The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1852-12-23


to a soldier, who finds it somewhat hard
to settle down into quiet life, after the
hustle and strife of long campaign.
50, if my stout Heinrich, there, will
bear me company, I'll e'en undertake a
solution of this enigma"
"With all my heart, captain" cried
Heinrich, promptly.
"Then let us set forth at once"
" What, tonight! exclaimed the
host. ... .......n t........
"Aye, tonight" replied the captain,
" it is scarcely ten o'clock and | am IN
excellent trim; so, prepare, my lad and
let us set forth at once"
The captain examined the priming of
his pistols carefully, and then thrust
them into his belt /; he then buckled on
his sabre. Heindrich was ready, armed
with stout cudgel. In this manner
they sailed forth. After proceeding a
few PAGES up the road, the captain paus-
ed to give his companion few ihstruc-
tions.
Heinrich" he said, ga skillfu
commander always conceals the number
of his force-for tie furtherance of my
plan of action, it is necessary that we
should pass for one man. You are tire
guide, consequently you must 90 first /;
1 will lcck step with you; tread lightly,
and our mingled footsteps will sound
like the tread of one man. In this man
ner-ah, you UNDERSTANDINGS a bad
soldier for beginner. Now, whatever
you see or hear, keep your tongue be-
tween your teeth, if you wish to call my
attention to anything, nudge me with
your elbow; if you sec the light on the
left, the left elbow, if the right, why the
right elbow. Now, then forward
march 20
They proceed in silence for over an
hour. Heinrich's right elbow was then
thrust gently into the captains ribs at
his whispered SHALT" they both stopped.
Amid the trees they both saw distinctly
a faint, twinkling light, having the ap-
pearance Of a taper in a cottage.
"Now, Heinrich" said the captain,
" if the devil owns that light, he has no
power to harm us, if it belongs to mortal
man, we shall see which is the strongest.
Keep bold heart in your breast and
press steadily on.
They entered the forest the captain
still keeping close behind Heinrich, so
governed his movements that they seem
ed like one man. u.. .-
As they proceeded the light almos
imperceptibly retreatcd. To the eye O
an unsuspicious person the movement
would have had the effect of miscalcula
ton in distance, but the keen senses oi
the captain were not to be deceived; he
beheld the light receding slowly but
steadily, as they advanced. He strain
cd his eyes to discover the cause, tut in
vain. As they threaded the mazes of
the wood, it would suddenly disappear,
and proceeding few minutes without
beholding it, they would pause, thinking
it had vanished entirely, when again its
light would glimmer before them, as il
inviting them to proceed. .'One thing
the captain had discovered; they were
pursuing beaten path through the for
est, and he felt slight, shuddcr thrill
even to his stout heart as he reflected
that it might have been worn by the feet
of the unfortunate travellers who had
fallen 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 impatient.
Again the light disappeared this time
it seemed to have gone in reality they
walked silently on-all was dark. The
Captain was about to relinquish the pur-
suit, when 10 there was the light quiv-
ering as before. 'H'a.fF a.-
Heinrich stepped briskly forward
there was a cracking sound, as of break
ing twigs. The Captain drew back and
grasped a oyerhanging bough. Then
was the sound of heavy fall, a cry of
pain-thcn all WIS 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
himself back from his perilous situation.
Scarcely had he recovered firm footing
before he saw the light rapidly approach
ing the pit. With q painful effort he
reprcssed his breathing. As il ncared
him he perceived it was nothing but q
frame work, in which taper was placed,
borne in the hands Of a man of wild and
ferocious aspect. The truth instantly