The National tribune., 1892-02-11

/ We did so. 1--WE must act silently" continued
\ he. The swonls the only weapon for our
work, aud rs / consider you the best swordsman
/ in my command have chosen you 10 strike
/ the blow that WILL give Us success or failure.
I You must kill tho man who guards this post,
/ and you must DO IL so quietly and so quickly
/ that there can be no struggle, no alarm; one
/ stroke must do Il. He will come i'm q few min
utcs. lie must pass Us and meet his ueighbor.
1 He will Tepass Us on his return. Follow him
! like n shadow until be is in ft position, with
| his back TO you, then make an end OF him with
f one blow" He gave these directions without
/ n trace OF excitement or feeling in the tone of
/ his voice or the expression of his face. Aud
! what an inscTutabe face il was; a perfect mask
| for all his thoughts
Colonel" | said, with much Indignation.
this is not war. IL is murder. Why could I
/ not graphic with him suddenly? We could
/ easily make him prisoner, and then threat
! would keep him quiet"
/ Not 50 loud your plan involves too much
| uncertainty. IL ho bo n good soldier. he would
\ manage to give the alarm before surrender or
I has gun might by some mishap be discharged
/ in the struggle. But this is not the time or
place for the discussion Of plans or OF name to
/ give TO killing. In war there is only one
/ question How 10 succeed with the least loss
/ 60 yourself aud the greatest 10 the enemy IL
\ that sentinel give the alarm and the garrison
| do their duty, wo cannot take this post without
!
/ lives 10 be imperi!ed TO save one Of the enemy
| For If this man is killed before be can speak,
/ we will take every man Of them without the
/ loss of a drop Of our blood. Now do under
stand you to decline to obey my orders?"
Colonel caunot DO il. Ny conscience -
Enough, consider yourself under arrest.
/ and surrender your sword aud pistol at once"
Il gave up my arms, and placing my pistol
! IN his belt, putting his own sword in its sheath,
! and taking mno IN his hand he said
80 Now, sir, remain where you are until
| give YOU further orders; and remember this on
the first indication Of interference on your part
! shall cut you down without mercy"
after a few moments Of silence We heard the
| tramp Of the sentinel. As he passed looked
/ at the Colonel. His eyes met mine with an all
searching look that seemed TO comprehend
everything thought. There was something
I terrible in the serenity Of his face; its utter
lack Of feeling, its cool, confident calculating
I expression. 10 was tho face OF what might DC
l called the philosophical murderer the man who
/ is not driven 70 the act by propensity, or a
I great temptation, or a giant wrong, but who in
/ the quiet exercise OF his Judgment decides upon
\ 10 rs "A wise course to pursue. Again we heard
/ the tramp OF the sentinel; he was returning
Y having, / suppose, met his neghhuT in the
manner we had observed from tho hill. The
/ Colonel got on his feet and crouched close 20
I the hedge. bis head Just high enough to enable
\ him 10 look through its thin tops. / took %
similar position. He gave look of caution
! that seemed 20 say: Have a care. Remember
\ my warning The sentinel approached. When
\ he was nearly abreast Of me- aud saw his face
u clearly my heart grew sick aud / trembled
\ ia him / recognized Jonathan Morton, the
/ lover Of my sister, my intimate friend, between
\ whom aud myself no contention had ever come
\ except the question Of allegiance 10 Crown or
Colony.
In front Of me he stopped suddenly, and for
a moment / thought and hoped that we were
discovered. But / was mistaken. lie turned
\ his back toward us and closely scruiinized the
country to the south. lie seemed satisfied, for
/ he dropped the butt Of his gun to the ground.
/ and leaning the bayonet against his shoulder
4 thrust his right hand under his coat and pro-
| ducing a leather case took from it locket
I which he opened.
The moonlight fell upon it, and could see
/ that il held the portrait Of my sister. What
happiness shone IN his face as he looked 1T it.
Love filled his soul then; war was forgotten.
aud nothing was farther from his mind than
death; yet death was near enough 20 touch
him. Wholly absorbed he gazed on the poI-
trait.
Il glanced at the Colonel. lie kept his
. crOGching posture. his right hand gTssped his
. sword his LETT his cooked pistol. He gave me
/ look Of menace, aud my weak nature was sub
I dued, know not how. Ny will seemed TO sur
I render 10 one 10 could not resist. Perhaps ii
was that. or perhaps fear for ] felt that / would
surely lose my lie the instant l showed a sign
Z OF rebellion. But / know not why / confess
/ such coWaTdice.
after gazing on the portrait for few mo-
ments. Jonathan bent his head and pressed his
lips upon it. Scarcely had they touched il be.
/ fore ] saw the CUlOnCls sword rise and descend
/ with Lightning sWltness. The blow was given
with fatal accuracy, aud Jonathan fell without
uttering a sound. His head was completely
severed from his body. The inclination Of his
head when lie looked at the portrait had IA
vored the downward stroke, and just before
delivering il the Colonel had leaped uOisClessly
upon rock, which had placed him above his
victim.
One glance showed that the terrible work
was accomplished and without au instants de-
lay the Colonel turned 10 me, and returning my
sword said: Resume your sword at the ear
Hest date practicable you will resign or secure
a tranier from my command. lieither be done
| will take no notice Of your conduct tonight.
Now follow me as directed before lie knew,
the result Of our observations, that tho seuti-
mel on the left must be out Of the way; il only
remained 10 learn where was the one Oh the
right. Moving cautiously but swiftly from
tree 10 tree aud bush TO bush, he soon aseer-
tanned that the latter was also where he could
see no approach from the southern side. Then
rushing 10 the gap in the hedge he gave sig
nal, aud IN few minutes our whole force was
at the door OF the house without the knowledge
Of the enemy. The rest may be told in a word.
The garrison were caught asleep and surren-
dcred without resistance.
And so one Of his characteristic tricks had
given Col. Aaron Burr what was said to be
"A brilliant success Afterwards Is ! watched
his career / saw him win triumph after
triumph until he held the second place in
the Nation. Then came the murder OF Hamil-
ton-it was not q surprise TO me-and the ruin
of Burr, which gave back 10 me my lost faith
ia a retributiyo justice"
An old Dogs Tricks.
Hunting dogs, when they grow old. become
rheumatic, or are at least debiiitated with
pains. We know, too, that they crave heat,
aud get as near the Gre Is possible-a craying
which increases As they grow older One such
dog. older than the others aud slower ia getting
into the lodge on returning from the hunt. was
often crowded away from the fire by the other
liyrior dogs getting all the best places before
him. Finding himself thus turned out in the
cold, he would dash toward the door bark ing
! when the Others supposing 1t was an alarm.
would rush away too while the old rheumatic
went 10 the fire aud selected place 10 suit
him Translated from the /" Revue Scientih-
que !" for pODqiaF Science MOHfkiHl