. .....
"t.'..'.u.i i um'jm'f.'jj'Mj.'.!.'1 i.lj.ji.. jj. ...
5ft
V-
iDcuotctr to politics, literature, Agriculture Science, itloralitij, anb eiteral jJufelHacnce.
;1
VOL 58.
STROUDSBUEG, MONBOE COUNTY, PA. APKIL 21 1859. .
NO. 17
Published by Theodore ScilttCll! handsome; aD(l 'f Jou wn kcr at It'll
terms.-Two dollars per annum in advance-Two be by foul and not by fair means. I don't
Hollars and a quarter, half yearly and if not paid bc-
lorc me enil oi I lie year, Two dollars and a lialf.
No papers discontinued until all arrearages ate paid,
sxcoplat tlic option of the Editor
irPAiUertisc. itcnts of one souare ftcn lines) or less.
'one torthrcc insertions, $t oo. Each additional inser But don't be down-hearted, lad, for we're far, Laurelwood had not been molested,
ion, S3 coniA Longer ones m proportion. , botDd o aid eaei, other under all circuxn- The terrible tales of the atrocities com-
.T02S PligtfTfftf G. stances, mid in all caecs." ! mitted in neighboring towns and hamlets
Having a general assortment of large, plain and or- J Martin Vantassle drew his sabre'frotn were daily reaching him. The young la
"""Pde :th(J earth and tbrusting forwarij beid it dies had recently, too, had their fears ox-
iSPS? IPM1lSXri?Ji'IT(l'n over tho blazing fire; the blade wa9 dint- cited by the persecutions of certain per
canK circuit, urn iicads.otrs. Blank" Receipts, ' e(I ani1 serrated, and there were red stains sons, whoso characters and principles
Justices, Legal and other iiiai.ks. Pamphlets. Uc., pi in
ted with neatness and despatch, on ro:isuntblc leinis
nt this office.
A JSuw ICc'oI uJ ioitnry Siory.
ONE-EYED SAUL;
OR THE
Tory XiG&gUG Of Seven,
A T LE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
BY DR. J. H.
ItOHINSON,
Author of "Nick Whiffles," '" Buck Bison,"'
" Uaf-WifJol Nat;1 "Mat ions Bri-
gculc" "The Pioneers of Ken
tucky," etc , etc.
CHAPTER I.
TDE LEAGUE OF THE SEVE.V.
Seven men, coming from different
points, urgiug their way with great difficul
ty through almost impervious walls inter
laced and oppOfini shrubbery, met at
midnight beueath tbe ppreadiug branch
es of a cyprc-s tree, at a place called Lau
rel Swamp, in South Carolina, in the year
177-. Tlu-y gathered sticks and leaves
and made a Gr. The flame.4, springing
up from the dry heap, threw a red glare
upon their faces, which were seamed and
disfigured by the play of bad pa.-.-ions.
They were young men the oldc-t not
being more than thirty-five years of age. j
As they stood in a circle around the fire,
they resembled a group of vagabond Eng-'
lish gip.-ic-, fresh from the stocks or the,
whipping post. They were armed with
sabres, knives. tdtols and mu-kfts.
Their faces were smutched with powder, ,
their beards aud hair long and neglected,:
their garments torn by conflict and the
sharn teem ol tne cvDress lieuires. me
r V .
, vr .i '
le, JNathauitil
. ' ,
names o: these men were re
-r.il . r..: v .. i..
TV, "
lQuT T-P g t ' n V i"!
Wson, Jaine:i lollard'aucI!
J ' .... . ;
Vantassle, a tall, athletic, ill-vissag
iH'u ;
fellow, was the leader of these fierce and
intractable spirits. Unsheathing bis hea- j
vy sabre, and planting its point in the
iround between his feet, he-addressed his;
coi'pamou.
."Men," he said, in a
hard, harsh voice,
that harmonized well with his general
Prestige, "we've met here to-night to bind
curatives togeth
hc-r in perpetual fellowship!
bv solemn oath and mutual agreement. i
Ivvery man's baud is
agin
Us leastwise
in thce parts and ours
In turn li n .. I n i
4
every man. We've
sworn allegiance to!
hi4 gracious Majesty,
the King of Great
Britain and the rightful ruler of there
colonie.", have touabed his tconcy, and will
do his work."
"Itisn't theking I care so much about,"
muttered Nat Derrick, "but the utter de
struction and extermination of the Whigs
South Car'liny is already more'n balf con
quered The rebel cause is rapidly grow
ing weaker, and we'll soou sweep ,'eoi a
Tvay like chaff. It'il be strange if Nat
Ilerriek don't have his share of the plun
der." There was an applauding murmur a
round the grim circle.
"I was comin' to that subject," added
Vantassle, impatiently. "I reckon I know
(be merits of the case, and understand
tbe natur' of your fcclin's. my lads. We
never seed the King of England, any of
us; and if we should,
it s agin
rcasou to
s'pose that he'd speak to us aud to tell
the truth we care little about him. I love
Martiu Vantassle better nor I do any
king in tbe world.
fight the Whigs be- .
cause their side is the weakest, and I hate
'cik; and there's a prospect of makin'
Fomethin' by it. When we've driven 'em
out, which will be soon, 'cordiu' to pres
ent appearances, we'll be masters of tbe
tountry ourselves. We'll have bouses and
lands, and niggers to wait on us."
"That's the kind o' talk I like to hear,"
eaid Jim Pollard.
- 1
"It's a kind of talk, too, that'll
prove ,
r
prophetic," rejoined Vantassle
"It would, if we could keep Marion aud
Sumpter still," interposed Langford
'The Swamp Fox will toon be still e-
. r . . .
.L TMi n.nvt- filrtAl I n r I j t n fi
.J bi. irad; a-d he'll trap hi .,,
1i'q n Trnnh nlffnr ITnirnpir thiitS npt
" " , . ' - , . e ... .i t t c it i i wrested Jessie from bis grasp, and oho-
thcr here nor there: let them fight for this time, the sole occupants of the house, ,. .. ... , , ,b , f .. r ..
7 t -ii .n, j i i? -i u i i king him till ho was black in tho face,
glory who will our motto is 'Booty and Mrs. Burnside being absent in attendance ' . a wn- -xt
h, JJ ,u u i .:.im m t? -. i hurled him to tho ground. While Van-
Beautv. , " upon a sick relative, while Mr. Burnside . . . f ., , .
, , . )t j : ; Ato.: tj a r. i tussle lay stunned upon tbe earth, his
"We know who your beauty is," said was eerving in Marion s Brigade. It was, - tJ , . , . 1 , . f ,
Simon Arrowamith, with a leer "it is' at that period when the struggle for lib-: ook his musket from his un
Jessie Burnside:" ' ' ierty seemed dark and hopeless. South : ner;cKd arKe:
"And be shall have her, too!" said.
Ilerriek, with an oBth.
'Thank'c.Nat Herrick; and if you don't
ill "Ruth TTavi and. it'll be no
fault of mine."
-ivnu wni noooay speai, a
asKeu a.angioru.
"A hundred, if you like ? cried Pol-
lard, "though to mo it appears like the
greatest noSeence to be runnin' arter wo-
men when there's so much real fightin' to
be done. My mistress is a bloody one.
and I find her wherever there is a Whig
to hang, a till to rifle, or a house to burn.
Howsomdever, if you like Judith Burn-
J- !.V 1 L T 1.
Btue, it a none o my uusinees, uuu i icvu-
on none on us '11 stand in your way.
She's very handsome, aDd proud assheistis true that he left bis beloved ones f
it
Phil
Langford,
do much
in the
" ul "- IU,Ji3 uuiibsi-uui ibuiij.
upon it. The other six unsheathed theirs
and crossed them upon his, when be dic
tated a terrible and impious compact
which they severally repeated. It was
!too profane and shocking to lie put vcr-
jbatim upon paper. They pledged them-
i selves to mutual brotherhood and crime;
to exterminate the struggling and hunted
r'gs ,0 fi've 00 quarter to the captur-
led foe: to pursue the flvin fugitive with
rnmnrenliiQj furr- fn unmmit nrrrr pnnrm.
jty 0pon tbe
jt0 turn, to
v wiWWIVilU Ui J J w w J a v w w j - J w wms
the defenceless patriots; to rob,
ontrare helnless innocence.
When this fearful and unnatural com-
r r
ipact had been made. Vantassle turned to
Ucrrick aud asked :
"What names have you brought."
Ilarrick drew a soiled paper from his
want to dc uard on ye,
tut I'm sure you can't
waistcoat pocket, and bending toward toe, Martin Vantassle as pood a man as you
fire, read the following names: jean find atweeu here and the mouth of
'"Paul Hazel bust, Frank Haviland.Tom tbe Santce. What's better, I'm a king's
Hutter, Podijah Makepeace, Gideon man, and the king's men have it all their
Grant, Blinko, a nigger, aud One-eyed 1 own way, now.'
Saul of Laurel Swamp." j 'You are rude and unmannerly, sir!'
"Mm,"' said Vantassle, "these are for cried Jeesie, pushing him from her indig
Thcy separated, and went their several nantly. 'If you have business with me,
ways. A moment later, and nothing but, speak it, aud bcgonul'
the smouldering embers of their firo re- j 'Well, Mistress, I have a matter of bn
mained to mark the spot where they had siucss with ye, I reckon, which shall last
met. J for life, if you like it. I ain't a person
ttbe sword ! We are to hunt them down that can talk much, and haven't a great
and kill them. By virtue of my authori-i deal of time to spend in that soft palaver
. ty, and by the oath which you have sworn, they call love-niakinp ; but I want a wife
I command, you to pursue .the persons 1 right hard, and you're the gal Pvo a kin
' whose names you have heard, uight and der fixed my mind on.'
I day, till you have swept them out of cx-j 'Oh, this is your wooing!' eaid Jessie,
lis-tencel" contemptuously. Let me tell you, &ar-
"There are seven of them and seVen of!
i "Let us determine our respective men
1 by lot,'' sugge.-ted Langford
1 "The idea is good, and by lot t
, , . . 9, , , , - ,r
tcr shall be decided," added v i
the mat-
tcr shall be decided," added Vantage.!
This suction was eaaerly received; !
its novelt'7nade it welcome. The names j
nf tlin nnrlins (innnici! fn r?fsf rneMnn verro !
1 - - K .. . . . v " ' - - -
... f .. i ;
inrittnri .rvrv enrnn c 1 1 n a nnnorc
anu
drawn from Vantassde's cap by his asso
ciatcs. Ilerriek drew the first ballot.
"Frank Ilaviland !" he exclaimed.
Tho brother of Ruth !" said Pollard,
with a shrug, au-1 lookiug inquiringly at
. .
ms. euui ruiu'.
; ."Tom Butter,'' said Langford, drawing
and reading his ballot.
"Aud I, Blinko, the black," said Nic-
! 0 SOU.
"And I, One-eyed Saul 1" cried 'Pol
lard, in di?may.
b.le c!i
I 11 jUU UUMtll USUI Ul XiitUi-
I el Swamp, you'll be the greatest man a
i tuon. us."
! "Podijah Makepeace, an infernal Yan
kee 1 declared Tim Beeker, looking at
hi" ballot.
Simon Arrowsmith wasthelast to draw.
Ho dre.w Gideon Graut, leaving Paul Ila
zlehurst for Yantasssle.
"It is jut as I wish it," obferved the
latter, while a scowl of hatred gave addi
tional malignance to his expression.
"lie has vitited the Burnsides at Lau
relwood," remarked Langford.
"Is it Judith or Jessie I" asked Pollard,
with a sneer.
"It shall be neither !" thundered Van
tassle, casting fierce glances around him.
"Let us join hands," he added, "aud
swear that we will respectfully abide by
the ballot."
This was instantly done; with clasped
hands and unsheathed sabres they re-
Kl
, ,4. -f f , J:
din' n i hi m i ni'v iirnuMM rtn rnzt ri i
to tbeir oath- Tho League of the seven
was complete.
CHAPTER II.
LAURELIVOOD
Twilight stole silently upon Laurelr
wood; it curled in upon the mansion and
i surrounding trees like a pale, soft mist.
It was a very quiet hour, but to JcEsie
,j -a t Z . ' .u-
Burnside there was something inexpressi-
bly oppressive in the air.
T1w c
iifr- i ti ii irirri -
'side, her sister, sympathized with these !
' .. .J 1 . . i
(noli rw0 nf nnAfKinncc With Hr n vnnn
of Blinko, a bbck ser.ao., aod W
ft tnillnttn ITtrl thPSO lftfllPS WPffl n t. this
Carolina was overrun witn pitiless eno-
jmies, and devastated with Ore and sword.
Toryism was rife, and stalked abroad like
a destroying angel, smitting old and
ijoung. No man
trusted his neighbor
ildpr tn ,bnnlrlnr will,
,uu . ... u
- t .t u -i , " j t j-.. t "ithc moment when tbe catastrophe seemed
panious, liuth Haviland and Judith Burn-, , A .. .it J ,
,u..u , f- 7 buckled to his side, leaving tho ruffian
find faith and good fellowship till dssnger ent!relv urjaTmed
and death had come to apply the test to' ,,.,..,..
friend and brother. j 'In, gals, in V cried the rescuer. 'Bar
I Burnside's mansion-which bad re-1 yoM doors and say your prayefs, for tbe
ceiled tho name of Laurelwood on ao- -Tory -bounds have scented blood, and wil
count of its proximity to Laurel Swamp;not rest till they have gorged themselves.'
was so far distant from towns and ci-4 The tall, wild looking man glanced at
ties that he flattered himself its quietude Jessie, and observing that Bhe was faint,
1J l k tnlKiiilnil nnnn tin miMliinn nr nnlif lint" tin J if sllfl WPffl ft 11 I nfn nf
wuuiu uuv uoiuuuuiu uu uj uiaiuiug
armies or wandering bands of loyalists.-
with letQctance, and was often harrassed
with fears for their safety; but duty
yea,
necessity called
hiin to the Geld,
and
he went, hoping
that Providence
So
i-".. .
were alike obnoxious. With these par
ties wc shall soon become better acquain
ted.
Wishing
to conceal her dcicoUon of
mind, and see
if the open air were not
more exhiliratiug, Jesse Burnside opened
tbe door, and stepped out, as she beliovod,
unobserved by Ruth and Judith. There
was a small summer house overgrown
with vines, a few yards distant : she en-
fpri'd tfr. nnd Snt. llnwn. She had StiaTCC-
w w ua f " a-a -
ly done so, when sho beard a voice pro-
nounce ber name, She sprang up witn
w
a cry of terror. A large rough hand
was
tho
laid rudely over her mouth , it was
i hand of Martam VantaMfde.
I 'Come, Mis, don't be frightened, for I
am neither a wolf nor a panther, but plain j
tin Vantassle, that your wooing is odious.
1 ou are a near i
'That's right Miss; call me pet names.
You can make mc the best natured bear
i t
in tbe world, if you will.'
Tantassle attempted to tap. her play
fully under the chin with his clumsy hand.
'DSn't touch me! there is contamina-
ftnn in llio fnnrh n nno whn
- - ... .uw . .. w ...aw
turns trai
. i . .
tor and betrays his own couutrymen to
foreign invaders. I have no patience
with you, nor those of your character
or habits of thinking, who are associated
with you in your crime andspoliation.
The word Tory makes me shudder; your
presence disgusts me, while your deeds
fill mc with horror!"
She tried to escape from the summer
house. Vantassle caught her by the
wrist.
'Not so fast, my scornful! Now is the
reign of might over right. Law and or
der are fled the land. Fear of magis-
trates is not now before our eyes,
don't ask, 'Shall we do this or that?'
we do as we list. I want you, and
W
but
am
i
come for
you'.
'This
is frightful!'
gasped Jessie. "I
I shall die with
l-Tftln hpln!"
terror! Blinko! Blinko! ,
I
At that moment she heard tho report
r r
of a rifle not far off.
Did you hear that!' asked the Tory,
with a triumph. 'It was Blinko. I'll be
sworn I 1 lett a man on
can kuock over a dollar
T" t
s
his
at
track that
a hundred
yards.'
'Spare me? Ilavc we not been neigh-
bors ? Were we not friendly beforo this
terrible war? Remember, I entreat of
you, that I am a poor, trembling girl,
with no protector.'
'I shall have no trouble in remember
ing tho last, I'll warrant. I shouldn't
trustea myselr uere it you u been eurroun- should be tempted to kill you witu my
rounded by the cursed rebels. Come, own hand, rather than leave you to their
gal, our home is in Laurel Swamp.' i ruffiian violence. If my time's come,
Withquick, unexpected movcmcntVan- and I'm to jo the way of all tho airth,
tassle drew her to him, lifted her in his I'll die here in defense of beauty and in
arms, and moved toward tho dark tangled nocence.'
mass of wood lying in tho rear of the man
sion at the distance of a hundred rods,
and covering an area of ten miles in cir- '
cumfercncc
By this lime Ruth and Judith missed
her, and came running to the spot as ho
i i. rpt .i t j
. , . . J , ,
ly for assistance, while terror nearly dc-
J . . , , ' , ,. . J lA
priveu mem oi sense anu voiuion. ill
COmf tc V- i
nntnli nvpr Inn I
black
j patch over his left eye, and
a long ride
an
-
" . . '
T, , , b . . . .
t LI VJU. UU IUUU Ul b VI bUC JJISkUlO IIUIO
tho Tory's belt and thrust them into bis
own, from which already protruded the
t,..... r r . rnu ti..i. . c t i
v l T V1'1
kmfe he 8aPP by thrusting it into the
f fc fc heavy sabre
he
vaug.. - " i ,
and carried her to tbe door. Placing her
carefully witbm the threshold, he, repeat- j
cd his startling warning, and vanished in
tho deepening shadows of night. Ho was
gone before the young ladies badrocov
ered sufficiently from their dismay to
thank him.
While they gazed at each other in a
stupor of wonder, a man leaped a high
fence at tho right, and crossing the inter
vening ground, stood before thera, pant
ing and covered with perspiration. It
was Tom Hutter, the partisan aud scout,
vno was Known to the neighboring loyal-
ists as a stauncu and unswerving patriot
and a bravo man, shrinking from no dan
ger, and shunning none of the renponsi-
f bilities of the part he had ohosen.
1 'Tom Hutter!' exclaimed Judith and
! : I i . i . i i
j.iuiu, niiuuiiauuousiy, -wnai nas Happen
ed 7 You are excited ith effort : can
scarcely stand.
'I have been pursued,' said Hutter. '1
have had a race for dear life. In. and
barricade the doors ' A party of the mis
erable renegades will bo bear in a minute!
Where's Blinko V
'I don't know,' said Judith. 'He went
out a few minutes ago.'
''Which way?" ashed Hutter.
Judith indicated the direction with her
finper.
Ilutter started off like a racehorse.
He saw a dark object suspended from the
nranch of a tree. It was Blinko, who
was swaying to and fro, and quivering in
the agonies of strangulation. Huttcr cut
him down in an in-taot, and tearing the
rope from his neck, staggered toward tho
houso beneath the weight of his great
body. A half dozen musket shots wero
poured after him rom the nearest copse.
The balls perforated his clothes and graz
ed his skin in several places, but he
reached the house in safety with tbe half
dead black. Leaving him to tho care of
Jupe, the mulatta girl, ho barred the
doors and fastened the windows.
Jessie, who bad partly recovered her
self-possession, looked out and saw forms
moving to and fro among the shrubbery.
Her heart mi-gave her. How could they
resist so mauy enomics: She thought of
the strange many enemies? She thought
of the strange man who had so oppor
tunely appeared to save her from Vantas
sle. She wondered why he had left them
at such a juncture! His deep, resonant
voice still rang in her ears.
'Stand back from the window!' said
Tom Huttcr.
The warning was timely; a charge of
buckshot crashed through the panes asshe
stepped aside, some of which perforated
her dress, while oue of the hurtling mes
sengers drew uloou lrom lier white neck.
'Jhese miscreants make war upon wo
men!' exclaimed Ruth Haviland.
'Make war upon- women, Miss Havil
and? They are more savage nor the
wolves and catamounts that prowl through
Laurel Swamp. Neither beauty nor
tears can move 'em. They are ten times
worse nor the Britishers themselves!
They've marked their way through Car'-
liny with fire and blood, outrago and
robbery.'
Tom Hutter suddenly thrust his rifle
through the shattered pane and fired.
A cry came back through the smoke.
'There was mischief iu that,' he said,
quietly, reloading his piece.
Rehi-tance, cried Jessie, 'is hopeless.
What can you expect from them if you
are taken, Tom Hutter?'
'A rope from the branch of tho nearest
tree,' answered the Partisan coolly.
'.Then fly escape from the back door
when you may! They certainly will not
be so brutal is to harm us young girls.'
said Judith, entrcatingly,
'My poor gals, you dou't know 'em so
well as I. I've followed their terrible
trail and looked upon their infarnal work.
I I. now what happons to sich as you, and
Noble Tom!' cried Rvth.
'If you've any firearms and amunition,
hurry to bring 'em and lay 'em down be-
sido mc, and bo keerful to keep out of tbe
range of the winders.'
By this time Blioko had revived and
hearing this order, said:
I'll tend to dat, Mars'r Tom. Only
let the young misoa keep out de way, and
I'll stand by yc longs there am a breff
,., . ,J J a
life ill tne.'
Blinko disappeared, but soon returned !
with a blunderbuss, two muskets, a brace !
of dueling pistols, a bng of buckshot and j kisses upon it, had propriety sanctioned
a horn of powder. Ilutter took the blun- the act.
derbuss and charged it heavily. There j 'Are you wounded!' she asked, hum
was no light in tho house save a single , edly.
candle, which was placed behind a door I do not know,' he replied. 'I have
in a corner to prevent serving aa a guide . not thought of mysclfr I have thought on
to the Tory marksmen.
nutter cast himself upon the floor and
watched the movements of tho assailants
over the window ill. His person was
somowhat exposed to tho ahouts of the
enemy, but his coolnces did not for a mo
ment desert him.
Thn cowards are about to charge U-
pon tho door in a body,' be said, present-
l. illir. I.. t. (.limitarKniiii ' I
iy. "IJtlUKO, glVO II1U HJ UlUUUSt wuoo.
The black handed tho heayy and de
structive weopon to tho scout, whose mus
cles were firm and obedient. The young
ladies observed his movements with in
.lnonr'Knlila rntprp.fifc. Their fate senmed
to rest upon his single orni, A chilling
sensation of horror crept.oyer tbem when
7- , ' ,j aw '.
jithoy reflected upon the .consequences of
deteat ana .capture.'
rushed toward th- door
Huttcr quickly aimed his
wqapon and poured two handfuls of buck
shoVinto the midst of them. They ro
ooilcd and retreated to to the covert of
the shrubbery. A knocking was heard
at the. rear door.
'Who's there!' demanded Ilutter.
Well. I rilMlor rrtiACQ rtrit n?i 'nm! mn
cm s mc
alu. a genuine JLankee voice.
'Podijnh
Makepeace is pooty giner'ly abeout when
tuero & any skrimmain' eoiu' on.
Uiinko immodiatelv unfastened tho
door and admitted two persons. Podi
jah. 3Iakepeace .had a figure of imposing
llCtabt-Mit T7binlWPnVrl thnt fnlnAtfo nf
I Vt-1 . t-t r- . ...
ucvuiujjiuuui, wuicn gives symmetry anu
comeliness to the human organization.
His hair was flaxen aud long, his mouth
large and good humored, his nose boiuoi
what flharp, while bis eyes, which were
1 small and hazel, sparkled with drollery.
11
e was manitestly a man Rho meant to
be pleased with life as he found it, aud to
make himself as qomfortablo as possible
under all circumstance!!.
His companion was more youthful and
preseuted a different type of humanity.
He impressed the beholder at once with
the idea of mauly beauty, courage and
integrity.
'Paul Hazlehurst!' cried Jessie joyful
!j', The young man sprang forward and
grasped the hands that were eagerly ex
tended to greet him.
'We vo come jest aebout in the nick o'
time, I should say, by gum! The blasted
critters are a peggin' into ye, a'n't they?
Well, we'll show 'em a trick worth tu of
that. Wax my flax, if we don't!'
It may be as well to remark here that
Podijah was by trade a shoemaker, and
that his language was generally highly
seasoned wuu tne lecunicsiuies or tue
cordwainer's art. As Podijah finished
this eloquent peroration, he brought the
breech of his rifle upon the floor with a
great crash, and squinted out of tho win
dow with his twinkling eyes. The move
ment was nearly fatal to Podijah, for a
bullet, aimed at random from outside,
severed one of his. flaxen locks from bis
check.
1 f lI i i l - n - i
'Cramp my uppers! Now that's what
I call pooty close work. A feller's jest
as likely 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 flatter
ed themselves that the Tories were retir
ing; but wero presently undeceived, for
they bad silently surrounded tho bouse,
and now commenced the assault from
different quarters with great resolution
and fury. Each felt that the crisis was
rapidly approaching. Tom Ilutter and
Bliuko, reinforced by Hazlehurst and the
Yankee, stood to their weapons, resolved
to make a desperate resistance.
CHAPTER III.
FIRE AND SWOKD.
The four defenders of Laurelwood ran
from point to point to meet aud repel the
invaders, who endeavored to force an en
trance through the windows and doors
simultaneously. The voice of Tom Hut
ter swelled loudly above the din of con
flict. The struggle was kept up with de
termined spirit by tho beseiged. Whilo
each was engaged 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.
Podijuh and Hazlehurst sprang to
meet them. For a time tho result was
doubtful, but victory finally turned in fa
vor of tbe defenders, whose powerful
blows and hearty courage they could not
withstand. Those who were not repulsed
wero left upon tho floor with broken
heads. The door was replaced and eve
rything moveable piled against it.
The Tories ignominioasly withdrew to
the shelter of the surrounding trees and
shrubbery, and Huttor hoped that tho at
tack would not again be renewed.
The girls, during this scene, behaved
nobly. Overcoming the natural timidity
of thcir,scx, they made themselves uaefui
to tficir bravo friends in various ways.
Paul Ltozlehurst fought like a lion. If
le entertained fears, they were not for
himself, but for Jessie Burnside and her
i companions
When he paused from the ,
..... ., ...
ennfliet. nantinsr and thirst v. she brought
, r n - , ,
him water: her little hand presented tho
pnnltncr flrniKrlil. n bin lin5. He Would !
gladlvhavo imprisoned that ministering j
member in his own and pressed grateful ;
ly of you and your friends, 1 uever have
time to think of myself when you are
near: I should despise myself if I did.'
' You are too brave, too generous!" an
swered Jessie, with emotion. 'Youex
pose yourself needlessly; You have too
much contempt for danger.'
' Thero is no such word as danger
when I do battle for the safoty and I
ri nf .Tnaa.n T? II rn fit fl rt . '
ban
or of Jossio Burosido.
Too chivalrous! too chivalrousl' ex
claimed Jessie,
'I can't quite understand tho silenco,'
eaid flutter, approaching Hazelhurat.
' Wax mv flax, if I dou't believe tho
critters ha got enough on t! said
,Ppdi-
jah. 'You sep thoy cant atan
near so
it rin' na fn'ka
much (rra . "a An
cnn.
as are
. jBghtin' for lrbertj. A .few right Hmart
J The Tories
' with a shout.
knocks takes the starch ri.i t out or eOj '
' They're cowards if they don't try it
aain,' returned Huttcr. 'There's' a
dozen of 'em, at least, and they ouhto
be a match, in the course of natur', for
four; but we've got something within us
that they haven't love of friends, home,
country and ju-tice. See what work
they' ve made- of your house, Miss Jessie:
tho winders ere riddled, the door brolfe.
the furnitary ruined, ud eVerything'at
siseu and sevens.'
We lovo Laurelwood,' replied Jessie,
"but we love the cause of freedom bcttdr
The destruction property will grive,-U5!
but filtle-tf valuiUle lives arc spared, and
tho Tory misci'eaiits punished.' "t
' Punished? bea?suredthatthe.y wilM'
exclaimed Paul Hazlehurst. .'Htavcn
is just!- Some of them are even now reap
ing the reward of their villainy. Look
at those expiring wretches who fell near
tho door. Listen to their moans of an
guish! What thought have they to com
fort them and soften tbeir pains of disso
lution? They die a horror to themselves"
and every justice loving mind. Wbatva
remembrance the Tories of South Caroli
na will leave to posterity l' '
f ' The word Tory will be the pyndnym
of infamy,' said Judith.
! The uight had set in quite dark, and
I objects could be seen at a short distance
1 only. The trees looked dim and misty
' in the nocturnal gloom. Tom Hutter and
his comrades strained their eyes in every
' direction in search of their foes, but with-
out discovering them. The surrounding
scenery was as quiet as if it had never
I been disturbed by the sound of human'
i conflict; nothing broke the quietude save
the groans of the wounded in the house,
and, at long intervals, the cry of a wolf
1 in the tangled hedges of Laurel Swamp.
The foars of the young ladiei began to
subside; an assurance faint and tremb
ling, at first that those lawless men bad
retired and would not setnrn to renew tho
couflict, took possession of their minds.
A glow of hope returned to their pale
checks. As their own daDger grew lese
iminent, in their estimation, feelings of
compassion for the wounded Tories visit
ed their hearts. They would have pro
duced lights to examine their condition,
and make remedial applications, had they
not been cautioued by their mere experi
enced defenders.
Half an hour elapsed. The silenner
continued anbr.okt'n;" Tom" 'Huttf was
not at case, but walked about, nervously,
casting prying glances from one window
then from another. He was suspicious:
and uusatisfied. He knew that they hat!
suffered loss, but not enough to prevent
brave men. or persons of even ordinary
hardihood, from making further attempts.
Paul Hazlehurst at first shared flutter's
inquietude, but finally joined the ladies,
confident that there was. no i mined fate
danger to apprehend.
' I can't eoiiprehnd it!' muttered
Hutter, in perplexed manner. 'There's
allers mischief gom on when folks are
still.' ' That's abeout my own way o"
think
I om s
in
remarked Podiiith, who heard
remarks. 'The mc-t mischif i4 doiie
with the least uoise. 'cord in to my expe
rience fust aud last, here and there. By
and large as the world goes. -Did you
eter go
a courtin , mister r
I never did,' said Tom.
' Well, that's abeout the stillest work
you can find. I reckon, though somtimes
there's a heap o' business done.'
' HarkV said Tom.
"I don't hear nothin' but Paul and' the
gals. Paul's ruther sweet on one of 'em.
I should say, though 'twould be hard to
choose atwech 'em. Wax my flax, if it
wouj(jn'i'
It strikes me,' said Tern, "that the
air is growing hot and oppressive. Listen''
be quiet there, Paul and tbe gals.
Each of the parties became attentive.
A hissing, roaring sound was heard o
verhead 'The bouse is on fire!' cried Huttcr.
Some of the blood-thirsty villains have
effected an entrance through the roof.'
Tbe scout rushed up stairs nnd threw
open a door. A deuso volume of smoke,
mingled with flame, met him aud drove
him back. Beds, garments-, everything
combustible bad been piled in a heap aud
fired. The straw, the feathers, the linen.
0 y:e tjmier; it needed but a spark to
1
kindle the mad blaze, aud that had been
applied foaie minutes bofore by a cun
ning and malicious band.
Scorched by tho furious element, and
half suffocated, Hutter mounted the
stairs again, in hopes to combat the de
structive power by scattering the materift!
( l.tK ftA If Kit? it- txt n u tnn IntA
Podi-
jah Makepeace ran after him and
d'rag-penc-
ged him back, half choKeti y tno
trafing, hot and smoke-loaded air.
Paul Hazlehurst, in defiance of the
black, asphyxiating vapor, rushed to the
ohamber to close the door that had tid'eii
left open, but sank blinded and overpow
ered upon the threshold. It was vith'
difficulty that he could rotraco his stops,
lie was gasping'for breath like a drown
ing man hen he rejoined the anxious
group below.
That door must be shct,r. ssidKj
jah, 'or we shall be smoked to death.. like
rats in a hole! I'll shet it, or suffocate
tryin'. Wax my flax, if I don't!' .
The tall form of Podijah di s appeared. -iq
the mass of;smoke that rolfedifwmaj-.
moroculfinteuse anxiety, then tho uoorJ
was neara to eiose. Almost; 6imuuanc