Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-08-16


necessary TO rouse the sleeper.
As soon as I joined Valley, he extln-
guished the lamp. II was a clear night
and II was possible to distinguish the
furniture and various objects In the tent
distinctly. In consideration OF my weak
ened state / was 10 have the first rest
/ accordingly Law down on the bedstead,
while Valley sat on his camp-stooi-
was tired out and soon fell into dream
less sleep. VALLEY told me subsequently
that II took quite five minutes 10 wake
me when my time was up; but speealiy
pulled myself together. and rose 70 ailoW
OF his taking his turn OF bed. III DC"
CURED 10 me as ! moved TO the seat no
had occupied that his position had peen
far too prominent for our purpose. IL
was absolutely necessary. IL our vigil was
10 have any chance OF success, that any
intruder should not see that he was being
watched as soon as he entered the tent
I shifted the stool on one side, and care
fully moved the drawers and batn away
from the side OF the tent, so as 10 ieaFe
sufficient space 10 conceal myseh De
tween them and the canvas. Then' win
a spare rug to lay on. and kit-oag ior
my back slowed myself behind the fur-
niture, fairly concealed, but able to COM
mand a view of anything that might
transpire
There Is nothing more trying or more
exhausting than n solitary vigil. one
soon tires OF keeping the faculties on the
alert and hears all sorts OF imaginary
sounds, sees all kinds OF nonresident
things. Az lay wedged IN that eighteen
inches Of recess, / fancied l could dis
Germ all sorts Of hideous outlines, and
kept hearing whispered voices and mys-
terious breathings. But my Judgment
prevailed and l restrained my impetu-
osity. And 20 the minutes sped on
seeming hours, and nothing happened
Then a new terror struck me: l felt
that I was being watched. ] could not
see anything No particle OF evidence
offered to justify the idea, but / could
not shake It off. ] did not picture n
human eye gazing at me, but l felt It's
impact. A consciousness crept over me
that I was being played with. / realized
the sensations OF the mouse when 1t IS
interrupted IN its gnawing by the ntui-
ton Of tho cats eye falling on it-betore
"a has seen the cat l longed to initiate
the ostrich, and bury my head in the
sand that 1 might not see my hunter
when he disclosed himself But I rea~
sonad myself into a healthier state Of
mind. and overcame the terror which
engrossed me- II was absurd to show the
white feather. After all however, mys-
yerious the recent happenings might ap-
pear, they could not be supernatural
Thus reasoned with myself, losing count
OF time. until my state OF health, or my
fears, or the mental strain proved too
much for me, and fell asleep.
".
I was awakened by something touching
my foot. I just managed to repress the
impulse TO cry out. In time 20 notice
something living something moving, on
the ground There was no mistake l
was wide awake as 1 saw that the some
thing was a man. He had entered the
tent as 1 had done by creeping under
the canvas, and had touched my foot IN
doing so. His attention had presently
been centred on the bedstead and its
occupant and he had not noticed me.
I heard a faint bulge in the canvas as
the brute dragged his feet in, and then.
first rising TO his knees. he stood up
TO his full height I grasped my revolver
tightly, and covered him as he stood
in the dim light, fumbl!ng about In his
girdle. / thought ! noticed the dull
CLINT Of bright steel az he withdrew his
hand and moved towards the bed; but
the light was bad and | was not quite
sure. Then he paused moment and
turned his head towards the entrance, as
though TO make sure he was alone. He
had not made the slightest sound during
the whole proceeding. He stood by the
side OF the camp bedstead. gazing at
VALLEY, his back 10 me. ] heard him
mdtter something under his breath which
| could not catch, and then he stopped
over my sleeping comrade.
Bangl
/ fired my revolver through the roof
! and sprang up. In less than second !
had grappled him around tho throat
He was very wiry and determined; but
I had him at disadvantage, and, in less
time than II takes 20 tell I heard a re-
sponslve shot outside. The camp was
/ alarmed VALLEY was awake and tumbled
out OF bed as the sentry forced his way
into the tent.
1t took all I knew to hold the devil
But we had him safe. and VALLEY having
struck light / handed my captive over
to a couple Of our men who had Joined
US, and we were enabled TO take his por-
| trait.
He was very vulgar specimen OF a
| Shan. Naked as when born, except for
| a filthy rag he wore round his lean body.
! well above his waist. he was deliberately
tattooed from hip to knee, according
| 70 the fashion of his country. His face
was dirty, his expression criminal. He
was a good type of the pronounced Da-
IL
! the personifcatiOn of the Nemesis that
/ had overtaken three good men and true.
/ that would have envelOped Valley and
/ myself had his errand Of tonight not
| failed. We searched hint didn't take
! long-and found nothing. We questioned
/ him as well as VIC were able, but evoked
no satisfactory reply.
We questioned the sentry, a trusted
| man. but with no result The Sikh swore
Dat hNf COul0
| obtain access 10 the tent without MS
| having known, and further affirmed that
| he had never seen the man before.
We finally saw him securely bound ana
/ placed under guard. Then ] went back
with Valley TO the tent TO discuss recent
| events. ,
We were both somewhat disappointed
| at the turn events had taken. Ihat our
/ prisoner was mp to no good we telt salts
/ ned. but we had not title or evidence
| 10 connect him with the recent murders.
And we knew how hopeless i was 10 eS-
/ pect him TO own up and convict himself
II should like TO know what ne would
have done If l hadn't disturbed him. l
Thanks" replied VALLEY. "l'm sure it's
a pity you didn't wait and see
"What was your sensation when you
| woke?' / asked. dsregardlng his sarcasm
"Well it's "A little difficult TO say. l was
! fast asleep, when l felt something touch,
| ing my eye. ] must have lifted my hand
| - push it away when I heard peal OF
thunder-this being, Of course, your shot
and awoke, feeling that something was
pulling my evelid. 1t was a most extraor-
dinarily queer sensation: but Immediately
/ grasped the position Of affairs II passed
out OF my mind"
do you think that he really was touch
ing your eye2" ] inquired.
mo question about il. II felt just like
Il does when you get a fly in, and some
other chap IS pulling the lids apart 10 get
II out | felt It distinctly, and one eye
feels quite achcy now"
That's curious" | replied. as ! moved
to the edge of the bed to sit down. do