Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-09-07

0The ola Guard"

1 III
"Gheat River" yelled the Conductor,
soon after the engine had given one of its
unearthly screams, and ere long the iron
horse was drinking at the water station,
"What stream have we been desceHd-
iug?" asked q passenger of one of Uncle
Sans" guards, who was stationed near the
beautiful railroad bridge that spans Cheat
Sriver! l"Salt Lick, sir,nn replied the guard,
touching his cap. What lovely mountain
scenery was there The little village Of
Rowlesburg, nestled In the valley on the
west. side of the river, and high, bold
mountains were shelteriug the town on eV1
cry side. We soon passed ltheIold guard
at the bridge, his head lsiISered over
by the frosts of many winters, and as the
train was flying on its iron path our
thoughts were still with the old soldier on
duty at Cheat river. "Too old for active
duty,n we exclaimed, half audibly, as we
thought, of bis aged appearance. ~ arS
.@s'Do- you mean the soldier we saw at the
bridge, sir2" asked gentleman near me-
eyes," we replied, in no very pleasant
tone, provoked that any one should have
heard the remark. "If you will permit"
he modestly, said. HIsWill tell you some
Ithing of & hisJ accpfacy as o marksmRn:--
You are mistaken; we have no better SOL
dier in the army. These mountains have
always been his home-his rife his con.
stant c6mpaaioH. This was Indeed q wild
region before the Baltimore aud Ohioroad
was constructed. One bright morning,
several years ago, the soldier we saw took
down his rife for days hunt in the noun
tains, but by the middle of the afternoon
the clouds had gathered and the rain came
down ip. torrents. A rude hut or hunters
camp afforded him shelter from the storm.
He'had Just taken his hat, dripping with
water, from his head, when he discover
ed, upon looking between the logs of
of the cabin a wild cat on log some fifty
yards distant HeimmedisteIy. cooked his
gun, took good aim, fred and when the
smoke cleared away, to his great surprise
there sat in the same spot the cat. II was
only q minutes work to reload. Now, said
the hunter as he took aim again "we'n see
if you don't tumble" The old rife bell
lowed away again and when the smoke
cleared, there in plain view sat the mVar,
mint" on the log. g IConfound the luck" he
said as he again proceeded to load his
gun, and now for the third time he took
aim and fired, bnt with no better success,
for there still sat the gamer By this time
his patience was nearly gone. BE could
not be mistaken as to the animals being
there for he plainly saw 1t move. BE ex-
amined carefully the sights on the gun,
foundalI right and put down another load.
and then for the fourth shot. He looked
carefully through the sights, held the ride
as If In vice, fred and now the cat was
not in view.fl. ss .'Ayis I.Ja.7Sl
After loading his gun carefully, he salli-
ed forth IN the rain to see the result Of
the last shot. Nothing, however, could be
seen until he came rightup to the log, and
there on, the opposite side from him lay
\ lconH,,,Sd oats -ond a ttIa1fuFther on the
lhalf eaten carcass of deer, which some
lhunter had wounded, 81 Every shot bad IA.
ken effect. 1t seems the cats bad placed
a sentinel on the log. to- watch while they
were enjoying their feast and when ont
was killed another would spring on the los
to see what was going on, until the whole
four were killed" p. -la ~ - -
Il We hope the old man will make as goot
shots at the enemies of the country.