Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1857-09-17

the post-well knowing that it woul'
be only like signing their own deati
warrant to do so; auG Col. Innes, no
wishing to wilfully sacrifice the live'
of his men by compelling them to go
enioined double caution to the re
mainder of tAe sentinels, and left the
fatal spot unoccupied for a night OIL
two.
Two or three accommodating par
! ties had been dispatched off round
the neighborhooe in the hope d
finding some clue to the mystery, ol
| of obtaining some intelligence Of the
enemy, bnt they had each of them
returned as wise as they had started.
with no reward for their trouble save
weary bones.
1t was Oh the third night of the
desertion of the post, that our hero,
Death, was returning to the fort, al
ter paying visit to Stanbope Farm
Tho moon Was up, but her light
was nearly all obseured by the dense
masses OF clouds which at every few
minutes we're driven by pretty stiff
breeze over ber 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
whis.ling in among their branches.
Our hero had approached within q
hundred yards of the termination Of
the forest that skirted the small opeu
space 10 which the fort stood, when
suddenly he paused, and crouching
down on his hands and knees, crept
cautiously forward n few paces.-
Having remained in this position for
several minutes, he again stealthily
reireated in the manner be had adj
vanced; and plunging into the forest
again, emerged at apoint considerably
lower than where he had intended to
leave it before.
Col. lines sat reading alone, IN his
private apartment. when an orderly
entered andinformed him that one
of the men wis he'd 10 speak to him.
Send him in,' said the Colonel;
and the next minute our friend Death
had entered and made his best bow
to bis commanding officer.
We'll, what scrape have you been
getting into now?' said the Colonel,
when be saw who his visitor was.
None, Colonel, replied Death; but
| have come to ask a 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 tonight and let me occupy
the deserted post, / will not only
clear up the mystery of'the disap-
pearance of the four sentr;es, but
make the post tenable for the future.
But how?' said the Colonel, IN in-
tense surprise.
i guess, Colonel, answered Death,
syou had better LET me have the men,
and order us of, and I'll tell yeu the
whole affair afterwards. / promise
YOU that no one shall receive even a
scratch, that is if they will follow
my directions implicitly
You are strange man, said the
Colonel, sbut think ! will let you
have your own way this time. When
do you intend to start?' i
SIN about an hours time, answered
the elated Death.
VERY well, will give the neces-
sary 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 Camrbell's place.
Hester Campbell was brave but4
very headstrong young Scotch
man, who had occupied the post of
Lieutenant at the fort. In a sud-
den freak of daring be had volunteer
ed to stand sentry at the fatal spot
from which three sentinels had already
so mysteliously disappeared, and he
paid for his rashness with his life.
Now, my lads said Death, as IN
about an hour after bis conversation
with Colonel Innes, be approached
the. deserted post, at the head OF the
dozen riflemen who had been tempo |
,ariiy place d under his orders, 4
viii tell you what we are going to DO.
The long and the short Of the affair is
his: it's a gang Of them cussed thiev-