The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-01-27
For the Bloomfield Times.
THE MYSTERIOUS FRIEND.
A Story Of Old Virginia


nUR young hero slept during most Of
" the night, bat that sleep was dreamy
and uneasy, and when at length the day
beams began to peep through his window
he arose from his hard couch and COM
menced pacing the floor of his dungeon.
A dozen turns perhaps, had he taken, when
the thought of the rats he had left at work
on his bread entered his mind, and he turn
ed to observe the result of their operations.
The loaf had been nearly all eaten up, and
Orlando was upon the point of resuming
his walk, when something at the foot of his
couch attracted his attention, which, upon
closer observation, he found to be dead
rat, and at a short distance from it, nearer
to small hole in the corner of the cell
through which the animals had evidently
made their way, he found another of the
little quadrupeds, which was also dead.
At first this circumstance created but
little thought in the mind Of the young
hunter, but gradually strange idea began
to work its way through his brain, and
with trembling hand he picked one of the
bodies up. Small particles of bread were
still upon the rats nose and an examin-
alton of the other body gave the same re-
suit Orlando knew that these must be
the same that he had left eating his bread
on the night previous, and with one of
them in his hand he sat down upon the side
of his couch. Hardly had he assumed this
position, however, when the bolts of his
door were withdrawn, and on looking up,
he beheld the gigantic form of Chiron en-
ter the cell. In an instant our hero cast
the rat upon the floor, and with bounding
heart he sprang forward to meet the man
whom he sincerely believed to be his friend.
ESQ, So" uttered Chiron, as he shook
the youth warmly by the hand, They've
begun the work sooner than expected" :"
"Theyve begun it, at all events,' re-
turned Orlando, in a tone of carelessness
that actually surprised himself; but the
presence of Chiron had served to dispel the
gloom of his heart, and instinctively the
feeling Of safety came to his relief
" Yes and they came near accomplish
ing their purpose, too" said Chiron. 81
little thought that the game was to com
nence so soon, or l should have been on
the watch. But how was it that you esca-
ped the Indians bulletP Lolowah was
cunning fellow, and he had the reputation
Of being fatal marksman."
" He may have been a good marISsman,
but his eye was not quick enough" re-
turned Orlando, and then he went on to
relate the particulars of the recontre.
Chiron's eye sparkled as the youth told
his story; and when it was closed, he ex-
claimed
"Your eye must be quick one. had
] thought myself next to invulnerable, but /
hardly think should have escaped as you
did. Twas indeed narrow chance. But
tell me, did not the Indian speak to you
ere he died ?"
Yes he told me he never had aught
= against the white man, but that one of
them gave him money and rum to kill me.
They piled him with the flre-water before
they sent him on the mission, and l really
believe the poor fellow was sorry for the
part he had taken against me-"
No doubt he was, said ChiIon, "but
he was the tool OF a subtle enemy. Have
E you told any ono else Of the Indians
ayowalgp
NO. You arc the first ono to whom
have communicated It, though the two
men, Gilman and Cotton, who dogged me
N the woods, tried TO get it from me, and
Yesterday MF, Berkley, piled mo most as