Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-12-22
governed his movements that they seem.

AS they proceeded, the light almost
imperceptbly retreared. To the eye of
an unsuspicious person the movement
would have had the effect of miscalcula-
jtion in distance, but the keen senses of
the, captain were not to be deceived he
beheld the light yreceeding slowly, but
steadily as they advanced. He strained
his eyes to discover the cause, but in
vain. As they threaded the mazes of
the wood, it would suddenly disappear,
and after proceeding few minutes with
out beholding it, they would pause,
thinking it had vanished entirely, when
again its light would glimmer before
them, as if'inviting them to proceed. One
thing the captain had discovered, they
were pursuinga beaten path through the
forest, and he felt slight shudder thrill
even to his stout heart, as he reflected
thatit might have been worn by the feet
of the unfortunate travellers who had fall
len victims to this mystery. "
A quarter of an hour had passed since
they entered the forest, and yet they
were no nearer the light than before.
The captain began to grow inpatient
Again the light disappeared: this time it
seemed to have gone in reality they
walked silently on-all S,1as dark. The
captain was about to relinquish the pur-
suit, when 10 there was the light quiye-
ring as before.
Heinrich stepped briskly forward; there
was cracking sound, as of breaking
twigs. The captain drew back and gras.
ped an oyerhanging bough. There was
the sound of a heavy fall, cry of pain,
then all was still. The captain was
standing on the brink of the pit into
which Heinrich had fallen. By the aid
of the bough he had seized, he drew him
self back from his perilous situation,-
scarcely had he recovered firm footing
before he saw the light rapidly approach.
ing the pit. With a painful effort he re-
pressed his breathing. AS it tnearcd him,
he perceived twas nothing but frame
work, in which taper was placed. borne
in the hands of a man of wild and fcro-
cious aspect. The truth instantly flash
ed upon the captains mind he under
stood the deyilish artiice which this mon
ster had used to entrap the unwary.
The robber placed the window by the
side of the pit. and sinking on his knees,
peered cautiously into its depths; long
knife which glittered in his hand told
plainly what awaited Heinrich if he sur
vived the fall.
The captain drew forth one of his pis-
tolls anu cautiously coc.--aa coc,:-a i. slight as
was the sound, the robbers ear detected
it, and he sprang to his feet F; the captain
fred as he rose. The aim was true and
fatal, with loud shrek the ruffian fell
TO the earth; IL few convulsiye struggles
shook his frame, then he lay perfectly mo-
tionless.
The captain moved cautiously around
the sides of the pit and gained his side.
He was quite dead. He examined his
person; his garments were of the toughest
kind and much worn;--his feet were pro-
tected by covering made of felt, which
prevented his footsteps from being heard;
he then turned and examined the win
dow; it was nothing but a common frame
that he obtained from some cottage the
taper was backed by a small strip of
green board, which served to throw the
rays of the light straight forward, while
it concealed the person of the bearer.
Feeling anxious for the fate of Helm
rich, the captain called loudly upon his
name. but received no answer. Fearing
the worst, he retraced his steps to the best
ofhis ability in the direction of the inn
, By pursuing the path which he had be-
! fore noted, he succeeded in regaining the
road without much difficulty, and arrived
at the inn little before daybreak.
! The host, though anxious to ascertain
the fate of his son, advised short delay
in order to procure the assistance OF the
neighboring villagers; the captain acee-
ded
| In about two hours after, a strong par
. ty proceeded to the scene of the noctur-
nal adventure. The captain found all as
he had left it, and his heart was conside-
rably relieved by hearing the voice of
Heinrich shouting Justify for help. He
was soon relieved from his unpleasant
situation; though stunned by the fall, he
had received no other hurt than few
bruises. This pit was the robbers burial
place, as well as trap; they cast his
body among those he had slaughtered,
and filed it up with earth.
! The place was soon deserted. Captain
Ernest, after hearty goodbye exchan-
ged with the host and Heinrich. proccc-
ded on hisjourney. The circumstance
became known, and the government re-
warded his courage with a pension.
Z Heinrich had the window placed on
/ the front side of the inn, where it may be
seen to this day by the curious traveller.
CHRISTMAS PLuM PuDDING-Chop
/ half a pound of beef suet very fine; stone
and chop one pound of raisins. wash,
pick, clean from grit. and dry a pound of
currents, soak half of six cent loaf of
bread IN pint of milk; when it has ta-
ken up all the milk, add to it the raisins,
currents, chopped suet. and two eggs bea-
I fa,,f a-toblas,s ,f,,lr Of suorar one wine