Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1891-01-30
THE CRY IN THE DARK.
It Awoks the Sleeping Camp to the Pres
enco of Danger.

Not an Indian had been seen all the
afternoon no signs had been met
with.
The ride had led over ground so
sterile that even sage brush could Iot
grow there-across dry ravines-over
out-crop of linty rock-from one ridge
to another, until at last we came to tho
Loup river and went into camp in
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
child closes its eyes in sleep. and the
light breeze from the north brings
film of white cloud to hide portion of
the stars. A sentinel is posted on the
bank of the stream, second to the
east. a third to the west. 1t seems
almost absurd to take these precau-
tons. The crickets sing under the
stones. field mice run about in tho
grass. the waters of the Loup sing II
peaceful song as thoy flow past our
camp.
No Indians-no signs. 1t is such
calm. quiet nights as this which have
luled the tired emigrant to his last
sleep on earth. Seeing no Indians, he
has argued that none were lurking and
watching. We who have fought tho
red man from Fort Kearney to the
source of the Powder river know him
better. The very absence of his foot
prints Is menace. The quetness of
the night is a warning to be needed
At 10 o'clock everybody but the
sopt;nolc ir 6, aSlaan Soma of Tho
horses are lying at full length, so buried
in slumber that their heavy breathing
can be heard for yards away. At II
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.
off over the level plain the shadows
life.
Midnight! The three sentinels soft
ly enter camp-bend over the sleepers,
and five minutes later the guard has
been changed. Those who slept are
watched are in the land of dreams.
Half-past IL o'clock! No sound now
but the purling waters, and their mono
tOuJ WOulu ClOSc LILO Cy % VI ~ Scutluoi
who listened long.
One O'Clock! Now there is the quiet.
ness of graveyard. Men and horses
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 shock which makes his
| ~
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
the 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 rs If
spoken by some human being. Watch
what? Watch wherep Watch for
whop
Watch! Watch! Watch!"
The sentners eyes fell upon q dark
spot on the grass 100 feet away. 1t isl
the shadow of a cloud. The danger
spot 10 the center is rock lifting its
head out of the earth. He noticed it
before the darkness came. He can see
nothing moving-there is no danger.
Look! Look! Lookr'
His heart jumps again and his eyes
go back to the dark spot. They cling
there for two or three minutes. during
which time the cricket is absolutely
silent. Did something move9 Is the
black spot nearer than it was?
Creeping! Crawling! Comingr
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 tainted 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 carbine. raises
the weapon quietly to his shoulder, and
the loud report is followed by cry SO
longdrawn. so wild and wierd and full
of death that no one forgets it for a
month. There is wild confusion in a
moment, and then everybody is ready.
What is it?'
Three or four men advance to the
dark spot to find the body of an Indanl
stretched ut full length on 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.-Detr0it Free Press