The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1867-08-06


slucc.
The scent was getting hot, and our
spirits rose rs We commenced on the sea
side OF mountain. There were caves
IN several Of the platforms. and these we
agreed TO search together. They were
very narrow, scarcely admitting one per-
son abreast; and it was nervous work
feeling our way onward, not knowing
the moment when the darkness would
be illuminated by the fash Of pistol,
which must have proved the death for
the one or the other. Frank always in
sisted on going first, and omitted nopre-
egntion in examining the outside care
fully for tracks and sending the dogs
forward. The latter, however, were so
tired after three days continuous work
as TO be Of little use.
We had reached the last shelf but one
and an il contained no caves, and was
nearly ali visible from the platform im
mediately above, which had just been
reached, | was about to pass on to the
lower one, just Overt the sea, when mark
in the fresh earth scraped from rabbit
hole across the path, attracted my at
tention, and, on closer view, / discover
ed the traces Of mans foot Frank
was by my side in few seconds, and
down on his knees examining the track.
There was no mistake about it, there it
was, plainly visible, leading inward, and
no signs OF returning. Some one was
there whether the man we were in
search of or not, renamed to be seen.
Frank rose from his knees and drew a
long breath.
"Any outlet from this r. he asked.
"None whatever. 1t stops suddenly
about one hundred yards further on
Tue rock above and below is thirty feet
high, and MS smooth as marble. Now
that j remember, there is large stone
Just where n man might lie. II he were
anywhere else l must have seen him
from the upper end.
We walked on, silently and cautious,
for some distance until we reached a
projecting rock. touched Frank.
"When we turn the corner we will be
within ten rods of the end.
He made no reply but put his gun un-
der his arm and sauntered carelessly
around. As he did so / saw him stop
suddenly and draw himselfup to his full
height.
Standing alongside, ] could see the
I figure of man crouching like wild
beast, behind the stone; his head was
Just visible above it, and the long barrel
of a cavalry pistol was pointed directly
at US, The dogs now sprang forward
and commenced baying furiously. The
man was the first to speak.
"Call off your dogs, he shouted, cay
, yer care for them.
LET the dogs alone, Ryan" SAID
Frank coolly 'dhayo warrant for you
for the murder of Captain. Put
your pistol down and come forward"
/ The fellow gave savage laugh.
"Come a step nearer, Butler. and see
if your warrant can stop ball! j.
! Franks eyes flashed at the threat,
but restraining himself, he drew back
to the shelter of the angle,
1--WE must give the fellow time to
think, Harry. If we rush at him now,
he is sure to knock one or the other of
us over, and i don't like shooting him,
if it can be helped"
"Had you not better go for some OF
your fellows? will keep guard until
your return"
"No dead or alive, ! shall not leave
this place without him 7,
He stepped back few PAGES and
scanned the rock above attentively.
"Do you see that hollN bush right
over hun, Harry? Could you get into
that without being seen ?"
Easily, but what good could | dc
there p
Leave that to me, old fellow; his
flank viii be turned, at all events, and
! YOU will have him under your gun
! Don't fire till you see mo down; then
! use your own discretion"
With some reluctance consented to
, 90 round. Taking off my shoes, l crept
cautiously down and peered over.
! had scarcely done 50 when Frank step
) ped out again with his watch in his
! hand He spoke low, but every word
fell on my ear distinctly
, Il shall give you five minutes. Ryan
} if you don't throw down your arms then
! and come ont, expect no mercy, for you
: viii get none. Ill shootyou as | would
mad dog"
/ Then say your prayers in the mean
} time, said the rutiian, jeeringly; you'll
want them if you lift that gun to your
= shoulder"
The five minutes that ensued were
: the longest i ever spent in my life. II
: was a glorious Summer evening. The
I sun WAS going down, throwing food
: OF light ON the ocean far below .and the
white wings of the sea gulls as they fit
| ted in and out from their nests in the
| chff. The rabbits were at play on the
: slopes, and colony of coughs were
wheeling and screaming over my head.
i But for the crouchipg and blood-stain-
: cd figure beneath, ali would have look
ed peaceful and happy. / tried TO keep
counting the seconds by the beating oi
7 my own heart which was plainly audi
i bile; bat every trihing incident WAS suf-
| ficient 10 distract my attention. There
was great black snake crawling to.
! ward stone and began to speculate