Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-02-19


Grated from the main body" said Wilmer
"but supposed they were detached as hunt
ers, though it seemed strange that the,
should have taken so much pains to con
ceal the direction they took, by following
! the bed Of a stream. If your surmisc b,
correct, that they recognized me as scout
may it not be that the detached party hav,
designs upon my person2 And if SO, viii
they not follow me to this place?"
"And if they do, Mr.. Wilmer, theirs
will be FOOLS errand This place can be
defended against thousand ofthem, with
their present means of assault. A door
three inches thick, and faced with sheet
iron, procureda from trading boat, and
fastened on the inside with heavy bars let
into the solid rock, is little too much for
their tomahawks."
"But not too much" Wilmer suggested,
''for FIRE we'll supplied with fuel, which
is abundant hereabouts. ? ,T urvTEL
"You are not aware, my young friend,
Of all the defences of my castle;" said the
Hermit, with a smile. "0ver our heads,
runs small stream, which, by the removal
of a rock, can be made to pour out its wa
ters just above the door, and in sufficient
quantities to extinguish any FIRE that can
be kindled. 1t is the same stream that
you saw in the adjoining cell, occupied by
your horse Some hundred feet further
back, there is an opening that can be reach
ed by a ladder, and on passing through it,
you find yourself in spacious second
story; and going some three hundred feet
further into the hill, the ceiling gradually
becoming lower, you come to another
opening, very perfectly closed by heavy
stone, on removing which, you fnd your
self out-of- doors, and on the declivity Of
the hill. So you see, escape were easy,
even could an entrance be forced through
the door" .- sat .e ~ g1r
at is, indeed, strong hold, and l won
der it has not been made the abode of rob-
bersp' Wilmer remarked .,r ..r.I
"Such it was, sir, when first / saw it );
but finding it admirably adapted to my
wants, l got into the room above, and there
making up the best imitation of ghost
that / had materials to fashion, let it down
through the opening, by means of small
cord, when the band was assembled around
the fire, and the effect upon the bold viii
lains was terrific. Horror, amazement and
abject fear wrought upon them to such an
extent that they ran into the woods, and
not one returned until the next day and
then only to remove their plunder, and
abandon the place. None have ever re-
turned to dispute my right of possession.
But what is it, Mr.. Wilmer" He asked,
seeing that the young man was on the alert
and listening intently. "Has my ghost
story frightened you2" 50
"There are Indians near" was Winners
reply; "and my horse has given me notice
do you not hear his peculiar
whinny2" as..r.er. af5isl
The Hermit stepped lightly to the door,
and rested his ear against the solid stone
wall, and, for while, was as motionless as
the rock ITSELF "You are right" he said
to Wilmer, who had crept to his side; "they
have passed right over the hill, and the
sound indicates that they are moving on"
"Unbar the door, "said Wilmer; "and
perhaps we can get view of them"
The Hermit complied, and, noiselessly
passing into the open air, they found that
the storm had passed away, and the moon,
not long risen, was pouring its borrowed
light upon the scene, each pendant drop
of water sparkling with its silvery rays.
Concealed in the shadow cast by the over
hanging bluff, the two men looked in the
direction of the sound, as heard in the
cave, and for awhile, in vain. At length
figure, on horse back, emerged from the
dense shade of the wooded hill into the
moon-lit prairie that sloped down to the
river; then another and another came in
view, and following these, two others,-one
a woman, and after these, three more-mak-
ing eight in all. Wilmer turned upon his
companion, face pale with anxiety, and
an eye burning like fire, but spoke not.
cit is as l feared" said the Hermit, in
a tone of sorrow. "Those are the six war
riors left behind by Tatunkah, and their
two captives, the General and his
daughter"
"But their captivcs they shall not long
remain" Exclaimed the young man, sun
less my right arm becomes paralyzed, or
my sight suddenly blasted. will to the