The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-05-31

was aware oft, and he saw at glance
that further flight was impossible. He
turned and beheId only one foe in
sight. He could hear the shouts of
the others far behind in the forest, and
he resolved to grapple with the fore
most pursuer5 and by destroying him
effect his escape before the others came
up. He turned at bay. The rifles of
both the combatants had been dischar-
ged in the pursuit, and they now stood
face TO face, with no weapons but their
hunting-knives. A moment they ga
zed at each other with all their mutual
hate sparkling in their eyes.
Observation-Disclosures" "hoarse-
ly calculated the husband, paled with
passion, as he darted at the refugee.
The outlaw made no answer, but he
scowled mortal defiance at his foe land
dra wing his knife, awaited the onset of
his antagonist. And it was terrible.
For few moments so incessant were
their thrusts at each other, and SO ra-
pidIy were these thrusts mutually paIri-
ed, that the eye could not follow the
motions OF the combatants. Now one
now the other seemed to have the
advantage. The dry leaves few in
showers around the contending foes, land
the dust rose in clouds, hiding them
often from the sight. Not word was
spoken by either combatant. Atlength,
after one or two slight wounds on Ell
ther side, at desperate thrust made by
the husband, his knife struck against
the iron buckle at his antagonists belt,
and was shivereo into pieces. The ref
ugee saw his advantage, and raised his
knife to strike. AS last hope his pur-
suer grasped his wrist. A desperate
struggle ensued. Both men were of
great personal pro wess, but the outlaw
having already received a wound in his
right arm, was perhaps the weaker Of
the two. After protracted contest
he Welded, and in fierce effort made
by the husband to obtain the knife, it
flew from the refugees hand to the dis
tance of some yards. By this time
they had Imperceptibly been drawn TO
the very edge of the hill, where a rug
ged precipice Of some fifty feet, shot
perpendicularly downward beneath
them. Gathering every energy for
this last endeavor, the pursuing husband
strove to force the outlaw over the pre-
cipice, and had partially succeeded in
it, when he felt the gravelIy bank Civ
ing way beneath them. With one hand
he hastily grasped a twig, and with the
other, making gigantic eliort,he threw
his antagonist over the precipice, so
that the outlaw dangled in the air, hav-
ing no support but the hold he kept up
on the left arm of his antagonist. All
hope for the refugee was over, but he
determined that his foe should perish
with him. Moments passed away, at
every one Of which the bank gave way
more and more. The utmost efforts
ofthe victor to shake off the dying man
were in vain, and he felt that his last
hour was come. He heard no more,
even the shouts of his friends; and with
sickening sensation, he felt they had
either lost their way or deserted him.
Could they only have come up,he might
have been saved. He felt the twig be-
GIN to yield-he had already slipped
half off the bank-and the struggles Of
the dying man were becoming more
desperate every moment. He gazed
at the gulf below. Broken limbs of
trees, and uprooted pines lay promiscu-
ously together, so that to fall in the
abyss would be certain destruction.-
The countehance Of the outlaw alrea-
dy wore demonical smile in contem-
plation of the ruin to which he was
dragging the young man. And that
brdegroom--was there hope for him
Alas! all was gone. He gave one
thought of his bride-one look toward
heaven-one prayer to his God, and
then shut his eyes against the awful Ca
tastrophe he felt had come. Suddenly
however;a sharp report, as of rifle,
rung wildly in his ears, and at the same
instant he felt the hold of the outlaw
relax from his arm. He opened his
eyes only to behold the dying man
like an arrow down the abyss
only 10 see his mangled BODY living
shattered on the trunks of the trees be-
low. In a moment he was drawn away
from the bank, and claspsd in the arms
of his companions, who, coming up at
the last moment, had, by shooting the
outlaw, in the heart, rescued their friend
from horrid death.
Itwas glad night, that one, at the
little farmhouse, after the return of the
hardy adventures from their expedi-
ton. Mary was by this time complete