The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1893-11-04
they repeated the prayers taught
them at their mothers knee.

they repeated the prayers taught
them at their mothers knee.
Where Is the sentinel? There were
two wagons. Neither OF them shows
In the picture. He stood or sat be-
tween them, as much for the com
pany Of the inmates as for their pro-
tection. At midnight the guard Is
changed. The full moon is now sink
ing in the West In front or the
watcher Is large cactus-the ugly,
useless plant which thrlves best
where the hand OF man can neither
cultivate nor ornament II stands
ever as sign board OF desOlatiOn. IL
Is a milestone 10 mark the sunerings
| and despair Uf men who have been
! lost on the sterile and inhOspitable
plains Of the West.
All has been quiet up TO midnight.
4 The relief takes up the same position
as his predecessor did. He notes the
same surroundings. The only change
| Is in the position OF the moon, which
has been sinking away until the big
cactus now throws dark shadow to
the east. That shadow is the black,
est spot in all the foreground, but it
excites no special attention Why
should it? What should there be
about shadow cast by the June !
moon to create alarm.
1t Is ! o'clock.
Though standing on his feet the |
sentinel had nodded-almost slept. |
He rouscs himself with shake, turns |
TO every point OF the compass TO peer
and listen, but all is quiet.
The shadow. 1t has grown many
feet longer in the hour. 1t is like a
great black tongue thrust out to-
wards him from the base OF the plant,
but his eyes do not dwell upon it,
The wagons also cast shadows 10 the
east so do the horses yet standing on
their feet Shadows are but shadows.
The perfect silence OF the night lulls
the watcher into feeling Of security,
and he says to himself that the night
will pass without even an alarm to
wake the lightest sleeper
"IIa, WHAT'S that
A movement rustl ny, faint
noise as Of something stirring. A
prowling wolf or Coyote---thats it.
The beast Is lodging about in hopes
TO pick up something from the even
ing meal Of the cmigrants---thats all!
How silly to be startled by the sound!
The shadow! II has grown until
IL now almost touches the sentinel's
feet viii he take warning now?
VIII he heed the black object which
has been creeping forward as the
black shadow Crept--noise eles az the
football Of spectre, fierce as the
growl OF wounded tiger? No! He
takes a step or two to relieve his
limbs, glanceS over at the horses
wonders If his two hours are not up
and,
From the blackncss OF the shadow
a dark figure rose up and sunk his
tomahawk into the sentinePs skull,
and next moment a horde OF dusky
demons were In the camp-shoOtinR,
shouting, tOmahawking, using knife
or war-club. Ten minutes later
there were no more victims TO kill.
Thank God, none were carried away
TO torture and captivity.
A few minutes more in which to
hack and mutilate, TO plunder, TO re-
joice, and then the camp OF the dead
was left for the dead to guard. The
wolf came creeping down to the
horrid feast, his eyes blazing with
grccdincSs and his yellow tancs sharp
enng rs he drew closer and closer
Half a mile away on the limb of a
dead tree, the vultureS crew their
heads from under their wings and ut
tered hoarse croak. croak! They
could not tly in the darkness, could
not be present with the wolf 60 gorge
themselves. nut morning would do!
There would be plenty left!-New
York World.