Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-01-12
4 BLISHED 1855.
CHAPTER XVII.
Bob Yancy Finds Himself.

ewes slid open. For moment he
struggled with the odds and ends OF
memory, then he recalled the fight al
the tavern, the sudden murderous at
tack. the fierce blows Slosson mao
dealt him, the knife thrust which had
ended the struggle. Therefore, the BAN
dages that now swathed his head and
shoulders; therefore the need that ne
should be up and doing-for where
was Hannibal?
He sought to lift himself on his
elbow, but the effort sent shafts OF
pain through him; his head seemed
of vast size and endowed with a weight
he could not support. He sank back
groaning, and closed his eyes. After
a little interval he opened them again
and stared about him. There was the
breath Of dawn in the air; he heard
a rooster crow, and the contented
grunting of a pig close at hand. He
was resting under a rude shelter OF
poles and bark. Presently he became
aware of a slow gliding movement,
and the silvery ripple Of water. Clear
" he was no longer at the tavern and
clearly some one had taken the trouble
to bandage his hurts.
At length his eyes rolling from side
TO side focused themselves on a low
opening near the foot Of his shake
down bed. Beyond this opening, and
at some little distance, he saw sun
bonneted woman Of a plump and COM
Portable presence. She was leaning
against a tub which rested on a rude
bench. At her back was another bark
shanty similar to the one that shelter
ed himself, while on either hand a
shoreless expanse Of water danced
and sparkled under the rays of the
newly risen sun. AS his eyes slowly
took in the scene, Yancy's astonish-
ment mounted higher and higher. The
lady's sunbonnet quite hid her face,
but he saw that she was smoking a
cob pipe.
He was still staring at her when the
lank figure of a man emerged from the
other shanty. This man wore cotton
shirt and patched butternut trousers;
he was hatless and shoeless, and his
hair stood out from his head in great
flaming shock. He, too, was smoking
cob-pipe. Suddenly the man put
out a long arm which found its way
about the lady's waist, an attention
that eliminated in a vigorous en-
brace. Then releasing her, he squared
his shoulders, took long breath, beat
his chest with the fiat of his hands
and uttered a cheerful whoop. The
embrace, the deep breath, and the
whoop constituted Mr.. Cavendish's
morning devotions. and were express
sive of a spirit of thankfulness to the
risen sun, his general satisfaction with
the course of Providence, and his hon.
age to the lady of his choice.
Swinging about on his heel, CaVen-
dish passed beyond Yancy's range OF
vision. Again the latter attempted to
lift himself on his elbow, but sky and
water changed places before his eyes
and he dropped down on his pillow
with a stified sigh. He seemed to be
slipping back into the black night from
which he had just emerged. Again
he was at Scratch Hill, again Dave
Blount was seeking to steal his nevvy
incidents of the trial and flight re-
CURED to him-all was confused, re-
cannonnp
Suddenly a shadow fell obliquely
across the foot of his narrow bed,
and Cavendish, bending his long body
somewhat, thrust his head in at the
opening. He found himself looking
into a pair of eyes that for the first
time in many long day held the light
of consciousness.
How are you, stranger" he de-
manded. in a soft drawl
Where am -" the words were
whisper on Yancy's bearded lips.
We'll, sir. you are in the Tennes-
see river TO certain; my wife will
make admiration when she hears you
sneak. Polly! you just step here"
But Polly had heard Cavendish
speak, and the murmur of Yancy's
voice in reply. Now her head ap-
peared beside her husbands, and
Yancy saw that she was rosy and
smiling, and that her claim to good
looks was something that could. not
well be denied.
sir?" she cried, smiling down on him
How did I get here and where's
my nevvy?" questioned Yancy anx-
iously.
There now, you amt in no condi-
tion fo' to poster yo'self with worry
You was fished up out Of the Elk river
by Mr.. Cavendish," Polly explained
still smiling and dimpling at him.
When, ma'am-last night?
You got another guess coming to
you, stranger" 1t was Cavendish who
spoke.
DO you mean, sir, that l been un-
conscious for spell?" suggested
Yancy, rather fearfully, glancing from
one to the other.
It's been right smart Of a spell
too: yes. sir, you've laid like you was
dead. and not fo' matter of hours
either-but days"
How long?"
Well nigh on to three weeks"
They saw Yancy's eyes widen with
a look of dumb horror.
Three weeks!" he at length repeat
ed. and groaned miserably. He was
thinking Of Hannibal.
You was mighty droll to look al
when fshed you up out of the river.
continued Mr.. Cavendish. You'd beer
cut and beat up scandalous!"
And you don't know nothing about
my nevvy?-you amt seen or heard
Of him, ma'am?" faltered Yancy, and
glanced up into Polly's comely face.
Polly shook her head regretfully.
How come you in the river?" asked
Cavendish.
II reckon I was throwed in. 1t was
u