Year: 1867




Perhaps it will be thought that the peddler had
now given up all hopes Of recovering his pack
He had ascertained one thing, that Captain Peter
son was not, as he had supposed, in the hands OF
this company of soldiers Nevertheless, it irked
him exceedingly to leave his property in the hands
of these Philistines, as he considered them, and
the success of the trick which he had played Oh
upon Allen, encouraged him to attempt one more
AS they now had their suspicious aroused, 1t
would be necessary to wait till midnight for the
prosecution of his plan, at least, until sleep had
enveloped the soldiers in its quiet embrace


This, he accordingly prepared to do. He was
now looking upon them from different quarter,
where there was less necessity Of eoncealment,
though he could see equally well what followed.


He could hear, by listening intenty, (for other
sounds being hushed, the voice was carried to
greater distance) what was going forward


He was alarmed by suggestion which Hewes
made, that the contents Of the pack should be dis.
tributed now, and was fearful that the proposal
would be acceeded to, as one or two OF the rest
spoke in its favor :,
If that suggestion were adopted, of course it
would be impossible for him to 60 about to each
one and gather the articles of property which be-
longed to him, while, if they remained together In
the pack as at present, it would be comparatively
easy to seize and make off with it.


It was. therefore with sensation OF relief that
he heard the Lieutenant veto the proposition.


stNo," said he, ''its more convenient to carry as
it is. We've got to be round here sometime yet,
and won't divide till we are ready to 60 back.


Of course no more was to be said, since the one
in command had decided.


'Well, old fellow, you've saved me some trou-
ble," muttered the peddler to himself, 'and al
though YOU didn't mean to, yet I'm obligated to
you for so much. Now if you're disposed to do
fresh favor, you'll just stretch out and go to sleep
as soon as convenient I only wish parson Jones
was here with one of his long-winded sermons.
rayther guess, before you'd got to nineteenthly,
you'd be as sound asleep as ever you was


The soldiers gathered together in q circle, and
from what the peddler could gather, for he could
not hear distinctly when the tones were low, were
telling stories of old campaigns. Occasionally
loud laugh atested to the success Of the narrator
But as the evening advanced and the stars came
out, one by one separated from the group and lay
down on the grass with the evident intention Of
courting slumber.


Although there was no apprehension Of an attack
from any quarter, yet Lieutenant Eustace thought
it well that military usage should be observed, and
accordingly decided to have sentinel puton watch
Perhaps he might have been disposed to dispense
with what seemed, under the circumstances, scarce
" needful, if he had himself been compelled te
share the duty. But his Office as commander ex
empted him from this troublesome task, and, there
fore. he felt that he could afford to insist upon mil
tary punctilio


''Hewes," he said, "you will stand sentinel thi.
evening until twelve o'clock. At that time yor
will wake up Dunbar who will relieve YOU


Hewes did not dare to demonstrate, although ht
thought it by no means necessary to disturb nj
rest. and confident that nothing was to be appre
hended, resolved to wait till the rest were ASLEEP
and then sleep himself.


The peddler had enough knowledge Of human
nature to Judge that this would be likely to happen
Such a proceeding would be dangerous in large
camp, but in rowing march Of half dozen sol
diers, as at present, the rules were somewhat re
laxed.


Time passed.


Hewes, as long as he perceived that any one wa:
awake sat up and preserved the air of one who
was watching faithfully.


The peddler looked on with interest and waitec
with repressed eagerness, for the time when ht
could execute his purpose. He observed WHERE
the pack had been placed This bad been thrown
together with variety of other articles, upon th'
ground, and the soldiers were lying ina circle roune
about, making it, of course, the more difficult t.
get it without discovery. The result of detection
would probably be more serious now than in tn
day time, as any soldier, on waking, would at one
discharge his musket at any figure he might see
Some might have regarded such risk as too gea
for the recovery of piece of property, but tn
peddler was by no means destitute Of courage. H
had incurred danger many times, and rather like
the excitement of it. He, therefore, prepares
himself with cautious cooness, for undertakin
this hazardous task.


One after another indicated, in a manner not
be mistaken, that he had yielded to the drows
god The officer was the last to yield, but he, toe
at length betrayed by his deep breathing, that b
was asleep.


IL,