The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1863-10-23

lpectcd, he resolved 20 spare as many
OF them rs possible.
lie had now advanced within half
n mile of the grove; and-though the
fire itself was not visible--hc could
plainly see the reflection on the branch
es of the trees above Itgrew bright
cr while he pazed, and they could al
most imagine that they heard the
cracking of the dry branches in the
blaze The Captain drew his rein,
and called a halt
There should he a little clump OF
trees near here" he said, gazing about
in the gloom.
"It lies here, TO the right" said one
ofthe rangers--and, riding few rods
in that direction, they found small
grove of stunted oaks, where they
again halted. Here they tied their
horses, and having examined their
arms, marched out upon the open
prairie Edgar briefly explained the
! plan of attack, and the advance was
resumed.
His men were deployed. or spread
to the right and left, at intervals OF
twelve or fifteen PAGES; the Captain
himself remaining in the center, and
moving directly upon the fire. By
/ this means, he covered II wide extent
Of ground, and yet kept his men With
in supporting distance of each other.
The ilanlis were to move little faster
than the center, gradually comvcrging,
when within the grove, but awaiting
a signal from the Captain, before open
/ ing the attack. Each, on making any
discovery, was to communicate il to
the next, and thus pass it up the line
to the Captain; and his next orders
were conveyed in the same way. His
/ immediate object was to discover the
Indians horses, and thus preclude
the carrying oil of their prisoner by II
portion of savages during the fight
with the remainder.
lie could not have been more impa-
ticnt to reach the point---on which he
was advancing-had it been the Ius-
tic bower whore he might expect 10
meet his mistress alone; yet the
movement was Us slow rs the stealthy
pace of the tiger, while he is yet too
distant to spring upon his victim.--
And it had all the tigers deadincss;
! for even the keen senses Of the Indian
could not have detected his enemy's
approach--the first signal could be
but the crack Of the rifle; the fierce
onset and the cleaning knife
/ It.sccmcd an hour, after they left
their horses, before they entered they
entered the outskirts OF the grove
and many minutes were consumed in
in cautiously and silently pushing
their way through the tangled briars
and hazel bushes. Within this belt,
the ground was more open; but it was
COY cred with dry branches and with
cred twigs, the breaking of any one
of fwhich-undert the root--would have
been more that sufficient to alarm the
Indians. They could not yet see the
fire; but il was scarcely an hundred
yards from them, and concealed only
u thicket within which it was kindled.
The horses had not yet been discov-
cred, nor the least sound broke the
| profound stiffness of the scene The
I fire seemed burning low; and the shad-
ows began to creep down from the
/ troops. whittier it had driven them-
Now and then Il flash, as if Il blaze
had caught dry twig, shot nrrowy
beams out through the thicket, and
fell ilickering back within the en-
croaching darkness. The fire was
evidently neglected
They are al asleep thought Ed
gar.
The ilanks had gradually converg-
cd, according to the plan laid down,
and they were so thrown forward as
to form half circle, covering three
sides of the little thicket, and all
about equally distant from the lire. 49,
The Captain gave signal for a halt,
and the word passed in whispers cith-
cr way; the dusliy forms Stood still,
and-unawarc OF their prescnce--onC
could not have distinguished them
from the trees among which they
We're standing. Edgar passed slow
~ from one end Of the cline to the 9th
er, whispering his orders TO each man,
and cndeayoring to see through the
thicllet TO the bivouac 1t WAS toe
dense to allow fair view; but hC
could see deep shadows on the ground
like sleeping men, and between twl
Of these there seemed one clothed il
white, as if the wedding dress OF hi,
stolen bride.
lie returned without further delay
to his post in the center; and silently
slowly, the ady~nce commenced. L
was like the grasp of headly hand
} closing fatally; for none within tha
! charmed circle might escape its i'm
' placable grippe.
No sonnd--not even the breaking
of twig--inVaded the stiffness, for
l space of time, which,,i the intonsit,
Of expectation, seemed an hour, Tn
fire had rapidly fallen to mere cinders
: and its light faded to faint glow,up
' ont hcadiacent thicket. The Ranger
Z, fitted silently from tree to tree, liI
q moving shadows Each carried hi
" gun poised low, in readiness for i'm
! mediate action; and each placed hi
c hand upon his knife, for the conflict
, man to man, They gradually close
J in, until the TANKS met upon the fan
II ther side, anla Gordon was draw