The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1861-11-07
SKETCHES BYA NORTHERN RANGER.
A SCOUTS ADVENTURE.

We had reached the entrance of mar
row pass which led through some rugged
hills. Our party was small, but its mem
bers were determined men, none of whom
were novices in scenes of danger. We
marched in silence, that was broken only
by the murmured whispers of the men,
the cries and huttering of birds, or the
quick plunge of some small animal through
the thick foliage, which, from the very
edge of the path we were pursuing, spread
amid lofty trees thinly scattered on the
hill
Day was near its close We were dis
tant some miles from the camp. The en-
emy might be in possession of the defle
in overwhelming numbers. 1t was deter
mined that we should keep in compact
order until we had got well beyond the
entrance of the pass, when, as it becomes
more obstructed or tortuous, we should
advance singly, taking advantage of every
bush, rock or inequality, ready for the foe,
and reckless of his numbers.
The foliage became thicker as we ad-
vanced and as evening fell. On our right
wss dense thicket, which We reached
after having lost sight of the entrance to
the defle in our rear. This thicket reached
from the foot of the gorge to its summit.
Each step became firmer but more cautious.
There was no whispering now, and every
breath was guarded. We were far in the
glen-on one side gray rocks, lofty trees,
towering plants and creepers in wild con-
fusion spreading over the abrupt sides Of
dark, fantastic hills, broken at intervals
by huge chasms that cleaned wildly In
the rays of the declining sun-on the
other side the impenetrable thicket was
h,,riad in Gloom
Still steadily and stealthily advancing,
each man with his rife grasped easily in
his hand, glancing quickly to the right
and left, with unwearicd energy crept
along the glen. A whistle, quick and
clear, sent its wild sound thrilling through
every heart and ear. There was sudden
halt in our little troop. All was breath
less suspense. That was no birds cry
No throat but human one ever gave out
note so threatening. "What was it ?'
passed in still, rapid whisper among us.
EsGuerillas ~ 'Hush ~ We listened
long and breathlessly, and warily peered
on every side Not man of us visible
but to his fellows. Crouched with our
very hearts beating, on the earth, covered
by the friendly bush, we lay for many
minutes in the hope of hearing the whistle
repeated. All was as still as though the
spot had never known its wild solitude
broken by the foot of man or disturbed
by his passions, his schemes or his ambi-
ton.
Still we listened, but in vain. No 9TH
er sound was heard. Why was there no
other signal Was it some solitary wan
'derer, who sent that shrill cry forth thro
the stiffness Gin mere wantonness) and
with no other motive than that of breaking
its monotony. Not SO. There was sig
nifcance in that sound that breathed war
and defiance las plainly as if it had come
from the blast of trumpet. Cup and
moving, men" % came in low tones fiom
the lips of the sergeant in command. "Let
'em try it again"
Our march was resumed as before; but
we stepped more stealthily, listened with
painful attention and glared on every side
with the intensity of bloodhounds. The
defile took an acute turn to the right, and
on the left was naked space, extending
for some yards, devoid of all verdure but
the gray moss clinging around the gray
rocks.
We began hastily to cross this uncover
ed space, when there was report OF many
pieces, whilst red flashes from rocks and
bushes in the trout CLEANED savage.y and
suddenly upon us. For moment we