The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-06-15


"But there was little time to specu-
late upon the previous proprietorship;
the moon had disappeared behind lbe
clouds OF O. fresh rising squall, and the
patter OF hail stones again saluted us as
we rode up the wide avenue leading to
| the front of the mouse.
"Our animals were stabbed in small
clubhouse, protected from the weather,
for Henri de Murden had made up mis-
mind to shelter for the night, resolve l
| heartily seconded.
'sThe candles from our lanterns, to-
gether with a box Of wax tapers, al
| tOrded us ample light as we started
through the great front room, which was
barren OF furniture. Dust and cobwebs
were everywhere apparent, and l no.
ticed a number Of fractures in the wood
work, evidently the result of a yolley OF
musketry. Wars sure havoc was eV-
erYwhere apparent; the deep silence
| was alone broken by our heavy foot
| steps, which echoed through the house
with hollow reverberation, mingled
with the sharp jingling of our long
pointed spurs anu heavy sabres.
"Enterlng a second apartment, small
er tnan the first, we beheld, with great
satisfaction, a supply of wood beside
the fireplace. Here we resolved to pass
| the night, and, after a hasty survey OF
| the house, which revealed no signs OF
inhabitants save ourselves, we lit a
huge fire i'll the apartment selected, won
dered who had gathered the wood, and,
taking hasty nip Of samshoo, rolled
ourselves in our blankets within the
charming influence Of the fire. We kept
no watcu, but relled upon the duration
OF the tempest raging outside to keep of
| all intruders. The last sound L heard,
as l closed my eyes, was the rafting OF
| the hailstones as they were driven Iuri-
ously against the crazy walls or the di.
lapidaLed mansion.
| Il awoke with start, as il impelled
by some sudden impulse. The 1ire had
burned low, but lew emDers remain.
ing, and outside the gale appeared "
have fresh hand at the bellows. Feel
ing round for the stump OF candle,
lit it without disturbing my companion,
who was sleeping soundLy, oDliVlous tC
the crasn and wailiug OF the storm out
side.
cat that moment a Soo-chow gong
soft, melodious, and win a distlnctness
truly appallinX-struck the hour OF mid
night. From the large empty room
which had examined, and knew to BE-
empty, the sound seemed to emanate
and, as you know, gongs Of that descrip
tion are only met with in the houses U
the higher Tartar nobility.
II had stretched forth my hand tC
arouse Henrico, but before could touch
his shoulder, a sharp word OF command
was heard, followed by the prompt
grounding Of number of muskets, as
the butts struck the wooden Il Jor of the
piazza outside.
"ln an instant my companion was
aroused. l whispered in his ear what
had heard, and drawing our sabers, we
adjusted the lanyards about our waists,
examining also the caps OF our faithful
| ColIs, which we cooked for instant use
"Thata squad Of lmperialists Imps, as
we some times called them, or Mancnoos
were outside, we were firmly convinced
But there was no eyading the encounter
| SO far as we were concerned, for the
tour walls Of our room were composed
of solid masonry, with not even u loop.
hole for the admlttance of light or air
| There was but one door, which opened
| from the front room into The one we oc
cupied, but l had taken the precautIor
| to secure 1T with a billet OF wood slipped
through stout iron staples.
| GA laundering summons rose above
| the din of the tempest, which shrie keC
with renewed and spiteful vehemence
That circumstance struck me as singu.
lar, for the front door had been t0rr
from its iasteDings, rendering the
knocking for admission obsolete.
"Above our heads d shutting was
heard, as if some one had been nurriedly
aroused; then a door slammed violently
at the same time some one d9scendeu
The front tairs with deliberation which
made me exchange glances with the
Frenchman, who knew to be as brave
as lion, if report spoke the truth. liz
| was pale. | Wouldu'G have sworn to the
| color in my own cheeks at that precise
| moment, for 1T struck us both that there
| was something more than mortal in Wha
| was lrauaplrlng.
cine measured tramp OF an arme(
| Iforce-probaDly those VINO had original,
| disturbed my umbers-shook The floor
ing of the room as they advanced. A
tap at the door caused us TO clincu ouI
teeth and level our revolVers. Ii tht
| Manchoos forced the door, then it woult
onIy be with the loss OF twelve OF thei
number. We were both crack shots.
"With no visible effort, no crashing OF
wrenching Of woodwork, the dooI
sprung n0lselessly back, followed by tht
rapid crack OF our firearms, but as the
smoke cleared away, escaping through
| the chimney paw, we DeHGlu uUL0lnI
save the yawnlng darkness Of the room
beyond.
"Stlll the heavy footsteps fell upol
our ears, the floor shook beneath ou
feet as The invisible forces advanced
straight toward US. Step by step we re
treated, until the solid wall compelled
us 10 halt. l lelt my hair bristle Will
horror; a furious gust OF cold air swep
through the apartment, and l remem
bered 10 more.
"When / came 10 myself 1 was lyin!
I across my companion, who was still un
conscious. Scrambling to my feet tool
a survey Of the apartment. The candl,
had burned itself out, the fire was extin
guished on the hearth, and the door wa
exactly as l mad fastened it the nigh
before. Throwing it open, l was greet
ed by warm burst OF bright, cheerIu
sunshine. Tne gale had expended itl
fury, the storm-cloud had disappeared
aud all nature appeared to rejoice. A
cuplu! of water dashed in the lace of th
Frenchman soon brought him to, but i
was some time before he could realIz
ali that had transpired. In tact L wal
inclined to believe myself tnat we hat
been victims Of nightmare. or poseibl,
the samsnoo had mounted to our brains
But our vagaries could not have beef
the same, and our impressions OF tn,
last nighPs adventure and incidents tai
lied exactly.