The Irish standard., 1890-06-07

scoiored councilman retire from public
life altogedder." s.
Charles Selwyn's mother was an In
valid who seldom left her room, and his
father, who had spent the greater part
Of his life in the British army until
snperannuated by wounds and exposure
in many chimes, was sinking into second
childhood.
Ariel was therefore left to himself,
and for lack of other employment turned
to the books with which the room was
literally provided, and took his first
draught of the well-spring OF know
ledge, which he found SO sweet that he
returned to it again and again and found
that balm for anxious thought which
nothing else affords.
For the next two weeks Selwyn was
absent securing the country for yolun-
teers and arms, until he found himself
at the head of band of two hundred
men, all of whom had seen service as In
dian fighters Or in the army; while war
party of Mohawk warriors under young
Cul01 uCtIu0u oIdAU S"O4AOA VIC AOASO ~
about three hundred and fifty men. On
a beautiful morning in May, 1853, Sell
wyn and Renwick reviewed their troops
on a bank of the Mohawk river, and
while the dew yet fingered on the grass
began the march to the relief Of
Oswego, guided by the half-breed,
who relinquished the newly -discov-
cred treasures of literature with
a sigh of regret which was quick
~ stifled by an eager desire to go
to the aid of his master. In many places
the primeval forest was impenetrable
without the aid of axes to clear away
the jungle of underground; or
swamp necessitated a wide circuit;
Or creek raised to sudden JIM
portance by a freshet, defed their eff
forts to make the passage, and the I'M
patient leaders chafed while precious
hours ran heedlessly away. A night in
June found the little army encamped on
the bank of noisy creek in one of
those park-like spots sometimes found
in the midst of the forest, and almost
encircled by gigantic trees. The creek
was the bed of an ancient river, and the
opposite bank thickly strewn with sand
and boulders among which a few stunted
trees found scanty nourishment.
Through the day the scouts brought in
news of having discovered a trail which
indicated the presence of an enemy,
and Gordon of sentinels was placed
around the camp, logs and branches COL
lected to form breastworks, fires extin-
guished and all precautions taken to
guard against surprise.
Anon the stars began to twinkle in a
cloudless sky; the breeze died away; the
creek murmured in its rocky bed, and
mingled with the variety of sounds in
aigenous to wood and stream; but in the
camp conversation was carried Oh in
subdued tones, scouts came and went
noiselesslY, and sentinels moved with
mufhed steps. 1t was nearly midnight
when Renwick, returning from an in
spection of the sentinels, laid his hand
on Selwyn's arm, and pointed to a dis
tant section of the sky, where a faint
rosy light appeared, wavering and
eyanescent, like blush on woman's
sheek, fading away to return again.
s'What is it?" asked Selwyn.
II am going TO see. believe it to be
the bivouac fire of a French detachment;
Indians would not make such a blaze,
and it is far off. Where is Ariel?' A
slight touch on his hand answered the
question.
81 will go with you," selwyn said.
emo. We must not take the risk, :"
and he and the boy disappeared like
ghosts.
Selwyn, leaning on his rifle, watched
The roseate CLEAN as if by It's aid he
could follow the track of his friends,
when a scream rang out, eoho1ng
through the woods with shrill vibration.
Inyoluntari1y he grasped the rife and
made step forward, then paused and
smiled at his own nervousness; it was
the cry of the cougar; he had heard 1t
often before. Then the cultural voice
of Brant, the Mohawk chief, muttered
in his ear:
1.-THE Hurons will be here at day
light!''
He was about to reply, but the red
chief was gone.
An hour before daylight he withdrew
the sentinels from the other side of the
creek and aroused all who were not on
duty. Every man was at his post; the