Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-12-01
By OPIE READ.

the falling beams. l looked not abou
me. but straight ahead toward tn
thicket. now waving as if swept b!
strong wind and within a minute
after reaching the outer air l wa!
crawling through thick clump o
blackberry briars, with Alf close upor
my heels. We soon came upon sheep
walk covered with briars, and now VIZ
could make faster time. The Aime:
boys were still firing into the burning
house, and it was evident that they haC
not discovered our escape.
I'VE can walk now," Alf whispered
Turn down here to the right and keeI
the shumac bushes between us anc
them. Now we are all right"
Not another word was spoken unit
we had reached a knoll, some distance
away. Then we halted and looked
back. And now the old house was bu
a blazing heap. Alf was peeping about
through the trees, and suddenly his
gaze was set. He cooked his gun ant
brought it to his shoulder.
No" l said You will only regret
it." l grasped the gun and both ham.
mers fell upon my hand. Get back!'
he commanded.
NO" l said, my hand still under the
hammers. You must not"
He looked hard at me for moment
and then suffered me to take the gun
The fire was now dying, and. looking
to the left, whence the firing had come
l saw two of the Aimes boys standing
under a tree.
Bill, l could kill both of them," ALI
said, in a sorrowful voice.
Il know. my dear boy, but you must
not. You would always regret it. We
will let the law take charge of them
tomorrow"
Not tomorrow, Bill, but tonight. To-
morrow they will be gone
"All right: just as you say. Where
is the nearest officer?"
"A deputy sheriff lives about two
miles from here, off to the right of oul
road home. Come on"
We came into the road after making
a circuit through the woods. and hast
ened onward And we must have
gone nearly half the distance TO the
deputy's house when we heard the
Aimes boys coming behind us, drunk
and whOoping. They think we are
burnt up" said Alf: but We'll show
them. Let's get aside into the bushes
and when they come along We'll lei
them have it,"
I'VE will get aside into the bushes
said |, but we will not let them have
it. Come over this side. Let me have
your gun"
He let me take the gun, and as he
stood near me, waiting for the ruff1ans
to pass. l thought that he made an un-
seemly degree of noise, merely to at
tract their attention so that he might
have an opportunity to fire at them
Keep still, Alf." l whispered.
They came down the road, singing a
bawdy song. For a moment / was
half inclined to give Alf his gun, but
that early lesson, the waylaying OF
Bentley. restrained me- We heard the
scoundrels talking between their out
bursts of song. piece of roast hog
wouldn't go bad jest about now, Scott
l feel sorter knawish after my excite
&c ,ho In
Wall. if you air hongry and banker
after hog, why don't you go back yam
der and git a piece that we've jest
roaSted?"
Alfs hand closed about the barrels
of his gun, and strongly he pulled, but
loosened his grip and whispered:
Let them go. There is no honor and
very little revenge in shooting brute
Il reckon you are right" he replied
but he did not whisper, and out in
the road there was a quick scuffiing OF
feet and then a halt. 1 threw one arm
about Alf and pressed one hand over
his mouth.
What was that, ScOtt?''
'I didn't hear nOthin'."
Thought heard somebody a-talk-
in"
Yes, you thought like Young's mig
gers-thought buckeyes was biscuits
Come on. boys. Well go over anc
wake old Josh up and git more licker.'
They passed on. and when l had
given Alf the opportunity to speak he
said: Good They are going over tc
a negro's house and We'll get there
about the time they do, and if we cam
get anybody but the deputy to help Us
We'll have to kill one or two of them
Now keep up with me-
OFF through the woods he went at
trot. leaping logs and splashing through
brook where it was broad; and
kept we'll up with him. Already my
mind had ceased to dwell upon the
narrowness of our escape; l wa:
thinking of Guinea as she had stood
shielding the light with her hand.
CHAPTER VIII.