Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1857-11-12
no reward for their trouble save weary

ton OF the post, that our hero, Death, wa
returning to the fort, after paying visit t,
/ Stanhope Farm The moon was up bu
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
In full leaf, creaked AID groaned, and bent
their tall forms to and fro, as the heavy
gusts rushed whistling in among their
branches.
Our young hero had approached within
a hundred yards of the termination of the
forest that skirted the small open space in
;%Fhich the fort stood, when suddenly he
paused, and crouehing down on his hands
and knees, crept cautiously forward few
PAGES. Having remained in this position
several minutes, he again stealthily retreat
ed in the manner he had advanced 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 pri-
vate apartment, when an orderly entered,
and informed him that one of the men
wanted to speak to him.
Send him in, said the colonel; and at
the next minute, our. friend, Death, had
entered, and made his best bow to his COM
manding officer
Well, what serape have you been get
ting into now? ? said the colonel, when he
saw who his visitor was.
None, colonel, replied Death but |
come to ask favor
Let us hear it, said the colonel, and
we will 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 mp the mystery Of the
sentries, but make the post tenable for the
future
But how !? said the colonel, in intense
surprise.
[ guess, colonel, answered Death, you
had better let me have the men, and order
us out, and I'll tell you the whole affair
after ! promise you that not one of the
men will receive scratch, that is, if they
follow my directions implicitly
You are a strange man, said the colo
mel, but ! think will let you have your
own way this time. When 10 YOU intend
to start ?
In about an hours time answered the
elated Death
Very well, / will give the necessary or
ders, 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 brave but very
headstrong young Scotchman, who had oc-
cupied the post of Lieutenant at the fort
In sudden freak Of daring he had volun-
teered to stand sentry at the fatal spot from
whieh three sentinels had already disap-
peared, and he paid for his rashness with
his life.
Now, my lads, said Death, as in about
an hour after his conversation with Col.
Innes, he approached the deserted post at
the head OF the dozen rifemen who had
been temporarily placed under bis orders.
Il will tell you what we are going to do.
The long and short of the affair is simply
this-it's gang Of them cussed, thievin'
Iroquois that have circumyented and car
ried off our four men-shooting them with
their arrows, and then decamping with
their bodies
Tonight, as | was returning to the fort
I suddenly thought | heard the sound of
several voices, and creeping towards the
spot, got nigh enough to see and hear that
about dozen Iroquois were there and then
arranging their plans to surprise the fort
to-night--intend to steal in upon it by the
poins which their cussed deviltry had rem
dered so easy of access. | 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. | did
not say a word to him about what had
learnt, being determined that if possible
the rifles should have all the honor of ex-
terminating the yarlets And now I ask
you, are you willing and ready to follow