The countryman stammered, hesitated for a moment, and while he replied, his eye sank beneath the penetrating glance of Singleton.
"Well, Stranger, to say truth, 'twas beca'se I feared to come by Nelson's; I was afeard of the inimy?"
"And whom do you call the enemy?"
"Them that's not a friend to me and my friends; them's my inimies, stranger, and I reckon them's your inimies too."
"Perhaps so; but I must first know who they are, before I can say. Speak out, my good fellow, and let your answers be a little more to the point, if you please."
The mass of tobacco, in the fellow's jaws, performed a more rapid revolution before the man replied; and he then did so only as he saw the hand of Singleton upon the pistol in his belt.
"Well, stranger, if I must, I must: so, by the inimy I means the rebels; them that aint friendly to the king's government—them's the inimy; and there was plenty to spare of them at the nighest track. The river swamp at Nelson's was chock full of Marion's men, and there was no passing; so I took the road across, down by Wright's Bluff, that lets you into the Vance's ferry track, and—"
"You stopped at Watson's?[1]
Singleton put the question affirmatively, and the other looked surprised; the tobacco was about to be revolved from the one jaw to the opposite side, as had been the case at almost every interval made between his sentences, when, quick as lightning, and with a grasp of steel, Singleton seized him by the throat. The fellow strove to slip away, but never did finger more tenaciously gripe the throat of an enemy. The partisan was a man of immense strength, and the stranger was short and small. His powers were far inferior. He strove to struggle, and laboured, but in vain, to speak. The fingers were too closely compressed; and, still maintaining his hold with more tenacity than ever, the assailant bore him down to earth, and with his knee fixed firmly upon his breast, in spite of
- ↑ At that time one of the chain of military posts which the British had established throughout the country.
