The ledger. [volume] (Gaffney City, S.C.) 1896-1907, May 03, 1907, Image 2
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HORSE-SHOE ROBINSON
A TALE OF THE TORY ASCENDENCY
BY
JOHN P. KENNEDY
“There is some iroods things.'’ said
the sergeant, “in this world that’s
good, and some that’s bad. But I
have always found that good and bad
is so mixed up and jumbled together,
that you don’t often get much of one
without a little of the other. A sod-
ger’s a sodger. no matter what side
he is on; and they are the naturalest
people ii the world for fellow-feeling.
One day a man is up. and the the
laugh’s on his side; next day he is
down, and then the laugh’s against
him. So. as a sodger has more of
these ups and downs than other foll:-4
there’s the reason his heart is ten
derer towards a comrade than other
people’s. Here’s your health, sir.
This is a wicked world, and twistedj
in a measure, upside down; and. it is
well known that etil communications
corrupts good manners; but gpdgers
were made to set the world right
again, on its legs, and to preserve
good breeding and Christian charity.
So there’s a sermon for you. you
tinkers!”
“Well done. mister preacher!'’
vociferated a prominent reveller- ‘‘if
you will desert and enlist with us
you shall be the chaplain of the troop.
We want a good swearing, drinking,
and tearing blade who cau hold a dis
course over his liquor, and fence
with the devil at long words. You’re
the very man for it! Huzza for the
blacksmith!”
“Huzza for the blacksmith! ' shout
ed several others in the apartment.
Butler, during this scene, had
stretched himself out at full length
upon a bench, to gain some rest in
his present exhausted and uncomfort
able oondtion. and was now partak
ing of the refreshments of a bowl of
milk and some coarse bread, which
one of the troopers had brought him.
“What’t all this laughing and up
roar about?” said Habershaw. enter
ing the room with Curry, just at the
moment of the acclamation in favor
of the sergeant. “Is this a time for
your cursed wide throats to be bray
ing like asses! We have business to
do. And you. sir.” said he. turning
to Butler, "you must be taking up the
room of a half dozen men on a bench
with your lazy carcase! Up. sir; I
allow no lolling and lying about to
rascally whigs and rebels. You have
cost me the death of a dog that is
worth all your filthy whig kindn>l:
and you have made away with two of
the best men that ever slept in shoe
leather. Sit up. sir. and thank your
luck that vou havent’ your arms
pinioned behind you. like a horse
thief.”
“Insolent coward,” said Butler,
springing upon his feet; "hired ruf-
fin! you shall in due time be made to
pay for the outrage you have inflcict-
ed upon me.”
“Tie him up!” cried Habershaw:
“tie him up! And now I call you all
to bear witness that he has brought
the sentence upon himself: it shall
be done without waiting another mo
ment. Harrv Gage. I give the matter
over to you. Draw out four men.
take them into the yard, and dispatch
the prisoners off-hand! shoot the
traitors on the spot, before we eat
our breakfast! I was a fool that I
didn’t settle this at daylight this
morning—the rascally filth of the
earth! Have no heart about it, men:
but makt* sure work by a slmrt dis
tance. This is no time for whining.
When have the Whigs shown mercy
to us!”
“It shall be four against four, then!”
cried out Shadrach Green, seconded
bv Andrew Clopper; “and the first
shot that is fired shall be into the
bowels of Hugh Habershaw! Stand
by me. hoys!”
In a moment the parties were divid
ed. and had snatched up their weap
ons. and then stood looking angrily
at each other as if daring each to
commence the threatened affray.
“Why. how now. devil’s imps!”
shouted Habershaw. “Have you come
to a mutiny? Have you joined the
rebels. James Curry, look at this!
By the bloody laws of war. I will re
port every rascal who dares to lift
his hand against me!”
“The thing is past talking about”
said the first speaker, cooly. “Hugh
Habershaw. neither you nor James
Currv shall command the peace if
you dare to offer harm to the prison
ers. Now. bully, report that as my
saving. They are men fairly taken
I*' war. and shall suffer no evil past
what the law justifies. Give them up
to the officer of the nearest oost—
that’s what we ask—carry them to
Innis’s camp if you choose: but whilst
they are in our keeping there shall
be no blood spilled without mixing
some of your own with it. Hugh Hab
ershaw.”
“Arrest the mutineers!” cri^d Hab
ershaw, trembling with rage. “Who
are mv friends in this room? Det
them stand by me. and then—blast
me if I don't force obedience to my
orders!”
“You got off by the skin of your
teeth last night.” said Green, “when
you tried to take the life of Gideon
Blake. For that you get your reckon
ing this morning, captain and al 1 as
you are.”
“What in the devil would you
have?” inquired Habershaw. stricken
Into a more cautions tone of speech
bv the decided bearing of the man
opposed to him.
“The safetv of the prisoners until
they are delivered to the eoniimapder
of a regular post: we have resolved
upon that!” was the reply.
“Curry!” said Habershaw. turning
in some perplexity to the dragoon as
if for advice.
"Safety. Captain: wp had better
have a parley here.” said Curry, who
then added in a. whisper: “There’s
been some damaed bobbery kicked
up here by the blacksmith. This comes
of giving that fellow the privilege of
talking.
“A word, men.” Interposed Horse
Shoe, who during this interval had
planted himself near Butler, aryl with
him stood readv to act as the emer
gency might require. “Let raie say a
word. This James Curry jg mv man.
Give me a broadsword and a pair of
pistols, and I am allowed five minu-
tr s' parole, to have a pass, here in
the yard, with him—it shall im in
sight of the whole squad—I pledge
the word of a sodger to deliver my
self back again to the guard, dead or
alive, without offering to take any
chance to make off in the meantime.
Come, James Curry, your word to
the back of that, and then buckle on
your sword, man. I heard your
whisper.”
“Soldiers.” said Curry, stetiping in
to the circle which the party had now
formed round the room, “let me put
in a word as a peace-maker. Captain
Habershaw won't be unn ansonable.
I will vouch for him that he jvill ful
fil your wish regarding the convey
ing of the prisoners to a regular oost.
Conn?, come, let us have no brawl
ing! For shame! put down your
guns. There may he reason in what
you ask, although it isn’t so much
against the fashion ■of the times to
shoot a Whig either. But anything
for the sake of quiet amongst good fel
lows. Be considerate, noble '••aoiain.
and do as the babies wish. A^for
Horse Shoe's brag—he is an ol(J sol
dier. and so am I: that’s enouh. We
ar^ not so green as to put a broad
sword and a brace of pistols into the
hands of a bullying prisoner. No. no.
Horse Shoe! trv another tricl^ old
boy! Ha. ha, lads! you are a set of
fine hashing chaps, and this is only
one of your madcap bits of spunk that
boils up with your liquor. Takie an
other cup on it. my merry fellows,
and all will be as pleasant as the mu
sic of a fife. Come, valiant Captain
of the Tiger, join us. And as for the
prisoner—why let them come in for
snacks with us. So there’s an end of
the business. All is as mild as new
milk again.”
“Well, well, K(et your breakfast.”
said Habershaw gruffly. “Blast you!
I have spoiled you by good treatment,
you ungrateful, carnivorous dogs!
But. as Peppercorn says, there’s an
end of it! So go to your feeding and
wh<‘n that’s done we will push for
Biackstock's.”
The morning meal was soon des*-
patched, and the party reassembltHi
in thi<- room where the late disturbance
had taken place. The good-nature of
Robinson continued to gain unon
those who had first taken up his cause
and even brought him into a more
lenient consideration with the others.
Amongst the former I have already
noted Andrew Clopper. a rough and
insubordinate member of the gang,
who. vexed by some old grudge agaiust
the fat captain, had efficiently sus
tained Green in the late act of muti
ny. and who now. struck with Horse
Shoe's bold demeaor towards Curry,
began to evince manifest signs of a
growing regard for the worthy ser
geant. With this man Horn* Shoe
contrived to hold a short and secret
interview that resulted In the quiet
transfer of a piece of gold into the
freebooter’s hand, which was received
with a significant nod of assent to
whatever proposition accomoanjUsI it.
When the order of “boot and saddle”
was giv‘n bv Habershaw. the several
members of the troop repaired f o
their horses, where a short time was
spent in making ready for the march:
after which the whoL squad returned
to the porch and occupied the few mo
ments of delay in that loud and l>oist-
erous carousal which is apt to mark
the conduct of such an ill-organized
body in the interval immediately pre
ceding the commencement of a day’s
ride. This was a moment of intense
interest to the sergeant, who kept his
eves staedily fix°d upon the move
ments of Clopper. as that individual
lingered behind his comrades jn the
equipment of his horse. This solici
tude did not. however, arepst his
seeming mirth, as he joined in the
rude jests of the company and added
some sallies of his own.
"Give me that cup,” he said at
length., to one of the mien, as he
pointed to a gourd on a table: “be
fore we start I have a notion to try
the strength of a little cold water, just
by way of physic, after all the liquor
we have been drinking.” and. having
the implement in his hand, hie
walked deliberately to the draw-well,
where he dipped up a draught from
the the bucket that stood on its brink.
As he put the water to his lips and
turned his back upon the company, he
was enabled to take a suryev of
the horses that were attached to
the rack near him: then, suddenly
throwing the gourd from him. he
sprang towards bis own trusty steed,
leaped into his saddle at one bound,
and sped, like an arrow from a bow,
upon the highway. This exploit was
so promptly achieved that no one was
aware of the sergeant’s purpose un
til he was some twenty paces upon
his journey. As soon as the alarm
of his flight was spread, somk- three
or four rifles were fired after him in
rapid sucession. during which he was
seen ducking his head and moving it
from side to side with a view, to baf
fle the aim of the marksmen. The
confusion of the moment in which the
volley was given rendered, it ineffect
ual. and the sergeant was already
past the first danger of his escape.
"To horse and follow!” resounded
from all sides.
’•lxK)k to the other prisoner!"
roared out Habershaw; “if he raises
his head blow out his brains! Follow,
boys, follow!”
"Two or three of you come with
me.” cried Curry, ami a couple of
files hastened with the dragoon to
their horses. Upon arriving at the
rack it was discovered that the bri
dles of the greater part of the troop
were tied in hard knots in such a
manner as to connect each two gr
three horses together.
A short delay took place whilst the
horsemen were disentangling their
reins, and Cum', being the first to
extricate his steed, mounted and set
off in rapid pursuit. He was imme
diately followed by two others.
At the end of half an hour.the two
privates returned and reported that
they had been unable to obtain a
view of the sergeant or even of Cur
ry. Shortly afterwards the dragoon
himself was descried retracing hi»
steps at a moderate trot towards the
house. His plight told a tale upon
him of discomfiture. One side of his
face was bleeding with a recent
bruise, his dress disarranged and his
back covered with dust. The side of
hi- I’orse also bore the same taint of
the soil.
He rode up to Habershaw—who
was already upon tho road at the
head of the remaining members of
the squad, having Butler in charge—
and informed him that he had pursu
ed the sergeant at full speed until he
came in sight of him, when the fugi
tive had slackened his gait as if on
euroose to allow himself to *>e over
taken
“But, the devil grin jthe fellow!” he
add'd, “he has a broad-side like a
man-of-war! In mv hurry I left niy
sword behind me. end. when I came
up with him. I laid i%v hand upon his
bridle; but. bv some sudden sleight
which he has taught his horse, he
contrived, somehow or rther. to un
set me—horse and all—down a bank
on the road-side. And. when I !av on
the ground sprawling, do vou think
the jolly runagate didn’t rein up apd
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"*ve me a broad lauKh. and ask me
if he could be of any sarvice to me?
He then bade me koo.1 bye. saying he
had an engagement that prevented
him from favoring me any longer with
his company. Gad! it was so Qivillv
done that all I could sav was. luck go
with you Mr. Horse Shoe; and, sinpe
we are to part company so soon, may
the de vil pad your saddle for yon!
I’ll do him the justice to sav that he’s
a better horseman than I took him
for. I can hardly begrudge a man
his liberty who can win it as cleverly
as lie has done.”
“Well, there’s no more to lie said
about it.” remarked Habershaw. “He
is only game for another day. He is
like a bear’s cub; which is as much
as to signify that be has a hard time
before him. He would have only
given us trouble; so let him go. Now.
boys, away for Biackstock’s; I will en
gage I keep the fox that’s left safely
One entire block on Depot and Logan streets, with two
6 room cottages and a 7-room house on same. See me quick
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180x200. a beauty. One farm 8)4 miles out with be^t im
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140 acres, 4^ miles out. Sumter Littlejohn house, six
rooms, corner Sumter and Johnson streets. : :
FOR RENT—Two^city farms.
SAM L. FORT, Real Estate and Insurance.
Are You Administrator
enough.”
With these words the troop pro
ceeded upon their march.
(CONTINUED NEXT FRIDAY.)
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w.
WILKINS
c o
P A N Y .
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