Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1833-01-17

~ "su oo' ocCO u continuation
Of the fearful images which had dis.
turbed his rest, when, on CHANGING nj
the door, he observed underneath il y
broad red stream Of blood silently
stealing its course along the aoor. -
Frantic with alarm, it Vas bot the
work OF moment TO spring from his
bed. and rush through the door. thro'
ch'nk Of which, his eye nearly dim.
med with alright he could watch un.
suspected whatever might be done in
the adjoining room.
"His fear vanished instantly when
he perceived that il was onlv q goa,
that they had been slaughtcriny, and
he was about to steal To bed again,
shamed Of his groundi-ss apprehrn
SONS, when his ear was arrested BY n
conversation which transfxed him
gain with terror 10 the spot.
This Is an easier job than YOU had
yesterday SAIL the man who held the
goat. i wish all the throass we've
cut were as easily and quietly done. -
did you ever hear such q noise a, the
old gentleman made last night. TWAS
well we had no neighbour within dozen
OF miles, or they must have heard hi.
cries fur help and mercy.'
'Don't speak Of IT, replied the other.
never was fond Of bloodshed.,
'Ha! ha!' said the other, with n
sheer, you say so. do you!'
Il do. answered the first gloomily /;
the Murder Hole is the thing for me
that tells no tales-a single scuffle-a
single p'unge-and the fellows dead
and buried to your hand in a moment.
! would defy all the officers in Chris
tendon to discover any mischief there. >
'Ay. nature did US n good turn
when she contrived such a place a.
that. Who that saw hole in the heath.
hiied with clear water, and SO small
that the long grass meets over the top
oil II, would suppose that the depth i,
unbelievable. and that il conceals more
than forty people who have met their
deaths there Pit sucks them in like q
lecch!'
How do you mean to despatch the
lad in the next room p asked the old
woman in an under tone. The elder
SON made her sign TO be silent, and
pointed towards the door where their
trembling auditor wus concealed; while
the other, with an expression OF brutal
ieroeity, passed his bloody knife across
his throat.
The pedlar boy possessed bold ard
daring spirit, which was now reused
to desperation; but in any open re
sistance the odds were SO completely
against him, that flight seemed his best
resource. He gently stole to the win
dow, and having by one desperate ef
Tort broke the rusty bolt by which the
easement had been fastened, he let
himself down without noise ar Difficult
~. This betOkens good thought he,
pausing an instant in dreadful hesits
ton what direction to take. This mo
meDtary drliberation was fearfully in.
terrupted by the hosrse voices of the
men calling aloud, The boy has fed
let loose the blood houndi' These
words sunk like u death-knell on
his heart. tor escape appeared now i'm
possible, and his nerves seemed to mel,
away like wax in q furnace. Shall I
perish without u struggle! thought he,
rousing himself to exertion; and hello
less and terrified as q hare pursued by
lts ruthless hunters, he fed across the
heath Soon the bsying Of the blood
hound broke the stiffness Of the night.
and the voice Of its masters sounded
thro' the moor, as they endeavored to
accelerate its speed. Painting and
breaihless the boy pursued his hope
less career. but every moment his pur
sueTs seemed TO gain upon his failing
steps. The hound was unimpeded by
the darkness which was TO him so i'm
peDetTable, and noise rung louder
and deeper on his ear-while the Ian
terms which were carried by the men
cleaned near and distinct upon his
vision.
Athis fullest speed, the terrified boy
fell With violence over heap Of stones,
and having nothing on bat his shirt, he
was severely cut in every limb. With
one ~ild cry 60 Heaven for assistance,
he continued PROSTATE on the earth,
bleeding, and nearly insensibIe. The
hoarse voices Of the men, and the still
loader bsyiDg Of the dog. were now so
near, that instant destruction seemed
inevitable -alresdy he felt himself IN
their fa0gs. and the bloody knife Of
the assassin appeared 10 giesm before
his syes,-despair renewed his energy,
snd once more, in an seOny of al
fright that seemed verging towards
msdbsss, he rushed forward 80 rapid.
" that terror seemed to have given
wings to his. feet. a loud cry near the
spot he had left arose on his ears with
Out saspsndinE his fight. The koand
had stopped AZ the place where the
pedIsr's wounds blsd 50 profu,eiy; and
deeming the chase nov over. % lay
down there, and could not be inddced
20 proceed: 10 vain the men beatit ilh