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SAXITEL WRIGHT, Editor and Proprietor.
VOLUME XXIX, NUMBER 40.]
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grEtrttiintz.
A NEW REVOLUTIONARY STORY.
ONE-EYED SAUL;
Or, The Tory League of Seven.
A TALE OF SOUI H CAROLINA
BY DR• J, I. RODINFON.
Author of "Nick Whiffles," "Buck Bison,"
"Half-Witted Nat," "Marion's Brigade,"
"The Pioneers of Kentucky," etc.
CHAPTER I.
TOE LEICUE Or TIDE SEVEN
Seven men, coming from different points,
urging their way with great difficulty through
almost impervious of walls interlaced and op
posing shrubbery, met at midnight beneath
the spreading branches of a cypress tree, at
a place called Laurel Swamp, in South Car
olina, in the year 177—. They gathered
sticks and leaves and made a fire. The
Sautes, springing up from the dry heap,
threw a red glare upon their faces, which
were seamed and disfigured by the play of
bad passions. They were young men—the
oldest not being more than thirty-five years
of age. As they stood in a circle around
the fire, they resembled a group of vagabond
English gipsies, fresh from the stocks or the
whipping-post. They were armed with Sa
bres, knives, pistols and muskets. Their
faces were smutched with powder, their
beards and hair long and neglected, their
garments torn by conflict and the sharp
teeth of the cypress hedges. The names of
these men were respectively as follows:
Martin Vantassle, Nathaniel Herrick, Philip
Langford, Simon A.rrowsmith, John Nicol
son, Jumes Pollard, and Timothy Becker.
Vantassle, a tall, athletic, ill-visaged fel
low, was the leader of these fierce and in
tractable spirits. Unsheathing his heavy
sabre, and planting its point in the ground
between his feet, he addressed his compan
i.ms.
"Men," he said, in a hard, harsh vt.ice,
that harmonized well with his general pres
tige, "we've met here to-night to bind our
selves together in perpetual fellowship by
solemn oath and mutual agreement. Every
man's hand is agin us—leastwise, in these
parts—and ours, in turn, is agin every man.
We've sworn allegiance to his gracious Ma
jesty, the King of Great Britain and the
rightful ruler of these colonies, have touched
Lis money, and will do his work."
"It isn't the king I care so much about,"
muttered Nat Herrick, '•but the utter de
struction and extermination of the Whigs.
South Car'liny is already more'n half con
quered. The rebel cause is rapidly growill'
weaker, and we'll soon sweep 'em away like
chaff. It'll be strange if Nat Herrick don't
have his share of the plunder."
There 'MIA an applauding murmur around
the grim circle.
"I was comin' to that subject," added
Vantassle, impatiently. "I reckon I know
the merits of the case, and understand the
natur' Of your feelins, my lads. We never
seed the King of England, any of us; and
if we should, it's agin reason to s'poso that
he'd speak to us; and to tell the truth. we
care little about him. I love Martin Van
tussle better nor I du any king in the world.
I fight the Whigs because their side is the
weakest, and I bate 'ern; and there's a pros
pect of makin'sotnothite by it. When we've
driven 'em out, which will be soon, 'cordin'
to present appearances, we'll be masters of
the country ourselves. We'll have houses
and lauds, and niggers to wait on us."
"That's the kind te talk I like to hear,"
said Jim Pollard.
"It's a kind of talk, too, that'll prove
prophetic," rejoined Vantassle.
"It would, if we could keep Marion and
Sumpter still," interposed Langford.
"The Swamp Fox will soon be still enough,
I'll warrant yel Colonel Tarleton is on his
track, and he'll trap him afore he's a week
older. llowe%er, that's neithor hero nor
there; let them fight for glory who will—our
motto is 'Booty and Beauty.'"
"We know who your beauty is," said Si
mon Arrowsmith, with a leer; "it is Jrs.i e
Burnside."
"And he shall hare her, too:" said Her
rick, with an oath.
"Thank'e, Nat Herrick.; and if you don't
succeed with Ruth llavilund, it'll be no fault
of mine."
"And will nobody speak a word fur me?"
asked Langford.
"A hundred, if you like," cried Pollard,
"though to me it appears like the greatest
,rionsellse to be runnin' carter women when
ther'its 'mthph real Eghtin' to be done. My
mistress is a bloody one, and I find her
wherever there is a Whig to bang, a till to
rifle, or a house to burn. IroWsoindever. if
-ou like Judith Burnside, it's none o' my
Business, and I reckon none on us 'll stand
i n your way. She's very handsome, and
proud as she is handsome ; and if you win
her at all, it'll be by foul and not by fair
moans. I don't want to be hard on ye, Phil
Langford, but I'm sure you can't do much
In the way of what folk, call honest court
ship. But don't be down-hearted, lad, for
we're bound to each other under all carcutn
stances, and in all cases."
Martin Vantassle drew his sabre from the
earth and thrusting it forward, held it over
the blaring fare; the blade was dieted and
serrated with service, and there were red
stains upon it. The other six unsheathed
theirs and crossed them upon his, when be
dictated a terrible and impious compact
which they severally repeated It was too
profane and shocking to be put verbatim up
on paper. They pledged themselves to mu
tual brotherhood and crime; to exterminate
the struggling and hunted Whigs; to give
no quarter to the captured foe; to Psnrcle
it ' ll ' flying fugitive with remorseless fury; to
commit every enormity upon the defenceless
patriots; to rob, to burn, to outrage helpless
innocence.
When this fearful and unnatural compact
had been made, Vantassle turned to Herrick
and a.ked:
"What names have you brought?"
Herrick drew °soiled paper from his waist
coat pocket, and bending toward the fire,
read the following names:
"Paul Hazelhurst, Frank Haviland, Tom
Butter, Pudijah Makepeace, Gideon Grant,
Blinko, a nigger, and One-eyed Saul of Lau
rel Swamp."
"idea,' vaid Vantassle, "these are for the
award! We are to hunt them down and kill
hem. By virtue of my authority, and by
the oath which you have sworn, I command
you to pursue the persons whose names you
have heard, night and day, till you have
swept them out of existence!"
"There are seven of them and seven of
us—a man fur each," said Herrick.
"Let us determine our respective men by
lot," suggested Langford.
"The idea is good, and by lot the matter
shall be decided," added Vantassle.
This suggestion was eagerly received; its
novelty mate it welcome. The names of the
parties doomed to destrtietion were written
upon seven slips of paper, and drawn from
Vantassle's cap by his associates. Herrick
drew are first ballot.
"Frank Haviland!" he exclaimed.
9150
ESA
"The brother of Ruth!" said Pollard, with
a. shrug, and looking inquiringly at his com
mis.
"Tom Nutter," said Langford, drawing,
and reading his
"And I, Blink°, the black," said Nichol-
SOIL
"And I, One-eyed &lull" cried Pollard, in
dismay.
"You've got something to do," laughed
Vantassle. "If you outwit Saul of Laurel
Swainp, you'll be the greatest man among
US."
"Podijah Makepeace, an infernal 'Yankee'
declared Tim Becker, looking at hia ballot.
Simon Arrowemith was the last to draw.
Ile slreve Gideon Grant, leaving Paul Hazel
burst for Vantaesle.
"It is just us I wish it," observed the let
ter, while a scowl of hatred gave additional
malignance to his expression:
"Ile has visited the Burnsides at Laurel
wood," remarked Langford.
"Is it Judith or Jessie?" asked Pollard,
with a sneer.
"It shall be neither!" thundered Yentas
ale, casting fierce glances around him. "Let
us join hands," he added; "and swear that
we will respectively abide by the ballot."
This was instantly 'done; with clasped
hands and unsheathed sabres they renewed
their terrible compact, invoking direful pen
alties if they proved recreant to their oath.
The League of the Seven was complete.
They separated, and 'went their several
ways. A moment later. itnd nothing but
The smouldering embers of their fire remain
ed to mark the spot where they had met.
CHAPTER II
I.A.VRELWOOD.
Twilight stole silently upon Laurelwood;
it curled in upon the mansion and surround
ing trees like a pale, soft mist. It was a
very quiet hour, but to Jessie Burnside there
was something inexpressibly oppressive in
the air. lier fair companions, Ruth Ilavi
land and Judith Burnside, her sister, sym
pathized with these feelings of uneasiness.
With the exception of Blinko, a black ser
vant, and Jupe, a mulatto girl, these ladies
were, at this time, the sole occupants of the
house, Mrs. Burnside being absent in atten
dance upon a sick relative, while Mr. Burn
side was serving in Marion's brigade. It
was at that period when the struggle fur lib
erty seemed dark and hopeless. South Car
olina was overrun with pitiless enemies, and
devastated with fire and sword. Toryism
was rife, and stalked abroad like a destroy
ing angel, smiting old and young. No man
trusted his neighbor until he stood shoulder
to shoulder with him in battle. No one
knew where to find faith and good fellowship
till danger and death had mime to apply the
test to friend and brother.
Burnside's mansion—which had received
the name of Laurelwood on account of its
proximity to Laurel Swamp--was so far dis
tant from towns and cities that he flattered
himself its quietude would not be intruded
upon by marching armies or wandering
bands of loyalists. It is true that he left
his beloved ones with reluctance, and was
often harrassed with fears for their safety;
but duty—yea, necessity—called him to the
field, and he went, hoping that Providence
would protect those he left at home. So far,
Laurelwood had not been molested. The
terrible titles of the atrocities committed in
neighboring towns and hamlets were daily
reaching him. The young ladies had re
cently, too, had their fears excited by the
persecutions of certain persons, WiIUS, char
acters and principles were alike obnoxious.
With these parties we shall soon become
better acquainted.
Wishing to conceal her dejection of mind,
and see if the open air were not more exhil
am.t.ng, Jessie Burnside opened the door.
and stepped out, as she believed, unobserved
by Ruth and Judith. There was a small
summer house overgrown with vines, a few
yards distant; she entered it, and sat down.
She had scarcely done so, when she heard a
voice pronounce her name. She sprang up
with a cry of terror. A large tough hand
was laid rudely over her mouth; it was the
band of Martin Vantassle.
"Come, Miss, don't be frightened, for I
am neither a wolf nor a panther, but plain
Martin Vantagele—as good a man as you can
find atween here and the mouth of the San
tee. What's better. I'm a king's man, and
the king's man have it alt their own way,
now."
"You are rode and unmannerly, sir!"
cried Jessie, pushing him from her indig•
nantly. "If you have business with me,
speak it and begnnel"
l‘listress, Y have a matter of busi
ness with ye, I reckon. which shall last for
life, if you like it. I ain't a person that
can talk much, and haven't a great deal of
time to spend in that soft palaver they call
love-making; but I want a wife right hard,
and you're the gal . I've a kinder axed my
mind on."
••Oh, this is your - wooingl". said Jessie,
contemptuously. "Lot rus tell you, Martin
Vantassle, that your wooing is odious. You
are a bear!"
'•That's right, Miss; call me pet names.
Ynu can make me the best natured bear in
the world, if you will."
Vante.sele attempted to tap her playfully
under the chin with his clumsy hand.
"Don't touch me: there is contamination
in the touch of one who turns traitor, and
betray. his own countrymen to foreign in
"NO ENTERTAINMENT IS SO CHEAP AS READING,;NOR ANY PLEASURE SO LASTING."
COLUMBIA, PENNSILVANIA, SATURDAY MORNING, APRIL 23, 1859.
ceders. I have no patience with you, nor
those of your character or habits of think
ing, who are associated with you in your
crime and spoliation. The word Tory makes
ins shudder; your presence disgusts me,
while your deeds fill me with horror!"
She tried to escape from the summer
house. Yentas&le caught her by the wrist.
"Not so fast, my scornful! Now is the
reign of might over right. Law and order
are fled the land. Fear of magistrates is
not now before our eyes. We don't ask,
'Shall we do this or that?' but NV' do as we
list. I want you, and am come fur you."
"This is frightful!" gasped Jessie. "I
shall die With terror! I3linko! Blinks! Help
—help!"
At that moment she heard the report of a
rifle not far off.
"Did you hear that?" asked the Tory with
a triumph. "It was for Blinko, I'll be
.worn! I left a man on his track that can
knock over a dollar at a hundred yards."
"Spare me! Have we not been neighbors?
Were we not friendly before this terrible
war? Remember, I entreat of you, that I
am a poor; trembling gal, with no protec
tor."
"I shall have no trouble in remembering
the last, I'll warrant! I shouldn't trusted
myself here if you'd been surrounded by
the cursed rebels. Come, gal, our home is
in Laurel Swamp."
With a quick, unexpected movement, Yam
tassle drew her to bhn, lifted her in his a rms,
and moved toward the dark nod tangled
mass of wood lying in the rear of the man
sion at the distance of a hundred rods, and
covering an area of ton miles in circumfer
ence.
By this time Ruth and Judith had missed
her, and came running to the spot as lie
' was bearing her away. They cried loudly
for assistance, while terror nearly deprived
them of sense and volition. At the moment
when the catastrophe seemed complete, a
tall man, with a large, black patch over his
left eye, and a long rifle in his hand, sprang
from a clump of shubbery, seized Vantagele
by the throat, wrested Jessie from his grasp,
and choking him till he was black in the
I face, hurled him to the ground. While Vatt
tasele lay stunned upon the earth, his van
quisher took his musket from his unnerved
hand, discharged it into the air, and broke
the stock against the trunk of a tree. lie
then drew the pistols from the Tory's belt
and thrust them into his own, from which
already protruded the butts of four. The
blade of Yantaseers knife he snapped by
thrusting into the cleft of a rock, but the
heavy subre•he buckled to his side, leaving
the ruffian entirely unarmed.
-"In, gals, ink" cried the rescuer. "Bar
your doors, and say your prayers, for the
Tory hounds have scented blood, and will
not rest till they have gorged themselves."
The tall, wild looking man glanced at Jes
sie, and observing that she was faint, caught
her up-as if she were en infant, and carried
her to the door. Placing her carefully with
in the threshold, be repeated his startling
warning, and vanished in the deepening
shadows of night. Ile was gone before the
young ladies had recovered sufficiently from
their dismay to thank him.
While they gazed at each other in a stu
por of wonder, a man leaped a high fence at
the right, and crossing the intervening
ground, stood before them, panting and cov
ered with prespiration. It was Tom Hotter,
the partisan and scout, who was known to 1
the neighboring loyalists as a staunch and
unswerving patriot and a brace man, shrink-
ing from no danger, and shunning none of
the responsibilities of the part be had chosen.
"Tom Butter!" exclaimed Judith and
Ruth, sinaultaneoehly, "what has happened?
You are excited with effort; you can scarce
ly stand."
"I have been pars' ed." said nutter. "I
bare had a race for dear life. In, and bar
ricade the doors! A party of the miserable
renegades will be here in a minute! inere's
Illinko?"
"I don't know," said Judith.
out a few minutes ago."
"Which way?" asked If utter.
Judith indicated the direction with her
finger.
flutter started off like a racehorse. Ile
saw a dark object suspended front the branch
of a tree. It was Blip ko, who was sway
ing to an fro, and quivering in the agonies
of strangulation. flutter cut him down in
an instant, and tearing the rope from his
neck, staggered toward the house beneath
the weight of his groat body. A half dozen
musket shots were poured after him from
the nearest copse. The balls perforated his
clothes and grazed his skin in several places,
but he reached the house in safety with the
half dead black. Leaving him to the care
of Jupe, the mulatto girl, he barred the doors
and fastened the windows.
Jessie; who had partially recovered her
self-possession, looked out and saw forms
moving to and fru among the shrubbery.—
fler heart misgave her. How could they re
sist so many enemies? She thought of the
strange man who had so opportunely ap
peared to save her from Vocalisele. She
wondered why he' had left them at such a
juncture! Ills deep, resonant voice still rang
in her ears.
"Stand back from the vrindowl" said Tom
Hotter.
The warning was timely; a charge of buck
shot crashed through the panes as she step
ped aside, some of which perforated her
dress, while one of the hurtling mestengers
drew blood from her white neck.
• "These 11119creants make war upon wo
men!" exclaimed Ruth llaviland.
"Make war upon women, Miss Ifaviland?
They are more savage nor the wolves and
catamounts that prowl through Laurel
Swamp. Neither beauty not tears can move
'em. They aro ten times worse nor the Brit
letters themselves! Tbey've marked their
way through Car'liny with fire and blood,
outrage and robbery."
Tom nutter suddenly thrust his rifle
through the shattered pane and fired. A cry
came back through the smoke
"There was mischief in that," he said,
quietly, relo .ding his ,piece.
"Resistance," cried Jessie, "Is hopeless.
What can yeu expect fit= them if you are
taken, TOW Hotter?"
"A rope from the branch of the nearest
tree." answered the Partisan, coolly.
"Then ft—escape from the back door
when you.mayi They certatnly will not be
so brutal as to harm us young girls," said
Judith, entreatingly.
"My poor gals, you don't know 'em PO
well as I. I've followed their terrible trail;
and looked upon their infernal work. I
know what happens to skit as you, and
should be tempted to kill you with my own
hand, rather than leave you to their ruffian
violence. If my time's come, and rni. to
go the way of all the airth, I'll die here in
defense of beauty and innocerice."
"Noble Tum!" cried Ruth,
"If you've any firearms and'aminunition,
hurry to bring em'atsd lay 'eta down beside
me, and be keerful to keep out of the range
of the winders."
By this time Blinko had revived, and hear
ing this order, said:
"I'll tend to dat, Idars'r Tom. Only let
the young misses keep out de,way, and I'll
stand by ye lung's there am a breff o' life
in Inc.'
Blinko disappeared, but soon returned
with a blunderbuss, two muskets, a brace of
dueling pistols, a bag of buckshot, and a
born of powder. flutter took the blunder
buss, and charged it heavily. There was no
light in the house save a single candle, which
was placed behind a door in a corner to pre
vent serving as a guide to the Tory marks
rues.
Hotter cast himself upon the floor and
watched the movements of the assailants
over the window-sill, His person was some
what exposed to the shuts of the enemy, but
his coolness did nut for a moment desert him.
"The cowards are about to charge upon
the door in a body," ho said, -presently.—
"Blinko, give me the blunderbuss."
The black handed the heavy and destruc
tive weapon to the scout, whose muscles
were firm and obedient. The young ladies
observed his movements with indescribable
interest. Their fate seemed to rest upon his
single arm. A chilling sensetion of horror
crept over theta when they reflected upon
the consequences of defeat and capture.
The Tories rushed toward tne door with a
shout. nutter quickly aimed his weapon
and poured two handfuls of buckshot into
the midst of them. They recoiled and re
treated to the covert of the shrubbery. A
knocking was heard at the rear door.
"Who's there?" demanded-Ilutter.
"Well, I rather guess one-on 'em's me!"
said a genuine Yankee voiee. "Podijah
Makepeace is pooty ginerly, abeout when
there's any skiritunagin' guilt' on."
Blinko immediately unfastened the door
and admitted two persons. Podijah Make
peace had a figure of imposing height, but
which lacked that fullness of developineut
which gives symmetry and comeliness to the
human organization. His hair was flaxen
and lung, his mouth largoand good-humored,
his nose somewhat sharp, middle his eyes,
which were small and hazel, sparkled with
drollery. He was manifestly a man who
meant to be pleased with fife as he found it,
and to make himself as comfortable as pos
sible under all circumstances:,
His companion was more youthful, and
presented a different type of humanity. lie
impressed the beholder at once with the idea
of manly beauty, courage and integrity.
"Paul Hazelhurst!" cried Jessie, joyfully.
The young man sprang forward and grasp
ed the hands that were eagerly extended to
greet him.
"We've come jest • abedut in the nick o'
time, I should say, by gum! The blasted
critters are a pc_r,gin' into ye, ain't they?—
, Well, we'll show 'em a trick worth two of
I that. Wax my flax, if we don't!"
It may be well to remark here that Podi
jah was by trade a shocmaker, - and that his
language was generally highly Seasoned with
the technicalities of the cordwi.iner's art.—
As Podijah finished this eloquent peroration,
he brought the breach of his rifle upon the
floor with a great crash, and squinted out of
the window with his twinkling eyes. The
movement was pearly fatal to Podijah, for a
bullet, aimed at random from outside, sev- '
ered one of his flaxen locks from his cheek.
"Cramp my uppers! Now that's what I
call rooty close work. A fellers jest as like
ly to be shot right square through the head
as any way; close up my seams if he isn't!"
For a few minutes the shouting and firing
ceased. The terrified girls flattered them
selves that the Tories were retiring; but
were presently undeeeived, for they had si
lently surrounded the house, and now com
menced the assault from different quarters
with great resolution and fury. Each felt
that the crisis was rapidly approaching,—
Tom Hatter and Blinko, reinforced by Ha
zelhurst and the Yankee, stood by their
weapons, resolved to make a desperate re
sistance.
"He Went
CtrAPTER, 111.
FIFER. AND SWORD
The four defenders of Laurelivood ran
from point to point to meet and repel the
invaders, who endeavored to force an en
trance through the windows and doors
simultaneously. The voice of Tom flutter
swelled loudly übove the din of conflict. The
struggle was kept up with determined
spirit by the beeeiged. While each was en
gaged with an enemy, Jessie Burnside cried
out that a party of them had beaten down
one of the doors and were pressing into the
hall. Pudijah and Ilaxelhurst sprang to meet
them. Fur a Unto the result was doubtful.
but victory finally turned in favor of the
defenders, whose powerful blows and hearty
courage they could not withstand. Those
who were not repulsed were left upon the
floor with broken beads. The door was re
placed and everything movable piled against
it.
The Tories ignominiously withdrew to
the shelter of the surrounding trees and
shrubbery, and nutter hoped that the at
tack would not again be renewed.
The girls, during the scene, behaved
nobly. Overcoming the natural timidty of
their sex, they made themselves useful to
their brave friends in various ways. Paul
liazlellurst fought like a lion. If he enter
tained fears. they were not for himself, but
for Jessie ',Burnside and her companions.
When he paused from the conflict, panting
and thirsty, she brought hint water; her
little hand presented that cooling draught
to his lips. Ile would gladly have imprison
ed that ministering member in hie own and
pressed grateful kisses upon it, bad pro
priety sanctioned the act.
"Are you wounded?" she asked, hur
riedly.
"I do not know," he replied. "I have
not thought of myself; I have thought only
of you and your friends, I never have tune
to think of myself when you aro near; I
should despise myself if I did."
"You are too brave, too generous!" an
swered Jessie, with emotion. You expose
yourself needlessly; you have too much con
tempt for danger."
"There is no such word as danger, when
I do battle Tor the safety and honor of
Jessie Burnside."
"Too chivalrous! toachivalrousl" exclaim
ed Jessie.
"I can't quite understand this silence,"
said flutter. approaching. Itazelhurst.
"Wax my flax. if I don't believe the
critters has got enough on'tl" said P.kdijah.
•'You see they can't stan' near so much
hatunierin' r.s folks cam as are fightin' for
I liberty. A. few right smart knocks takes
the starch right out of 'ein."
•They're cowards if they don't try again,"
returned flutter. "There's a dozen of 'em,
at least, and they ought to be a match, in
I the course of natur' for four; but we've got
!something within us that they haven't—
love of friends, home, country and justice.
See what work they've made of your house,
Miss Jessie: the winders are riddled, the
doors broke, the furnitary ruined, and
everything at sixes and sevens."
"We love Laurelwood," replied Jessie,
"but we love the cause of freedom better.
The destruction of property will grieve us
but little, if valuable lives are spared and
the tory miscreants punished."
"Punished?—be assured that they will!"
exclaimed Paul Ilazelhurst. "Heaven is
just! Some of them are even now reaping
the reward of their villainy. Look at those
expiring wretches who fell near the door.
Listen to their moans of anguish! What
thought have they to comfort them and
soften -their pains of dissolution? They
die—a horror to themselves and every
justice-loving mind. What a remembrance
the Tories of South Carolina will leave to
posterity!"
"The word Tory will be the 52.-nonyti of
infamy," said Judith.
The night had set in quite dark, and ob
jects could been seen at a short distance
only. The trees looked dim and misty is
the nocturnal gloom. Tom Hotter and his
comrades strained their eyes in every di•
rection in search of their foes, but without
discovering them. The surrounding scenery
was as quiet as if it had never been distur
bed by the sound of human conflict; noth
ing broke the quietude save the groans of
the wounded in the house, and, at long
intervals, the cry of a wolf in the tangled
hedges of Laurel Swamp.
The fears of the young ladies began to
subside; an assurance—faint and trembling,
at first—that those lawless men had retired
and would not return to renew the conflict,
took possession of their minds. A glow of
hope returned to their pale cheeks. As
their own danger grew less imminent, in
their estimotiou, feelings of compassion for
the wounded Tories visited their hearts.
They would have produced lights to ex
amine their condition, and make remedial
applications, had they not been cautioned
by their more experienced defen , lers.
Half au hour elapsed. The eilenz'e con
tinued unbroken. Tom Hatter wee not at
ease, but walked about nervously, casting
prying glances from one window, then from
another. lie was suspicious and unsatisfied.
tie knew that they had suffered loss, but I
not enough to prevent brave men, or per
sons of even ordinary hardihood, from
making further attempts.
Paul Hazelhurst at first shared Hatter's
inquietude, but finally joined the ladies,
confident that there was no immediate dan
ger to apprehend.
"I can't compreht nd it!" muttered Hut
tee, in a perplexed manner. "There's nllers
mischief goin' on when folks aro still."
"That's abeout my own way of thinkin',"
remarked MUM' who heard Tom's re
marks. "The most mischief is done with'
the least noise, 'cordin' to my experieuce
fust and last, here and there, by nod large,
as the world goes. Did you ever gu n
courtin', Mister?"
"I never did," said Tom.
"Well, that's abeout the stillest work you
can find, I reckon, though sometimes there's
a hemp o' business done."
"Hark!" Fait! Tom.
'I don't hear nuthin' but Paul and the
gals. Paul's ruttier sweet on ono of 'em,
I should say, though 'twould be hard to
choose atween 'em. Wax ray flax, if it
wouldn't!"
"It strikes me," said Tom, "that the air
is getting hot and oppressive. Listen! be
quiet there, Paul and the gals."
Each of the parties became attentive.
A hissing, roaring sound was heard over
head.
"The house is on firel" cried Hatter.
Some of the blood-thirsty villians have el
fected an entrance through the roof."
The scout rushed up stairs and three•
open a door. A dense volume of smoke,
mingled with flame, met him and drove him
back. Beds, garments, everything com
bustible had been piled in a heap and fired.
The straw, the feathers, the linen, were like
tinder; it needed but a spark to kindle the
mad blaze, and that had been applied some
minutes before by a cunning and malicious
hand
Scorched by the furious element, and half
suffocated, nutter mounted the stairs again,
in hopes to combat the destructive power
by scattering the material which fed it, but
it was too late. Vedijah Itlakepcace ran
after him and dragged him beck, half choked
by the penetrating, hot anti smotce•loaded
Paul llazelhurst, in defiance of the black,
asphyxiating vapors, rushed to the chamber
to close the door that had been left open.
but sank blinded and overpowered upon the
threshold. It was with difficulty that he
could retrace his steps. Ile was grasping
for breath like a drowning man when he
rejoined the group below.
"The door must be shut," said Polijah,
"or we will be smoked to death, like rats
in a hole! shet it, or suffocate tryin'.
Wax my flax, if I don't!"
The tali form of Podijah disappeared in
the mass of smoke that rolled from above
like thunderclouds. There was a moment
of intense anxiety, then the door was heard
to close. Almost simultaneously Poclijab
tumbled down the stairs, covered with
cinders, his face and hands blistered, and
some of his white locks withered to ashes.
"Bravely done!" cried Jessie. "If you
have not saved us, you have at least given
us a reprieve."
"Don't praise me." returned Podijah.
"The praises of a gal intoxicates me like
ardent eperet—the pootier the _gal, the
drunker it makes me. I never shall flit
away from this place alive if there's any
thinefiesperate I can do."
"Desperate! all is desperate!" said flut
ter. "We might cut our way through and
save oureslves, perhaps, if there was nothin'
of a feminine natur' to look after; but these
gals can't stand musket balls, nor they
can't sten' fire."
"Beaver's!" exclaimed Paul. "What
shall we dot—nut fur ourselves, but for
these poor girls."
"Escape as you can through the dark
ness; and as fur-ms girls, we will trust to
the mercy the enemy, and yield ourselves
prisoners,"
" answered Jes3e, eagerly.
"Yes, we will trust ourselves to the ho.
inanity of the Tories," said Judith and Ruth,
hurriedly.
"You will find it a poor trust," returned
flutter, looking compassionately at the
$1,50 PER YEAR IN ADVANCE; 82,00 LE NOT IN ALVANCE.
three girls. "It'll be miserable mercy voice. "You love bleed and slaughter end
you'll git from them. No! no! we can't carnage; you shall have itl"
think of that." I An athletic wan, with a black patch trate
"God bless you, Tom Mitten no! We his eye, a rifle slung at his back, a pistol iii
can't indeed think of that. We will die, if 'Bich hand, and a large sabre swinging at
it be Heaven's will, for these dear and help- . his side armoured in the midst of the Tories
less ones; but forsake them, never!" , as if be had suddenly fallen from the clouds.
A loud shout rose without. The Tories :He fired his pistel nod unsheathed his sabre.
were exulting in their success. j "Tremble, miscreants, fur One-eyed Saul
"What must be done," asked Paul, in an is among you!"
agony of anxiety. i The sabre flashed like lightning around
"We can do two things," replied nutter. I the stranger's head. The amen of his voles,
"Remain hero and be burnt, or rush out and , the fierceness of his countenance, and the
be shot." i fatality of his arm. struck terror and COW.
"We'll neither be burnt nor shot!" re- i sternatien to the hearts of the Tory reno
torted Podijah stoutly. "I'm bound to , gades. The surviturs turued and fled for
live as long as uppers and tinders 'll hold' life.
together. I ain't goin' to knock under in "Cowards! wretches! come back, and I
1 the mornin' o' my days, by gum! I know will meet you single-handed("
' that all flesh is grass, but I don't want my One-eyed Saul looked wifely arnivai and
grass cut while it's so green. Pll hold on laughed mockingly, then turning to gutter
to existence to the last gasp, I swowl Tom and his panting and bleeding companions.
flutter, Fin goin' to cut jest about my big- and pointing iu the du nealun toe eeia. end
ness and the bigness of one o' these gas, fled, exclaimed:
through the 'tareal Tories, a leetle quick- "Why do you stand here? After them—.
er'n you can load a load o' hay when there's after them, for they need your help. There
a thunder shower coroin ' up like a race-
, are shrieks, yonder; away—awity! It is
horse!" 1 Saul, of Laurel Semen, that commands
Laurelwood House shook with the vice I you. I have work to do, work to do. I
must go this way and that way, and 1 / 1 0111
lenee of the flame, which had eaten through
the roof and now enveloped tile and rafter, is no rest fur the night."
1 While the group looked up in alarm, a red :With these words. rapidly and vehemently
1 sword of fire was thrust down through the I lettered, Otte-eyed Saul struderawey, and is
ceiling an instant wits lost to view.
"It is the flaming sword! it waves us from Cll APTER TV.
our Paradise!" cried Jessie. ISt TEE BWAXP.
"Nay," said Paul, impressively, "some Casting anxious (joke behind them, the
lof us may be going to an eternal Paradise." fair fugitives saw the flames of their but re
The the above growled angrily in answer, ing home, and groups of men struggling
and the black smoke purled into the room in the light of the red glare. It was a
like the rank and destructive breath of a mournful, thrilling spectacle, and they bur
demon. tied on to escape it. J ape, who had proved
"Let each man see that his weapon is courageous and active encouraged them by
loaded. Take care, gals! Stand back as precept and example. Ruth Haviland, be.
lar as you can from the flame and smoke. ing a little behind her companions, beard
There's a burnin' cinder on your dress, Miss the footsteps of pursuers and admonished
Ruth—it blazes!" her friends of the fact, who needed no new
' "It's out," said Podijah, composedly, stimulus to excite them to the greatest effort
smothering the incipient glow with his of which they were capable. They reached
great hand. the Swamp and took shelter in it like fright
"We must rush oat two abreast," said ened birds. The laurel was well nigh icupen
nutter. "Podijah and I will go first. etrable; innumeral vegetable arms were
liazelherst, you and Blink° keep near the stretched 'tut to oppose them, a net-work of
ladies. Blink; be 'brave, and use those vines and branches disputed their passage.
large arms of yours to some purpose. Give Their hands were lacerated by contact with
'eta the contents of the blunderbus in the continually prujectiug points, and shreds of
face and eyes, then cub it and break their their garments were left upon brake and
heads." briar. 'Urging, their way along in the
"Yes, mars'r Tom. This chile know darkness arid terrible intricacy, they sunk
what he 'bout. Habbent fu'got dat hangine and unwilliegly becnme separated, while
Iyin. Thought I ' s done fur dat time. Oh, their attempts to field each other involve
golly, didn't it hurt when dey ram me up them in new labyrinths. Torn, bleeding,
Ito de lienbl 'Peared to stop my heeff like. fainting
with fear and exhaust,kon, JAPISiII
You stood by me, mare'r Tom, aced I'll Burnside sank upon the earth.
For a time her physical awl merAT, ha.
stand by you. Ler', won't I make dis ole
ulties were in such a whirl, of a breepetak
blunderbus spoke to 'em, de minute I hob
that the consciousness of everytlai , ags maimed
a chance to obsquaatify 'cross de sights?' '
„her seemed slipping away front Isere Thaw
The parties were nose driven to the re
motest corner of the room : 4 .1 , their new and remained with her only a heavy reitlitation
of r oltlethillg feertul and. shacking. At.irresistible enemy, wbich e-eg gathering
strength and fierceness with frightful length the chillinees of tire - grnuati and 'the
rapidity. Hotter unfastened the du cry and night air cooled her fetered system and ree
the fresh access of the air gave addiaioi al s • tared
lie,' collet eney uf thought. She
fervor to the conflagration. He stood . " r.`is"'l i n .,,,..‘r and , t.ipp ,, ried leer head tyran t
moment alone in the outpouring smoke, but ' her hand. He; disheveled tresses, her dila
not a shot was fired from the concealed aid I oadered gereana'n "I'd her hum nted per.
watching foe." son reminded ace - of the aroma through
"There is no help for it," added. "We w:Sieli 1:". "
1 Pts,e'l• There wins a lattice
must try it now or never, Pudijah?" worst o f v , aes amnia and elms e Ler. She
"At your side!" responded the Yankee, thought of I .`'c sudden ciiatige of her cit ,
who exposed himself to danger as if he had cumstances. %::nen the elm wont down
been accustomed to it from childhood. last,
site hne i a o emifertehle and beloved
The wall shook with the vehemence of home; now clue lied ne 'ie.
, bllt was a hunted
the fire, and there was a warning creak and , persecuted fugitive, 0"wel "lig in a deakemens
groan among the crumbling joists and I swamp, the resort ef yr,.. 1 .d teeasts and law
trembling rafters. 1 less men. Sbe could not Leese eellish as
"The roof will fall in a moment!" cried I not to think of her companieus. :Where
Ilazelburst. "We are ready. Quick, Hut- were they? She shuddered at the PortsNle
ter, quick!" ity of what might have befallen them.* A
The heart of Torn nutter swelled with painful recollectem in regard to her brave
courage and resolution; his form dilated; defenders added uttspeekably to the dis
his muscles quivered for the contest. traction of her mind. Far if in the depths
-"let the right, friends—to the right! Keep of the swamp she heard the shriek of the
under the smoke as much as you can, and panther, the hue lof the well, and the dis
stoop as you go."i coal mime of the owl. Frightful contrast
They glided unmolested to the end of the 1 to the peace and security of L.ereivrood:
dwelling. I Looking upwe / a through the tenfteitate
"Now fur the shrubbery in the direction folline"e into the den sky, she beheld a
of Laurel Swamp!" whispered Hatter, I blank cloud of smokr—all that remained
"A crisis approaches. Hear young ladies, lof her father's mansion, hove! few charred
be brave!" admonished Paul, whose steady 1 and smouldering branda dint still sent up a
hearing and flashing eyes told that he was; mounded invease from the family benrth
!eady to do battle fur the fair beings under I stone. She wept, sorrowed, pray ed—for it
his protection. 1 is upon God, at last, that the tossed strick-
"Now fora dash—fast, faster—stoop—give
as small a mark to the enemy as possible!"
When two or three rods from the burning
building, the flames shot up with increased
brilliancy, throwing a strong glare' upon the
fugitives. A dozen men sprang from the
grass and foliage to dispute their progress.
"Stop!" shouted a voice that was start
Tingly familiar to Jessie Burnside.
"Down!" thundered flutter, springing to
ward him with a fierce bound, and aiming a
blow at his head with his rifle. Vantassle
staggered
and fell upon one knee. The tall
i nee
pressed to the side of Hatter, and
the Tory fell crushed at his feet.
"Have nt you. you 'tumid critters! Podi
jolt Makepeace didn't come out here for neap..
in'. Come on—a dozen or ye at oncel—
There's a score of airthquakes shut up in
my bones!"
"Shoat down the rebels—shoot 'em down!"
cried Vantassle, over whose prostrate form
four stout fellows were contending.
Blinko discharged his blunderbuss, and
the scattering storm of buckshot wounded
several.
"Seize the gals! seize the gals!" shouted
Langford.
"I'm with you!" exclaimed Nat Herrick,
and both approached the terror-stricken girls.
"Oh, Paul. save us from those wretches!"
shrieked Judith.
"Here's fur you, Mister!" said Herrick,
leveling a pistol at Paul. A bullet whistled
close to the young man's face, who, putting
himself between the young ladies and the
villains, held them at hay. His person was
the target for a dozen furious blows. which
with surprising adroitness, he turned aside
and battled.
The four men were now engaged in an un
equal conflict.
"Fly to the swamp, girls, while we keep
the miscreants in check!" admonished
zelhorst.
The maidens ran like frightened deer, hut
their defenders had the mortification to see
two Tories in pursuit of them without be- I
ing able to go to their assistance. Overpow
ered by numbers, they gave ground, but inch
by inch. They were bruised and bleeding:
they began to despair.
'.Take 'em alive, boys; take 'em alive,
that we may have di. pleasure of hangio'
'eml" shouted Vantassle.
A single rifle shot rang sharp and deadly
through the air. A Tory, who wee pressing
hard upon Hotter, threw up his arms and
fell dead at the feet of his comrades.
"Hounds of hell I" cried a, thunderous
[WHOLE NMI BER 1,497.
en, and disappoitited mind turns. The in
stincts and expel ienee of the whola human
race prove heyond the shadow of question,
that lle alone con confer blessing end cote
solution upon the bereaved, afflicted and
world-crushed son]. Prayer to Hint made
her calmer. A strange, balmy influence,
unexpected end sweet, stole into her being.
She would not, she did nut quite despair.
There was a sound in the laurel hedges.
She listened with every sense awake. Per
sons were working theh way through the
tangled masses in the direction of her cov
ert. Their progress was glow and difficult
She heard muttered curses and imprecations.
Her fears were immeasurably increased,
for the voice of Martin Vantasslo was so
odious, and made so ninny disagreeable im
pressions upon her memory, that she could
not but recognize its slightest tunes. She
shrank nud crouched to mother earth for
protection, as the startled partridge hides
itself beneath a bough or in the friendly
brake, to escape the hurtling shut of the
hunter.
Discovery appeared inevitable, for the
crackling of the limbs and the struggling
and the low-breathed curses came neater
and nearer.
"Perdition seize these brambleel" ex
claimed Vantnele. "One can neither stand
up nor lay down, go forward nor go backl"
Jessie beard the speaker cast himself
recklessly upon the ground a few yards
front her. The laurel bent and complained
beneath his weight. communicating a wave
of motion to the vines around her. A. vol
ley of oath• followed the remark.
."You're in had temper, Cap'n." said
another, who proved to be Simon Arrow . -
smith.
"Who would'nt be in bed temper to he
baffled in this way?" growled Vantassle.—•
"Twice that gal seemed to be in my power
to-night; and twice have I been defeated by
that unknown devil, One-eyed Saul of the
Swamp."
''lt's the gal—there's were the shoe
pinches. The loss of the silver plate is whet
troubles me. 'Twos a fool's trick to set the
house afire and burn it up, nrtor all. There
was enough on u 4 to tnke inure!wood by
storm, and we ought to done it. I'd been
content with the booty, and them that pre
ferred it might had the beauty, and weir
come. Women are well enough to do the
.cookire and housework, but as to }Write Chi
an 'ern egin her will, I can't Pee Ito *lmes In
it, though them may bare different view*
[srx boot u svainlbl