Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1842-11-17
ITEMS OF HOICE.
S Y ID d Il n + L A II


OF the most acknowledge courage are
sometimes paralyzed when taken by sur.
prise. when hurried unawares, aud threa-
tened BY danger before they have Sllne
to prepare for il, and meet it.
Mr.. c. was once riding throug I'll
Epping Forest. then frequently the scene
of highway robberies, caring for no one.
fearing no harm, when he suddenly fell
In with couple of as pretty women as
any in the county OF Essex. The ladies
were in the greatest distress. They had
just been robbed and p'untIered by cou-
pie of tootpads, armed with pistols and
diks two men Of enormous strength.
who had'gone off across the country, car
rying with them the purses, watches, and
iFihkets OF the fair dtmsels, whnse Do. III
l'on and man-set want had not dared to
interfere. MIR. c. had no weapon
Wtl him, except his ruling cane he.
however. clapped spurs to his horse, and
startet. OF III tie direction pointed out.
His pursuit was su"eessfui. lie came up
with the robbers. and single-handed seiZ-
cd them both, and lodged them i'll Chelms-
ford ii. Alley were tried. convicted,
ant! transported.
The daring which Mr. C dis.
played in thus encountering and conqu-
erng two armed men, became the theme
OF the whole country. His health was
drunk at all public meetings. Families
who had hitherto been unknown to him.
Hooked round him, eager to make his ac-
qaalntance. Songs We're even tro!ied in
honor of his nube e&ploit. While, on
the other side OF the question, the poaeA-
ers and freeb,oters vowed deep revenge
ile'er they caught him. His death was
said to be socmnly determined On By
these gentry which threat being repeat
ed to our friend, Mr. G, he deter
mined for the furlure to follow the exam
pie at his neighbours, ard never again
travel unarmed. Months, however, roll
led by, and no attack was made on his
person or mansion. The rogues were
evidently afraid Of encountering one IF
such determined courage.
One winter evening, about seven o.
clock, MIR. c., with five other sen-
tlemen, we'll crammed into the stage
each, came to a sudden halt. The door
was thrown open, and the muZZle of an
awe inspiring biuhderbuss thrnsttl1roush
the aperture by an individual with
mask /; who. after "hoping that he didn't
intrude," demanded their watches and
purses when, To-! the six passengers, in
Guiding Mr.. C, although they had
pistols enough amongst then to stock
moderately extensive armory, quietly de-
iivered up their cash and yaluables to
this single fuotpad.
The story got abroad the tale was
told with gusto by those who bad enved
C-'s former splendid feat, and adj !
dtlonal verses were conposedfto The song
written on his courage. Jokes were cut
at his expense. Ii was in vain that he
raved and foamed. He took the wisest
sep, and left the country.
| quote this story as sort of pegdant
to very simple case IF strange analogy,
which came under my observance in Rem
gal.
Tom Philan $50 let us call him) was as
good fellow as ever drilled 4 company
olsepoys, or ventered a sood pun at a COM
paay's mess table. Brave and generous,
like almost all his countrymen, Tom was
TOOL hafdy. In a word, he was regular
oul-and-out - Fipperary boy"
One evening, having exhausted every
--ther topic for betting, we were trying
our utmost to see who could Jump highest,
when Lindsay backed himself for twenty
gold mohurs to touch the top of Il high
folding-.loor. The offer was accepted.
and my friend took his spring. He sue.
ceeded in accomplishing the task but.
as he descended, we remarked he had-sud- I
denly turned deadly pale. and gasped Tor
breath. The cause was, however, ,ap-
parent: he had touched with his fingers
S cobra manila, which had been living at
full length on the top edge of the open
door. SO sudden had been the motion,
that the snake had not time to inhict his !
mortal bite; but, pushed from his airy
position, had fallen on the floor in the |
midst OF US. (
A scream burst from almost every lip,
and regular - sarvs 9ui pent'' took place
-nasy rushing rut Of the room, and ev-
en- the house. lancyiEg themselves pursa-
Gu ~ thc iet reptile. Not SO. how ever,
with Phlian, who happened to be present.
lie suddenly caught up riding whip
which was lying on "a chair, and, alvanc-
ing bol;;iy up 10 the cobra, Killed it at IA
single slow, to the admiration Of every
one present.
On one occasion, returning along the
Band at Berhampore, IA high steep pank
erected TO keep out tie river.) which
was 50 narrow on the top as to allow Of
only one person walking on it. toerably
wei! primed with liquor, preceded by his
hidtm,tgor carrying a lighted torch !;
Tom suddenly checked the song he was
believing ou'. on seeing his servant
threw down the torch, and rush into the
stream. BY the light of the still burning
brand. he beheld cobra copeIa alread
dancing Oh its tail. ready to spring at
him its specialized eyes beaning like