The National tribune., 1888-02-23
e sky. There was not

plainly seen against the sky. There was not
the slightest breath of air moving.
The stiffness was intense, and when about 10
ocl0cl-for what reason know mott became
nervous aud oppressed and walked out TO the
road, the stiffness was absolutely painful.
The slightest sound broke the monOtony with
startling distinctness. The occasional chirp Of
cricket or call of katyaid startled me
strangely. / had returned to the house and
seated myself in-the circle. The fire was burn
ing low. 1 threw a bit of light-wood, which
threw out dancing, yellow fame.
/ cast my eyes around the circle of armed
men and saw there was no inclination among
them 70 sleep, when, with crash that seemed
TO fairly raise the roof from the old house and
brought every man to his feet like an electric
shock came the report Of gun from the direc-
ton of the picket on the valley road. Before
the echoes had died away among the surround
! ing hills, the Sergeant, with his detail, was on
! his way to the relief of the post and had my
men in line on foot, and silently awaited further
7 developments. There was no REPETITION OF the
shot, and soon the Sergeant returned and re-
ported that Williams the picket, claimed TO
! have seen hoTseman approach from the front,
and when he had reached the summit oil the
elevation so as to be clearly seen against the
l sky he had challenged him, and, as he con-
! tinued TO advance, had fired. When the smoke
cleared nothing could be seen of the horseman,
nor had he heard the slightest sound OF a foot
I fall either before or after the shot. l remark
! ed that Williams had probably drowsed, and his
! imagination had got the better OF him. The COM
pany broke ranks and again gathered in the
house.
! The fire was replenished and the event cas-
ualiy commented on by different ones, but /
noticed IN subdued tones. There was no laugh
/ ter no tests; and soon the circle lapsed again
! into perfect silence. 1t had probably been 20
minutes since the first alarm when again, with
/ the same stunning report and with like results,
/ came another alarm from the same post, Ihls
1 time on his return the Sergeant brought IN
! Williams, having placed in his stead man
named Thompson. Thompson was o burly,
! daredevil fellow, who was known by every
man in the regiment, and supposed TO be ALSO
! lutely devoid of fear. If man was wanted at
headquarters for any special purpose that re-
quired all the sand that one man could carry,
! Thompson was sent for. The Sergeant remark
ed soto yoce, when be told me that Thompson
was on the post, that g If the ID rode that
horse he would find bis match now"
/ questioned Williams closely. when with
l ashen lips and blanched face he told me of the
| horsemau that twice had appeared between him
and the sky. and that twice had disappeared
without a sound when he had fired. He said
nothing on earth would induce him to again
De left alone on that post Whether or not he
had seen anything, / was satisfied that VIII
liams was honest and thoroughly frightened.
! was puzzled and decidedly nervous. / tried
! TO harmonic what had transpired with the
gloomy surroundings; the oppressive night; a
4 man on guard possessed with strong magma
I tive nature, and his nervous system becoming
/ overweight, had felt himself compelled to fly
from nothing or break the spell by the report
of his piece.
Quiet had again settled down in our little
! camp. Few words were spoken, but puzzled,
anxious expression was plainly depicted on
F,od mt
not longer than 20 minutes when, to the utter
CONSERVATION of every man, the third alarm
| boemed ont from the valley road and rolled IN
laundering echoes from hill TO Hill across the
valley, till il died away in gradually lessening
volume in the far distance. This time Or
dered the men in line, and ran with the Ser
geant to the post.
i Thompson told the same story Of the horse
! man rising over the crest, refusing TO halt, and
he had fired. / could not see his face, but the
decided tremor in his voice told me that
1 Thompsons sand was gone. / was too much
8gitated myself to think connectedly, but /
told the Sergeant to return TO camp with his
men, and would remain with Thompson. We
took our position side by side in the middle OF
the road, facing 10 the east. The sky could be
plainly seen above the low trees that shaded
the road, and was specially distinct through the
opening over the HILL / had no means 81
knowing how long We stood thus IN perfect
silence. BY eyeballs seemed bursting with the
intensity of nv gaze, when suddenly, with 8
grip or my arm that left its imprint for many
day, Thompson in hoarse whisper almost
gasped:
THERE IT COMB, LIEUTENANT"
and before I could collect my scattered senses
he had cried " Halt" and instantly raised his
gun and fired. / was now utterly cOnfounded,
aud, although / had seen nothing il required
q strong effort to resist the impulse to turn and
run away. ] said 1 saw nothing l did not,
although my eyes were strained on the spot
toward which Thompson had fred, bat l had
such feelings as I hope / shall never experience
again. must have been deathly PALE for my
/ knees fairly smote together. l had a sense o.
sufforation and nausea that thought for mo
ment would overpower me, but. happily, my
pride and viii power came to my rescue In
time for me to meet the Sergeant, who came in
brcathiess haste, in my usual manner. wa
thankful at that moment for the darkness that
, hid nay tell-tale face.
had no desire 10 investigate the matter fur
Their. I was compelled 10 admit to myself tina
/ was completely mystifed, but was careful no
TO betray my feelings to the men. / was satis
fed, however, that I had no real danger TO fear
but TO avoid If possible, any further disturbanc
8 | ! placed q Sergeant and 10 men on the post
E and the remainder of the night was passeC
T without incident. There was not an eye closes
. in sleep in Co. g during that, to US, eyentfu
j night, and never was the blessed light Of ds.
E welcomed with gladder hearts, for reasons tina
0 every man in the company would have beef
G ashamed to acknowledge.
g When / had refreshed myself with soldier
5 measure Of strong coffee, it occurred to me ths
. I'M, - b