The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-09-18
When Wnr Nns Murder.

Post No. 4 is under the branches OF a wide
spreading tree on tho loft bank OF a meander-
ing creek. Beyond it to the southwark is a
milo or more of neutral gtound-fo-cst. field.
and thickct. Behind 1t are thicket and field.
and the tents o. n brigade look like tomb
stones rs tho moonlight OF the summers
night falls upon them. A cavalry picket Is
stationed there. and as he relieves his comrade
he Ia told that all has been quiet along the
front.
Watch the horse rs tho relief passes out Of
hearing aud everything Grows aG!ct. Ne
knows tho direction from which danger Is to
be apprehepded. His ears are pointed toward
the other bunk. and his eyes take in tho move
ment of every bush and limb as stirred by the
night breeze. A mile away thousands OF men
are sleeping. One might listen for an hour
and hear no sound that tho spectre OF war was
fitting about over these fields. which will be
torn by shot and she'll.
The trooper peers into the gloom and listens
ami speculates on every sound. Battle lines
will not move Onward in the darkness. and a
accommodating party would betray itself in
time for him to give the alarm. Danger will
come to him. il it comes at all. from the muir
derers and assassins Of ar-th guerillas End
bushwlnckers. who kill for plumber or revenge.
Hist! What was that? The horse throws UP
his head and works his ears. but the trooper
leans forward to pat him in n soothing way.
Some amin al stirring in Il treetOp not far away
had dislodGed ~ dead limb or piece Of bark.
Now there comes u sound from the thicket on
tho left. and the horse turns his head and
points his ears. Even a field mouse scamper-
ing over the dead leaves. can DO heard yards
away ON such a quiet night,
excitement as u dry branch crackles in the
thicket, across the creek; Did human footstep
pninfnh hand lnNCaral and nna fnrafnnt n | p n
were otherwise he, would toss his head and
ono prowlinG near. A hundred nights Of picEet
duty have taught him caution. :.
wh!spers the Trooper as he rats his meek.
I'VE mustn't get excited about |. coon or pos
sum moving about: You md have been In
r. TisI in ss sss;.v LAP settle d0wntokill tim0 until
not csused to watch aad listen. No cavalry
pans hTrso On outpost iorgets the situation:
t%iiickcts. but in a vacant way. He listens. but
he no Longer. separates the different sounds.
crickets sing in the dry grass1afar on . Whip
poorwill is, makinE night melodious., He does
listen! There was a peculiar sound from
the ys stony nydn Ssd ! 81 2do tas ere%skk . he, crunch Ct Il
and points his ears. and his Dyes grow larger.
The trooper hears it. but 1t does not break his
waking dream. The end Of war has come; u
nation is rejoicing: the bronzed faced veto
rams are marching from battleiieldst to fields
OF waving grain.
The horse is trembling with fear. and his
breath comes faster. He hears the sound
again and again. Something is creeping up
the bed Of tho crock. whose high banks form
an excellent shelter. Is the trooper asleep?
who knows that on this front some one has
carefully turns his head to look back.
"Su-hol So-ho." whispers the trooper. as no
caresses him. but he is still thinking Of home
and those who will welcome him.
The horse slrinks backward and utters O
snort Of. alarm, aud the trooper suddenly
rouses himself. 1t Is too late. As he straight
ems UP in bis stirrups there is q fash Of fire in
his face. followed by o report which will arouse
a thousand men. and after q lurch, or two and
sSsclutch at the saddle he falls TO the ground.
The war is over for him. The horse wheels
and bounds away u few yards. but when the
guard turns out and comes hurrying up they
find the animal standing almost over his dead
master. with his frightened eyes watching the
bank and his ears strained to every sound.
"Ambushed and murdered!' whisper the
men rs they gather round the corpse. THE
bushwacker must have crept up the bed OF the
creek 10 shoot him. and it's q wonder his horse
didn't give the alarm in time!"