Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-07-22

mainder of the sentinels, and left the fatal post
| unoccupied for night or two.
Two or three accommodating parties had been
dispatched off round the neighborhood in the
hope of finding some clue to the mystery, or
of obtaining some intelligence of the enemy,
but they had each of them returned as wise
as they started, with no reward for their troub
le save weary bones.
1t was on the third night of the desertion of
the post, that our hero, Death, was returning
to the fort, after paying visit to Standhope
Farm. The moon was up, but her light was
nearly all obscured by the dense masses CT
clouds which at every few minutes were driven
by pretty stiff breeze over her face, while the
huge trees, now all in full leaf, creaked and
groaned, and bent their tall forms to and fro,
as the heavy gusts rushed whistling in among
their branches.
Our hero had approached within hundred
yards of the termination of the forest that
skirted the small open space in which the fort
stood, when suddenly he paused, and crouch
ing down on his hands and knees, crept eau
tiously forward few PAGES. Having remained
in this position for several minutes, he again
stealthily retreated in the manner he had ad-
vanced; and plunging into the forest again,
emerged at point considerably lower than
where he had intended to leave it before.
Col. Innes sat reading, alone, in his private
apartment, when an orderly entered and in
formed him that one. of the men wished to
speak to him..
eSend him in,'' said the Colonel; and at the
next minute our friend, Death, had entered,
and made his best bow to his commanding Of
ficer.
swell, what scrape have You been getting
into now - said the Colonel, when he saw who
his visitor was.
.sNone, Colonel" replied Death, ssbut have
come to ask favor"
esLet us hear it, said the Colonel, ssand we
will then see what we can do.''
ssWell, Colonel, it is simply this-if you will
put the rifles under my orders tonight, and
let me occupy the deserted post, will not on
ly clear mp the mystery of the disappearance
of the four sentries, but make the post tenable
for the future.''
ssBut how 90 said the Colonel, in intense
surprise.
ssI guess, ColoneI,'' answered Death, ssyou
had better let me have the men, and order us
off, and I'll tell you the whole affair after. 1
promise you that not one shall even receive
scratch, that is if they will follow my direc-
tions implicitly"
ssYou are a strange man. said the Colonel,
ssbut L think 1 will let you have your own way
this time. When do you intend to start 20
s:In about an hours tme," answered Death.
every well, will give the necessary orders,
so that you can start when you think proper.
And what is more, if You perform all that you
have promised, and don't cause me to repent
having humored you, you shall have poor
Campbell's place"
Hector Campbell was a brave but very
headstrong young Scotchman, who had occu-
pied the post of Lieutenant at the fort. In a
sudden freak of daring he had volunteered to
stand sentry at the fatal spot from which three
sentinels had already SO mysteriously disap-
peared and he paid for his rashness with his
life.
ssNow, my lads,' said Death, as in about an
hour after his conversation with Colonel Innes,
he approached the deserted post, at the head
of dozen ri1emen who had been temporarily
placed under his orders, 81 will tell you what
we are going TO do. The long and the short of
the affair is simply this, its gang OF them Gus
sed, thievin' Iroqueis that have circumvented
| and carried off our four men-shooting them
with their arrows, and then decamping with
| their bodies.
Tonight, as 1 was returning to the fort, 1
suddenly thought I heard the sound of several
voices and creeping on my hands and knees
towards the spot, got nigh enough to see and
| hear that about dozenIroquois were there and
then arranging their plans to surprise the fort
| notwithstanding to steal in upon it, by the
point which their cussed devilry had rendered
so easy of access. L only stopped long enough
| to learn this, when hurried off to the Colonel,
and asked him TO place you at my disposal and
here we are. l did not say word to him a.
! bout what / had learned, but determined that
| if possible the rifles should have all the hon
or of discriminating the varlets. And now
ask you, are you willing and ready to follow
| my orders 20
Every man cheelfulIy answered in the affir-
native, and with quickened palses, and san
guine hopes, the little company again moved
forwa rd.
The post consisted of long, narrow space,
bounded on each side by rocky, shelving
bank; I; while its extreme end was closed in by
the dark and impenetrable looking forrest
The bank on each side Of the pass was thickly
covered with brush and underwood, and among
these Death now carefully concealed his men
taking care to arrange them that their IRE
| would cross each other and bidding them not