The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1890-12-18
THE CRY IN THE DARK.
1t Awoks the Sleeping Camp to the Pres
enee OF Danger.

Not an Indian had been seen all the
afternoon y no signs had been met
with.
The ride had led over ground so
sterile that even sage brush could not
grow there-acroSs dry ravines-over
out-crop of fiinty rock-from one ridge
10 another. until at last we came to the
Loup river and went into camp in a
scattered grove. No sign of Indian
there. As the setting sun flooded the
earth with its golden light we could
see for miles and miles in every direc-
ton. No sign of danger.
Night comes down as softly as a
child closes its eyes in sleep. and the
light breeze from the north brings Il
film of white cloud to hide portion of
the stars. A sentinel is posted on the
bank of the stream, a second to the
east, Il third TO the west. 1t seems
almost absurd TO take these precau-
tons. The crickets sing under the
stones. field mice run about in the
grass, the waters of the Loup sing a
peaceful song as they flow past our
camp.
No Indians-no signs. 1t is such
calm, quiet nights as this which have
mlled the tired emigrant to his last
sieep on earth. Seeing no Indians, he
has argued that none were lurking and
watching. We who have fought the
red man from Fort Kearncy TO the
source of the Powder river know him
better. The very absence of his foot
prints is menace. The quietness of
the night is warning to be needed.
At 10 o'clock everybody but the
sentinels is fast asleep. Some of the
horses are lying at full length, so buried
in slum ber that their heavy breathing
can be heard for yards away. At IL
o'clock all is quiet. Even the crickets
have almost given DER their noise.
Fleecy clouds now cover the whole
heavens making the night no darker,
but more uncertain. AS the eye looks
off over the level plain the shadows
take on different shape and have more
life.
Midnight! The three sentinels soft
Is enter camp-bend over the sleepers,
and five minutes later the guard has
been changed. Those who Sept are
HOW tS W tltNiilhl tS lOASNs tHOSC w IO
watched are in the land of dreams.
Half-past II O'Clock! No sound now
but the puring waters and their mono
tony would close the eyes of sentinel
who listened long.
One o'clock! Now there is the quiet
ness of Il graveyard. Men and horses
seem to be dead. The sentinel to the
east gives sudden start. He would
deny it on his oath. but for an instant
he slept He shakes himself and looks
over the camp. All is peace, but he
has received Il shock which makes his
heart beat faster. His stand is at the
foot of cottonwood. He sinks down
on his knees and peers out from either
side of the trunk. Nothing in sight
nothing but the dark shadows cast by
tue clouds.
''Chirp. Chirp! Chirp!'
A cricket begins his song again after
long silence. 1t seems loud enough
to awaken every sleeper, but it is not.
1t is very low and quiet. 1t reaches
the ear of only one sentinel.
Watch! Watch! Watch-'
His heart leaps to his mouth. The
words came to him as plain as if
spoken by some human being. Watch
what? Watch where? Watch for
who?
Watch! Watch! Watchr'
The senlinel's eyes fell upon a dark
spot on the grass 100 feet away. 1t is
the shadow of Il cloud. The danger
spot in the center is Il rock lifting its
head out of the earth. He noticed it
before the darkness came. He can see
nothing noving-there is no danger.
Look! Look! Look!'
His heart jumps again and his eyes
90 back to the dark spot. They cling
there for two or three minutes. during
which time the cricket is absolutely
silent. Did something move? Is the
black spot nearer than ii was?
Creeping! Crawling! Coming!'
So shouts the cricket, and now the
sentinel is sure that the dark spot has
advanced. OF course it has! 1t has
also changed the line of its advance.
With bated breath he waits and watch
es. The man who disturbs camp with
out good cause will be taunted with
cowardice. All! it does move! The
black spot is not now over fifty feet
away.
Shoot. Shoot. Shoot"
The sentinel softly pulls back the
hammer of his heavy carhine, raises
the weapon quietly TO his shoulder, and
the loud report is followed by cry so
longdraHn. so wild and wierd and full
of death hat no one forgets it for a
month. There is wild confusion in a
moment, aud then everybody is ready.
WHAT is it?'
Three or four men advance to the
dark spot to find the body of an Indian
stretched at full length or the earth.
shot through the breast. Eighty rods
away are half hundred fierce warri-
ors, waiting in the darkness for the spy
to return and report. At the sound of
his death-cry they mount their ponies
and ride away.-Detrou Free Press.