The Democratic Whig. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1842-1843, 1843-07-12

OF cQl4 leaus only wish n4l 4 could meet
with companion, and then there would Be
no fear"
lperiecily well understood the oder thus
indirectly thrown out for my acceptance, but
az ! would rather have his room than his CON-
pany, did not pretend y comprehend the al
fusion.
81 would advise you to be careful. Mr.. Sian.
Geld" observed the landlord, sand see that
your pistols are well charged and pFimed"
Iglanoed az the stranger, and despite bis
best exertions 10 appear unconcerned, the
contraction Of The hrows fully discovered how
interested he felt in the reply.
sob there Is no occasion for fear on my
account" replied earelessIy-'I took The
precaution 10 load my,pistols yesterday evening
and they only require being placed IN the hol-
sters"
aYou're travelling towards The Upper Dis.
tricts then, Ipresume sirl" SAID the stranger
addressing himself 10 me; "would you have
any objections TO me As companion 1.-two
heads are better than one, surely four arms
must be better than two"
aHolm Mr.. Holder" (ior that now found
was the strangers name), said the landlord
''whai are you bound TO the Upper Districts
Why thought you had settled on the Hawkes.
bury ~
Mr. Holder, at this unexpected address, ap-
peared greatly confused. Quickly recovering
bis composure, he oOolly observed that "being
DESTROYS ofpurchasing maize, he was unable TO
do so, unless be attended in person"
remarked that slight shade OF suspicion
spread itself over the flank countenance ofthe
landlord On hearing this observation. tie was,
however, silent, and as Mr.. Holder did not re-
new bis offer Of companonship, which propos-
al was net seconded by any OF the individuals
present, returned 10 my own room.
Silently fastening the door 10 prevent in
trusion. proceeded to examine the pstols,and
/ found that the balls had been extracted while,
the powder had been suffered to remain. Fear.
ing however,tha some trick might have been
PLAYED with the latter, withdrew the charges.
and carefully reloaded the instruments, which
Iplaced il the holsters in sucha manner, that
ifthey had been meddled with must instantly
have perceived IL.
Having completed these arrangements
proceeded calmly and deliberately 70 consider
Of the best measures TO be adopted under these
suspicious circumstances. That / was 10 be
attacked on my way, I entertained not the
least doubt This, however, could with facili-
ty be remedied BY informing the landlord, who
was constable, Of my suspicious. together
with the circumstance Of the charge Of my
pistols having been extracted could, too
wait for the detachment Of mounted police
which was daily, nay, hourly expected, Bul
none oftiese alternatives would ] embrace.
felt an irresistible desire 70 punish NJ Holder
who, was innatey convinced, was the muir
derer ofthe aged schoolmaster, and, strongly
suspected Of William Clemcntime too. Be
sides was only nineteen geaHs Of age aug
having followed a seaiaring life. was lberalll
imbued with that spirit Of daring and enter
prise which that profession is so well calcula
ted to induce. therefore determined to keel
strictly silent regarding all that bad passed
knowing that the most advisable plan wa
to impress Mr.. Holder with a conviction tha
his article remained undiscovered. Should
come in collision wiz him, / felt the mos
Eperiect confidence in nv own resources, hav
ing long been considered an excellent marks
man with the pistol.
My resolution being thus formed. proceed
ed to the sitting-room and was not much sur
prised 70 hear that Mr.. Holder had left the inn
Il hardly know what 70 think Of that man,
observed one Of the neighbors "he i
here to day, and gone tomorrow. Besides h
calls himself a settler on tho Hawkesbury-
now, / know the Hawkes5urY well enough
and am certain that three months since Their
was no settler Of that name there and We
our landlord tells Us that he has been frequen
ting his house for the past eight months, say
ing this and saying the other, and yet ! can
not find that he ever bought single grain 0
} wheat with an bis talk"
II don't halfli that excuse Of his" said Job
Brown, sabOut going up the country to bul
maize this is not the time Of year for that wml
besides, couldn't he have samples sent 70 hin
like all o!her purchasers have. You did RICH
MIR, Staahed, not TO go with him-he spend
; bis money too freely to gent honestly"
r The hour having arrived in which Il was in
tended that should start, called for my bill
which bolokened honest Johns moderation u
charges and the horse being at the door, wa
about 10 mount, when the landlord requisite
I TO speak With me privately.
? aMr Stanfeld said the honest fellow, 'yo
are vet unacqualnted with these bushranger
and am inclined to suspect this Mr. Hode
to be one, l do not suppose that anyoi them
would murder YOU, unless you desperately re
sisted. It is not their fashion to kill strangers
but only those sci tlers against whom the
have some grudge, or who have many prison
ers IN their employ. | would therefore advis
p YOU 70 leave any money you have By you witt
: me, If il is large sum, and only take as mucl
, as would satisfy the Williams If YOU sh0ull
meet with any Of them, and be inclined 10 70
sist, don't stand parleying with them bet fire a
once. Depend on it, that's the only way &
p yet off,
Thinking the landlord Tor his advice, an
3 informing him that had but a triling sur
! with me, I babe him a hearty farwel, and pro
}. ceeded on my Journey IN conformity with III
i directions furnished me.
o The path that had TO travel was truly a so
: itary one, and shortly after leaving Maillanl
! il commenced a drifting shower which,
: despite ofmy travelling claaks soon weited =
i 10 the skin. The sear-orisp leaves, too, ru'
] tied across the road, adding, if possible, 70 n
/ d eariness Of me scene. Besifes, was ignl
2 ran Of the track, and nothing can be more ur
{ pleasing than that Of having a long journey b
fore yoG,while every step you progress is iroi
q den with uncertainty. This feeling becoml
IS bitterly painful to the traveller IN vast iores
I where, II once lot, smah indeed is the prob
2 bilnv Of meeting with any but a hamlet,
] which you might apply for directions eoneerl
2 ing your route. | streuuuusly endeavore
e however, as I rode under the witherod an
Ie wide-snTeadng branches Of aged trees, thl
ofl overshadowed the path, and rendered the ira,
E hardly percephbe, tol raise my spirits, but u
effort was useless. TIE deep gloom that pr
r. vailed the loneliness Of the place, the unoe
7 tainty ofmind, and the dismal aspect Of 50
y rounding object struck coldly upon my heaI
III IN -, economically IN e,naefatfon Of 4