The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-05-20
A NIGHT OF FEAR.
BY CAPT. J. MoNTFoRD.

By CAPT. J. MoNTFoRD.
While listening to the murmurng leaves he
More than a mile immersed within the wood
sudden horror seized his giddy head,
And his tingled, and his color fed
Nature was in alarm some danger nigh
Seemed threatening. though unseen to mortal
Dryden: Theodore and Honoria"
II never hear that sound" remarked the
Colonel. as the wind tore and ratified against
the side of the house, "but | am thrown
back to night, long ago, which / passed
under. very different circumstances.
We scented n story, and discovering by
our attention that such was the case, the
Colonel continued as follows:
"Half an hour before nightfall, upon n
gloomy day early in March, / sprang into
the saddle i'll front of the Generals tent.
81 had orders III my pocket for the
forces which lay several miles away toward
the east; and hal been warned that
guerrilla band was skulking in the neigh
borhood; and knew that | must employ
great caution to escape them.
"They would make short work with a
straggler, and if / fell into their hands
there would be but one way out, and that
not such as / would Choose.
ITO reach my destination | must pass
through n wood of considerable extent.
i entered the Bride path just as the last
gleam,of daylight vanished. The SKY was
overcast, and there was that strange SILVER
an the air which precludes n storm.
Il reached my destination without meet
ang with any adventure; and half an hour
later set out upon my return.
"The impending storm was now nj its
height. Little or no rain fell; but the wind
blew with redoublei strength as though de-
termned to tear up the trees which dis
puted its way
81 shivered as I rode along through the
woods, and wished myself mt the end of
my journey. 1t was terribly dark, and l
dared not urge my horse forward for fear
of a fall.
Il soon suspected. from the motion of
the horse that We had strayed from the
le-path, and this added to my anx-
iety.
Occasionally the loud crash Of falling
timber would send the blood rushing
through my veins, and the next instant my
heart would almost cease 10 beat as a
swelling, mysterious moan. which seemed
to come as low as from the fends, swept
through the labor.ng air.
"To confess truth, | was becoming
frightened. My imagination was extremely
active, and metamorphosed the half dis
JlngulSneu forms ana SOUNDS into some
thing intentionally fearful.
"My steed seemed to partake OF my
trepidation, for a frequent snort expressed
bis discomfort.
Suddenly horrible yell fell upon my
ear, followed by the report of rifle.
"Instinctively drew the horse back upon
his launches and listened. The storm
fends seemed laid for an instant and all
was quiet.
"'That was man s voice, l said, smooth
ing the neck of my startled steed; some
one is in trouble
AT that instant, having recovered from
my first fright, and the discontinue which
followed, Iurged my horse onward
"But he sprang back as the crash of fire.
arms, supplemented by a series of the most
fendish yells, sounded from in front.
81 recognized the sound well enough this
time. 1t could have issued from no threats
but the gueTillas'; class of men whom
both Federals and Confederates had ample
cause to fear.
"They could not be far away, and Instant
ly slipped from the saddle, and, securing the
horse to tree, began to creep toward the
place where l knew some dark tragedy was
transpiring.
al soon came within sight of a number
of torches, and knew that the actors were
there.
Stealing along through the trees, / came
upon the edge of a little glade and its occu-
pants.
"There were just thirteen men-I was Gu
rious enough to count them-gathered
around young, boyish looking man, who
held smoking revolver in his hand with
which he menaced his foes.
"They were fierce looking rascals, of the
genuine guerrilla breed, alfred in clothing
of all sorts and colors-blue, gray, and
civic.
"They are cowardly from principles; but
i much wondered to see so many held at
bay by one man, until L spied a tall man
lying upon the ground.
81 knew at once that he had been the
leader OF the gang. and had met his fate ut
the hands of the youth.
1.-The first report / had heard, and the
yell which followed, had announced his
doom.
1T took but very short time to make
these observations, and the prospect was
becoming darker for the young man every
moment.
"He stood with his back against tree. a
bold, intrepid look upon his face, his eyes
followed every movement of his foes, and
his supple finger prepared to send a soul into
eternity at the first onset.
"The young mans bearing quelled the
rascals who confronted him; they were de-
termined to avenge their leader, but no one
seemed DESTROYS of venturing his own life.
"But this inactivity could not last always.
and the bold youth must succumb unless 1
could relieve him.
81 determined to make the attempt, al
though it seemed fruitless, and began imme-
diately to form plan.
81 was fastened by a sudden movement
on the part of one of the outlaws.
He had been maneuvering for some time
60 escape the youths glance for an instant,