Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-08-27

eye OF an unsuspecting person. the nove.
ment would have had The effect of m;scsI.
culation in distance, but the keen senses
of the captain We're not to be deceived
ne beheld the light recedipg slowly bet
steadily, as they advanced. He strained
his eyes to discover the cause. but in vain.
AS they threaded the mazes OF the wood,
1t would suddenly disappear, and after
proceeding few minutes without be-
holding it, they would pause, thinking it
nad vanished entirely, when again its
hight would glimmer before them, as if
ihVlting them to proceed. One thing the
captain had discovered; they were pur-
SUNG beaten path through the forest,
and he felt slight shudder thrill even 70
his stout heart as he reflected mat Il
might have been worn by the feet of un-
fortunate travellers who had fallen vic
TINS to this mystery.
A quarter of an hour had passcd since
they had 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 il
seemed to be gone in reality; they walked
steadily on-all was dark. The captain
was adout to relinquish the pursuit, when
10: there was the light quivering as before.
Heinrichstepped briskly forward there
was was cracking sound, as of break
ing Of twigs. The captain drew back
ndgraspedan overhanging bough. There
was sound of a heavy fall, a 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 himself back
from his perilous situation. Scarcely had
he reganed firm footing before he saw
the light rapidly approach the pit. With
a painful effort he repcessed his breath
ing. As it ncared Linn he perceived that
ii was nothing but frame work in which
taper was placed, bcino n the hands of
a man ofwild ferocious aspect. The truth
instantly flashed upon Ia, captain S mind:
he understood the deviliSh artifce which
this monster had used to entrap the un-
wary.
The robber placed his window by the
side Of the pit, and sinking on his knees.
peered curiously into the deDth; a long
knife which glitteTed in his hand. told
plainly what awaited Heinrich if he sur
vived the fall.
The captain drew forth one Of his MS.
tolls and cautiously cooked it; slight as
was the sound, the robbers ear detected
1t, and he sprang to his feet the captain
fired as he rose. The aim was true and
fatal; with a loud shrek the rufian fell
to the earth; few convulsive struggles
shook his frame, and he lay perfectly mo-
The captain moved cautiously round the
sides of the pit and gained his side. He
was quite dead. He examined his person:
he found that his garments were of the
kind, and much worn: his feet
were protected by covering mad o. leit,
which prevented his footsteps frcm beng
heard. He then turned and examined he
window; it was nothing but q colnmc1
frame that he had obtained from so2ls
cottage; the taper was backed BY small
green board, which served to throw tie
rays of light straight forward, willie il
concealed the person of the bearer.
Feeling anxious for the fate of Heinrich.
the captain called loudly upon the :.are,
but received no answer. Fearing the
worst, he retraced his steps, to the best of
his ability, in the direction of the inn.
By pursuing the path, which he had De-
fore noted, ne succeeded in reaching 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 snort delay
to procure the assistance of the neighbor-
ing villagers; the captain acceded.
In about two hours after, strong party
proceeded to the scene Of nocturnal ad-
venture. The captain found all as he had
left it, and his heart was considerably
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 the body among those
he had slaughtered, and filled it up with
earth
The place was soon deserted. Captain
Ernst, after hearty goodbye exchanged
with the host and Heinrich, proceeded on
his journey. The circumstances became
known, and the government rewarded his
courage with pension.
Heinrich had the window placed in the
front side of the inn, where it NAV be
seen to this day by the curious traveller.
REBELLION IN THE WEST INDIEs.-The
st. Thomas Times speaks of rebellion
in Tortola, Danish West Indies, caused by
the Legislature passing an act increasing
the tax on cattle twelve cents a head.
making the tax thirty-six cents. The
first of August last being the day for the
law going into effect, the country people