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satisfaction。
〃December 2nd。…Information laid against gang at Porter's Station；
near Lynch's Creek。 Charged with several robberies and murders
in different parts of the county。 Long been suspected of having
stills in the swamps。 Gang consists of four besides Porter himself。
Names of gang； Jack Haverley； Jim Corben； and John and James
Porter。 Ordered out posse to start to…morrow
〃December 5th。 … Returned from Porter's Stakon。 Surprised the
gang。 They resisted。 Ilaverley； Carbon； and James Porter shot。
John Porter escaped； and took to swamp。 Four of posse wounded；
one； William Hannay； killed。 Circulated description of John Porter
through the county。 Tall and lean； when fifteen years old shot a
man in a brawl； and went north。 Has been absent thirteen years。
Assumed the appearance of a northern man and speaks with
Yankee twang。 Father was absent at the time of attsck。 Captured
three hours after。 Declares he knows nothing about doings of the
gang。 Haverley and Corben were friends of his sons。 Came and
went when they liked。 Will be tried on the 15th。〃
On the 16th there was another entry：
〃William Porter sentenced to three years' imprisonment for
giving shelter to gang of robbers。 Evidence wanting to show he
took any actual part in their crimes。〃
The sheriff had been in and out several times during the five hours
that Vincent's search had taken up。 When he returned again
Vincent pointed out the entry he had found。
〃I should not be at all surprised if that's our man；〃 the sheriff said。
〃I know old Porter well； for he is still alive and bears a pretty bad
reputation still； though we have never been able to bring him to
book。 I remember all the circumstances of that affair； for I served
upon the posse。 While Porter was in prison his house was kept for
him by a married daughter and her husband。 There was a strong
suspicion that the man was one of the gang too； but we couldn't
prove it。 They have lived there ever since。 They have got five or
six field hands； and are said to be well off。 We have no doubt they
have got a still somewhere in the swamps； but we have never been
able to find it。 I will send a man off to…morrow to make inquiries
whether any stranger has arrived there lately。 Of course； Pearson
will not have kept that name； and he will not have appeared as
John Porter； for he would be arrested on a fresh warrant at once for
his share in that former business。 I think； Captain Wingfield； you
had better register at the hotel here under some other name。 I don't
suppose that he has any fear of being tracked here； still it is just
possible his father may have got somebody here and at Florence to
keep their eyes open and let him know if there are any inquiries
being made by strangers about a missing negress。 One cannot be
too careful。 If he got the least hint； his son and the woman would
be hidden away in the swamps before we could get there； and there
would be no saying when we could find him。〃
Vincent took the sheriff's advice； and entered his name in the hotel
book as Mr。 Vincent。 Late in the evening the sheriff came round
to him。
〃I have just sent summonses to six men。 I would rather have had
two or three more； but young men are very scarce around here
now； and as with you and myself that brings it up to eight that
ought to be sufficient； as these follows will have no time to
summon any of their friends to their assistance。 Have you a rifle；
Captain Wingfield？〃
〃No； I have a brace of revolvers。〃
〃They are useful enough for close work；〃 the sheriff said； 〃but if
they see us coming； and barricade their house and open fire upon
us； you will want something that carries further than a revolver。 I
can lend you a rifle as well as a horse if you will accept them。〃
Vincent accepted the offer with thanks。 The next morning at
daylight ho went round to tho sheriff's house； where six
determined…looking men； belonging to the town or neighboring
farms； were assembled。 Slinging the rifle that the sheriff handed
him across his back； Vincent at once mounted； and the party sot
off at a brisk trot。
〃My man came back half an hour ago；〃 the sheriff said to Vincent
as they rode along。 〃He found out that a man answering to your
description arrived with another at Porter's about a fortnight ago；
and is staying there still。 Whether they brought a negress with
them or not no one seems to have noticed。 However； there is not a
shadow of doubt that it is our man； and I shall be heartily glad to
lay hold of him； for a brother of mine was badly wounded in that
last affair； and though he lived some years afterward he was never
the same man again。 So I have a personal interest in it； you see。〃
〃How far is it to Porter's？〃
〃About thirty…five miles。 We shall get there about two o'clock； I
reckon。 We are all pretty well mounted and can keep at this pace；
with a break or two； till we get there。 I propose that we dismount
when we get within half a mile of the place。 We will try and get
hold of some one who knows the country well； and get him to load
three of us round through the edge of the swamp to the back of the
house。 It stands within fifty yards of the swamp。 I have no doubt
they put it there so that they might escape if pressed； and also to
prevent their being observed going backward and forward to that
still of theirs。〃
This plan was followed out。 A negro lad was found who； on the
promise of a couple of dollars； agreed to act as guide Three of the
party were then told off to follow him； and the rest； after waiting
for half an hour to allow them to make the detour； mounted their
horses and rode down at a gallop to the house。 When they were
within a short distance of it they heard a shout； and a man who was
lounging near the door ran inside。 Almost instantly they saw the
shutters swing back across the windows； and when they drew up
fifty yards from the door the barrels of four rifles were pushed out
through slits in the shutters。
The sheriff held up his hand。 〃William Porter； I want a word with
you。〃
A shutter in an upper room opened； and an elderly man appeared
with a rifle in his hand。
〃William Porter；〃 the sheriff said； 〃I have a warrant for the arrest
of two men now in your house on the charge of kidnaping a female
slave； the property of Captain Wingfield here。 I have no proof
that you had any share in the matter； or that you are aware that the
slave was not honestly obtained。 In the second place； I have a
warrant for the arrest of your son John Porter； now in your house
and passing recently under the name of Jonas Pearson； on the
charge of resisting and killing the officers of the law on the 5th of
December； 1851。 I counsel you to hand over these men to me
without resistance。 You know what happened when your sons
defied the law before； and what will happen now if you refuse
compliance。〃
〃Yah！〃 the ol