The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1857-08-12
est trace to elucidate the MYSTERY of their

est trace to elucidate the mistery of their
o7 a.sss
This circumstance struck such a dread
into the breasts of the company, that no
one could be found willing to volunteer to
take the post-well knowing that it would
be only like signing their own death war
rant to do so; and Col. Innes not wishing
to wilfully sacrafce the lives of his men by
compelling them to go, enjoined double
caution to the remainder of the sentinels,
and left the post unoccupied for night or
Two or three accommodating parties had
been dispatched off round the neighbor-
hood in the hope of finding some clue to
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, 5
Itswas on the third night ofthe deser-
ton of the post, that our hero, Death, was
returning oto the fort, after paying visit
to Stanhope's farm. The moon was up,
bat her light was nearly all obscured by
the dense masses of clouds which at every few
minutes were driven by pretty stiff breeze
over her face; while the huge trees, now
all in full leaf, cracked and groaned, and
bent their tall forms to and fro, as the
heavy. gusts rushed whistling in among
their branches! s
Our hero had approached within a hun.
|dred yards of the determination of the for
est that skirted the small open space in
which the fort stood, when he suddenly
paused, and crouching down on his hands
and knees crept cautiously forward few
PAGES. Having remained in this position
for several minutes, he stealthily again re-
treated in the manner he had advanced;
and plunging into the forest at point
considerably lower than where he had in
tended to leave it before.
Col. Innes sat reading alone in bis, pri-
yate apartment, when an orderly entered
and informed him that one of the men wish
ed to speak to him. sd g fs
.sSend him in.'' said the Colonel; and
at the next minute our friend Death had
entered, and made his best bow to the
commanding officer. zatass iosd 4
"Well, what scrape have you been get
ting into now?" said the Colonel when he
saw who his visitor was. ~
"None, Colonel, replied Death "but
have come to ask favor" e
ssLet us hear it," said the Colonel, ssand
We will then see what we can do.p
/ tsWell, Colonel it is simply this-if you
will put the rifles under my orders to-
night, andiet me occupy the deserted post,
l will not only clear up the mistery ofithe
disappearance of the sentries, but make the
post tenable for she future" ,5.s4s.
! "Bnt how?' said the Colonel, in intense
surprise. s,s 6z si.,sIo3 - i. r
| "Is guess, Colonel" answered Death
] ayou had better let me have the men, anG
order us of, and I'll tell you the whole af
\ fair after. I, promise. yon that not one
shall receive even . scratch, that is if they
3 follow my directions implicitly. naq aiaa!
"You are strange n,an,''. said th,
4 Colonel, "buta / think ! will let you hay'
your own way this time. When do yol
q intend to startSi p,is es.i-s, zsa9s
ain about an hours time, ," answered
the elated Death. Z. s,,s4 .fs -s.ts.ss s.
Every well, I viii give the necessar.
: orders, sogithat you can start when yo'
think proper. And what is more, if yo
perform all that you have promised an
don't cause me to repent having humore'
you, you shall have poor Campbell
place. a1aassaleslssl s.{fssA agis
4 Hector Campbell was brave but yer
head strong young Scotchman, who ha
!, occupied the post of Lieutenant at the fort
In sudden freak of daring he volun
unteered to stand sentry at the fatal spo
from which three sentinels. had alread
mysteriously disappeared and he paid 70
his rashness with his life.aal sqs
!, ssNow, my lads, 'osaid Death, as in abou
!, an hour after his conversation with Go
Innes, be approached the deserted pos
atthe head of q dozeu rifemen who ha
= been temporarily placed under his orders
.j'I will tell you what we are going to Dc
The long and short Of the affair, is simpl
: this; it's gang of them cussed, theiyil
81 Iroquois that have circumyented and cal
s ried off our four men-shooting them wit
: their rifles. saisagT tssasg
. a'Fo-night as I was returning to IL
I'd fort, I suddenly thought heard the .soun
5 pfseyeral voices, and creeping on m
I hands and knees towards the spot, gt
jnigh enough TO see and hear that about