Democratic Sentinel, Volume 10, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 May 1886 — A NIGHT OF FEAR. [ARTICLE]

A NIGHT OF FEAR.

BY CAPT. J. MONTFORD.

"While listening to the murmuring leaves he stood, More than a mile immersed within the wood. **♦♦»»» A sudden horror seized his giddy head, And his ears tingled, and his color fled, Nature was in alarm ; some danger nigh Seemed threatening, though unseen to mortal eye. —Dryden: “Theodore and Honoria." “I never hear that sound,” remarked the Colonel, as the wind tore and rattled against the side of the house, “but I am thrown back to a wight, long ago, which I passed under very different circumstances. ” We scented a story, and discovering by our attention that such was the case, the Colonel continued as follows: “Half an hour before nightfall, upon a gloomy day early in March, I sprang into the saddle in front of the General’s tent. “I had orders in my pocket for the forces which lay several miles away toward the east; and I had been warned that a guerrilla band was skulking in the neighborhood; and knew that I must employ great caution to escape them. “They would make short work with a ■straggler, and if I fell into their hands there would be but one way out, and that not such as I would choose. “To reach my destination I must pass through a wood of considerable extent. I entered the bridle-path just as the last gleam of daylight vanished. The sky was overcast, and there was that strange shiver in the air which precludes a storm. “I reached my destination without meeting with any adventure; and half an hour later set out upon my return. “The impending storm was now’ at its height. Little or no rain fell; but the wind blew with redoubled strength as though determined to tear up the trees which disputed its way. “I shivered as I rode along through the woods, and wished myself at the' end of my journey. It was terribly dark, and I dared not urge my horse forward for fear of a fall. “I soon suspected, from the motion of the horse, that we bad strayed from the bridle-path, and this added to my anxiety.

“Occasionally the loud crash of falling timber would send the blood rushing through my veins, and the next instant my heart would almost cease to beat as a swelling, mysterious moan, which seemed to come as low as from the fiends, swept through the laboring air. “To confess a truth, I was becoming frightened. My imagination was extremely ! active, and metamorphosed the half-dis- > tinguished forms and sounds into something uncomfortably fearful. “My steed seemed to partake of my trepidation, for a frequent snort expressed his discontent. “Suddenly a horrible yell fell upon my •ear, followed by the report of a rille. “Instinctively I drew the hbrse back upon his haunches and listened. The storm fiends seemed laid for an instant, and all was quiet. “ ‘That was a man's voice,’ I said, smoothing the neck of my startled steed; ‘ some •one is in trouble.’ ■ “At that instant, having recovered from my first fright, and the discomfiture which followed, I urged my horse onward. “But he sprang back as the crash of firearms, supplemented by a series of the most fiendish yells, sounded from in front. “I recognized the sound well enough this time. It could have issued from no throats but the guerrillas’; a class of men whom both Federals and Confederates had ample ■cause to fear. “They could not be faraway, and I instantly slipped from the saddle, and, securing the horse to a tree, began to creep toward the place where I knew some dark tragedy was transpiring. “I soon came within sight of a number ■of torches, and knew that the actors were there. “Stealing along through the trees, I came upon the edge of a little glade and its occupants.

“There were just thirteen men—l was curious enough to count them—gathered -around a young, boyish-looking man, who held a smoking revolver in his hand, with which he menaced his foes. “They were fierce-looking rascals, of the genuine guerrilla breed, attired in clothing of all sorts and colors —blue, gray, and •civic. “They are cowardly from principle; but I much wondered to see so many held at bay by one man, until I spied a tall man lying upon the ground. “I knew at once that he had been the leader of the gang, and had met his fate at the hands of the youth. “The first report I had heard, and the, yell Which followed, had announced his •doom. “It took but a very short time to make ■these observations, and the prospect was becoming darker for the young man every moment. “He stood with his back against a tree, a bold, intrepid look upon his face; his eyes followed eveiy movement of his foes, and

his supple finger prepared to send a soul into eternity at the first onset. “The young man’s bearing quelled the rascals who confronted him; they were determined to avenge their leader, but no one seemed desirous of venturing his own life. “But this inactivity could not last always, and the bold youth must succumb unless I could relieve him. “I determined to make the attempt, although it seemed fruitless, and began immediately to form a plan. “I was Astened by a sudden movement on the part of one of the outlaws. “He had been maneuvering for some time to escape the youth’s glance for an inslant, and seemed satisfied at last that he had succeeded. “I saw him draw a pistol from his belt, and instinctively a cry of warning rose to my lips. “But it was unnecessary. “There was a flash from the young man’s pistol, and the ruffian fell, shot through the brain. “Now was my opportunity, and, yelling at the top of my voice, I broke from my position, and rushed into the glade. “ ‘Come on, boys!’ I cried, as though a legion of warriors w ere at my heels, and shooting down the first marauder who obstructed my path, I reached the youth’s side. “My onset surprised the rascals, and dropping their torches they scattered in every direction to escape the soldiers they expected were upon them. “ ‘This way,’ I whispered, seizing the boy by the arm. “He was quick-witted enough to take advantage of the diversion I had made in his favor, and an instant later we were rushing through the wood toward the spot where I had left my horse. “The guerrillas almost instantly recovered from their alarm, and, finding that we were but two, they picked up their scattered torches and followed, shouting furiously. “They had lost two of their party besides their leader. If we now fell into their hands the most horrible death they could devise would be the result. “Suddenly my foot caught in a root and I fell at full length upon the ground. Oh, the horror of that instant! I shall never forget it. But my companion turned and jerked me to my feet; and on we went, with the bushwhackers yelling at our heels. “It has seemed strange to me since that they did not fire upon us—we were but a very short distance in advance—but in the hurry of the chase they probably forgot that they wore pistols. “Instinct led me in the right direction, and as I saw the form of my horse beneath the tree it infused new power into my muscles.

“Reaching his side. I tore the bridle from its fastenings and sprang into the saddle. My fellow-fugitive was behind me in an instant, and I spurred the steed forward with a reckless disregard of a downfall. “Away we went, brushing against the limbs, and expecting every breath to be torn from the saddle. Our foes did not give over the pursuit, but followed rvith the persistency of bloodhounds. “I can not tell you how long the chase continued; but we at last came to an open space where had once been a clearing. “It was some relief to catch sighs of the sky over our heads ; for the storm had now spent its foice, and I heard a glad cry rise to my companion’s lips as we flew out into the open space. “But our triumph was soon changed to despair. We could not ride at a very rapid pace through the woods, and the pursuers had been close behind. “As we rapidly covered the level ground, which was broad enough to allow the steed to display his swiftness of foot, the foes realized that we should escape them. “Suddenly there came the crack of pistols, and the balls whizzed about our heads. “My companion gave vent to a heartrending scream that I shall remember to my dying hour, and, after clutching me convulsively in his arms for an instant, he released his grasp and fell to the ground. “I did not stop. I knew that he was dead, and it would bring no good to him if I lay stretched at his side. “As I entered the wood at the opposite side of the clearing I looked back and saw the guerrillas growling like wolves around their victim. “They did not pursue me further,” said the Colonel, after a moment’s pause, “and I reached the camp in safety. But I never could discover the brave youth’s name or the regiment to which he belonged. ”