Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1861-12-10
w AR S II E TCH ES.
BY a NORTHERN RANGER,
A sC0UT's ADVENTURE.

We had reached the entrance Of a now
row ass which led through some rugged
hills. Our party was but small, but its
members we're determined men, none of
whom were nOyices 10 scenes Of danger
We marched in silence thas was broken
only by the murmured whispers of the men.
the cries aud autteTiug OF birds. or the
quick plunge Of some small animal through
the tAsek foliage, which, from the very edge
of the path we were pursuing, spread
amid lofty trees thirly scattered on the
hill
Day vas near ste close. We were dis
tant snn,e miles from camp. The enemy
might he IN possession uf the defie in over
whelming numbers. 1t Was determined
that w0 should keep iR compact order until
we had got well beyond the entrance of the
pass, when, as II becumes mere obstruc;ed
or tortanu we should, taking advantage of
every bush, rock or inequality, advance
singiy, ready for the foe aud reckless of
his numbers.
The foliage became thicker as we ad-
vanced. and evening fell On our right
was dense thlcket, Nhch we reached af.
ter haCng Z st sight Of the entrance TO the
de6le in our rear. This thieket reached
from the foot of the gorge to it's summit -
Each step became 6rmer but more eau
tious. There was no whispering now, and
every breath was guarded. We were far
in the glen-on one side gray rocks. Iuf.y
trees towering E1ants and ereepets in wild
confusion spreading over the abrupt sides
Of dark fantastic hills, broken at intervals
bT huge chasms that CLEANED wildly in
the rays of the declining sun-on the other
side the inpeuetrahe thicket was buried 10
Il OH.
Still steadily and stcaltk,ly advancing.
each man, glanciDg quickly to the right
and left, with unwearied energy crept
along the glen. A " b ;stle, quick and clear.
sent its wild sound thrilling through every
heart and ear. There was q sudden halt
IN our little troop. All was brrathlcss
suspense. That was no birds cry. No
throat but human one ever gave cut a
uote so threatening What was it?"
passed in still. rapid Whisper anorg
Us. "Gueriilss." Hush! !" We listened
long and breathlessly, and warily peered
on every side. Not man O! as visible but
to his fellows. CrOuched, with our very
hearts beating, on the earth, covered by the
friendly hush. we lay Tor many minutes in
the hope of hearing the whistle repeated.
All was as still as though the spot hal new
er known its Wild solitude broken by the
foot Of man or disturbed by his passions,
his schemes or his ambition.
Still we listened, but in vain. No fur
Their sound was heard. Why was there no
other signalf Was it some solitary wan>
dered, who sent that thrill cry forth thro'
the stiffness in mere wantOnness) and with
no other motive than that of breaking its
monotonyf Not so. There was signif-
canoe in that sound that breathed war and
defiance as plainly as if it had come from
the blast % trumpet, "Up and moving
mcnw came in low tones, from 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, aud glared on every side
with the intensity of bloodhounds. The
de6le took an acute turn TO the right, and
on the left was n naked space, extending
for some yards, devoid of all verdure but
the gray moss clinging round the graz
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 front gleamc sayagely and
suddenly upon US. For a moment we were
htakkCICus AuCu Win q ouuut VIC
forth to unearth the ambushed foe. Again
the fire was repeated, with the muzzles of
their rifles within a few feet of our faces.
| gszed round for an instant, after dis
charging my piece ct one fellow, and with
my bayonet traDsfxed another to the soft
sandy rock, against which he fell, and per-
ceived none of my party by my side. But
the thick smoke and rapidly falling dark
ness that now ruled, in conjunction with
yells, shots, and groans, the surrounding
glen, made all invisible beyond the length
Of my arm
At that instant felt a sudden pang
dizziness, blackness. like death, came
over me /; l cluched wildly at the sulphur
Gus air, Teeled and fell.
When / recovered my senses l discov
cred that was lying or my side. bleeding
eighty from flesh wound in the thigh.
l bad bled profusely before recovering. for
was saturated in half CONCEALED GORE
Raising myself on my elbow. l looked
round for my comrades. The moon was
shining with ell the softness of her beauty
on the spot. l counted Eve bodies lying
within q compass of almost as many yards.
l endeeyored 10 discover their uniforms,
but could not at that distance. rose
slowly, and, with much difficulty, reached
the nearest. He was dead. with blue
hole IN the centre Of bis forhesd, through