New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-21
COLUMBUS.
HD STARTS OUT TO KILL INDIANS.
IL.

Last niCht we heard a sound. mention TINS
particularly because IN Ransom II In not GUS
tomary TO hear sounds In the night. That Is
one reason why life Is 30 delightful here When
you 20 to your couch you may relax COM
pletely. knowing that silence will envelop you
as In some mantle ~ peace Only the crickets
and the katydids will say anything unless II be
q whp-poor And the katydids are IN the
hollow in the pasture across the road. not near
enough to be anything but soothing.
Rut last night II was different. I was In that
"erst sweet sleep" OF which Shelley speaks.
when thought heard my name pronounced.
I Immediately said "What?" with a gbness
that believed would betoken that had not
been asleep at all.
Don't shout So" whispered Gertrude
I'm not shouting" answered with loud
promp;ness I'm only answering you. What's
the natter?
1t was moonlight and could see Gertrude
standing by the bed with a shawl hudded about
her shoulders.
Hush she responded. sat up.
''Why doesn't Rab bark?" / asked.
IT don't know: that's the queer thing about
1t. He always barks you know"
WELL it's all your imagination. or he would
bark now" answered.; and then my compan-
Ion said Hush again. and returned that II
i 4
come in here, If she were not going to allow me
to utter q word?
She stood motioness by my bed. AS there
was moon she had brought no lamp. 1t is a
very discomposng thing to be awakened about
midnight and have some one stand by your bed
as> Ill as Gertrude was standing. and to see
that person listen to something you cannot
hear yourself
There" she exclaimed after a moment
tried as hard as could to hear some noise.
At the same time l stared at the open win
dow. 1t was foggy. and could see the mist
drift by, driven by the southerly wind. But
could hear nothing.
II suppose you are under the impression that
you've heard a sound" said at last. but
don't think you nave. And even II you're not
mistaken. why need you be alarmed? Haven't
we Columbus In the house?
80 We have" she responded with an air of
relief. Il forgot him. And you know we hired
him partly for protection
II know we did: and hope he will be more
successful as a protector than as puller OF
weeds"
IT wish you wouldn't be so fippant," said
Gertrude, II feel something as do in thunder
tempest when 1 never know where the light
ming will strike next. 1 don't know In which
place I shall hear that sound again. There
This time did hear II. I cannot describe the
noise but II made me cry out:
There's somebody in the house," This time
II was Gertrude who spoke scornfully.
Eyes" she said we're In the house and so Is
Columbus"
IF he is here 10 protect us let's rouse him"
Having said this / / could not find
shawl and Gertrude seemed to object to having
n lamp lighted. So took a blanket from the
bed and wrapped 1t about me.
! will not try TO describe the sound we had
heard because l don't believe descriptions given
under such circumstances are trustworthy.
We CROPPED our way toward the porch cham
ber." where Columbus took his nightly repose
after the arduous duties OF the day were left
undone.
81 do wish Rab would bark" whispered; and
then added that supposed the house was full
Of burglars and our dog had been poisoned.
We were now in what we called "the corridor
that led from the front OF the house toward the
little chamber in the rear. II was while We
were In the corridor that we heard the sound
again, and 1t seemed to come from Coumbus's
room.
/ wished that had brought my pistol which
keep in its case on the floor under my bed.
/ keep 1t for just such an experience as this.
but had forgotten TO take It, and now l did
not feel like going back through the corridor.
] had feeling that as fast as we left room
or a vacant space IN the house that room and
that space filled up with burglars and having
this feeling 1t could not be expected that
should wish to retrace my steps.
Gertrude went bravely on and followed her.
She put her hand on the latch Of the boys
door.
Are you going in?" whispered.
hu Won NAV 20 first" she answered
No"
We stood there a moment.
IF the door were only wider we could go to-
gether."
Presently Gertrude resolutely Unmatched the
door. But she did not then open it. She held
the latch in her hand and resolutely called:
Columbus, Columbus. say
There was no answer; but we distinctly heard
indistinct sound.
We've got to go n." she said. and she went
followed closely that we almost fell In.
The curtain TO the one window was rolled
to the top. therefore, despite the fog the room
was quite light.
An object on the floor made a rolling tumb-
ling movement toward U.S. II was at this pre-
else instant that we both screamed.
Gertrude found her self-possession enough to
say:
II wish you'd light a match" never can
know why / had strength given to get to
the shelf. Just as my cropping fingers touched
what they sought Gertrude cried out shrilly
Its Rab!"
And 1t was our Gordon setter. The light re-
vealed him struggling about In the room and
trying to reach us. His head had been thrust
into the leg of pair Of Coumbus's thick win
ter trousers. and then the leg had been tied Sc
curely in front Of the dogs nose and round his
neck Besides. Rab's front legs were fastened
together
ran back to my room and brought pair Of
scissors and with these instruments released
the poor creature. who whined and capered and
licked our hands in his gratitude.
Then we looked about the apartment for our