Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-03-10
CHE Sturv Teller.
THE OUTPOST.

Towards the latter part of the year l75l,
the French, aided by vast bodies of the Hu.
rons and Iroquos Indians, had begun to
make themselves very disagreeable neighbors
TO the British and American colonies in
Northern Virginia and the North west portion
of New York State-the French by their en-
croachment on the frontier, and the Indians
by their numerous forays and savage barbar-
ity to all who were unfortunate enough to
fall into their hands.
TO put stop to these aggressive proceed
ings, numerous bodies, both of the regulars
and colonial militia, we're despatched to the
several points assailed; among the rest Col'
Henry Innis, with company of thirty men,
was ordered to occupy small outpost, or log
fort, which at that period, stood within few
miles from the North fork of the Alleg ghany
river.
Having arrived safely at their quarters, the
little company set about rghting up the old
post to ma Ike it as comfortable as circumstan-
ces would permit; and this being done and
order once more restored, sentries were placed
at all the advanced points of the station,
while the strictest vigilence was both en-
Joined and exercised by day and night.
Among the Virginia riaemen who had
volunteered into the company, was tall
manly looking young fellow who from fatal
and unerrng skill as a marksman had receiv-
ed the somewhat inspiring nom de plume of
Death. But with whatever justice his name
had been applied to him for his skill, his dis
position certainly entitled him to no such ter
ror spreading epithet.. On the contrary, he
was the very life of the company.
His rich fund Of mother wit, large social
propensities and constant good nature rem
dered him general favorte with the men !;
while the never failing stock of game which
his skill enabled him to supply the mess table
of the officers with, not only recommended
him to their good graces, but caused many
little short coming of his to be winked at and
passed over in silence, which otherwise, per-
haps, he might not have got over so easy.
The company had not been stationed at
the fort more than week, ere Death, IN one
of his excursions for game, discovered small
farm house, some three miles from the fort,
where lived certain Miss Hester Stanhope,
whose equal in beauty and amiable qualities
he had never seen before And to render
himself still more certain of the fact, ne
called on the following day under cover of
the pretense of having left his powder flask.
Death was invited to come again by far.
mer Stanhope, who happened to be from the
same parish as the father of our hero ; and
we need scarcely say that the invitation was
both eagerly and joyfuly accepted, and as
often as circumstances would permit, CON-
piled with.
The second week after this occurrence took
place. was marked with two events, which,
though singular, both affected the welfare of
widely different degrees Of importance. The
first was, Death had either lost his skill as
marksman or that game had removed to
safer or more distant neighhorhood, for the
officers larder had been found sadly wanting
in the items of wood cocks, black-cocks, part
migan, &C., for the week past-and the Sec
ond and most important Of the two events,
was, that in regular succession, four sentlnels
hid disappeared from the extreme left line,
without leaving the slightest trace to elucidate
the mystery Of their disappearance.
The circumstance struck such dread IN.
to the breast of the company, that no one
could be found willing to volunteer to take
the post-well knowing it would be only like
signing their own death warrant to do 80 !;
and COL Innis, not wishing to wifully sacri.
fee the lives of his men by compelling them
to go, enjoined double caution on the remain
der of the seninels, and left the post unoc-
cupied for night or two.
Two or three accommodating parties had
been dispatched off around the neighborhood
in the hope of finding some clue to the mys
of, int Of no
enemy, but each of them returned as wise as
they started, with no reward for their trouble
except weary bones.
1t was on the third night of the desertion
of the post that our hero, Death, was re,
turning to the fort, after paying visit to
Stanhope's farm. The moon was up, but her
light was nearly all obscured by the dense
masses Of clouds which at every few minutes
were driven by pretty stiff breeze over her
face, while the huge trees, now all in full
leaf, cracked and groaned, and bent their
tall forms to and fro, as the heavy gusts rush
ell whistling in among their branches.
Our hero had approached within a hun
dred yards Of the termination of the forest
that skirted the small open space in which
the fort stood, when he suddenly paused and
crouching down upon his hands and knees
crept cautiously forward a few PAGES. Hav
ing remained in this position for several min
utes, he stealthily again returned in the man
ner he had advanced, and plunged into the
forest at point considerably lower than
where he had intended to leave it before.
COL Innis sat reading alone in his private
apartment, when an orderly entered and IN
formed him that one Of the men wished tt
speak to him.
Send him in" said the colonel and a
the next moment our friend Death had en-
tered, and made his bow to the commanding
officer.
"Well what scrape have you been getting
into now?" said the colonel when he saw who
his visitor was.
"None, Colonel" replied Death, "but have
come TO ask favor"
Let US hear it" said the Colonel, "and W.
will then see what we can do
"Well, Colonel, it is simply this, if yo,
will put the "rifes' under my orders for to
night, and let me occupy the deserted post
l will not only clear up the mystery OF th'
dissnnea rance of the sentries, but make tn