The Shasta courier., 1864-03-19

twenty minutes uuratlon enabled them to
reach the bank, and they were soon after
sporting together. like ..young gods. y in the
refreshing element Presently. plunging
into the water, side by side, they struck out
for race, and Tom, who was the most pow
erful swimmer of the two, had passed few
yards ahead of his companion, when his ears
were suddenly saluted by whizzing noise,
followed by sound something between a
gurgle and groan The latter noise eyi.
IDENTIFY proceeded from his companion. Tom
hastily turned himself around. The arm of
his friend was alone visible, raised above the
surface of the stream, the water of which, at
that place was stained with blood Surpris-
ed and horritied, he lost no time making his
way to the spot, when, with a quick dive, he
grasped his sinking comrade about the aist
and bore him to the surface just in time to
receive his farewell gasp, as the poor fellows s
soul fled into eternity.
The temple horribly torn and shattered
prcclaiming that he had been struck by a
bullet-the mysterious bullet of the unseen
| foe!
Having gained the bank, Tom deposited
the dead man upon the ground, and looked
around him. But he could see no sign of an
enemy.
At the same moment, be heard footsteps
approaching along the road, which he sur
missed were those of picket-guard which
had been sent out en- the day previous, and
was now probably returning to the camp.
Hastily dressing himself, Tom eagerly
awaited the approach of his comrades, in or
der to acquaint them with that which had
just taken place, while he continued to keep
his eyes fixed keenly upon the grove.
| Presently the guard made its appearance,
and Tom lost no time in relating his story to
the Mortified listeners, who gazed upon the
body of the dead man with feelings of min
gled grief and indignation, which the fate
of their comrade, who had been great fayo-
rite with all, was we'll calculated to excite.
by heavens y exclaimed the captain,
iercely, that bloody reb.' whoever he is,
must be concealed somewhere about this
grove and we'll see if we can't find some
means to unearth the rascal. Front - he
added, drawing his sword.
The men obeyed.
9 Are our pieces all loaded?'
The Zouaves announced in the affirmative.
"Now, men, aim straight for the grove.
We will see what virtue there is in cold lead
for rousing this invisible fellow. Ready !
ainl-fire ~
The volley of musketry crashed upon the
1
wild, unearthly cry which seemed to proceed
from the bowels of the earth. directly ahead.
" Forward J" shouted the captain, exult-
ingly, and the next moment we were all in
grove. But no enemy nor even the trace of
one could be discovered.
Boys" said the captain, g the devil him.
self must have hand in this business. l can
make nothing of it,
| We returned to camp, carrying the dead
body of poor Bill T-between us and the
whole regiment was again reused to pitch
of wonder and excitement when cur story
was told to them.
| BY the ColonePs orders guard detail was
again dispatched to the grove with orders TO
maintain vigilant watch, particularly at
night.
Bill Twas buried that same afternoon,
and in the evening Tom wrote letter to the
brother of the deceased, giving an account of
his melancholy fate.
Boys said our company cook the next
morning, as the men stood clustered near his
/ fire discussing the melancholy affair of the
! previous day. '' | am short Of wood. and as
the logs have all disappeared hereabouts, |
know of no place 50 handy where any can
| be got, as at that very grove about which you
are talking. Suppose you take three or four
axes, and knock over scme of those. They III
make capital fire. wood'
Knowing that our dinner depended upon
the cooks supply of fuel, we eheerfully COM
piled, and shouldering three or four axes we
were soon on our way 20 the place of which
the cook had spoken.
The guard Of course offered no objection to
our entrance, and we were soon plying our
axes vigorously.
Halloa, boys, this tree is hollow |" sud-
| denly exclaimed one of the men as he struck
his axe against the trunk, which was of very
large circumference.
! We looked toward him as he spoke, and
saw him repeat the blow, when to the sur
prise of all present, a piece of the trunk,
which itwas evident had carefully been saw.
ed from that part of the tree and afterward
| fitted in so as to be taken out and replaced
at will. fell to the earth revealing an ape
ture about the size of a mans hand.
:" Good heavens look here ~ exclaimed
the Zouave, as he peered through The hole,
here's sight, boys -
We advanced, aud each man in his turn
peered into this novel contrivance, when a
spectacle was revealed which was we'll cal
culated to excite feelings of horror and aston
! ishment.
As we have previously remarked, the tree
was Of large circumference, and found to be
/ hollow. In this hollow we now beheld the
white CHASTITY visage of corpse, with star
ing eyeballs and face smeared with blood
Two or three bullet holes in the trunk of the
tree proclaimed the manner of his death, fol
it was evident that the volley of the picke
guard on the day before, had accomplished
the work
The hiding-place of our enemy was discov
cred
With our axes we soon laid bare enough
OF the trunk to reveal the whole person o
the REBEL who stood in an upright position
and still clutehcd in the stiffened fingers O
hisleft hand, curious looking weapon, whiel
upon examination, was found to be an ole
cir gun Through the aperture in the trunk
he had taken aim and discharged this noise
less rifle upon our men, replacing the slid,
IN the opening when they approached.
Over his shoulders was slung haversack
which was found to contain enough provision
to last for nearly week, and it was thu
made evident that the rebel had remained il
these close quarters during the time the groy,
was so sovigilantly guarded on the occasion Il
which we have alluded. After the withdraw
al of the guard, he had made his exit, but only
to return again with fresh supply of provis