Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-05-09
look pale and nothing can be more bor.

look pale and nothing can be more hor-
rible than the color which at such time
the negro assumes. The blo( (6 forsakes
the countenance the lips become Of a
dull, yellow white; circle of blush
tinge surrounds the eyes the red veins
in which, being swollen and tingsd with
blood, seem of the hue of fire while the
ivory whiteness of the teeth imports to
the whole face character almost demon
iacal.
| elbowed my way with difficulty
through the circle, for authority seemed
lost: L shouted, stamped, swore,s and at
last was heard. What is the meaning
of all this confusion 2"
' The black spalpeen has runaway
from his post and never stopped TO look
behind him" says the sergeant.
Where was he stationed 2"
I'm the archway by the prisoners
quarters.
Turn out the relief, then, and post
another sentinel"
Grumble went the Germans the North
umbrians rumbled out their dissatisiac-
ton: the negroes squeaked, but no one
moved. All the Irish blood in nv veins
rushed TO my head, and | was in Z" q
laundering big passion" as the sergeant
afterwards defined it. again and again
demanded the cause of all this uproar.
No answer. | at length, by dint of sha.
king, roaring and humping, drew an
answer from blackie himself; who gasped
out, while his mouth opened and shut
like dying dog fish:
"Oh, massa Captin. (all the officers
are captains with the West Indian sol.
diers,) oh, maSsa Captin, me sayce-sar.
tin me safe-sure me go do kirkc daboo-
me die-me 60 to Guinea-me see da
Jumbee"
Twas but q new conner in the colonies,
and did not understand him. | demand
cd an explanation from the sergeant.
Sure, and please yur honor, he says
he saw the achite gintleman,' that is the
devil, yer honor"
"The superstitious scoundrel the
prisoners have ben endeayoring to ter
rify him." exclaimed I, "turn out the
relief this instant take off his accoutre-
ments: make prisoner of him, and fol-
low me to his post"
This was soon arranged the sergeant
and three men were selected; the word
was given-.With ball cartridge, load
and priIne;' and off we marched towards
the massive archway, dividing the lower
from the upper compartment of the for
tress, where the sentry had been posted,
and where the French prisoners were
locked up during the night time. We
reached the spot. 1t was at the entrance
of a long covered way, or bomb-proof
easement, arched overhead, that we halt
ed on each side Of which was the row
of doors leading to the prisoners quar-
ters, and over each door, Just at the
spring Of the arch, was corresponding
row of windows. The wind blew fresh
and cool in Qua faces, as we looked up
the passage, whose extremity was lost in
darkness but the moon threw her beams
from behind us as we stood, enlightening
a few PAGES within the avenue, and mark
ing on the walls and ground distinct
=. cut shadow" forming a perceptible
division between the clear, bright moon
light without, and the thick, gloomy
darkness within the archway. | tried
each door-all was fast; the sound of
heavy sleepers from within, showed that
whatever has disturbed Blackee, had not
alarmed the prisoners.
| passed through the archway. A
lofty traverse, and it's accompanying
shallow ditch, divided it from, but did
not prevent access to battery beyond.
[ passed round its end and stood in the
open space. Why / was alarmed, know
not, for had often been there before !:
but true it is, feeling Of solemn awe
crept over me on finding myself within
the precincts Of bastion, in whose ram
parts were deposited the remains of such
officers, whether English or French, as
in former times had died within the fort.
The low ridges of earth covering the
British dead, were invisible among the
rank and luxuriant growth, of topical
vegetation, but the wooden crosses, at
the head of the resting places of the
Frenchmen, were early diStinguishable,
although the huge building from which l
had just emerged, threw its gloomy
shadow over the limited space; solemni-
zing, but not darkening the spot where
those who had once fought fiercely in the
:. battle plain" now slept side by side,
the calm long sleep of death. / threw
my hurried and inquiring glance around
Its boundary. No living object met my
view. Slowly and pensively / returned
to the soldiers L had left beyond the arch,
all there continued still, and remained SO
for upwards of half an hour; at the end
of which time, weary of inactivity, 1
placed one of the men on the duty which
his fellow had abandoned, and proposed
returning to the guard-house with the
other.
Scarcely had turned my back for this
purpose, when a shrek Of terror burst
from the newly-placed sentinel, who,
after for about second presenting his
musket down the archway, flung it vio-
lently from him, and fed precipitately,
as also did the sergeant and his comrades.
Ny eyes followed the direction of the level
led musket, and do not fear t,ing &C
cused of cowardice, when say follow
ed the example set me, and also ran
away; for never did more fear-inspiring
object meet the human vision, than that
on which my terror stricken gaze was
now riveted. The moon, as it shone
brightly into the avenue, 81 owed me,
near the summit of the arch ar ID almost