Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1889-12-06

The surf beating waves could be
plainly heard from where they stood, but
no sound Of their companions reached
their ears.
Jack. they have stopped
4 guess SO, GriH, unless they fell SO
far behind they can't catch up.
How far are we from the works, Jack?"
I'VE must be bout four miles.
What, so far?"
Yes, Grih, it's that fur anyway. Eagle
Rock is jest out on that pint O. land, and
it's a little over four miles from Manoa to
/ Eagle Rock.
Il have acted very foolish-very rash
/ in coming so far, when our village is In
| danger, said Captain Alton aAt this
/ very moment the enemy may be messing
/ at some point for an attack"
/ WE'LL Grit, eff ye think there's any
/ danger O. that, said the blacksmith,
why, well turn about and git back to
| town jist as fast as We kin"
/ But our compartment"
BY lingo! I hadn't thought o. EN-,
! said Ratchet. We'll, I reclZin may be we
/ kin pick EN- up on the way back.
| They stood several moments irresolute,
| listening to the dashing waves.
Jack, said our hero, seizing the black
| smiths hard rough hand in his; don't
! you hear something's"
! "NOthin' but the waves beatin' agin the
rocks, " was the answer.
Listen carefully. Don't you hear
| something else?"
Pears to me like I do hear an awful
walkin'"
That is it, Jack. There's a large body
of men somewhere. Now, whether they
are friends or foes, it is impossible for
me to decide"
Guess it's impossible for any one to
/ decide, Grit; but thar's more on EN- than
! come with US, so we kin guess who it IS"
Yes, Jack, unless our friends have
| been re-enfOrced, there can be no doubt
| but that these are enemies.
The two Americans turned about, and
/ began carefully retracing their steps. The
! slippery stones and rough, uneven ground
made travel very difficult. Despite all
their caution they stumbled and made
considerable noise.
Haiti" whispered our hero laying his
| hand on the arm of his companion.
Both stopped and tried to pierce the
darkness with their eyes.
Jack Hatchet held his thumb on the
hammer of his rifle ready to send bullet
to the heart of the first enemy he should
discover. The Captain had only his sword
and pistols, but they were reliable, and
in this darkness of more value than
gun.
They heard the irregular tread of men
hurrying, stumbling over rough, uneven
! ground The Americans found it impos-
| sible to see these men, and of course had
no idea who they were.
dMayn't they be our fellers?"
mo. There are at least forty or fifty
of them, and there were but four or five
| who came with US"
Couldn't more a come afterwards"
! Not very likely" said the Captain.
! Those in camp would not leave without
! orders. 1t would be decidedly dangerous
/ for them to do So"
The body Of men moved away, and all
! was again silence save the dashing of
! the waves against the rock-bOund coast.
Jack
"They moved back toward the fort"
Then they are between us and town."
YES"
That's plaguy bad, grOwIed Jack.
! When we start thar we'll meet 'em COM
| in back"
Eyes, but we must follow after them,
/ said our hero. 1t may be a large party
marching to surprise the village and
/ carry it by storm.
This thought was calculated to make
| our hero not a little uneasy. He urged
Jack to follow. and with remarkable "a
/ pidity, considering the darkness and IN
evenness of the route, they started for
the fort. Jack followed our hero as best
he could and managed to keep pace with
him.
Occasionally, one or both Of the Amer
leans plunged into some ditch or went
| sprawling over some great moss grown
rock, receiving slight bruises or injuries,
but rising without a murmur to continue
! the scramble over the hills and rocks.
They were compelled to make no little
noise, and frequently paused to ascertain
If they were discovered.
Although burning to reach the village,
which he believed to be threatened with
! an immediate attack, he was forced to be
very careful, for there was no knowing
how many Of the British soldiers or ma
rines might be stationed at any point.
Atone of these halts they heard voices
! cOnversing in low tones. Beyond q
doubt, these we're a part of the marines
or soldiers left to guard some point.
DO you hear them, Jack?" the Captain
asked.
yes"
Il wonder if we cannot crawl up the
hill and get near enough to catch the
meaning of their wOrds?"
we can try.
@Come on then. Be very cautious, and
don't move a stone or scarcely breathe. "
! Slowly ana carefully over the uneven
ground they crawled. The djsplacing of
a single stone might make sufficient noise
to betray them to the enemy.
They did not even dare to whisper, and
scarcely breathed. The voices seemed to
come from a sort Of a ravine, to reach
which they we're forced to climb to the
top of an embankment.
The young Captain was in the advance
Of Jack, and that individual had no little
difficulty to prevent some OF the loose
rocks rolling down to the bottom of the
ravine below him.
Il alters was the biggest awkwardest
Teller in existence, said the burly black
smith as he clambered up after the Cap
tain.
Griffith reached the top Of the ridge,
and then with his left hand seized and
checked his companion.
The enemy were Just below them. and
when he got Jack to understand he must