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Article EPISODES IN THE LIFE OF A FREEMASON. ← Page 14 of 17 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Episodes In The Life Of A Freemason.
ivhich bordered the narrow ancl winding pathway . it was with , difficulty that even tivo troopers could ride abreast , and occasionally the whole body was forced to break into single file . The little party had now reached the centre of the ° len it was perfectly dark , as the feeble fight of the moon was quite inadequate to penetrate the mass of foliage which hedged them in on every side . W ivas beginning to congratulate himself
on having passed the worst ot it , and was expecting to ^ ain the open country in a very short time , when suddenly another crack was heard louder than the first , and one of the troopers fell from his horse a lifeless corpse ; a large stone , hurled with a deadly aim , from one of the slings to which I have alluded had in another instant felled a second man to the ground ; and it was
now quite apparent that they had fallen into an ambuscade . It was difficult to determine how to act under such circumstances as they could not see their enemy , ancl to advance or halt seemed equally dangerous . W was somewhat at a loss what to do but , after some consideration , he determined at all events to push forward , and get out of the glen as soon as possible . Whatever might be the nature of their unknown enemy , it was very certain that his own men would have a far better chance in the open country , as they were unable to do anything for their
defence in such a position as they were then in . Accordingly he gave the word to advance , enjoining at the same time a strict watch to be kept on every side . The obscurity of the ni ^ ht hoivever , rendered any precaution of this sort almost useless as they were quite unable to pierce the interior of the glen Avhilst their adversaries derived the benefit of an occasional gleam of
moonlight reflected'from the spears and helmets of the soldiers . They trotted on as briskly as the rough state of the road would permit , and had but a very short ivay to go to reach the end of the glen , when two simultaneous shots told of the danger still
hovering about them , and put two more troopers hors cle combat . This sharp-shooting practice was naturally very irritatin 0- to W and his men , as they were unable to return the compliment in any way . However they dashed on , and soon the distant glimmer of the moon over the country beyond the glen notified that they ivere nearly at the end of it . And now it
became necessary to provide for any attack which might be made as they emerged into the open plain , where at first , if not duly prepared , they might be taken at a disadvantage . The little troop had lost four men , which reduced their strength considerably , and they had no idea of what force they might possibl y have to encounter before they reached the camp . At length the glen was past , ancl W drew up his men to reconnoitre their
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Episodes In The Life Of A Freemason.
ivhich bordered the narrow ancl winding pathway . it was with , difficulty that even tivo troopers could ride abreast , and occasionally the whole body was forced to break into single file . The little party had now reached the centre of the ° len it was perfectly dark , as the feeble fight of the moon was quite inadequate to penetrate the mass of foliage which hedged them in on every side . W ivas beginning to congratulate himself
on having passed the worst ot it , and was expecting to ^ ain the open country in a very short time , when suddenly another crack was heard louder than the first , and one of the troopers fell from his horse a lifeless corpse ; a large stone , hurled with a deadly aim , from one of the slings to which I have alluded had in another instant felled a second man to the ground ; and it was
now quite apparent that they had fallen into an ambuscade . It was difficult to determine how to act under such circumstances as they could not see their enemy , ancl to advance or halt seemed equally dangerous . W was somewhat at a loss what to do but , after some consideration , he determined at all events to push forward , and get out of the glen as soon as possible . Whatever might be the nature of their unknown enemy , it was very certain that his own men would have a far better chance in the open country , as they were unable to do anything for their
defence in such a position as they were then in . Accordingly he gave the word to advance , enjoining at the same time a strict watch to be kept on every side . The obscurity of the ni ^ ht hoivever , rendered any precaution of this sort almost useless as they were quite unable to pierce the interior of the glen Avhilst their adversaries derived the benefit of an occasional gleam of
moonlight reflected'from the spears and helmets of the soldiers . They trotted on as briskly as the rough state of the road would permit , and had but a very short ivay to go to reach the end of the glen , when two simultaneous shots told of the danger still
hovering about them , and put two more troopers hors cle combat . This sharp-shooting practice was naturally very irritatin 0- to W and his men , as they were unable to return the compliment in any way . However they dashed on , and soon the distant glimmer of the moon over the country beyond the glen notified that they ivere nearly at the end of it . And now it
became necessary to provide for any attack which might be made as they emerged into the open plain , where at first , if not duly prepared , they might be taken at a disadvantage . The little troop had lost four men , which reduced their strength considerably , and they had no idea of what force they might possibl y have to encounter before they reached the camp . At length the glen was past , ancl W drew up his men to reconnoitre their