Cheraw chronicle. (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, March 11, 1915, Image 3
The Call of the
IMerlands ;
By Charles NatiHe looT '
With Illustrations
a nuui raoragrapna at scenes || 8
I in the Play II b
11 11"
(Copyright, 1913. by W. J. Watt ft Co.)
' * a]
SYNOP8I8. al
a
On Mlaery creek, at the foot of a rock
from which he has fallen. Sally Miller DC
node George Lescott. a landscape paint- , n.
er, unconscious, and after reviving hitn. ?*'
goes for assistance Samson South and/ HI
Sally, taking Lescott to Samson's home/
are met by 8plcer South, head of the
family, who tells them that Jesse Purvy af
has been shot and that Samson is sus- >,<
pected of the crime. Samson denies it.
The shooting of Jesse Purvy breaks the
truce in the Hollman-South feud. g,
CHAPTER IV?Continued.
He sauntered down the road, but,
whpn flA hoH r\n sanil y\nf wla</vn hft
VMV T.O.WM, .
turned sharply Into the woods, ahd
began climbing. His steps carried him
to the rift in the ridge where the white
oak stood sentinel over the watch 81
tower of rock. As he came over the
edge from one side his bare feet mak- 81
lng no sound, he saw Sally sitting
there, with her hands resting on the
' moss and her eyes deeply troubled
She was gazing fixedly ahead and her
lipe were trembling. At once Samson's
face grew black. Some one had b(
been making Sally unhappy. Then he
saw beyond her a standing figure, 111
which the tree trunk had hitherto con- re
cealed. It was the looee-knitted figure aG
of young Tamarack Spicer. vc
"In course," Spicer was saying, "we a
don't 'low Samson shot Jesse Purvy,
but them Hollmans '11 'spicion him, an' r0
I heered just now thet them dawgs W1
was trackin' straight up hyar from the
mouth of Misery. They'll git hyar
against sundown." ou
/ Samson leaped violently forward.
With one hand he roughly seized hie * '
cousin's shoulder and wheeled him
about.
"Shet up!" he commanded. "What m
d n fool stuff hev ye been tellln'
My?"
'For an Instant the two clansmen
stood fronting each other. Samson's
face was set and wrathful. Tamarack's *
sras surly W>d snarling. "Hain't I got ;
a license tektell Sally the nawar* he
no license." re- ^
P ^Didn't I tell ye ter shet up?" S
1 son clenched Ms fists, and took a ?
forward. "Ef ye opens yore mo
again, I'm a-goln' ter . smash hit N
git!"
.Tamarack Splcer's face blacker
and his teeth showed. His right hi
swept to his left arm-pit. Outwar
F he seemed weaponless, but Sam
I knew that concealed beneath
I hickory shirt was a holster, w
f mountain fashion.
"What air ye a-rea^hln* *t
Tam'rack?" he inquired, his lips tw
Ing in amusement.
"Thet's my business."
"Well, git hit out?or git out yes
afore I throws ye offen the clift." _
Sally showed no symptoms of ala
Her confidence in her hero was at
lute. The boy -lifted his hand, i
pointed off down the p?ath. Sic
and with 'incoherent muttering, Spl
ft took himself away. Then only
f Sally rise. She came over, and lali
hand on Samson's shoulder. In 1
blue eyes, the tears were welling.
"Samson," she whispered, "et thej
atter ye, come ter my house. I 1
hide ye out. Why didn't ye tell
S? ' Jesse Jurvey'd done been shot?"
"Hit tain't nothin' ter fret abc
Sally," he assured her. He epc
awkwardly, for he had been trained
regard emotion as unmanly. "T1
hain't no danger."
She gazed searchingly into his ey
and then, with a short sob, threw 1
arms around him, and buried h?r f<
on his shoulder.
"Ef anything happens ter ye, 8s
son." she said, brokenly, "hit'll J
kill me. I couldn't live wlthouten
/ Samson. I jest couldn't do bit!"
The boy took her in his arms, a
pressed her close. His eyes were g
lng off over her bent head, and his 1
twitched. He drew his features li
a scowl, because that was the only
pression with which he could sa
guard his feelings. His voice v
husky.
"I reckon, Sally," he said, "I could
live wlthouten you, neither."
The party of men who had atari
at morning from Jesse Purdy's st<
had spent a hard day. The roads 1
lowed creek-beds, crossing and i
crnMlnar wotomum i*? '--ul? 41
O ?>?W. ?? O au H taouiuu LI
gave the bloodhounds a hundred b
fling difficulties. Often, their not
lost the trail, which had at first be
i so surely taken. Often, they circl
e- and whined, and halted in perplexi
but each time they came to a pol
where, at the end, one of them agt
raised bis muzzle skyward, and ga
voice.
Toward evening, they were workl
up Misery along a course less broki
The party halted for a moment's re
and, as the bottle was passed, the m
from Lexington, who had brought t
dogs and stayed to cqfcduct the chai
put a question:
"What do yon call tUs creek?"
^ -Hit's Misery."
r'
"Does anybody live on Misery that
-op?that you might suspect T"
The Hollmans laughed.
"This creek is settled with Souths
llcker'n hops."
The Lexington man looked up. He
new what the name or South meant
> a Hollman.
"Is there any special South, who
light have a particular grudge?"
"The Souths don't need no partl'lar
rudge. but thar's young Samson
outh. He's a wildcat."
MHe lives this way?"
"These dogs air a-makln' a bee-line
sr his house." Jim Hollman was
peaking. Then he added: "I've done
sen told that Samson denies doln' the
liootin', an' claims he kin prove an
libi."
The Lexington man lighted his pipe,
ad poured a drink of red whieky into
flask cup.
"He'd be apt to say that," he comlented,
"These dogs haven't any
rejudice in the matter. I'll stake my
fa on their telling the truth/'
An hour later, the group baited
tain. The master of hounds mopped
s forehead.
"Are we still going toward Samson
auth's house?" he Inquired.
"We're about a quarter from hit
>w, an' we hain't never varied from
le straight road."
"Will they be apt to give us
ouble?" s
Jim Hollman smiled.
"I hain't never heered of no South
Lbmittln' ter arrest by a Hollman."
The trailers examined their firems,
and loosened their holster-flaps,
he dogs went forward at a trot.
CHAPTER V.
From time to time that day, neigh>rs
had ridden up to Splcer South's
lie, and drawn rein for gossip. These
en brought bulletins as to the progss
of the hounds, and near eundown,
i a postscript to their information, a
>lley of gunshot signals sounded from
mountain top. No word was spoken,
it in common accord the kinsmen
se from their chairs, and drifted toird
their leaning rifles.
"They're a-comin' hyar," said the
?ad of the house, curtly. "Samson
ight ter be home. Whar's Tam'rack?"
No one had noticed his absence un1
that moment, nor was he to be
und. A few minutes later, damson's
;ure swung into sight, and his uncle
st him at the fence.
"Samson, I've done asked ye all the
lestions I'm a-goln' ter ask ye," be
Id, "but them dawgs ie makln* ter
is house. They've Jest been sighted
mile below."
Samson nodded.
"Now"?Spicer South's free harded?"I
owns down th&r ter the road
> man kin cross that fence witbouten
choose ter fire him leave. Bf ye
pits ter go indoors an* J*ay. 7?
Bat, ef ye sees fit ter face hit o
am_ love ter prove ter these hyar me
ltep us youths don't break our word
uth dqne agreed ter this truce. I'd 11
ow invite 'em in, an' let them damn <
sniff round the feet of every a
led my hou8e?an" then, when t
and Plumb teetotally damn satisfie
,dly like ter tell 'em all ter go tei
Bon Thet's the way I feels, but I'm i
the ter do Jest what ye says."
orn Lescott did not overhear th?
versation in full, but he saw tt
ter man's face work with suppresses
j8t* sion, and he caught Samson's 1
reply.
"When them folks gets hyar,
elf Spicer, I'm a-goln' ter be a-*
i
r
rm:
ye, "They Have Followed Their t
Here."
ind
az- right out thar in front. I'm j
ips willin' ter invite 'em In." Tbet
ito two men turned toward the bouts
ex- Already the other clansmen ba
ife- appeared noiselessly through tl e
ras or around the angles of the wail
Fifteen minutes later, Lescott, i
n't ing at the fence, saw a strange. <
cade round the bend of the road,
ted eral travel-stained men were ie
>re mules, and holding two tawny ^n
'ol- patient dogs in leash. In their
re- ber, the artist recognized his he
?at two nights ago.
af- They baited at a distance, as
tea their faces the artist read dlsmu)
en while the dogs were yelping cou?
ed ly and tugging at their cords, )
ty. Samson South?who should, by
Int prejudiced convictions, be hldinj
iln in some secret stronghold?sat a
e top step of the stile, smoking his
and regarded them with a lack-1
Tiff ahsaneo a#
?O mvbvuvv VI rnvvi vov. ouuu m tan
m. caption was uncanny. After a
st, pered conference, the Lexington
an came forward alone.. Old Splcer ?
he had been looking; on from the
se. and was now strolling out to mee
envoy, unarmed.
And the envoy, as he came, hel
hands unnecessarily far away t^oi
ides, and walked'with an ostantBlous
how of peace.
' "Bvenla*. stranger.** helled the Aid
man. "Come right In." "Mr.
South," began the dog-owner,
with some embarrassment, "I hare
been employed to furnish a pair of
bloodhounds to the family of Jesse
Purvy, who has been shot."
"I heerd tell thet Purvy was Bbot,"
Bald the head of the Souths In an affable
tone, which betrayed no deeper
note of Interest than neighborhood
gossip might have elicited. *
"I have no personal interest In the
matter," went on the stranger, hastily,
as one bent on making his attitude
clear, "except to supply the dogs and
manage them. I do not in any way-direct
their course; I merely follow."
"Ye can't hardly fo'ce a dawg." Old
Spicer sagely nodded his head as he
made the remark. "A dawg jest natcher'Iy
follers his own nose." .
"Exactly?and they have followed
their noses here." The Lexington man
found the embarrassment of his position
growing as the colloquy proceeded.
"I want to ask you whether, if
these dogs want to cross your fence. I
have your permission to let them?"
The master of the house crossed the
stile, the low sun shining on his shgek
of arav hair, and ntnnil hofnm *???
hunter. He epoke so that his voice
carried to the waiting group in the
road.
"Ye're plumb welcome ter turn them
dawgs loose, an' let 'em ramble,
stranger. Nobody hain't a-goln' ter
hurt 'em. I sees some fellers out thar
with ye thet mustn't cross my fence.
Ef they does"?the voice rang menacingly?"hit'll
mean that they're
a-bustin' the truoe?an* they won't
never "go out ag'in. But you air safe
in hyar. I gives yer my hand on thet.
Ye're welcome, an' yore dawgs is welcome.
I hain't got nothln' 'galast
dawgs thet comee on four legs, but I
shore bars the two-legged kind."
There was a murmur of astonishment
from the road. Disregarding->11.
Spicer South turned his face toward
the house. %
"You boys kin come out," he shouter,
"an' leave yore guns inside."
The leashes were slipped from <fTe
dogs. They leaped forward, and made
directly for Samson, who sat as unmoving
as a lifeless image on the top
ntpn of fho Blilo Thoro ? ' ? ?~
r ? a uv? o noo a uairuiir
ment of terrific suspense, then the)
beasts clambered by the seated figure,}
passing on each side and circled 1
les6ly about the yard?their <juest un?
ended. They sniffed indifferently about
the trouser legs of the #nen who sauntered
indolently out of O? door. They
trotted into the house4 out again,
and mingled with tht^ ongrel home
pack that snarled at 'rolled hostility
for this invaslt ^tlThen, they
came once more to tm As t^ey
climbed ^ut. SamsopIy hea^^y^M
pit, I'd ddwn to the road, and Wotted gl
, We "Tm obliged to youj sir," sA
jjg ter man from the Bluegrass, with A
dawgs ?f immense relief. /
tan in The moment of suspense) s<
hey're Past> and> In the relief of thf ai
d, i>d clash, the master oh' hounds
' hell. that hIs dogs stood branded as
i-goln' trailers. But when h? rejoine
group in the road he found h
s Con- looking into eurly visages, an
le old fentures of Jim Hollman in part
d pas- were black in their scowl of sir
louder lnS wrath.
"Why dldnt ye a* him," gr
Uncle hinsman of the man who had
?ettin" shot? "whar the other feller's at
"What other fellow?" echoe
?:? Lexington man.
Jim Hollman's voice rose
lently, and his words drifted,
meant them to, across to the ei
the clansmen who stood in the
of Spicer South.
"Them dawgs of your'n con
Misery a-hellin*. They hain't
M ?" vjuicnn lutjy r*J |
la ornery, no-'count curs thet don't
their business, they come for
reason. They seemed mighty
? ested in gittin' hyar. Ax them 1
in thar who's been hyar thet
hyar now? Who is ther fellei
I got out afore we come hyar?"
At this veiled charge of dece
faces of the Souths again blac
and the men near the door o
house drifted in to drift present!
again, swinging discarded
ters at their sides. It seemed
after all, the Incident was not c
The man from Lexington, finding
Belf face to face with a new diffi
Moses turned and argued in a low voice
the Hollman leader. But Jim
man. whose eyeB were fixed on
aumb son, refused to talk In a modi
?, the tone, and he shouted his reply:
e. "I hain't got nothin' ter wt
J dis- about," he proclaimed. "Go ai
door who hit war thet got away from 1
*. Old Splcer South stood leanlr
nand- his fence and his rugged countei
caval- stiffened. He started to speak
Sev- Samson rose from the stile and
ading in a composed voice:
d im- "Let me talk to this feller,
num- Spicer." The old man nodded
>st of Samson beckoned to the owner q
dogs. - /
id in "We hain't got nothin' ter/sa
\ for, them fellers with ye," he apUnu
Ident- briefly. "We hain't axln' 'en* no
'oung tions, an' we hain't answsrln'
their Ye done come hyar with' dawgi
j out we hain't stopped ye.' \ye've dor
t the swered all the question^ them d
pipe, hes axed. We done treated yo
uster vore hntin'? nlnmh frflendlv K
in re- them other men, we hain't got n<
wbl& ter say to 'em. Theyidone come
man becausd they hoped tfiey could g
louth in trouble. They d<4ne tailed,
door, road belongs ter thn county,
t the got a license ter traVel hit, bul
strip right hyar halnl't the healt
d his flection they kin flndl I reckon
n his better advise 'em terlmove on."
The Lexiiftoa man want back. For
a minute or two Jim Hoilman eat
scowling down la Indecision from hie
saddle. Then he admitted to himself
that he had done all he oonld do without
becoming the aggressor. For the
moment he was beaten. He looked up
and from the road one of the hounTls
raised Its voice and gave cry. That
baying afforded an excuse for leaving
an;*. Jim Hollman seized It.
"Go on," he growled. "Let's see
what them d d curs hes ter say
now."
Mounting, they kicked their mules
into a jog. From the men inside the
fence ? came no note of derision, no
hint of triumph. Tbey stood looking
out with expressionless, masklike
faces until their enemies had passed
out of sight around the shoulder of
the mountain, fhe Souths had met and
fronted an accusation made after the
enemy's own choice and method. A
jury of two hounds had acquitted
them. It was not only because the'
dogs had refused to recognize in Samson
a suspicious character that the
enemy rode on grudgingly convinced,
but, also, because the family, which
n^H
I -.?^^V
Jim Hollman.
bad InvariaMy met hostility with hosEn3V
^UDayspass/duneventfuily afti
n?rl]l Tbe kinsmen dispersed to thel
wT I tend coves/ and cabins. No
|d th j again came ^ rumor that Jesse
<viv<a ???*? ujing, nut always bard
heels came another to the effe<
?emec the obdurate fighter had
rertet though the doctors held out am
forgot couragement of recovery,
falst One day L*escott, whose bai
d the arm gave him much pain, but wl
imseli able to get atyout, was strolling i
d th< from the hoase with Samson,
iculai were following a narrow trail
tolder the mountain aide, and, at a soi
louder than the falling of a i
owlet the boy halted and laid a all
I beei hand on the painter's shoulder.
?" followed an unspoken command
d the companion's eyes. Lescott sank
behind a rock, cloaked with glis
trucu rhododendron leafage, where 8
as h? had already crouched and becoi
ars ol movable and noiseless. The:
i yard been there only a short time
they saw another figure slippiii
ie up etly from tree to tree belo^ the
never For a time the mountain
plumb watched the figure and the p
know saw his lips draw in a straigta
some and his' eyes narrow with a el
inter- tense bate. Yet, a moment later
'ellers a nod to follow, the boy unexpe
bain't rose into view and his features
tbet absolutely expressionless.
"Mornin*. Jim," he called,
it the The slinking stranger whirled
kened a start and an instinctive moti
>f the though to bring his rifle to his
ly out der. But. seeing Samson's pea<
iches- manner, he smiled and his on
that, meanor became friendly,
losed. "Mornin*, Samson."
1 him- "Kinder stranger in this co'
culty. hain't ye, Jim?" drawled the boj
> with lived there, and the question br
Holl- a sullen flush to the other's <
Sam- bones. * .
ilated "Jest a-passin' through," he v
safed.
ilsper "i reckon ye'd find the wagon
t 'em more handy," suggested Sai
lyar." "Some folks might 'spiclon y<
ig on, stealin' 'long through the tlmbei
lancej The skulking traveler decided
, by* plausibly. He laughed mendach
salld, "That's the reason, Samson. I
J kinder skeered ter go through
unc'- country in the open."
'ana > Samson met bis eye steadily
ft the said slowly:
t"I reckon, Jim, hit mought be
b risky fer ye ter walk upsta
long Misery es ter go a-crou<
4?es-' Ye thinks ye've been a-sbadderln
none, j knows Jest whar ye've been al
9 an' time. Ye lies when ye talks
e an* pasain' through. Ye've done been
awgs hyar, ever since Jesse Purv>
a an'l shot, an' all thet time ye've done
8 fer wfltrhnd vpraelf. I r??lrnn fci*n
Jthln' healthier fer ye ter do yore spyin'
byar t'other aide of the ridge. I reclcoi
it met aiiowin' ter git me ef Purvy dies,
Thet we're watchin' ye."
They jim Asberry's face darkened, hi
! this eaid nothing. There was nothin
thlest 8ay. He was discovered in the
frsM ray's country and must accept
i enemy's'terms.
* ? >
.: !t
(
**Thls by*? time I lets ye so back,"
aid Samson, "fer the reason tbet I'm
try to' like all h?1 ter keep this truce.
But ye must stay on yore side or
else ride the roads open. How is
Purvy. terday?"
"He's mighty porely," replied the
other. In a sullen voice.
"All right. Thet's another reason
why hit hain't healthy fer ye over
hyar." i
f The spy turned and made his way
over the mountain.
"D n him!" muttered Samson,
his face twitching, as the other was
?uov hi iuo uuaergrowm. ouuio unj
I'm a-goln' ter git him."
Tamarack' Splcer did not at one*
reappear, and when one of the Souths ?
met another in the road the customary
dialogue would he: "Heered anything
of Tamarack?" . . . "No', her your*
"No, nary a word."
Is Lescott wandered through the
hills, his unhurt right hand began cry*ing
out for action and a brash to
nurse. As he watched, day after day,
the unveiling of the monumental hills
and the transitions from hazy, wraithlike
whispeA of hues to strong, flaring
riot of color, this fret of restlessness
became actual pain. He was wasting
wonderful opportunity and the creative
Instinct in him was clamoring.
One morning, when he came out just
after sunrise to the tin wash basin
at the well, the desire to paint was on
him with compelling force. The hills
ended near their bases like things bitten
off. Beyond lay limitless streamers
of mist, but, while he stood at gaze,
the filmy veil began to lift and float
higher. Trees and mountains grew
taller." The sun, which showed first
as a ghost-like disk of polished alumi
num. struggled through orange aivd ~
vermilion }nto a sphere of living
flame. Lescott heard a voice at his 1
side. '
"When does ye low ter commence
palntin'?" j
It was Samson. For anewer the
artist, with his unhurt hand, lmpar c
tiently tapped his bandaged yrrist. {
"Ye still got yore right hand, hain't
ye?" demanded the boy. The other 1
laughed. It was a typical question. So 8
long as one had the trigger finger left c
one should not admit disqualification. I
"You see, Samson," he explained, I
"this isn't precisely like handling a c
gun. One must hold the palette; mix ?
the colors; wipe the brushes and do d
half a dozen equally necessary things, *
It requires at least two perfectly good I
hands. Many people don't find two '
enough."
"But hit only takes one ter do the h
palntin', don't hit?" t
"Yes." s
"Well"?the boy .spoke diffidently e
but with enthusiasm?"between the c
two of us we've got three hands. I C
reckon ye kin larn me how ter do t
them other things ter ye." d
Lescott's surprise shotted in his t
?r that. ^^^^^yhithalnTnon^o^my
[r scat- neM> hut, all day yestiddy an
w and hefo', I was studyln' 'bout
Purvy here thing, an* I hustled up an
on its inei corn weeded an' now I'm thr
ct that Ef 1 k,n help y? out I thought
rallied. by?" He paused and looked at
iall en- 'ngly at the artist.
( Leecott whistled and then his
ndaged lighted into contentment,
ho was "Today, Samson." he annou
not far "L^scott, South and Company
They busy.'
along 11 was the first time he had
ind no Samson smile, and, although th<
valnut. PreBsion was one of sheer deligh
encing herent somberness loaned it a t
Then of the wistful,
in his When, an hour later, the twc
; down out> the mountain boy carried the
tening aphernalia and the old man stan
amson at the door watched them off wl
ne im- half-quizzical, half-disapproving gli
f had A? the boy, with remarkable
when tude, learned how to adjust the t
ig qui- and arrange the paraphernalia, Lei
m sat drinking in through thirsty
l boy the stretch of landscape he had d
ainter mined to paint,
it line Then, while he painted, the hoy
lnt of palette, his eyes riveted on
', with -anvras, which was growing froi
ctedly hlank to a mirror of vistas?and
were hoy's pupilB became deeply hungr:
The day of painting was folio
by others like it. The disabllnj
I wlth Lescott's left hand made the cons
on as companionship of the boy a ms
Bhoul- inat neeaed no explanation or apol
^eable though not a matter of approval tc
n de uncle.
Another week had passed witl
the reappearance of Tamarack Spl
One afternoon Lescott and San
r*' were alone on a cllfT-protected si
w? and the painter had Just blockec
?hf u w,th umber and neutral tint the ci
ee sketch of his next picture.
(TO BE CONTINUED)
ouch
Tribute Money,
road Fancy long ago said that the bl
tnson. marks on either side of the* head of
s fer haddock were made by the Apost
r." finger and thumb as they held 1
to lie while extracting the tribute mo
>usly. from his mouth. But alas for fan
was The haddock is not found in the
this of Galilee! Most of the fish there
long to the barbel family, and no
and has ever told us authoritatively w
particular variety the tribute beat
half Ugh belonged to. The "half shel
ndln* of the tribute waa 112 grains T
chin' weight of silver, say nearly a quai
me. 0f an ounce, worth about thirt
1 the cents today, but greatly more in th
bout days.
spy
' got The Girl Who Is In Demand,
been There is a price on the head of ev
1 be pretty girl who can bake good biscu
from Most any girl can look pretty uni
i yer the parlor ohandelier or in the a
, but moonlight, but, ah, how few will do
iuuk ai next morning at 6:30, and a
it he fewer can set before the hungry n
g to at breakfast a plate of appetizing 1
one- biscuits, and for the one who can t
the boys are searching the world
girl*.?Hamilton Record.
INUBNAFIONAL
SIMM
LESSON
[By E. O. SELLERS. Acting Director of
Sunday 8chool Course. Moody Bible In- v
stltute. Chicago.)
LESSON FOR MARCH 14
8AUL GAINS HI8 KINGDOM.
LESSON TEXT?I Samuel, chapter 1L I
GOLDEN TEXT?He that Is slow to an- .
jer Is better than the mlehtv; anit he
.hat ruleth hla spirit, than he that taketh I
l city.?Prov. 16:32. V
In order to repay Israel's victory un- fi
ler Jepthah, Nahash the Ammonite de- I
nanded the right eye of those besieged
n Jabesh in Gilead, knowing that the
eft eye would be hid hy their shields * ^Hjli
ind'they would thus be Incapable of
warfare. For Israel to make any oovjnant
with the Ammonites was conrary
to God's commands (Ex. 2S:32; ml
3eut. 23:3).
I. The Cry of Jabesh, w. 1-3. This 9
svent probably occurred about a month
ifter the previous lesson. It was a | V
jroud, haughty demand made of these ^
sraelttes. Exhausted and hopeless, < Jj
hey had offered to become servants in j M
>rder to live. So today we frequent- 1
y find men willing to compromise \
with the world and the devil, who only \ flr 4
told them In derision and contempt L }
[r. 2). Compromising Christians are
ilways blind leaders of the bltnd (Matt.
5:14; 6:22). The demand of Nahash
vould also bring reproach upon Israel,
ret this same king afterwards showed
tlndness to David (II Samuel 10:2).
history records that Emperor Basil
I actually sent an army of 14,850
ilghtless men back to the king of Bui- "M
'aria, who died of pHef and hnrwiF
II. The Conquest of Ammon, w. 4- B
1. Nahash granted the request for I
i seven days' respite. Here was Saul's B
?pportunity?wrongs to be righted and B
>eople to be saved. Saul had held his B
leace since being anointed by Samuel.
imploying his time in everyday toll B
md duties (v. 5), for the messengers I
lid not find Sflul at home idle. The J
IdingB of this Insult were told to the
teople who llffed up their voices and
rept. (v. 4). The news of this threatned
calamity reached Saul's ears and
lis conduct effectually put to silence
hose "worthless fellows" who deplsed
him and had brought no pcesnts
at his anointing (10:27). Instead A
f tears Saul to moved to deeds: Like B
Hnclnnatus and Israel Putnam, he left ?4
he plow to take qp the sword. Saul. M
id not, in his own strength, undent
ake to relieve Jabesh, tor "the Bplm
' the 49; Acts 10:38). This moved Simlw
this anger, not alone at such an evidence
' got of cruelty, but more at the contempt
Dugh. Nahash had for God and his people,
meb- Saul associated himself with Samuel,
peal- the man of God, and summoned th^na*
tion of Israel to his side,
face The Holy Spirit gave Saul clear assurance
of a call from God, and he re*
need, sponded with unquestioned faith
get (Rom. 8:31). The people responded
with great rapidity, for the fear of
seen God came upon them also. We have
3 ex- the good news of a better deliverance
t. in- from a more subtle foe to proclaim
ouch in the present age. Thev all r<>?nrfoii
to Bezek, west of the Jordan. The
t set messengers returned bearing a mespar
gage having two meanings (v. 10), and
iding that helped to keep Nahash ignorant
>th a of Saul's actions on the other side of
ince. the river. Dividing his army Into comapti
panies Saul attacked the enemy "in
iasel the morning watch," and completely
scott overwhelmed them and put them to
eyes rout. As the Ammonites had refused
eter- to show any mercy, they in turn were
judged unworthy of mercy (v. 11, see
held aiBO James 2:13; Matt. 7:2).
III. The Crowning of 8aul, w. 12-15.
m a Saul's victory so impressed the people
e that they demanded to know of SamT'
uel who it was that had refused him
>wea as kjng desiring to put them to death.
* ?. Saul showed his wisdom by not periUer
such a course of action. Many
today refuse God's divinely appointed
klnc vhn will J * "
? jot. uc gmu to acKnowl'
edge him (Luke 19:27; Phil. 2:10).
iout In the next place Saul did not claim
leer. credit 'or th? victory for, said he,
json "Th? Lord hath wrought deliverance
tielf, *n Israel" (v. 13 R. V.). All real vicI
in tories come from God (Pa. 44:4-8; I
U()8 Cor. 15:10). This was the true kingly
spirit. Saul reaped the reward ot ,,?. ..
his humility, his forbearance, courage
and activity in the loyalty and
pride of the people. Samuel gladly
lac* shared in the success of Saul aqi led
th? tho people to Oilgn! for the crat -niug
le* ceremony. This was the placej where
"m? Israel had first encamped unair the
ne* leadership of Joshua and whs|*e the
q twelve stones from the river hati been
set up as a testimony to Gof's real
pesence and deliverance.
Saul had natural and physical char*
. acterlstics calculated to make ,11m m
rel Rreat and useful king?self-restraint,
modesty, military invention and'a car
rt?V paclty f?r leadership.
He was shrewd, patient ami
cuD
_ |>OUCI"
OM <>US 7
He thus stood on the threshold of
his kingdom with the possibilities of
untold usefulness and blessing,
ery Wo are ' "kings and priests unto
its. God." He has ushered us into his
der kingdom. Power, usefulness, lnfleoft
ence, helpfulness, victory ove~ sin are
to before us. "Napoleon said that his
till nobility dated from Arcole and Marenien
go. May ours date from the victories
n?t of love over the evil within us and In
tho the world." "This Is the victory that
** overcometh the world, even cmr
faith" (I John S:"
>! \
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