Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-09-02
now thought it time 10 wake |

, | now thought it time 10 wake vi
which | did with preliminary yawn c
two. The same apathy came back an
sat upon the features Of my entertainer.
| made them understand that | wished t
retire. There we're two apartments il
the cabin; and they both left the one that
was in 10 make arrangements in the othe
for my accommodation. They were alb
sent some time, and was quite sure
heard them move the bed to another par
of the room. They came out at length
and was told that my bed was ready.
They watched my movements with con
siderable interest when arose to retire.
| started at first without my pack on pur
pose. The faces Of the worthy pair light
ed up; returned and took it, and they fell
in n moment. This was not all; passed
IN first, and the woman attempted to shut
the door on Lion, but the latter putting
forth his strength sprang after me in an
instant, almost upsetting the hag in the op
GRAFTON.
81 thought the critfer would like 10 stay
by the fire." she said, by way of apology
''Call the varmint out-'taint likely the
gentleman wants to sleep in the room with
the beast," added mine host, in a way that
expressed great deal Of anxiety for my
welfare.
81 prefer having him with me,' l re-
piled. ,... .,
''He wont eat the quarter Of meat in
there will he?''
"Oh, no,"l answered. "You are quite
right-he won't eat it, He never takes
any thing that's not his.'' ss -s.-..
Saying this, wished them good night,
ana closed the door. ,-.0,..
They had provided me with dim tall
low candle, and the first thing did was to
examine everything in the room. 1t was
pretty well numbered up. Various kinds
of vegetables occupied different corners,
among them were pumpkins, potatoes,
melons, &c, together with quarter of
venison, some jerked beef and skins of an
imals. examined the bed next. 1t was
a poor concern the frame being made Of
round poles in the same state they were
taken from The woods; and the clothing up.
on it was coarse enough for n hermit
But what struck me as being little singu-
lar was, that the head Of said bed was
tarned toaeard the partition separating the
two rooms, and right opposite the pillow
was wide crack, which had the appear
ance of having been left there by design.
] began to feel queer, (and that is not
just the word to. express what mean.) /
had large sums of money about me, enough
to. tempt the cupdlty of my entertainers,
at any rate, MS their actions had already
convinced me. How easy it would be for
them to shoot me through the crevice while
| slept The idea got possession of me
fully, and | could not drive it away. |
would have lastened the door, but there
was nothing to fasten it with, and was i'm.
pressed with the idea that the danger would
not come in that directions. If it should,
Lion was there to aprise me of it. Threw
off my coat, and hustled about, as though
| was undressing, put my pistols under my
pillow, and laid down; but such an unac.
countable and terrible sense Of evil pressed
upon me that could not think of sleeping.
Lion, too, appeared uneasy,-came and
put his fore paws upon the bed every few
minutes, then went back to his post by the
door, and laid down with kind of fever
ish anxiety. 80: q. .. ... -
At last feigned sleep, and snored most
unsteady, but did not fail to look through
the crevice 10 see what my host and hostess
were doing. They laid down upon the
bed which stood in the room, without TAX
ing off their clothes, and were quiet until l
began to snore, when heard them whisper.
What were my sensations, when l. saw
them arise softly, and the man take the
gun from behind the bed! | saw him, as.
sisted by the hag, draw out a charge Of
shot, which was in the gun, and reload it
with a handful Of slugs. ! turned over
heavily, and pretended to awake. My
plan Of action was arranged in a moment.
had worn wig for several years, on
account of losing my hair by fever.
now determined TO make it Of more use 20
me than it ever had before. | lifted my
self quietly from my bed, and felt about in
the dark, until found one of the pumpkins
had seen; over this drew my wig, and
it happened to be an excellent fit. Having
dressed this useful vegetable in this uncom.
mon manner, |, crept back to my bed, and
placed it in exactly the position my head
had occupied When it was thus adjusted
it was in just position with the long crew
ice, through which now 1 took another
look. Heavens! the fiends were loading
brace Of horse pistols with the same in
fernal slugs.;si 6. As}z-.ss- s.-. t'yea..s:
L:can't say but felt a little dry abou
the throat then. L looked toward old Lion
/ could jusl discern. his great eyes through
the darkness. He was still on the alert
The perspiration beganto roll down my
|face in great drops, not that felt absolute
ly afraid--for fatter myself that am nj
coward--bu: did not like the idea of tax
ing human life. | was confident that
could defend myself, yet even that conf
dence was not enough to make me leel al
together comfortable. s.a5' I'll ,fa".H7t
Taking my pistols in my hand, ben
oyerthe bed and commenced snoring again
at the same time watching the movement
of the man and his amiable spouse. Eve
ry exp plosion from my nose seemed to Civ
| ~. "a