The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1857-07-30
The Outpost.
A TALE OF THE FRONTIER .

make themselves very disagreeable neighbors
to the British and American colonists in nor
thern Virginia, Ohio, and the northwest por.
tons of New York state-the French by their
encroachment on the frontier, and the In
dians by their numerous forags and savage
barbarity to all who were unfortunate
enough to fall into their hands.
To put a stop to these aggressive proceed
ings, numerous bodies, both Of the "reglars"
and the colonial militia, were dispatched to
the several points assuiled; and among the
rest, a Col. Henry Innes, with a. company Of
thirty men, was ordered to occupy small
outpost, or log fort, which at this, period
stood within a few miles from the north fork
of the Allegheny river, -,
Having arrived safely at their quarters
the little company set about rightine up the
old post to make it as comfortable as circum
stances would permit; and this being done,
and order once more restored, sentries were
placed at all the advanced points of the sta
ton, while the strictest vigilance was both
enjoined and exercised by day and night.
Among the Virginia riflemen who had vol
unteered into the company, was tall, man.
ly, fine looking young FELLOW, who from fa-
tai and unerring skill, as marksinan, had
received the somewhat awe inspiring nom de
plume of-Death. But with whatever jus.
tce this name had been applied to him for
his skill, his disposition certainly entitled
him to no such terror spreading epithet.-
On the contrary, he was the very life of the
company.
His rich fund of mother wit, large social
propensities, und constant good nature, rem
dered him general favorite with the men;
while the never failing stock of game which
his skill enabled him to supply the mess ia.
BILE OF the officers with, not only recommen-
ded him to their "good graces," but caused
many a little "short coming" of his to be
winked at and passed over iln silence, which
otherwise perhaps, he might not have got
over so sasily. .,l
The company had not been stationed at
the fort more than week. ere Death, in one
in one Of his excursions for game, discovered
that OF small farm house, some three miles
from the fort, there lived certain Miss
Hester Stanhope, whose equal in beauty and
amiable qualities he had never seen before.
And to render himself still more certain Of
the fact. be called on the following day, un'
der cover of the pretence OF having left his
powder flask.
Death was invited to come. again, by Far.
: mer Stanhope, who happened to be from the
same parish as the father of our hero; and we
need scarcely say that the invitation was
both eagerly and joyfuly accepted, and, as
often us circumstances would permit, com.
piled with.
it The second week after this occurrence
e took place, was marked by two e-::ts which
,r though both affecting the welfare of the lit
tie comthiiGniFy at the fort, were of widely
n different degrees ofimportance.
y The first was that Death had either sud
:. denly lost all his skill as marksman, o.
e that the game had removed to a safer am
y more distant neighborhood, for the officers
3, lurder had been found sadly wanting in tht
W items ofiwoodcocks, black. cocks, parmigati
t. &C., for the week past-and the second an'
h most importont OF the two events, was, tha
:; in regular succession, four sentines had dis
re appeared from the extreme left line, withou
leaving the slightest trace to eludicate th
" mystery of their disappearance.
10 This circumstance struck such dread int
le the breasts of the rest of the company, tha
lie no one could be found willing to voluntee
as to take the post-weiI knowing that it woul
ne be only like signing their own death war
rant to do 50; and Col. Innes, not wishn
en- to wiltully sacrifice the lives OF his men b
lis compelling them to 60, enjoined double eau
vs. ton to the remainder of the sentinels' On
at left the post unoccupied for night or two
Vn Two or three reconnoitering parties ,ho
been despatched off round the neighboThoo
ay in the hope of finding some clue to the my:
en- terry, or of obtaining some intelligence ofth
IT, enemy, but they had each of them returne
ar as wise as they started, with no reward ft
ne their trouble save weary bones. a
- 1t was on the third night Of the desertio
Of the post, that our hero, Death was rctuil
ing to the fort, after paying visit: to Sta'
N. hope farm. The moon was up, but her ligt
nd was nearly all obscured by the dense ma
- ses3 Of clouds which at every few minute
n we're driven by pretty stiff breeze over h'
81. face; while the huge trees, now all in ~
er. leaf, creaked and groaned, and bent their ia
of forms to and fro, as the heavy gusts rushe
ii. whistling in among their branches,
ne Our hcro had approached within hui
OF dred yards of the termination Of the fore
IDS that skirted the, small open space in lwhi'
the fort stood, when he suddenly paused, al
crouching down ON his hands and knees ere
caaftIiouisly forward = few poces. Having r
Ter NAMED IL this position foE several minute
HE be stealthily again retreated in the mann
ire he had advanced; and plunging into the 70
%. est again emerged at . point g conssidderab
mt. lower than where he had intended to lea
of it before. i 4G ,sl!4, ~ - = 81
10 Cal. Innes sat reading alone in his pl