The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1842-02-01


caught the glimpse of two men carrying something
on their shoulders, and hurrying along down an old
over. grown timber road, which strikes in the
corner of the woods the right, and off
south westerly nearly the Neck of the pond Sup |
posing them to be some young fellows of my ac-
quaintance, taking this sly way 60 dawn to the
pond with seine to make haul of ptcke re, which
was then against the law, thought that I would
follow item and take them by surprise. So tied |
m horse to a tree, after bud rode fairly by the
path, went back entered the path, and cautiously
proceeded their track. After following u short
distance, came in sight ot them, Just they we're
laying their burden (Which l supposed was large
sein rolled up.) down the ground to rest or lis
ten. then sprang forward TO the spot where they
stood, and giving of them playful slap on the
shoulder, exc laImed in tone between sport and
earnest, 'Now my lads, I've caught you! and at
the same time reached down to get grasp on
the supposed seine; when, instead of feeling any
thing like Il seine, I caught hold oC the stiff, cold
hand Of dead man! I started back perfectly hor
ror struck; and, for several minutes, had pow
er to stir ar speak. The two men, also seemed
almost equally cunfnuuded, and stood as If they
rooted in their trucks staring NJ me and each
other, recovered my faculties sufficient
to do il, looked their faces and dtess. could
distinguish enough know they none of
those whom bad suspected, but two citizens of
the village of-,who were known to me- by sight
as, il seems, 1 them NV thought
to try retreat and they probably saw something
in me, that caused them to suspect my intentions
/ for of them instantly grasped my collar, and
I in sort of fierce hisper, said, You cant GO
| you have seen too much-you must diet Still
aid not, could speak nor scarcely struggles and
thus stood nearly passive in his strong grasp,
momer Is, when the man who held me turned his
head away and whispered few seconds with his
confederate. After this the relaxed his hold
a ttle and they both seemed hesitate and of
them said me, still talkiugyin the harsh,
eager W hsper-sIf we were sure-if you would
swear-swear by all that's sacred-aud then we
could be sure that we could trust you perhaps.
a ga sense of my danger, if did not do
thing now, gave me the use of my tongue, and
promised eagerly to to keep their secEet, or
to do any thing, if they would not kill me- They
then made me repeat over and over the most sol
emn oaths never to let what had be known,
in any manner, tn any human being, telling me
that if 1 violated my oath, in the least, while
I lived, my life should pay the forfeit Affair this,
they urged take money they had got
by the deed or some OF the articles OF dress The
dead man. But succeeded in putting them off in
this; when after telling that they would
ngsin soon and If true, that they would
give me at any time, as mach money as wanted.
they at length consented to let 90.
II then walked back nearly to my horse, when
it strongly coming my mind that it my best
policy know what they did with the dead man,
I turned about once more and with careful and
softly STEP stole back the spot where had left
the men They had taken Up the corpse and de-
parted but listening could hear their steps as
.hay tread the dry sticks ahead ;and could al
so once in a while get a glimpse of them they
passed some light place among5 the trees Being
still determined to gain my purpose continued to
follow them cautiously as [ could moving when
they moved, and stopping when they stopped, to
prevent being heard. After while they left the
road and striking off to the SOUTH continued to
make their way along in lire running parallel
with the shore of the pond till they came abreast
of the Neck, when they halted ciump of
white birch trees. Here, there appeared to be a
pit a hole formed by the turning up of the roots
of tree, and into this hole they dropped tine Gead
body and commenced throwing on IL dirt and rub
bish l watched Till they had filed up the hole,
and were beginning the place with Ieuyes
and throw brush wood, when silently with
ling steps, making my way back best 1 could
in that fearful swamp, at length reached my
horse, mounted, and rode rapidly homeward.-
When had arrived there and put up NV horse, /
went directly to my sleeping room, and threw off
my othes which 1 had just done the clock
struck L then got into my bed but for
one moment closed my eYaIds through the rest OF
, that dreadful night This Thursday night,
| and heard nothing more of the affair, of the
men engaged in il. ill the next Sunday, when
one of the same men came along and requested me
to get into his wagon and take ride with him to
; the tavern on south, consented hut-iustead OF
keeping the main direct road, he took me
several files round, over the hills and APPROACH
ed the tavern frum another direction When we
got to the tavern, he bespoke a room, under
the psessnce of doing some business without being
disturbed; and having taken int9 it, he locked
the door, and here remained together several
hours, talking the only subject that either he