Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1859-05-26


immovable. The slightest stir might be-
tray his presence to the lurking foe. On
| ly the night before, two sentinels had been
shot dead, as they slowly beat their posts.
1t was an unpleasant fact to have for COM
pany.
The young man leaned against tree
for support. An hour elapsed, and not
branch of air had rustled the leaves. An
other followed, aud the death-like stiffness
remained. And all this, while he had not
stirred in the slightest measure.
1t was the third week in August, and
the weather was dry and sultry; yet he
began to experience chilling tremor in
his limbs, and rigidity in his joints, so ex-
ceediDgly painful as to require change of
position.
But before venturing to shift his attitude,
he listened for several minutes with in
creased intensiveness to satisfy himself
that the contemplated change would not
be attended with danger. As during the
period already elapsed the stiffness was
profond.
Convinced that no living object was
near, he turned noiselessly upon his heel
and glidad behind the tree, where he
stretched his limbs and set his blood in
freer circulation. Then, passing on. he
leaned himself against the other side ofthe
tree, and resumed his watch.
But Immediately after, be was startled
| by a sound resembling a football. He
listened, but bearing nothing, thought
himself mistaken. And then he heard it
again. Now it was more distinct. 1t was
not free foot-step, but creeping move
ment.
Not for moment did he doubt that it
was an Indian warrior, who, in some man.
ner, had obtained knowledge of his exact
position, that his arrow might carry, in
its barbed point, quick and certain
death.
The creeping continued, and the sounds
grew more and more distinct. He felt that
it was unsafe to let the stealthy creature
come too near before he challenged.
"Who comes there?" he demanded, in
low firm voice.
Instantly the creeping ceased. Adeath
like stiffness ensued. Moments elapsed,
and it continued. Then other moments
followed, and still it continued. And dur
ing every one of these he expected to feel
the point of poisonous arrow enter his
breast.
Meanwhile, he continued to lean against
thetree, motionless, with his face turned
toward the point whence the sound pro-
ceeded; but so deep was the darkness, that
not an object of any kind could be dis
cerned. How long he remained in this
suspense, he was unable to conjecture, but
it seemed lifetime.
Atlrst when he almost began to doubt
whether his own ears had not deceived him
the creeping was resumed. He waited long
enough to satisfy himself that it was grow
ing nearer, and then he renewed his chal-
lenge:
"Who comes there?"
Again the creeping instantly ceased
Another death-like stiffness ensued., Mo-
ments elapsed and others followed. The
suspense was even greater than before, for
the time was increased while the distance
was diminished; in addition to which, the
danger was enlarged by the proximity
Of this he was intensely sensible. And
his heart began to tremble, like the hum
mingbird's wing-not with apprehension,
but with dread uncertainty.
At length the creeping was again re-
sumed, and it continued to approach. 1t
was now but three or four rods away. The
danger was imminent. Twice already he
had challenged the intruder without re-
sponse. One time more, and bis duty
would be discharged.
"Who comes there?"
As before, the creeping instantly ceased,
and the grave-like stiffness ensued-but
there was no answer. He waited for one,
though only long enough for its utterance,
for the distance was now reduce to barely
a few yards.
He might have delayed few moments
longer had be not seen, or fancied, pair
of large, round eyes, like balls of fire, glar-
ing fiercely upon him. But this, ,-once OBJ
served, there was no time to waste in the
consideration of consequences. 1t was a
matter of life and death.
He raised his rifle quickly to his shoulder,
took deliberate aim at the glittering orbs
before him, and touched the trigger. I'm
mediately, there was defening discharge,
and the stiffness of the forest was broken.
The sharpe, startling report reaches the
ears of the other sentinels, some of whom
also fredstheir weapons, and retreated to
the camp.
Joe, also retreated, for such were his Or
ders. But whether his shot had been sue
cessful, he was unable to say, though he
believed it had. 1t was equally out of his
power to say what it was he had aimed at
though in his own mind satisfied that
was skulklng savage.
In the camp some thought be had been
frightened by an owl, or by phantom of
his own imagination. Many wished it
might BE- so-for they envied him the
notice he had already received, and the
distinction that must ensue should the dead
body of lurking foe be found near his
post.
But this was almost more than himself
expected. As the Indians always carry
their dead from the field of battle, unless
driven away before the fury of a sndden
desperate charge, there was little likeli-
hood of finding the dead carcass ofa skulk-
ing scout more than two miles from the
camp.
Conscious that he had discharged his