Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1836-04-15


not say whch-but away went the bag and |
all It's contents. Most fortunately, the cause
that brought me 10 the ground had the same
effect upon my enemy he fell flat upon his |
lace the shock for few seconds stunned
hln' and before he could recover himself
ana again give chase. was so far in advance
as TO render all further attempts on his part
lruilless. continued running till | was
out OF breath then sank down upon the
road side overcome with horror, fatigue.
and the loss Of blood
What was now 10 be done ? To return
and assist Brooks in my miserable state.
with two armed ruffians between us, must
have been madness That he was murdered
did not doubt; but were it even possible
that he might still Survive. what could 1.
tpnnided, efieci foi his reseue2 On recover,
ing lutte from the confusion into which
this rapid succession of startling and terrified
events had thrown me, | found that had
nearly lost the use of my LEFT arm the blood
slreamed from the wound down the coat
sleeve, literally drenching the arm in gore
What was TO be done To remain in my
present position was perilous, TO return the
risk was still greater Maddened by sense
OF personal danger, and perhaps By the still
stronger motive of obtaining summary ven
gcance upon the murdcrers, | hurried for
ward towards Monte Video, which calcu.
lated should be able to reach in half an
hour
had not got FAR on the road when about
two hundred yards to the LEFT, observed the
glimmering Of n light--For this Instantly
made and found that il proceeded from Il
small cottage at the door of which knocked.
and was admitted By an old hideous looking
Indian woman. A more fTightlul figure
never saw and dare say she had "A still
worse opinion OF my aspect; for, on behold
ing the horrible appearance ! cut. pale.
bloody, wet, without hat, aud the clothes al
most torn off my back-she started in terror
and ulering a scream. retrenied. followed by
me, into the interior Of the cottage Here
found four savage looking men seated round
table drinking. One Of them had gun
between his knees, aud standing against the
wall | observed four other weapons Of the
same kind which | supposed to belong 10
the rest Of the party. On seeing me- they
sprung abruptly upon their feet the man
who had the gun beside him laid hold Of il
with both hands. andihe three others made
for their weapons | had evidently startled
However. there was no time for many
words. or much minute observation | told
them at once wha, had occurred. and offered
to reward them literally il they would come
along with me, and lend what assistance
they could To my unhappy friend They
refused to move, | enireated them. they
only gave surly answers, and desired me TO
begone. Offered them any reasonable sum
they might demand for their trouble-ihrce
hundred. six hundred, and, at last, thous-
and dollars My offers were vain; | was
ordered TO be gone, and not give them far
Their trouble.
At this moment observed him who
seemed 10 be the chief of the party nod ON
inously 10 one of his fellows, who left the
cottage alone with me for the purpose OF
showing me, as he said, he nearest cut to the
public road Blu, instead of doing this--in.
stead of desiring me TO proceed straight for
ward from the door, as had come--he took
me behind the cottage, into long narrow
strip of garden ground apparently stocked
with kitchen vegetables. He desired me to
wait for an instant. Till he procured light
did so, but happening by mere chance, to
look into back window OF the cottage,
which opened into the garden | saw the
whole party, each man with his musket, ad.
vancing steadily 10 the door. 1t instantly
occurred TO me that had got into den OF
murderers
The advance of the band, as they turned
the corner OF the cottage, their stealthy pace,
and IN concealed whispers, confirmed my
suspicious. There was not an instant 10
lose, | rushed down the garden, us il the
legions OF Satan were at my heels cleared
with one desperate leap the wicker railing
which encompassed it and flew onward
. with the speed of lightning. The blood
hounds, meanwhile. were not idle; one shot
was fired at me as was running down the
garden, another, as ! was in the act OF
springing over the enclosure, and two more
, while in the field Immediately beyond it.
. Crack crack, crack crack. went their pieces
; heard the balls whizzng past me they
= seemed within an inch of my ears, YET
: strange TO say, | escaped them all. The
: darkness here stood me in good stead. llac
' it been otherwise must have been riddleo
with shot, from the hands OF those desperate
. y unerring marksmen.
I Escaped from the shot, had yet another
q danger TO overcome; for | heard behind me
). the footsteps of several persons, as in keen
n pursuit For one instant | ventured TO look
I hack, and-saw in the gloom, the black forms
4 of four individuals moving swiftly over the
i ground, in the same direction as myself
; TO escape this new danger, the eXerlions
!, made were tremendous. | had, 1t was true
no bag of game TO cucumber me, as on the
r. former occasion; but | was faint from loss