The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1861-09-12

dense that it was with difficulty We could
discern the presence of each other as We
lay aud listened.
Suddenly there was hustle within and
the sound of several voices. The warn
ing produced by the low, Kissing "husb
OF my comrade prevented half uttered
exclamation of surprise from fully escsp.
ing my lips. This noise of men and vol
ces was evidently caused by large par.
ty now collected iu the room in which
the light was burning. They must have
entered the house from the other side,
and the clang of arms, as We distinctly
beard the men carelessly lay aside their
weapons, assured US they were no neu-
trails in the struggle going oD between our
divided countrymen.
From fatigue, arising from the con-
strained posture in which lay, m ade a
sudden movement, which caused me to
fail against my companion, at the same
time making the gravel beneath my feet
send forth the grating sound peculiar to
it when suddenly and violently disturbed.
In an instant the sounds within ceased
(silenced by the suspicious caused BY uy
most unfortunate stunbling.I the case
ment was dashed open and half doze n
heads we're thrust out into the gloom. A
movement now, if no louder than that the
lizard makes amongst the grass, or sin.
gle sigh forced from our beating hearts
and compressed breath, would have been
the ioreruuncr of certsin death. Moth.
ing could have saved US from the fate OF
the spy. For several minutes we re-
maiDed motionless, and heard various
conjectures among the men as to the cause
of their sudden alarm. Little did they
imagiue that at that moment, within 9
few feet Of their knives, which more than
one grasped in his band unsheathed, lay,
conce aled by the darkness, two Of the
hated invaders. But we would have
been found no easy sacrifice. Each of
US covered with the nozzle OF his revol.
yer the breast of foe, and the first inti-
nation given of our discovery would have
cost them at least two lives that night.
At length they withdrew their heads
into the apartment. half closed the
easement as before, and We we're again a.
lone. Whether they retired perfectly sat-
isfiied as to the result Of their blind in-
speetion or not, We could not tell. 1t was
at this moment that H, grasping m e
by the arm, whispered me to follow him
closely. In croucbiDg attitudes we crept
round the building; each step taken with
peculiar care, lest any unlucky sound on
our part should again arouse suspicion,
which, in all probability, was still unal-
layed.
After many cautious pauses and anxious
straining of eye and ear, We reached the
other side of the house, where. after pro.
ceeding a few steps, my leader halted
and began exploring With his baud; until
aud lighted upon the latch Of door in
the wall. Placing bis mouth close to my
ear, he again whispeaed me that it was
of vital importance We should cast of our
shoes and carry then in our hands, as by
leaving them behind they might be found
by the enemy thus become the means Of
betraying US Accordingly, in few Sec
onds, we stood in our stockings ready to
pursue to the last limit the wiDdiDgs Of
the adventure. Noiselessly lifting the
door latch, IL led the way into pas
sage, if possible darker than the outside
gloom from which We entered.
DISCOVERY OF THE AMMUNITION.
GropiDg our way we carefully ad-
vanced, and reached the foot Of fight of
stairs, which, at sign from my co 0psp-
ion. we ascended as swiftly as the imper-
ative necessity for perfect silence per.
mitted We reached the landing, whose
extent was hidden in the same impene.
trsble darkness, traversed it for the dis.
tance of several feet, and at length ar
rived at door, which H attempted
to open, but found locked. This be as
sured ne was the room which contained
the cartridg &c. bags, and not to gain an en-
trance into it would render all the risk
we had hitherto run useless. as all furth-
er attempts We might make would prove
unavailing.
At this crises of our proceedings We
discovered, within few feet of US, q
small window, which. on gently opening.
we found led out upon the roof of the pi'
azza that ran along all sides Of the house.
To step out upon this soof. closing the
window after us as gently as we bad o.
pened it was the work Of few seconds.
Here we lay down. at full length, for sew
eral minutes to listen; but no sound
reached US, excepting an indlstlnct cla'
NOR proceeding from the room beneath,
10 which was assembled the party Of reb-
els. RelinqushiDg our recumbent pos
lures, We crept on our hands and knees
until we reached the next window, which
belonged to the room we were so anxious
to explore. To our great satisfaction, We
found it not only uDfastc ned, but opened
vide, and one after the other, We passed
through into the interior. Again We
paused in motionless silence. aDd again
we listened intently. but nothing beyond
the sounds already mentioned met our