from a corner of the house there came
distant and sharp crackle. l heard
AIf scuffie to his feet. I'VE are in fol
it,"
1t was true, for now we could see
the light glaring on the bushes and a
moment later a spear of light shot in
ward. revealing my friend standing
there with his hands buried deep in his
pockets. Those old logs are as dry
as a powder horn," he carelessly re-
marked. Won't take long to burn the
thing down."
But what are we going to do?"
cried And now the room was aglow
and shadows were dancing on the wall
Il was just thinking" said he, look
ing about. They'll begin shooting in
here as soon as that end is burned out
Wish l had seen that rascal when he
slipped up here TO kindle this fire
Helloa, it's spread to the roof"
I strove TO show him that 1 could be
as calm and as careless as he, but now
! was startled, and eXcitedly exclaimed:
We shall be burned up like rats in
barn"
"Oh. I reckon not. Here, let's pull
IN a plank out of the floor and crawl
under and if we can get into the bushes
well be all right. Here's crack. But
can't move it," he added, after
straining at the board. See if you
can get your fingers through here"
- I dropped upon my knees and thrust
NV fingers through the crack. The fire
had now gained such headway that the
air was hot and a glare danced on the
wall where the shadow had crept; and
we heard the Aimes boys yell in the
woods a short distance off. With al
NV strength l pulled at the board;
got off my knees and braced myself
and with a quick jerk the board came
up with a loud rip and l fell backward
on the floor.
Go ahead" said ALI, quietly stand
ing there, with his gun under his arm
Get down through and work your way
toward the other end
You go first. ALI"
Pm in no hurry. But may be
know of an opening where the sheer
come under in winter. Follow me
then"
Down we went into the fine and suf-
fncating dust. Here and there the
sheep and the hogs had dug deep beds
in their restlessness, when nights haC
been cold. but in places the floor was
so close to the ground that l coulc
scarcely crawl through. We heard one
end of the roof fall in. and then a vol
lev was fired from the woods.
What did l tell yOu?" said ALI
We understand their tactics, any way
Don't believe you can get through
here. Bill. Wait l can dig down this
ump with my gun. Wish I had
hatchet. Ever notice how handy
hatchet is?'
For Gods sake let me get at it, ALI
con feel the heat The whole thing
will fall down on US in a minute
Thatn do: l can squeeze through.
Alf crawled into one Of the deep bed
and reached back to help pull M
through. Bill. looks like this place
was made for you, only 1 wish the!
had made it trife bigger. One
more"
And there 1 struggled and there h
,uIIcd II am gone Alf: l can't ge
ont Save yourself if you can
IF YOU can't get out l know you arr
not gone. Bill" he replied with laugh
hut it was a laugh of despair rathe
than Of merriment. Don't give W
Once more. You are coming. VIVA
did tell you?" And again he laughed
but not in despair. We were not
the wall. at the very hole through whlcl
the sheep were wont to come in. fo'
first this time. Bill. Sheer off to IN
left The bushes are not more thai
fifteen feet away"
With but little difficulty | squeezed
bo oDapiOp And now | wa