The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-02-07

IL Awoks tho Sleeping Camp TO tho rrss.
encs OF Danger.


sterile that even sage brush could Jot
grow there--across dry ravines-over
out-crop Of flinty rock-from one ridge
10 another. until al 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 tho
earth with its golden light we could
see for miles aud miles in every drcc-
ton. No sign of danger.
Night comes down as softly "a n
child closes It's eyes in sleep. and the
light breeze from the north brings
film of white cloud Ia hide portion of
the stars. A sentinel is posted on The
bank OF tho stream, second 10 the
east. third 10 the west. Ii 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
peaceful song rs they how past our
camp.
No Indians signs. II is such
calm. quiet nights rs this which have
lulied the tired cmigrant To his last
sleep on earth. Seeing no Indians. he
has argued that none were lurking aud
watching. We who have fought the
red man from Fort kearney 10 the
source OF the Powder river know him
better The very absence OF his foot
prints i menace. The quietness OF
the night Is n warning 10 be needed.
At 10 o'clock everybody but the
scntinels Is fast asleep. Some Of the
horses are lying nj full length. so buried
T.. 10 that fhnir
can be heard for yards away. AT IL
o'clock all is quiet. Even the crickots
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 scniines soft
ly enter camp-bend over the sleepers.
and five minutes later the guard has
been changed. Those who slept are
now as watehful rs foxes; those who
watched are in the land of dreams.
Half-past IL oclockl No sound now
but the purling waters. and their mono
tony would close the eyes Of sentinel
who listened long.
One O'Clock! Now there is the quiet.
ness OF a graveyard. Men aud horses
seem TO DC dead. The sentinel to tho
east gives sudden start He would
deny il on his oath. but for an instant
he slept. He shakes himself aud looks
over the camp. All is peace, but he
has received n shock which makes his
heart beat faster His stand is ut 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 east by
the clouds.
"Chirp! Chirp. Chirpw
A cricket begins his song again after
n long silence. 1t seems loud enough
TO awaken every sleeper, but 1t is not.
IL is very low and quiet. 1t reaches
the ear of only one sentinel.
Watch! Watchl Watch"
His heart leaps 10 his mouth. Tho
words came TO him rs plain rs IL
spoken by some human being. Watch
what? Watch where? Watch for
who?
Watch Watchl Watchm
The senliners eyes fell upon n dark
spot on the grass 100 feet away. IL is
the shadow of cloud. The danger
spot In the center is rock lifting IT'S
head ont of the earth. He noticed it
before the darkness came. He can see
nothing moving there is no danger.
Look Look LookW
his heart jumps again and his eyes
20 back TO the dark spot. They cling
there for two or three minutes, during
which time tho cricket is absolutely
silent. Did something mover Ia tho
black spot nearer than 1t was?
''Creepingl Crawling! Comingl"
So shOuts the cricket. and now the
sentinel Is sure that the dark spot has
advanced. OF course ii hasl Ii has
also changed the Inc of its advance.
With bated breath lac waits and watch
es. The man who disturbs camp with
out good cause will he tainted with
cowardice. Ahl il does novel The
black spo, Is not now over fifty feet
away.
Shoot, Shoot Shootw
The sentinel softly pulls back tho
hammer Of bis heavy carhine raises
the weapon quietly 10 his shoulder. and
the loud report Is followed by cry SO
longdrawn. so wild and wierd and full
OF death that no one forgets II for n
month. There is wild confusion in a
moment aud then everybody is ready.
What Is itPn
Thrce or four men advance 10 the
dark spot TO lind tue body of nm Indian
stretched at 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
10 return and report. Al the sound OF
his death-cry they mount their ponies
aud ride away. Detroit Free Press
Hard Fighters.
Among smaller birds perhaps none
,v,,,,. ,v,,r mora des,,eratelv than thc