The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1826-02-13
feom he Philadelphia Evening Post.
MIDNIGHT ATTACK.


One of the coolest and most drea-
~ days of winter. during The long
protraetcd struggle Of the Amcri-
cans for liberty. two officers. appa.
licntly very Young, We're secn bend
ing their course slowly down the
rough side of a bleak mountaii,
west of the Allcganies, the sterile
appearance of which together with
the proximity to the Indians, had hi
therto deferred any European from
endeavoring to inhabit il. They
were returning homewards from the
army. employed on the Western from.
tier. and had proceeded thus far on
their Journey without solitary all
venture. The couniCnanCe Ol one.
Who appeared to be the youngest,
was overcast with a settled gloom /;
his complexion was of II dark hue, y
his brow iurrONcd with the tolls oil
war. The other in vain attempted
10 arrest his attention by conversa-
ton, An impenetrablc cloud hung a
round him nor could his compani-
on divert his thoughts from her ac-
customcd channel, until house VAS
deserted at n distance. just raising
It's head above the wild scenery a
round il "A few Curls of smoke now
aud then arose FIRM its chimney.
barely sufficient T. show that II was
inhabited, though the internal ap-
prarance was almost enough In have
deferred any one from approachr E
II. but a soldier, used - Inho,plialIty,
The tavern, (ior sue II happened Ia
be ON closer lnspeCllon.) MA buIli
of logs. thro' the CreNices Of whie h
tie wind whistled every note il the
gamut, X WAS surrounded by lcal-
less. forest, from which the cry Of
the alfstaryed vol and paother
were alternately heard. producing Il
most awful dlseOrd. A suspicious
loolsi ing landlord appeared Al the call
OF the travellers. grumbicd a surb
welcome Il led hem int, the house.
-Ihe remains 81 a dinner we're set
before them which thry eagerly de
soured, and requested 10 hr shcwn
immr diatcly to their apartments. but
we're told that the best III the house
were already bespokcn by gentle
man who vas to pass the night there
=" But" added the landlord, /" we
have another whicu las no bed, In
which you may go, il You please
=. Conduct us there replied the ell
der Off Ger, =. I'll Warrant we'll SON
make it comfortable" A malicious
pleasure spread over the face ol the
host at these words, AID without
more ado be seized candle aud led
To a room at HE top of c building.
which seemed as If II mlgh' have
been the habltation oil bats ftr hall
a century a snall window wifi
shattered panes. served for an en-
trance. aud the Tapping of thcig
wings produced such a ~ sc as gaNr
but IA melanehnIy presagr Of WA
their sleep might be. Tn" landlord.
with "A fend like smile o. satis.ac
on, bade them goo, night, and has
tened to maxi prcpardtlna Tor ott'r
guests. They heard fine door put
to after him, and " IL horror. bar
thrust in. on the other side t Sc Ire
it. Various We're the c'4Icclnrcs
they formed npon their treatment.
A thousand different eXplanati 'ns
were presented TO then INA matt
ons they fancied their host mid
night robber, who after plunderlng
them Of what they possessed, would
complete the treachcry with the as.
sassin's knife. In the midst ofthrir
nominations. noise and hustle was
heard below, which. from what eX-
cIamations they could oscrhear, as
certaincd to he caused by the arrival
Of the expected gentleman aud his
suite. What WAS his OBJECT IN mo
wing about al this perlIous period, |
am unable to tell. All know ol it,
is. that he was gentleman of large
fortune, travelling with his. only
child. and few domestics. one Of
whom was despatched before him to
secure quarters at the inn. His ar
rival certainly caused great noise at
The place the IaHdIady Immediate
| " caused the whole ste, X ofservants,
which. by the bye. was not very
great. to be put in requisitlon, and
The landlord himself sailed forth
with his most ohscuninna air, U re