Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1895-02-18

standing OF its weirdness-its awful
solemnity-the fear that creeps into the
heart of the wakeful listener and I'M
nerves him.
Chee-wee! Chee-wee. Chee-wee!
1t is only the voice of the tree toad,
but it makes every nerve tingle and the
breath come shorter. The notes broke
in on silence as profound as the grave;
they cease and the silence which returns
is appalling.
Step! Step. Step!
1t is only the footballs of a timid rab-
bit yards away, but they reach the
and make the perspiration start from
every pore.
Rustic! Rustic! Rustic!
The listener almost cries out as he
starts up. 1t is a harmless snake MAX
ing his way through the dry grass, but
the sound might have signaled an In
dian creeping into camp to do bloody
work.
He-wich! He-wich! He-wich!
1t is only the note of queer, wee bird
which fits at night over those vast soil
tudes, but it has made hundreds of
brave men shiver with alarm
An hour has gone by in the camp ON
the Big Cheyenne. The sentinel does
not close his eyes, but feeling quite Sc
cure from danger he leans against
tree and gives himself up to his thoughts
Taylor has thousand wild thoughts
a score Of plans-a longing to have time
hurry up and bring the worst.
<.or1ooc Cly171lyi7,cr OIyo7. the o7.+l,
to sniff and smell and growl and Won
der, but the sentinel neither sees nor
hears.
The wee night bird ceases its notes
and alights on "a branch over the SEN
tinel's head and looks down upon him
with curious eyes
A rattlesnake which has been in hid.
ing under brush heap on the bank of
the stream now comes forth and races
swiftly past the rear end Of the wagon
to another hiding place.
The awful solitude affects the horses
as much as the men. They have laid
themselves down to sleep, but they are
uneasy and wakeful. Their ears work
back and forth Their eyes are strained
to pierce the gloom, and nothing keeps
them down but the fear of breaking in
on the solitude if they should get up.
They softly scent the air. One would
say they had feeling that some awful
tragedy was at hand.
Two hours passed away.
Time must be most up" whispered
the outlaw sentinel as he finally straight
ened up and looked about him.
THE trial must be close at hand!"
whispered Taylor as he noted the action
Of the sentinel.
Ten minutes later the outlaw walked
softly back to the sleepers. When he
reached the bodies of his friends he laid
his rifle on the ground, drew his knife
and had made two steps toward Taylor
when the latter suddenly sat up,
yawned looked about him in sleepy
way and then discovered the sentinel
and said:
"Oh, it's you. Ell? 1 dreamed that one
of the horses was walking over me. Ev-
erything quiet:''
'Yes!' stammered the would be muir!
derer, who expected to strike his victim
as he slept.
We'll. | think I'll turn out and have
a smoke said Taylor, and suiting the
action to the words he flung off his blan-
ket, arose and began to fill his pipe.
In retreating from him the outlaw
kicked against Bob. who sprang up in
alarm with curse, and in a minute the
two others were awake. The one who
was to relieve the sentinel made ready
to go out, but before he left, the outlaw
leader said:
Some one deserves a clubbing for
turning us out in the middle of the
night One of you bring out that jug
of whisky
All knew that Taylor was to be killed
as he slept. All saw that he was alive
and unframed, and that some blunder
had occurred But there was no oppor-
tunity for explanations. One of the
men quickly brought the jug and a cup,
and beginning with the leader each
poured down a stiff drink.
Taylor had his pipe aligh5, and not
one Of the quartet addressed him nor
offered him any of the liquor.
Now, keep yer eyes open," said Bob
30 the sentinel. land we'll turn i'll agin
stnd go to sleep"