Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1901-08-15

zled Harry would be when he came
to look for her.
But scarcely had her ear touched
the earth when she became aware OF
a strange, dull sound deep down be-
low her, like the measured beat OF
oars or the noise which would be made
by some one humping hard against
padded door.
What could it be? 1t was certainly
not Harry, and there was no one else
down there except herself; but the
sound could not be merely her fancy
she was quite sure that she did hear
it, and what was more it seemed to
be growing louder and coming nearer.
Then, for the first time, little Nellie
began to feel frightened. Even in the
course of her short life she had been
in the East Indian jungles so many
tigers and crocodiles and huge snakes
and other terrible creatures that it
seemed quite natural to her that some
unknown and fearful monster should
have it's underground den beneath the
fort and should now be at work to
dig its way out and devour them all.
Nellie scrambled headlong out Of
her hiding place-never needing how
sorely her poor little arms and face
were bruised by the rough stones
and darted out of the vault in such
haste as almost to knock down Harry
whom she encountered just at the en-
trance.
"Oh, Harry she painted, there's
monster living there under the
ground, and it's trying to claw it's way
out and eat us!
The boy looked puzzled, as we'll he
might. and at first seemed more in
clined to laugh than to be scared. But
he became serious enough when Nellie
took him back to the spot and they
both heard the mysterious noise plain
er than ever.
"Pll tell you what" said he, with
an air of decision. "I'll just go straight
to papa and tell him about this. If
there's anything wrong he ought to be
told at once, for he's commandant of
the fort, you know"
And away they both flew to the old
coloneis quarters as fast as their feet
could carry them.
The commandant, who had quite
enough to think of just then, for he
was in the very midst of an inspection
of the failing provisions and calcu-
lation how long they could be made to
last, frowned slightly at the intrusion
of the children, and was going to Or
der them out again. But the instant
he heard Harry's first mention of the
mysterious sound the colonel's stern,
weather beaten face changed visibly
and looked so grave that Nellie felt
quite convinced that there was really
an underground monster beneath the
fort, which was trying to get out and
eat them all up; and she was more
certain of it than ever when she heard
the colonel making Harry describe
as exactly as possible the precise spot
where the strange noise had been
heard.
Have you told any one else about
this, my boy?" asked he, after hear
ing all that there was to be told.
mo; | thought l had better report
direct to you, as commandant of the
garrison" replied Harry, doing his
best to speak in military fashion.
quite right" said his father, with
grim smile. I'm very glad you did.
Now. I'll tell you what to do. Take
Nellie with you and go and help your
mother to make bandages for our
wounded men, and mind you, don't
say word about this to her or any
one else till | give you leave"
Away went the two children, still
rather puzzled, but feeling sure that
sit would all come right somehow"
for they both had unbounded conf
dence in Harry's father, whom they
secretly believed to be the greatest
soldier alive.
1t was drawing toward evening
when the colonel came back pale and
YEARLY, and with a broad bandage
across his forehead but looking very
well satisfied for all that
you've saved us all, my little SEN
tinels!" cried he, laying one broad.
brown hand on Harry's shoulder and
stroking Nellie's golden curls with the
other. "These Hindu rascals were
trying to dig mine under the fort
and blow us all up together, but we've
stopped their little game for once, and
| don't think they'll have time to try
it again."
He was right, for on the very next
day the enemy broke up their camp
and retreated, and they had hardly
disappeared on one side when the bay
onets of Gen. Roses soldiers came
glittering over the crest of low ridge
on the other.-Golden Days.