The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1856-04-17

ITO whom premium Of $500 was paid for it'll
Lcontinued.l
- CHAPTER VI
Our fortress is the good greenwood,
Our tent the cypress tree;
% We know the forest round us
' As seamen know the sea.
We know iss walls OF thorDy vines, ...
rs giados freely grass,
ns safe and silent islands
Within the dark morass.
soNe or MAsIoxS MEN.
1t was several days sfer the events Of the
last chapter, and the scene was one of wild
and woodland beauty. Huge expresses rose
on every side, festooned with parasite plants
broad glsdes opened here and there in all di
rections; and vast arcades stretched off in
she distance, groiGed and voulted like goth
ic mintev. 1t was just such spot as Robin
Hood might have chosen in old Sherwodd'
Here were gnarled monnrchs Of the forest
which had bravcd the lightnings and storms
of thousand years; here were natural bow
ers formed by the intelacing OF trees--such
az fair Rosamond might have been shelter.
ed in; here were vines, dropping from the
huge branches, like curtains, or hanging in
festooas acsoss the way, Ike the draped BAN
ners OF mighty host, The whole scene
was fell Of picturesque beauty. And the
effect was heightened by fires, which, glim-
mering here and there between the trees,
cast wild and fickering shade over the
sward, and give the prospect the air Of an en-
chanted forest. Fragrant plants allied tle
atmosphere with delicious perfume - the
laurel, the shrub, and, much more exquisite
than as, was the sweet scented jessamiRe
This was Marion's celebrated camp, at
Snow leland. It was piece of high river
swamp, nearly enclosed by water, and de-
Tended by it's natural position from surprise
and besiege alike. Here, after his famous
%expeditions, he would retire TO recruit his
men, exhausted By the long and rapid march.
es,--often sixty miles day, which they had
been called on to endure. Perhaps Me
great secret Of this renowned partiEan's sue
cess, next to his indomitable courage, which
reminds US Of that of knight ofchivalry
was the care which he took to give his fol.
iswefs sufficient rest between his enterpri
ses. His maxim was to lie low and feed
high, until the hour came to strike; but then
his motions were as rapid and the blows be
struck as decisive as the thnnderbolt.
The present occasion was one Of those
on whick his men, having returned from q
successful expedition, - were resignine
themselves, like true soldiers. to the pleas
ure OF the moment. The sentinels were in
deed posted at the outskirts; but inside th,
camp itself was universal wassail and song
The reins Of disciple seemed. for the time
to have been relaxed. The different messe
wers gathered together over their meals
and many merry jest was told, or lyricwa
sor love was surg by those jovial boon com
sPsnions.
One of these groups seemed even more
merry than the rest. Il was composed Q
about dozen meA prominent among whom
was Preston's sergeant, Macdonald. VIII
acted ss difectot Of the ceremonies for th,
time being. and NV especially to the circu
laiion Of the cup
.Keepit up. bqs,' he said, handing aroun
the bottle. II isl't often we get such rea
!. old stufr as thislfor it's not every day W
have ,hs riding II rich tories cellars, :
We had last week A short life,and mer
II ono, i my mstso. Hillo, my excsllen
Iispj Jacob, w cont you drinki Yo'