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HORSE-SHOE ROBINSON A TALE OF THE TORY ASCENDENCY BY JOHN P. KENNEDY CHAPTER XVIII. The Troopers Move With Their Prisoners. “Oft he that doth abide. Is cause of his own paiue, But he that tlieth in sood tide. Perhaps may fisht again.’’-Old Proverb It was with the most earnest soli- ( citude that Butler and his companion i watched the course of events, and became acquainted with the character of the ruffians into whose hands they had fallen. The presence of James Curry in this gang excited a painful conciousness in the mind of the sol- i dier. that he had powerful and secret enemies at work against him. but who they were was an impenetrable mys-' tery. Then the lawless habits of the people who had possession of him. gave rise to the most anxious distrust as to his future fate: he might be murdered in a tit of passion, or tor tured with harsh treatment to gratify some concealed malice. His positi on in the army was, it seemed, known too; and. for aught that he could tell, his mission might be no secret to his captors. Robinson’s sagacity entered fully into these migivings. He had narrowly observed the conduct of the partv who had made them prisoners, and with that acute insight which was concealed under a rude and un educated exterior, but which was stronglv marked in his actions he had already determin' d upon the course which the safety of Butler re quired him to pursue. According to his view of their present difficulties it was absolutely necessary that he should effect his escape, at whatever personal hazard. Butler, he rightly conjectured, was the principal object of the late ambuscade; that, for some ! unknown purpose, the possession of this officer became important to those who had procured the attack upon him. and that James Curry had mere- Iv hired this gang of desperadoes to secure the prize. Under these cir- ! cumstances. he concluded that the j Major would be so strictly guarded as to forbid all hope of escape, and that any attemnt by him to effect it would only be punished by certain death. But. in regard to himself, his 1 calculation was different. “First,” j said he. “I can master any three of this beggarly crew in an open field and fair fight; and. secondly, when it comes to the chances of a pell-mell, they will not think me of so much ac count as to risk their necks by a long j chase; their whole eves would on- | doubtedlv be directed to the Maior.” The sergeant, therefore, determined to make the at mpt. and. in the event | of »his success, to repair to Sumpter., who he knew frequented some of the fastness in this region; or. in the al ternative. to rally such friends from the neighboring country as were not yet overawed bv the Torv dominion, ^ and bring them speedily to the rescue j of Butler. Full of these thoughts, he j took occasion during the night, whilst the guard were busy in cooking their venison and whilst thev thought him and his comrade wrapt ip slee.p, to whisper to Butler the resolitlion he had adopted. “I will take the first chance tompr- J row to make a dash upon tlmse raga- ' muffins,” he said; “and I shall count j it hard if I don’t get out of ^their ! claws. Then, rely upon me. I shall keep near you in spite of these devils. ! So be prepared, if I once get away to see me lik-e a witch that trav.ejs op j a broomstick or creeps through a keyhole. But whisht! the dn>nken vagabonds must’s hear us talking.” Butler, after due consideration of the sergeant’s scheme, thought it, however perilous, the only chance thev had of extricating themselves from the dangers with which they were beset, and promised the most ready co-operation; determined also, to let no opportunity slip which might be improved to his own deliveiifnce. “Your good arm and brave heart. Gal braith. never stood you in more ur gent stead than they may do tomor row'.” was his concluding remark. When morning broke the light of day fell upon a strange and disorder ed scene. The drunken and coarse wretches of the night before, now les sened in number and strength by com mon broil and private quarrel, lay- stretched on their beds of leaves. Their motlev and ill-assorted weair ons lav around in disarray; drinking cups and empty flasks were scattered over the trodden grass, the skin and horns of the buck, and disjointed fragments of raw flesh were .seen confusedly cast about beneajh the tree, and a conspicuous object in the scene were the clots of blood and gore, both of men and beast, that dis figured the soil. Two new-made graves, or rather mounds, hastily scratched together and imperfectly concealing the limbs of the dead, prominently placed but a few- feet from the ring of last night’s revelry, told of the disasters of the fight at the ford. The brushwood fire had burned down into a heap of smould ering ashes, and the pale and sickly features of the bounded trooper were to be disceined upon a pallet of leaves, hard hr the heap of embers, surrounded by the remnants of bones and roasted meat that had been flung carelessly aside. In a spot of more ap parent comfort, sheltered by an>»ver; hanging canopy of vines and alder lay Butler stretched upon his cloak and close beside him. the stout fram^ of Horse Shoe Robinson. In thje midst of all these mark* of recent riot and carousal, sat two swarthy figures, haggard and wan from night-watch ing. armed at every point, and keep ing strict guard over the prisoner*. The occasional snort and pa^ng of horses in the neighboring wood showed that these animals were alert at the earliest dawn; whilst among the rest who seemed aware of the ap proach of day.-was seen rising from the earth, where it had been flung In stupid torpor for some hours... the bloated and unsightly person of Hugh Habershaw, now much the worse for the fatigue and revelry of the Pre ceding night. A savage and surlv expression was seated on his brow, and his voice broke forth more than ordinarily harsh and dissonant, he ordered the troop to rouse and.,Pre pare for their march. The summons was tardily obeyed: and while the yawning membeys of the squad were lazily moving to their several duties and shaking off the fumes of their late debauch, the cap tain was observed bending over the prostrate form of Gideon Blake, and directing a few anxious inquiries .in to his condition. The wounded man was free from pain, but his ii^ibs were stiff, and the reign of the stab sore and sensitive to the least touch. The indications, however, were such as to show that his wound was not likely to prove mortal. By the order of Habershaw. a better litter was constructed, and the troopers were directed to bear him. by turns, a? far as Christie’s, where he was to Ug left to the nursing of the family. It was a full hour before the horses were saddled, the scattered furniture col lected. and the preparations for the march, compiled. When th^se. were accomplished the prisoners were pro vided with the two norriest horses of the troop, and they now set for ward at a slow pace, under the escort of four men commanded by J:w’ies C’irry. The two troopers who bore the sick man followed on foot; Hab ershaw with the remainder, one of whom had appropriated Captain Pe ter. whilst he led the horse of tUe dis mounted men. brought up the rear. On the journey there was but little spoken bv anv member of the party: the boisterous and rude nature of the men who composed the troop seemed to have been subdued by sleep into a temper of thurlish indif ference or stolid apathy. Penyer- corn. or James Curry, as the reader now recognizes him. strictly preserv ed his guard over the prisoners, manifesting a severity of manner ah together different from th Q tone of careless revelry whch cht >cterized his demeanor on the preceding nmht. It never relaxed from an official and sullen reserve. A moody frown sat upon his brow, and his communica tion with the prisoners was confined to short and peremptory commands; whilst, at the same tme. he foxbade the slightest intercourse with ^diem on the part of any of the guard. During the short progress of Chris tie’s he frequently rode part with Habershaw; and the conversation which then occupied these two was maintained in a low tone, and with a serious air that denoted some trrave matter of deliberation. It was more than an hour after sunrise when the cavalcade reached the point of their present destination. There were signs of an anxious Pur pose in the silence of the iouruev. broken as it was only by low meter ings amongst the men. above which sometimes arose an expression of im patience and discontent, as the sub ject of their whispered discussions appeared to excite some angry ob- iection from several of the party: and this mystery was not less con spicuous in the formal order of the halt, and in the pause that follo.wed upon their arrival at the habitation. The house, in front of which they were drawn up. was, according to the prevailing fashion of the time, a one-storied dwelling covering an am ple space of ground, built partly of hoards and partly of logs, with a long piazza before it. terminating in small rooms, made bv inclosing the sides for a few feet at either extre mity. Being situated some twenty paces aside from the road, the in tervening area was hounded by a fence through which a gate afforded admission. A horse-rack, with a few feeding troughs, was erected near this gate; and a draw-well, in the same vicinity, furnished a readv sup ply of water. WSth the exception of a cleared field around the dwelling, the landscape was shaded by the-na tural forest. A consultation of some minutes’ duration was held between Haber shaw and Curry, when the order ty dismount was given, accompanied with an intimation of a design to tar rv at this place for an hour or two: but the men at the same time, were directed to leave their saddles irjon their horses. One or two were de tailed to look after the refreshment i of the cattle, whilst the remainder tool:- possesion of the prinebn, 1 room. The first demands of the trooo were for drink, and this being Indulged. Ithe brute feeling of conviviality „ ;ir . in gross natures depends aitogeth r noon sensual excitement, began one * more to break down the barri“'s of discipline, and to mount into c a nor The scenes of the morning had made a disagreeable impression upon j the feelings of Butler and his com rade. The charged tone and the r tf- ! flan manners of the band, the pause. | the doubts which s -emed to agitate them, boded mischief. The two L'H- ! soners. however, almost instinctive y adopted the course of conduct which their circumstances required. They concealed all apprehension of harm, and patienlv awaited the end. Horse Shoe even took advantage of the ris ing mirth of the company when began to exhilarate th n. and affect ed an easy tone of companionaljip which was calculated to throw tfcem off their guard. He circulated fr.eely amongst the men. and bv private con ference with some of the individuals around him. who. attracted by hl> air of confiding gaiety, discovered that the gang were divided in sentiment In regard to aome important, subject touching the proposed treatment of himself and fads friend- A party, at least he was thus made aware, were disposed to take his side in the sec ret dispute which had been in agita tion. He was determined to profit by this dissension, and accordingly ap plied himself still more assiduously to cultivate the favorable sentini/at he found in existence. Whilst breakfast was in prep^ya tion, and Habershaw and Curry were occupied with the wounded maji in an adjoining apartment, the sergeant, playing the part of a boon companion, laughed with the rioters, and. uninvit ed. made himself free of their Ciuj>s. ‘T should like to know.” he said to one of the troopers, “why you are giving yourselves all this trouble about a couple of simple travellers that happened to be jogging the road? If you wanted to make a pitched battle you ought to have sent us word; but if it was only UQyn a drinking bout you had set your hearts, there was no occasion to be breaking heads for the honor of get ting a good fellow in your company, when he would have come of bis own accord at he first axing. There was no use in making such a mightv secret about it: for. as we were travelling the same road with you. you had only to show a man the civi lity of saying wanted our escort, and you should have had it at a w^yd. Here’s to our better acquaintance, friend!” “You mightn’t be so jolly. Horse Shoe Robinson,” said Shad Green—■ or. according to his nickname. Red Mug. in a whisper; “if some of them that tool:- the trouble to find vcm. should have their own way. U’s a d—d tight pull whether you are to be kept as a prisoner of war. or shoved under ground this morning without tuck of drum. That for your private ear.” “I was born in old Carolina my self.” replied Horse Shoe, aside to the speaker; “and I don’t believe there is many men to be found in it who would stand bv and see the i;ules and regulations of honorable war blackened and trod down into the dust by any cowardly trick of mur der. If it comes to that, many.jis there are against two. our lives will go at a cheap price.” “Whisht!” returned the other, “with my allowance, for one, it shan’t be. A prisoner’s a Prisoner, I say: and damnation to the man that would make him out worse.” They sav you are a merry devil, old Horse Shoe,” exclaimed he who was called Bow Legs, who now step ped up and slapped the sergeant on the back. “So take a swig, man; fair Play it. a jewel!—that’s my doctrine. Fight when you fight, and drink when you drink—and that's the sign to know a man by.” (CONTINUED NEXT FRIDAY.) This man bought a supply of tobacco with out acquainting himself with the distinctive taste of SCHNAPPS Tobacco, which has the cheering qualities that gratify his desire to chew, and at less expense than cheap tobacco. SCHNAPPS has been advertised in this paper so that every chewer has had an opportunity to get acquainted with the facts and know that drugs are not used to produce the cheering quality found in the famous Piedmont country flue-cured tobaccos, and that SCHNAPPS is what he ought to chew. Still there are chewers who accept other and cheaper tobaccos that do not give the same pleasure. Some day they’ll get a taste of the real Schnapps—they’ll realize what enjoyment they’ve missed bynot getting SCHNAPPS long ago—then they’ll feel like kicking themselves. SCHNAPPS is sold everywhere in 5 cent cuts, and 10 and 15 cent plugs. Be sure you get the genuine. Cures Biliousness, Sick Headache, Sour Stom ach, Torpid Liver and Chronic Pleasant BRIKO Cleanses the system thoroughly and clears sallow complexions of Constipation. I nvflilira Ertlfr Ql/rtm P im P les and blotches. it to tahe IfUAallYC 111111 UjlUjf It is F«p Sals by Cnarokaa Drug Co. For Salo by Chorokoo Drug Co. guaranteed For Salo by Chorokoo Drug Co. LOSS TO THAW JURORS. All but Two Rich Ones Suffer by Ab sence From Business. As the Thaw murder trial drags slowly along those of the Jurors who have business to attend to are experi encing severe financial loss, says the New York World. While the Jurors presumed at the outset that they were In for a long siege of it, none of them had any idea that the case would ex tend for two months, perhaps more. The first Jurors were drawn on Jan. 24. During ihe trial many of the Ju rors, prevented from attending to busi ness affairs with their accustomed reg ularity, have suffered losses they can never recoup. Others have fallen far behind in their work, and it will be months before they caj? catch up. Besides this, the hotises by which some of the jurors are employed as managers or in other responsible ca pacities have found their affairs sadly lagging, and financial losses that can not easily be estimated have resulted. There are only two jurors who have not suffered seriously by the long pe riod of immurement. They are retired merchants aud are independently wealthy. The. fact that the jurors since th* death of the wife of Juror Joseph B. Boltou, three weeks after the trial be gan, have been allowed to go at the close of each day has helped only in ' part. Those who have availed them- i selves of the opportunity to go to their , offices have been so overwhelmed with work that it has been a severe strain. Before the ueatli of Juror Bolton's | wife the jury when not in the court room was locked up in the Broadway Central hot *1. After that they were given their freedom after adjournment each day. Lacli adjournment has inva riably foun ! the majority of the jurors hustling t > ih.dr offices to work until late at night. The jurors receive 92 for each day’s service during the trial. At least one of them has no other revenue, and he has f.i (; n.re closely to maintain hint self and his v.tie. High Diplomacy. There Is woe among the nations, There Is rage across the foam, In St. Petersburg and Paris, London and Madrid and Rome. For the kaiser's Speck von Sternburg Stole a march upon the rest When he taught the Roosevelt children How to ride and hurdle best. No doubt cables now are hissing, Bearing questions rude and blunt. Saying: “Bryce, you chump, get busy! Can’t you teach the kids a stunt?” While to Jusserand instructions For the honor of his flag Make the frenzied call to duty! “Mon Dfau! Teach I’enfants ze tag!” Hence the diplomats are thinking That their lot Is rather blue, Not alone to play with Roosevelt, But to teach the youngsters too. —McI.aJidburgh Wilson in New York Sun. The Only SemLWeekly Newspaper in South Carolina At $1.00 READ Modern Progress in New York. Office buildings 26 stories high, containing a thousand offices; hotels covering a city block, containng 1,400 rooms: many, very many, painted with the L. & M. Machinery produces L. & M. 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