Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-11-26

moment elapsed before the massive stont
began to move-slowly at first, but at length
sufficient aperture was disclosed to admi
the body of man. The hearth had appa.
rently been moved right into the solid ma.
4soury of the chimneyby some mysteriou:
Eagency-but all the mystery of the tranSsc.
ton is in a moment dispelled. for hoarse
unmusical voiceis heard to say
ais that you Captain Joe'" .ll-l
''Yes my beauty, but is the rest OF the
chaps in!'' .E
"No-ihey went away this morning and
haint seen them since"
= 'sWell, lis no matter. I've got compan-
on along VITA ae. and we're beth tired and
hungry-can't you fix US up some kind of a
stewi''
"Cou!d if l only had something TO fix il
with" al.
Why--haint you had nothing to live Oh
all the while I've been awayr'
I'm course we haye-only we've just got
out of pervisions.'
Hum! well now | tell ye this won't do
no how. Tom you'd better stop here biz,
while 90 out and try and find a deer. Pu,
up the ladder, Grimms. and make this chap
comfortable till get back"
The or Ter was obeyed and Miller descend
eG through the opening. The heavy stone
was replaced by Grimms from the under
side, and after all was secured, Joe Robin
son seized his rife from the corner where he
had placed it and sailed out.
Indeed if the mind of Joe had possessed
the least degree Of refinement, the varied
scenes which net his eye would not have
failed to awaken the deepest admiration
The stately grandeur of the noble mountain,
with here and there a rugged path leading
to its summit or down the other side
where, percharce there meandered lovely
stream Ike this; the waving branches of the
clustering foliage upon the trees, as it cen
most bowed to touch the grassy plain be-
low;-the soft, south wind, waited from the
tropc cline and filled the Iangushing sweet
ness OF niture's vegetation. Ever and anon
the Stiffness of the md-air was broken by
the distant sound Of the young eagIet'S cry
as i. echoed family from afar, and while it
died away rendered the stiffness far greater
than before.
a laIge, ial buck started warily fran his
retreat m:i the shade of an overhanging q
bough, and moved with alert bounds along
the soft, grassy plain Joe's rifle was brought
to bear upon the game, and he fired; but ere
the sharp reverberations had died away, the
long, deep-toned vail of bugle came upon
his ear, and echoed along the rocky passages
OF the mountain side Then came anothtr,
VII ch mingled sweetly with the expiring
music of its c0nrade--and then aDItlier,
until they seemed but one strain ofbewltch-
ing melody. - ~
lsel l+a-,sed issi i,;s psfsdit 81 asne deer. and
leaned upon his rife in at attitude of listen
ing, Eut he was not kept long in suspense.
Soon the dull, steady stamp Of the hnol,
warned min of the approach of horsemen.
bat as he had nothing to fear, curiosity
prompted him to -emai >. and learn the ma
ture OF the visitors, who were evidently fast
approaching. H had not long to wait, in
few moments, gentle .lopinr way from
the mountain was filed with hunters, who.
espyiDg the mountaineer, were soon beside
him. : i'he party were Henry Raymond and
Will Dunhan, with 4 selected few frum tho
Light Brigade. and they were upon scout
ing expedition to find if any of the enemy
we're prowling about the mountain passes.
Joe recugn zed them, and experienced a
Somewhat uncomfortable feeling at his dis
covery-but it was too late to retreat.
"Halo, nv friend, what are you doing
in these parls!' asked the foremost man OF
the party, as he came opposite Joe.
"Oh, not much o. ything--huntin' a
little!" replied the tory in an off hand, care
less tone.
"Hunting what!' s;ernly questioned Dln-
ham, who seemed to entertain strange fan
cy that he had seen Robinson before.
"Wid-cats and sich lke."
"But it strikes me I've seen you some
where before. Have | !"
"Mebby 50, stranger, couldn't say for sar-
tin. I've been Almost everywhar and have
seen lots o folks in my life''
Il say, Harry" continued Durham, turn
ing to the midst of the men. "Iust come
! here a minute--I think this is friend o
yours"
Henry, who had remained partially behind
now came forward, ard seeing Joe, recog
nizeG him i'll a moment.
"Ah, joe Robinson, we've met once more
have wei" ,s.
"No-I say We haint met once more
this amt me, lis my brother Seth!'
"Uh, he! You're your brother Seth, arr
you'll"
"No-I didn't say no such thing--I am
"Well, who are you"
sWhy, I'm Joe R,binson'S brother, Seth
Kind of striking resemblance between us
amt thar!"
.'Very."
"Yes, stranger, lots o. folks has took u
to be one feller, and lhar's whar they siPpe
up on its
Very Likely. But how do you stand re
) gardng the warr'
'Oh, stand just whar Joe don't. Ye see
! he alters had kind o. hankerin' arrer th
!. King and the .'red- coats,'' while stuck t
tother side, and said as how the continent
t ais was in the right place. But it mout b,
4 stranger, that you is one of the sneakil
2 dispiserble critters that fight agin Gener;
: Washington; but if you am. why don
e care Bit"
: This, OF course was all manufactured f,
the occasion, yet the honest tone in whic
n it was spoken, somewhat staggered the fai;
a of his listeners. Joe marked the advantas
; he>had gained, and this served to make hi
e feel s1mcwhat more comfortable. He lancit
g that he had made de:ided imp esson, al
e reasoned that now was the most fitting tin
to take the first step in Berksiord's consp
racy. He continued:
81 say stranger, don't know but what
might of kind o. hurt your feelings by II
: remarks-p'raps you might take 'em as som
what personal, but when Il chap believ
t what he believes, thar's no use in tryin'
chaw it down"
.e IL wds evident that Joe was either a IN