Cheraw chronicle. (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, March 11, 1915, Image 4
The Call of the
Cumberlands 1
By Charles Neville Buck
With Illustrations
from Photographs of Scenes
in the Play
(Copyright, tgij. by W. J. Watt & Co.)
3
SYNOPSIS.
On Misery creek. nt the foot of a rook
from which he has fallen. Sally Miller
finds George Lescott, a landscape paint- ,
er. unconscious, and after reviving hl:n.
goes for assistance Samson South and
8a!ly, taking Lescott to Samson's home,
are met bv Splcer South, head of the
family, who tells them that Jesse Purvy
lias been shot and that Sumson Is suspected
of the crime. Samson denies It.
The shooting of Jesse Purvy breaks the
truce In the Hollman-South feud.
CHAPTER IV?Continued.
He sauntered down the road, but,
when he had passed out of vision, he
turned sharply into the woods, ahd
began climbing. His steps carried him
to the rift in the ridge where the white
oak stood 6entinel over the watch
tower of rock. As he came over the
edge from one side his bare feet making
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
lips were trembling. At once Samson's
face grew black. Some one had
been making Sally unhappy. Then he
Baw beyond her a standing figure,
which the tree trunk had hitherto concealed.
It was the looee-knitted figure
of young Tamarack Spicer.
"In course," Spicer was saying, "we
don't 'low Samson shot Jesse Purvy,
but them Hollmans '11 'spicion him, an'
I heered just now thet them dawgs
was trackin' straight up hyar from the
mouth of Misery. They'll git hyar
against sundown."
/ Samson leaped violently forward.
With one hand he roughly seized hie
cousin's shoulder and wheeled him
about.
"Shet up!" he commanded. "What
d n fool stuff hev ye been tellin' j
Sajly?"
For an instant the two clansmen
-stood fronting each other. Samson's
lace was set and wrathful. Tamarack's
was surly and snarling. "Hain't I got
a license teKtell Sally the news?" he
"Nobody hal\t got no license," retorted
the youn&pr man in the quiet
of coldflHBttMVr tel1 Stilly nothln'
^ ^ .1 - . II
^ mlr- tKHT^Q tGrTllOW
( pretty soon. Tliem dawgs?"
HP "Didn't I tell ye ter shet up?
eon clenched his fists, and took
forward. "Ef ye opens yore
o^iuu, i ill a-guiu 161 bUlttHU 1111
git!"
L Tamarack Spicer's face bla<
B and his teeth showed. His rigl
swept to his left arm-pit. Out
he seemed weaponless, but ?
mm knew that concealed beneal
hickory shirt was a holster,
mountain fashion.
"What air ye a-reachin'
B Tam'rack?" he inquired, his lip;
B Ing in amusement.
B "Thet's my business."
B "Well, git hit out?or git out
V afore I throws ye offen the clift
B Sally showed no symptoms of
B Her confidence in her hero wa
lute. The boy lifted his ban
BV pointed oil down the path.
B and with incoherent muttering,
Hl, took himself away. Then oi
Sally rise. She came over, anc
hand on Samson's shoulder.
B blue eyes, the tears were well!
B "Samson," she whispered, "ef
B atter ye, come ter my house.
H hide ye out. Why didn't ye
B Jesse Jurvey'd done been shot
I "Hit tain't nothin' ter fret
Sally," he assured her. He
F awkwardly, for he had been tra
\ regard emotion as unmanly.
hain't no danger."
She gazed searchingly into h
^ _ ana men, with a short sob, thi
r " arms around him, and buried fa
on his shoulder.
"Ef anything happens ter > (
son," she said, brokenly, "hit
j kill me. I couldn't live withoi
Samson. I jest couldn't do hit
t The boy took her in his an
pressed her close. His eyes wi
|l ing off over her bent head, and
I twitched. He drew his featui
I a scowl, because that was the <
I preseion with which he coul
guard his feelings. His voi
K husky.
'I reckon, Sally," he said, "I <
live withouten you, neither."
I The party of men who had
I at morning from Jesse Purdy
Mk had spent a hard day. The ro
lowed creek-beds, crossing ?
Hj crossing waterways in a fashi
m gave the bloodhounds a hundi
K fling difficulties. Often, theli
lost the trail, which had at fir
so surely taken. Often, they
and whined, and halted in pet
but each time they came to
where, at the end, one of thei
raised his muzzle skyward, ai
Toward evening, they were ^
up Misery along a course less
The party halted for a momen
I and, ae tbe bottle was passed, t
from Lexington, who kad brou
dogs and stayed to conduct th<
put a question:
"What do you call this creek'
-Hit's Misery."
1
"Does anybody live on Misery that
?er?that you might suspect?"
The Hollraans laughed.
"This creek is settled with Souths
thicker'n hops."
The Lexington man looked up. He
knew what the name of South meant
to a Hollman.
"Is there any special South, who
might have a particular grudge?"
"The Souths don't need no parti'lai
grudge, but thar's young Samson
South. He's a wildcat."
"He lives this way?"
"These dogs air a-makin' a bee-line
fer his house." Jim Hollman was
speaking. Then he added: "I've done
been told that SaniBon denies doin' the
shootiu', au' claims he kin prove an
alibi."
The Lexington man lighted his pipe
and poured a drink of red whisky intc
a flask cup.
"He'd be apt to say that," he com
mented, "These dogs haven't any
prejudice in the matter. I'll stake mj
life on their telling the truth."
An nour later, tne group nanec
again. The master of hounds mopped
his forehead.
"Are we still going toward Samsoc
South's house?" he inquired.
"We're about a quarter from hil
now, an' we hain't never varied from
the straight road."
"Will they be apt to give uf
trouble?"
Jim Hollman smiled.
"I hain't never heered of no Soutt
submittin' ter arreet by a Hollman."
The trailers examined their fire
arms, and loosened their holster-flaps
The dogs went forward at a trot.
CHAPTER V.
From time to time that day, neigh
bors had ridden up to Splcer South'!
stile, and drawn rein for gossip. Thesi
men brought bulletins as to the prog
ress of the hounds, and near 6undown
as a postscript to their information, j
volley of gunshot signals sounded fron
a mountain top. No word was spoken
but in common accord the kinsmer
rose from their chairs, and drifted to
ward their leaning rifles.
"They're a-comin' hyar," said th<
head of the house, curtly. "Sameoi
ought ter be home. Whar's Tam'rack?'
No one had noticed his absence un
til that moment, nor was he to b<
found. A few minutes later, Samson'i
figure swung into sight, and his unch
met him at the fence.
"Samson, I've done asked ye all th<
questions I'm a-goin' ter ask ye," h<
said, "but them dawgs ie makln' fe:
this house. They've Jest been sighte?
a mile below."
Samson nodded.
"Now"?Spicer South's face hard
ened?"I owns down thar ter the road
Nn man kin crnaa that fence withnutei
I choose ter give him leave. Ef y
hit all But ef ^ face hj
" Sam- ,ove ter Prove ter these hyar
a step us 5ouths don't break our w<
mouth done aereed ter this truce. I'<
L Now, ,nvlte 'em ,n> an' let them dan
sniff round the feet or every
:kened. my house?an' then, when
it hand P,umb teetotally damn satu
wardly ter te^ em a" ter 80
Samson Tbet's the way I feels, but I'i
Lh the ter do ^e8t wbat ye says."
worn Lescott did not overhear
versation in full, but he saw
atter man'6 face work with suppre:
s twist- slon' and cau8ht Samson
reply.
"When them folks gets hyi
yeself sPlcer. I'm a-goin' ter be
' alarm.
a abeo- ,-4&.
id. and
Slowlv faSr
Spicer %M M
iten ye, ?They Have Followed The
Here."
11s, and
ere gaz- right out thar in front. I*
his lips willin' ter invite 'em in." 1
es into two men turned toward the h
only ex- Already the other clansmei
d safe- appeared noiselessly through
ce was or around the angles of the 1
Flffppn minutpR l?tpp T.popr
couldn't Ing at the fence, saw a etran
cade round the bend of the rc
started eral travel-stained men wer
'a store mules, and holding two tawn
>ads fol- patient dogs in leash. In tl
ind re- ber, the artist recognized hi
on that two nights ago.
ed baf- They halted at a distance
r noses their faces the artist read dit
at been while the dogs were yelping i
circled ]y and tugging at their core
plexlty, Samson South?who should,
a point prejudiced convictions, be h
n again in some secret stronghold?e
id gave top step of the stile, smoking
and regarded them with a li
working absence of Interest. Such a
broken, ceptlon was uncanny. Afte;
t's rest, pered conference, the Lexini
he man came forward alone. Old Spl
ght the had been looking on from
3 chase, and was now strolling out to
envoy, unarmed.
>' An/I H/x onvnv oa ho onmo
' hands unnecessarily far away
?
Bides, and walked with an ostentatious
show of peace.
' "Evenln'. stranger," hailed the ^4'd
i man. "Come right In."
"Mr. South," began the dog-owner,
i with some embarrassment. "I have
; been employed to furnish a pair of
bloodhounds to the family of Jesse
i t'urvy, wno nas oeen snot.''
"1 heerd tell thet Purvy was shot,"
- said the head of the Souths In an afi
fable tone, which betrayed no deeper
note of interest than neighborhood
gossip might have elicited,
f "I have no personal Interest in the
i matter," went on the stranger, hastily,
. as one bent on making his attitude
! clear, "except to supply the dogs and
i 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 natch.
er'ly follers his own nose."
"Exactly?and they have followed
' their noses here." The Lexington man
found the embarrassment of his posll
tion growing as the colloquy proceedI
ed. "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
t stile, the low sun shining on his sh6ck
i of gray hair, and stood before the manliunter.
He 6poke so that his voice
( carried to the waiting group in the
road.
"Ye're plumb welcome ter turn them
i dawgs loose, an' let 'em ramble,
stranger. Nobody hain't a-goin' 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 truce?an* they won't
never go out ag'in. But you air safe
. in hyar. 1 gives yer my hand on thet.
3 Ye're welcome, an' yore dawgs is wel>
come. I hain't got nothin' 'gainst
. dawgs thet comee on four legs, but I
t shore bars the two-legged kind."
^ There was a murmur of astonish,
ment from the road. Disregarding Jl,
, Spicer South turned his face toward
, the house.
"Vou boys kin come out," he shouter,
"an* leave yore guns inside."
? The leashes were slipped from tKe
1 dogs. They leaped forward, and made
directly for Samson, who eat as un.
moving as a lifeless image on the top
2 step of the stile. There was a half-mos
ment of terrific suspense, then the
s beasts clambered by the seated figure,
passing on each side and circled
? lessly about the yard?their quest une
ended. They sniffed indifferently about
r the trouser legs of the fnen who sauni
tered indolently out of door. They
trotted into the house, n"id out again,
and mingled with tlitJ(j ongrel home
|. pack that snarled at, *ro^ied hosI
tillty for this invasi/g ^jjThen, they
a came once more to tm gou*- *bey
e climbed Out, Samsoniy he)h j?achd|
e up and stroked a taw^^^^^JtndjB
uesUonJ^'istailTnrriendship, lefore it
t out. I'd I down to the road, andttrotted
men thet onward. 1
3rd. We "I'm obliged to you) sir." i
i like ter man from the Bluegrass, with
in dawgs of immense relief. ^
' man in The moment of suspense
they're Past. and> in the relief of the
ified, I'd clash, the master ofi' hound:
ter hell. that his d?B8 stood branded
m a-goin* trailers. But when he rejoi
group in the road he found
the con- iooking into eurly visages, i
' the old features of Jim Hollman in pi
ssed pas- wefe black in their scowl of
's louder in? wrath.
"Why didn't ye ax him,"
ir, Uncle kinsman of the man who 1
a-jettin' shot? "whar the other feller's
"What other fellow?" ech
Lexington man.
Jim Hollman's voice rosi
lently, and his words driftec
meant them to, across to the
the clansmen who stood in I
l. of Snicer South.
^ "Them dawgs of your'n <
ink Misery a-hellin'. They hain
fc laW turned aside, an' onless they'i
ornery, no-'count curs thet doi
^ their business, they come f
B reason. They seemed might
I ested in gittin' hyar. Ax thei
in thar who's been hyar th<
hyar now? Who is ther fe
got out afore we come hyar?"
At this veiled charge of d<
faces of the Souths again b
and the men near the dooi
jMcpB house drifted in to drift presf
ViBpI OKfin, swinging discarded 1
ters at their sides. It seem
graflSSgji ! after all. the incident was no
; The man from Lexington, find
self face to face with a new (
ir Moses turned and argued in a low vt
the Hollman leader. But J
man, whose eyes were fixed
m plumb son, refused to talk in a in
riisa, the tone, and he shouted his repl
lObue. "I hain't got nothin' ter
i fca.l dis- ; about," he proclaimed. "Go
t! ? door j who hit war thet got away fro
tvajl*. j Old Spicer Soutii stood lej
>tt, stand- ; his fence and his rugged coui
tgc cavnl- | stiffened. He started to sp
tad. Sev- Samson rose from the stile t
e leading j in a composed voice:
y ynd im- | "Let me talk to this fell
lelr num- i Spicer." The old man nod
s host of i Samson beckoned to the owm
I dogs.
J, and in "We hain't got nothin' ter
nnuy, for. I them fellers with ye," he an
confident- briefly. "We hain't axin' 'en'
la. young tions, an' we hain't answer!
by their Ye done come hyar with' tit
idlng out we hain't stopped ye. \\'e've
lat at the swered all the question,** thei
; his pipe, lies axed. We done treated
ack-luster yore houn's plumb fr/iendly.
calm re- them other men, we Ij^aln't gc
r a v.'his- fer say to "em. They? done c<
gton man becaime they hoped tfiey coul
cer South in trouble. They dt^ne faile
the door, road belongs ter tht? count
meet the ! got a license ter traivel hit,
strip right hyar hainl't the 1
, held his section they kin find! I ret
' from bia : better advise 'em ter I move c
?
1
The Lexington man went back. For
a minute or two Jim Hollman aat
scowling down in indecision from his
saddle. Then he admitted to himself
that he had done all he could do without
becoming the aggressor. For the
moment he was beaten. He looked up
and from the road one of the hounds
raised its voice and gave cry. That
baying afTorded an excuse for leaving
and Jim Hollman seized it.
"Go on," he growled. "Let's see
what them d d curs hes ter Bay
now."
Mounting, they kicked their mules
into a jog. From the men inside the
fence came no note of derision, no
hint of triumph. They stood looking
out with expressionless, masklike
faces until their enemies had passed
out of sight around the shoulder of
the mountain. The 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
Jim Hollman.
| had invariably met hostility with hostility,
had bu willingly courte(j th^actd
ju5y "^Days passed uneventfully al
gln^erlj The kinsmen dispersed to th
tered covesI and cabins. N
9aid th? again came a rumor that Jest
a voice was dying, (but always hard
heels came another to the efl
seeraet the obduratfe fighter had
averte< though the doctors held out s
> forgot couragement of recovery,
as false One day Lescott, whose b
ned the arm gave him much pain, but
himsell able to get about, was strollinj
and the from the house with Samsor
irticulai were following a narrow tra
a?? V* rt ?*? "U- ? 1 ? A ?
oujwtucAv vuo uiuuiiimu ir'UC, cl I1U, Ul & fc
louder than the falling of a
growled the boy halted and laid a f
tad beer hand on the painter's shoulde
at?" followed an unspoken commar
oed th? companion's eyes. Leecott sai
behind a rock, cloaked with g
8 trucu rhododendron leafage, where
1, as h< had already crouched and bee
ears ol movable and noiseless. T1
the yard been there only a short tin
they saw another figure slipi
:ome up etly from tree to tree below tl
't never For a time the mount!
e plumb watched the figure and the
n't know saw his lips draw in a strai
or some and his eyes narrow with a
ty inter- tense hate. Yet, a moment lal
n fellers a nod to follow, the boy unex
ut hain't rose into view and his featur
Her thet absolutely expressionless.
"Mornin'. Jim." he called.
?ceit the, The slinking stranger whirl
lackenedi a start and an instinctive m
* of thel though to bring his rifle to hi
mtly out der. But. seeing Samson's pi
synches- manner, he smiled and his
led that, meanor became friendly,
t closed.; "Mornin*, Samson."
ling him-i "Kinder stranger in this
lifticulty, hain't ye, Jim?" drawled the 1
... I .. . ' - -
>iie who; lived there, and the question
im Holl- a sullen flush to the other*!
on Sam- bones.
odulated "Jest a-passin' through," h(
V' safed.
whisper "j i?,jkon ye'd find the wag
ax 'em more handy," suggested
m hyar." "Some folks might *t>picion
ming on. stealin' 'long through the tlm
ntenancej The skulking traveler decidi
eak, bug plausibly. He laughed mendi
ind sand, "That's the reason, Samson.
1 kinder skeered ter go throu
er, l^nc' country in the open."
ded 'and Samson met his eye stead
ar oh the said slowly:
/ | "I reckon, Jim, hit mought
/say ter [es risky fer ye ter walk up
' ounced, Vilong Misery es ter go a-ci
no q<>es-, Ye thinks ye've been a-shadde
in* none.: j knows Jest whar ye've been
iwgs an'{time. Ye lies when ye talk
done an-| j,aj>sin' through. Ye've clone b(
in dawge jn> hyar, ever since Jesse Pu
you an'| 8hot, an* all thet time ye've do
Es fer matched yerself. I reckon 1
>t notliin' healthier fer ye ter do yore spy
>me hyar t'other side of the ridge. I rec
Id git me' aiiowin' ter git me ef Purvy d
id. Thet we're watchln' ye."
y. They, jjm Asberry's face darkened
but this' aaid nothing. There was not
lealthiest 8ny. He was discovered in t
:kon ye'di ,ny's country and must %co
,tt*" 1 enemy's terras.
I
I
J:
k
"This hyar time I lets ye go back,
said Samson, "fer the reason thet I'l
tryln" like all h?1 ter keep this true
But ye must stay on yore side t
else ride the roads open. How
Purvy terday?"
"He's mighty porely," replied tl
other, in a sullen voice.
"All right. Thet's another reasc
why hit hain't healthy fer ye ov?
hyar."
The spy turned and made his wa
over the mountain.
"O n him!" muttered Samso
his face twitching, as the other wa
lost in the undergrowth. "Some da
Put a-goin' ter git him."
Tamarack' Splcer did not at on<
reappear, and when one of the Soutt
met another In the road the customai
dialogue would be: "Heared anythir
of Tamarack?" . . . "No, hev you'
"No, nary a word."
As Lescott wandered through tl
hills, his unhurt right hand began cr
ing out for action and a brweh 1
nurse, as lie waicnea, aay unci u?
the unveiling of the monumental hil
and the transitions from hazy, wrait
like whisperB of hues to strong, flarii
riot of color, this fret of restlessne:
became actual pain. He was wastii
wonderful opportunity and the ere
tive instinct in him was clamoring.
One morning, when he came out ju
after sunrise to the tin wash bas
at the well, the desire to paint was c
him with compelling force. The hil
ended near their bases like things b
ten off. Beyond lay limitlesB streai
ers of mist, but. while he stood at gai
the tilmy veil began to lift and flo
higher. Trees and mountains gre
taller.' The sun, which showed fir
as a ghost-like disk of polished alun
num. struggled through orange ai
vermilion into a sphere of llvli
flame. Lescott heard a voice at b
side.
"When does ye 'low ter commen
palntin'?"
It was Samson. For answer tl
artist, with his unhurt hand, imp
tientlv tnnnpd his hnndaccd wrist.
"Ye still got yore right hand, hall
ye?" demanded the boy. The oth
laughed. It was a typical question. !
long as one had the trigger finger 1?
one should not admit disqualiticatic
"You see, Samson," he explain*
"this isn't precisely like handling
gun. One must hold the palette; m
the colors; wipe the brushes and
half a dozen equally necessary tlilni
It requires at least two perfectly go
hands. Many people don't find ti
enough."
"Hut hit only takes one ter do t
paintin', don't lilt?"
"Yes."
"Well"?the boy spoke diffident
but with enthusiasm?"between t
two of us we've got three hands,
reckon ye kin lam me how ter
them other things fer ye."
Lescott's surprise showed In 1
ter that. ^?^Wy hit hain't none c
eir scat- ness, but, all day yestidd
fow and day befo', I was studyln'
le Purvy here thing, an* I hustled
I on Its thet corn weeded an' now 1'
:ect that Ef 1 kIn help ye out I the
rallied, by?" He paused and lool
mall en- '"Ely at the artist.
, Leecott whistled and the
landaged 1'ghted into contentment,
who was ' Today, Samson," he
? not far "kescott, South and Con
i. They busy."
iil along 11 the first time he
tound no Samson smile, and, althoui
walnut. Pression was one of sheer
silencing herent somberness loaned
r. Then of the wistful,
id In his When, an hour later, th
nk down out. the mountain boy carrl
listening aphernalia and the old ma
Samson ftt the door watched them
ome lm- half-quizzical, half-disapprov
ley had As the boy, with remar
le when tude, learned how to adjusi
ling qui- aid arrange the parapherna
hem. 8at drinking in through tt
lin boy tbe stretch of landscape he
painter nilned to paint,
ght line Then, while he painted, tl
glint of tbe Palette, his eyes rivet
ter, with canvas. which was growlr
pectedly blank to a mirror of vistai
es were bo>''8 pupils became deeply
The day of painting wa
by others like it. The di
led with J-escott's left hand made th
otion as coniI?anionship of the boy
is shoul- that needed no explanation <
eaceable 1,u>?gh not a matter of appr
own de- uncle.
Another week had pass*
the reappearance of Tamart
country ?ne afternoon I<escott ai
boy who were n,one on a cllff-prote
brought and the Painter had JU8t
s cheek w,th u,nber and neutral tint
sketch of his next picture.
5 vouch. (TO UK CONTINUE
Tribute Money.
;on road Fancy long ago said that
Samson, marks on either side of the 1
ye fer haddock were made by the
ber." finger and thumb ns they
id to lie while extracting the trlbu
iciously. fpom his mouth. Hut alas
I was The haddock is not found :
gh this of Galilee! Most of the flsl
long to the barbel family, a
Illy and has ever told us authoritat
particular variety the tribu
be half fl8h belonged to. The "ha
standln' Gf the tribute was 112 gr
ouchin' weight of silver, say nearly
rln* me. Gf an ounce, worth aboui
all the cents today, but greatly moi
;b 'bout days.
een spy
rvy got The Girl Who Is In De
ne been There is a price on the hes
ilt'll be pretty girl who can bake goc
in' from Most any girl can look prt
kon yer the parlor ohandelier or li
lies, but moonlight, but, ah, how few
look at next morning at 6:31
, but he fewer can Bet before the hi
htng to at breakfast a plate of appc
he ene- biscuits, and for the one wl
ept the boys are searching the
girls.?Hamilton Record.
l
===== i
: mmwnonal i
: sunmfsoiool
; lesson
(By E. O. SBLIiERS. ActlnK Director of
iy Sunday School Course. Moody Bible Institute.
Chicago.)
? LESSON FOR MARCH 14
iy
SAUL GAINS HIS KINGDOM.
:
*8 LESSON TEXT?I Samuel, chapter 1L
y GOLDEN TEXT?Ho that Is slow to an- .
per Is better than the mighty: and he
.?? that rulcth Ills spirit, than he that tuketh
a city.?Prov. 16:32.
,e In order to repay Israel's victory un
y" der Jepthah, Nahash the Ammonite de- j
to inanded the right eye of those beBieged
y> in Jabesh in Gilead, knowing that the ,
left eye would be hid by their shields
and they would thus be incapable of
1K warfare. For Israel to make any cov- |
38 enant with the Ammonites was con- yM ]
trary to God's commands (Ex. 25:32;
a* Deut. 23:3).
I. The Cry of Jabesh, vv. 1-3. This
8 event probably occurred about a month
after the previous lesson. It waa a
* proud, haughty demand made of these |
Israelites. Exhausted and hopeless, . f
" they had offered to become servants in J M
' order to live. So today we frequent- ^ M
ly find men willing to compromise i
with the world and the devil, who only > |V
hold them in derision and contempt !_,
(v. 2). Compromising Christians are
%(j always blind leaders of the blind (Matt.
s_ 15:14; 6:22). The demand of Nahash
lB would also bring reproach upon Israel,
yet this same king afterwards showed
ce kindness to David (II Samuel 10:2).
History records that Emperor Basil
II actually sent an army of 14,850 I
)a_ sightless men back to the king of Dulgaria,
who died of grief and horror. 1
II. The Conquest of Ammon, vv. 411.
Nahash granted the request for I
a seven days' respite. Here was Saul's
>ft opportunity?wrongs to be righted and
|n people to be saved. Saul had held his
peace since being anointed by Samuel,
a employing his time in everyday toll
,jx and duties (v. 5), for the messengers
do <l?d not find Sllul at homo idle. The
5a_ tidings of this insult were told to the
od people who lifted up their voices and
KO wept. (v. 4). The news of this threatened
calamity reached Saul's ears and
ho ids conduct effectually put to silence
those "worthless fellows" who despised
him and had brought no prestly
ents at his anointing (10:27). Instead
he of tears Saul is moved to deeds: Like
I Cincinnatus and Israel Putnam, he left
do the plow to take up the sword. Saul
did not, in his own strength, under* 4
lis take to relieve Jabesh, for "the Spirit J
>f my bust- Judges &10; 11:29; 12:25; Lukd tlL
ly an* the 49; Acts 10:38). This moved Saul to
'bout this anger, not alone at such an evidence
up an* got of cruelty, but more at the contempt
m through. Nahash had for God and his people.
>ught meb- Saul associated himself with Samuel,
ced appeal- the man of God, and summoned th<y nation
of Israel to his side.
>n his face The Holy Spirit gave Saul clear assurance
of a call from God, and he reannounced.
sponded with unquestioned faith
apany get (Rom. 8:31). The people responded
with great rapidity, for the fear of
uuu ueeu uod came upon them also. We have
gh the ex- the good news of a better deliverance
delight, in- from a more subtle foe to proclaim
it a touch in the present age. They all resorted
to Bezek, west of the Jordan. The
le two set messengers returned bearing a mes*
ed the par- sage having two meanings (v. 10), and
n standing that helped to keep Nahash ignorant
off with a of Saul's actions on the other side of
ing glance, the river. Dividing his army into comkable
aptl- panies Saul attacked the enemy "in
t the easel the morning watch," and completely
lia, Lescott overwhelmed them and put them to
lirsty eyes rout. As the Ammonites had refused
had deter- (Q 8how any mercy, they in turn were
judged unworthy of mercy (v. 11, see
le hoy held aiso James 2:13; Matt. 7:2).
ed on the -p^e Crowning of Saul, w. 12-15.
ig from a saupB victory so impressed the people
9 and the tj,at demanded to know of Samhungry.
uej w^0 wag ^at jia(] refu8ed him
s followed a{, jt|ng> desiring to put them to death,
sabllng of Ooitl
. . o?ui diiuwcu ma wisuom by not pere
constant lAA. . .
a matter such a course of action. Many
or anoloev to(*ay refuse God's divinely appointed
rival to his klnR who w111 yet be elad to acknow1'
edge him (Luke 19:27; Phil. 2:10).
>d without ,n the next l)laco Saul did not claim
ick Spicer. credlt for victory for, said he,
id Samson "The Lord hath wrought deliverance
cted shelf, ln Israel" (v. 13 R. V.). All real vicblocked
in tories come from God (Ps. 44:4-8; I
the crude ^'or- 15:10)- This was the true kingly
spirit. Saul reaped the reward of
r>.) his humility, his forbearance, courage
and activity ln the loyalty and
pride of the people. Samuel gladly
the black sliured in the success of Saul an 1 led
lead of the tjie peopie to Gllgal for the cro' 'ning
5 Apo8^le* ceremony. This was the place Ahore
held him, jBraej had first encamped tindor the
te mnnev .
leadership of Joshua and whei'e the
for fancy! twejve stones from the river ha?i been
In the Sea set up ag a testimony to God's real
i there bo- pesence und deliverance,
nd no one gaul had naturai and physical char*
ively w a ftCterlstlcs calculated to make .lim a
if hw 1" great and useful king?self-restraint,
. 8 modesty, military Invention and a car
" rt?I Paclty for leadership,
a qua f(e waa shrewd, patient and ttenert
thirteen
re In those ouff .. .. . ,. #
He thus stood on the threshold of
his kingdom with the possibilities of
mand. untold usefulness and blesBlng.
id of every We are "kings and priests unto
id biscuits. God." He has ushered us Into his
itty under kingdom. Power, usefulness, tnflul
the soft ence, helpfulness, victory ove~ sin are
will do to before us. "Napoleon said that his
), and still nobility dated from Arcole and Mareningry
men go. May ours date from the victories
stlzlng hot 0f i0ve over the evil within us and in
10 can the t]je world." "This is the victory that
world nf overcometh the world, even oar
faith" (I John 5:?>