Semi-weekly Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1897-1901, 1901-09-13

4 " my tuo " toCti Dt HtI IuEt-
scattered about. l resolved to build q
bonfire, with a view to lighting up our
enemies should they attempt to steal
upon us in the night. As soon as it was
dark enough | sent Buck and Ginger
out to gather wood and. selecting a
fiat rock midway between those on the
TANKS, scooped together some light. dry
stuff for kindling and as fast as the
wood was brought me put it on. When
all was ready, we returned to Il for
tress.
But how light a fire? There was not
a match in the party. Indeed the only
mean of ignition we possessed was a
| percussion cap. l sacrificed two car
tridges and poured the powder they
contained into a bit of paper, intending
to explode it with percussion powder.
Night attacks always occur just be-
fore dawn. and l felt confident that we
should hear from the guerrillas. If at
all, between . and 3 o'clock in the
morning. At l l awoke the command
and issued our remaining ration. 1t
was eaten ~ravenously, and when the
last morsel had been consumed | told
all to be ready at the slightest sound.
l was going down to the unlighted fire,
and in case they heard me hammering
the percussion powder they would
know l had heard the enemy approach
ing. Then. taking Jacks revolver. l
sailed forth.
| passed down to my firewoOd, in
spected it to see that it IA all right,
then went on farther, crawling on my
stomach and listening. Noticing what
in the darkness l supposed to be n log,
l resolved to crawl up behind 1t for
concealment. On reaching it l raised
my head and looked down into the face
of a dead man. 1t was the body of II
of the guerrillas we had shot during
the day. This uncanny object. encoun-
tered at dead of night. startled me.
There were the CHASTITY skin. the sunken
cheek. the open mouth, while the eyes
were staring up at the heavens as II
they saw wonders hidden from the Nv
ing. drew back. A consciousness of
the horrors that awaited lis struck me
like a gust of cold wind. Perhaps be-
fore morning Helen Stanforth orJaque-
line or little Buck or all of us would
be living stiff and stark like that dead
guerrilla.
Then a greater strength, Il daring. a
cunning never before felt welled with
in me. | crawled on till l came so near
the guerrilla camp that | could have
thrown a stone into it. They had no
fire, and this in itself was suspicious.
| thought | heard a voice, but it was
some animal or a bird giving
q note of warning to its mate. | lis
tened. but could hear nothing which l
knew to be human. At last | sat down
on a rock and began what TO me seem-
ed an endless vigil.
1t was perhaps an hour after that
hoard unmistakable sounds of the guer-
rillas. could see nothing, though
could hear voices, and voices AT that
time of night meant mischief. Dartlhg
back TO my Wood, l set the paper OF
on the rock under II dry
yrass. keeping a little in reserve ana
rot n stone ready TO use for a hammer
hen listened for n sign of advance.
had not long 10 wait. A man must
nave stumbled. At any rate. l heard
something which convinced me the enc
nv was coming, and, laying ON my
powder. | raised the stohe
md brought it down.
Horror of horrors! The grass was
blown away without being kindied.
rho last chance was gone! 1t was
lark as pitch; not wen a ray of moon
to protect US against the coming
.utthroats.
Wait a bit. There are several spears
# grass smoldering, a spark on Tue
nd of each. 1 gather them ana put
he ember ends into the hollow OF my
and. where / hold the reserve gun
A fash-a mere bit of flame
~ bigger than a pea! l nurse 1t ana
Mt more grass with 1t. shove IL an
ndert the wood, and n beautiful bright
I,ma shoots up that gladdens my
cart. A joyful shout from the torl
ends n pleasant thrill through every
Der in my body. u- :
ping, A bullet within an incl OF my :
- into tho 4 -