Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1857-07-31

/ I ="
The second week after this occurrence
took place, was2 marked byit@o! event:
which, though both affecting theswelfate
! Of shel little icommunitynat the fort were
fof widely different degrees Importance
i Y the efrstI was. that DeathF bad either
suddenly 5llost all hisiskill as atnar ksman
f'ornthat the game had removed TO d safel
aid Enorel distant neighbo borhood. fots Che
; tofficerstula der had been found sadly wan.
ting in the items Iea woedcoeks, sbiacl;
cocks. ptaFmigan. del. fonshe weekipas,
I,aAandlltheusecondI aud gmost important
kofthe3 two1 events, dwas, thatsin lregala,
suecessiorS four r!sentinels had tdisappeared
ffrom che elextfeme LEFT line, without leav.
Iingi,he slightest trace to elucidate the
mystery Of their disappearance. Il r
into the breasts of the rest of the compa.
my. that no one could be found willing to
volunteer to take post-well knowing
that it would be only like singing their
own death warrant to do so; and Col.
Innes. not wishing to wilfully sacrifice the
lives Of his men by compelling them to go,
enioined double caution TO the remainder
of the sentinels. and left the fatal post IN.
occupied for night or two.
Two or three eereconnoitering parties had
been dispatched OF round the neighbor.
hood in the hope OF finding some clue 10
the mystery. or Of obtaining some intelli-
gence of the enemy, but they had each OF
them returned as wise as they started
with no reward for their trouble save
weary bones.
It was on the third night OF the deser-
ton of the post. that our hero, Death was
returning to the fort. after paying visit
to Stauhope Farm. The moon was up,
but her ght was nearly all obscured by
the dense masses of clouds which at ewes
~ few minutes were driven by pretty
stiff breeze over her face; while the huge
trees now all in full leaf. creaked and
groaued. and bent their tall forms to and
fro, as the heavy gusts rushed whisIling
in among their branches.
Our hero had approached within a
hundred yards Of the termination of the
forest that skirted the small open space
in which the fort stood. when suddenly he
paused. and crouching on his hands and
knees, crept cautiously for ward a few
PAGES. Having remained in this position
for "a few minutes. lie again stealthiiy re-
treated in the manner he had advanced /;
and plunging into The forest again emcr>
ged at a point considerably lower. than
where he had intended 70 leave it before.
Col. Innes sat reading. alone, in his
private apartment. when an orderly en-.
tered and informed him that one of the
men wished 10 speak to hifn, 'hI'77'.;
'"Send him in,'' said the Colonel; and
ut the next minute our friend. Death. had
entered, and made his best bow 10 his
commanding officer. ' so
"Well what scrape have you been get
ting into now ?" said the Colonel, when he
saw who his yisiter was.
/" None, Colonel" replied Death "but
have come 10 ask favor"
",Let US hear it. +" said the colonel. land
we will then see what we can do"
Well. Colonel. it is simply this-if
you will put the rifles under my orders
to. night, and let me occupy the deserted
post. will not only clear'up the mystery
Of the disappearance of the four sentries,,
but make the post tenable for the future"
It" But how 2" said the Colonel, in in
tense surprise. H7 2+
Il guess, Colonel" answered Death,
"you had better let me have the men,
and order us of, and I'll tell you the
whole affair after. l promise you that
not one shall receive even a sctatch' that
is II they will follow my directions impll:
city" ' l'.'s s.1- = %
q You are strange man." said the
Colonel. I" but think I will let you have
your own way this time h7 When do you
intend .tostart 2" ...,g,i az. sa...sf
= q /" In about an hours time" answered
the elated Death. IA -s,,,s.,.sr noa
r." Very well. j, will give .he necessary
orders, So that you can, start when. yop
think proper. And what is more il ,you
perform all that you have promised. and
don't cause me TO repent having, ,humored
you. you shall have poor CamPbell's
place" at,.;,,n, eI. 1850, ais, -!
Hector Campbell was a brave but very
head strong, young ,Scotchman. who had
occupied the post eEn Lieutenant at the
fort. In,a sudden freak Of daring he had
volunteered TO stand sentry at The fataI
spot from which three sentinels had al
ready SO myster ously disappeared and
be paid for his rsshness with his life.
Nov. my lads" said Death. as il
about an hour after his conversation with
Colonel Innes. he approached the desert
ed post. at the head of dozen riaemer
who had been temporarily placed under
his orders. The long and the short O
the affair. is simply this it's a gang o
them cussed. thievin' 1roquois that have
circumvented and carried off our foul
shooting them with their bodies.
"To night.ias was returning to th'
fort, ! suddenly thought l heard th'
sound Of several voices. and creeping OF
my hands and knees towards the spot