Hannibal journal and western union. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1851-1852, 1851-09-04
CHAPTER VII,
T II L VEN G Err.

To account for this extraordinary rencontre
between young Bennett and his farther's mur-
derer,-whom the reader, ere this will have
identified with the two strangcrs-it will be
necessary to refer again to the morning on which
Tom Smith was found drowned below the ''force"
at Rosegill ford
A short distance below Dobson's shop, the
rivulet takes a sudden and abrupt turn TO the
right, Just where beautiful cut stone bridge
now enables the benighted traveller TO cross
with safety this mountain torrent in its utmost
fury. On the outside of this elbow or turn in
the brook, and consequently on its left bank,
there stood, at the period referred TO, a small
lone cottage, matched with heather, with its
narrow and solitary window looking directly up
the stream, thus commanding full view of the
cataract and the ford so often mentioned in this
true and faithful narrative.
In this cottage there lived at the time tvsc
poor old people, Richard Langley and his wi,nn-
who managed, with unceasing industry and piaer
ching frugality, to exc out scanty ivelihot
by the humble occupation of peeling rushe-
which are still much used, by the poorer clas
es in that part of the country, for candles.
On the fatal morning in question, while itw
I yet dark, they were both busily engaged in the
monotonous employment by the light of the
turf fire, when Just as the day began to daw, 2
they thought they heard strange noise, and al
going TO the window TO look out for the cause
it, their attention was directed with fearful and
intense interest to the ford.
They saw two or three men on foot and one
on horseback, in the very middle of the river.
They appeared to be engaged in violent con
I ilict, and anon, they saw the horse gallop OIL
without his rider; yet still the scuflle continued.
The gay light of the morning had now suffi-
ciently advanced to afford them more perfect
view of the fray, when they recognised the two
Oldest of the Young Dobsons, and their brother
in-law, and distinctly saw the latter and the
! Youngest of the former, with each hand upon
the collar of the other person, whom they did
not know or could not recognise, as his back was
towards them. After furious struggle they
got their victim down into the water, and as il
was not deep, they held up his feet till he was
drowned. They then saw them relinquish then
5 grasp upon his ankles, and the body of the muir
= dered man was hidden for an instant from theiI
D, view. In another moment, dark object SWEEP
down the foaming cataract, and all was over IL
3 a shorter time than il has taken me to tell 1t.
S The poor old couple Of the cottage were $,
> terrified that they knew not That to do. Theil
, rushes lay neglected on the old settle in tn,
: chimney corner. The preparations for thei
$ simple breakfast, in which some progress ha'
= been made, were forgotten, and the oaten cNk
a was burning unheeded on the 'griddle."
# The roaring Of the "force," which from thei
= habimal proximity to il for more than half cen
- fury, they had never heard before, now cam
down upon them in the balmy Lreath O
d that beautiful morning, and struck loudly an
It painfully distinct upon the ear and wailngs 10
h the dead and unearlhly voices, too, IN their eN