Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-05-01

} at him; but he did not comprehend or eS
press any uneasiness at that rather de
cided and energetic expression of he
feelings.
| now thought it time to wake uE
which | did with a preliminary yawn o
two.-The same apathy. came back an,
sat upon the features of my entertainers
!, | made them understand that wished t.
retire. There were two departments il
) the cabin; and they both left the one
was in, to make some arrangement in til,
: other for my accommodation. The,
were absent some time, and was quit
sure | heard them moving the bed t.
another part of the room. They cam,
out at length, and | was told that my bet
was ready.
They. watched my movements will
considerable interest when arose to re
tire. started at first without nv pack
on purpose. The faces of the worth,
pair lighted up: | returned and took i
and they fell in moment. This wa:
not all; passed in first, and the woman
attempted to shut the door upon Lion
but the latter, putting forth his strength
sprang after me in an instant, almost up
setting me in the operation.
"I thought the cretur would like to STAY
by the fire." she added, by way of apol
ogy.
"Call the varmint ont-'taint likely
the gentleman wants to sleep in the room
with the beast" added my host. in way
that cvinced a great deal Of christian anx.
ietv for nv welfare.
"I prefer to have him with me-" re.
piled.
"He won't eat the quarter of meat in
there will he 2"
"Oh, no" I answered, "you are quite
right-hc won't eat it. He never takes
ANYTHING that is not HIS
Saving this, wished them good
night and closed the door. They had
provided me with dim tallow candle, and
the first thing I did was to examine eve.
rything in the room. 1t was pretty well
numbered up. Various kinds of vegeta.
bles occupied different corners, among
which were pumpkins, potatoes. melons,
&C., together with a quarter of venison,
some jerked beef. and skins of animals
examined the bed next It was poor
cuneeri,, the frame being made of round
poles, in the same state they were taken
from the woods, and the clothing upon it
was coarse enough for hermit. But
what struck me rs being little singular,
was that the head of said was turned to-
wards the partition separating the two
roomsr and right opposite the pillow was
wide crack, which had the appearance
ofbeing left there by design.
began to feel queer, land that is not
just the word to express what mean.) |
had large sums of money about me,
enough to tempt the cupidity ofmy enter
taincrs at any rate, as their actions had
already convinced me. How easy it
would be for them 10 shoot me through
the crevice while ! slept The idea got
possession Of me fully, and could not
drive it away. | would have fastened the
door, but there was nothing to fasten it
with, and | was impressed with the idea
that the danger would not come in that
direction, | threw of my coat, and bus
ted about, as though | was undressing.
| put my pistols under my pillow, and
laid down, but such an unaccountablc
and terrible sense of evil pressed upon
me, that | could not think of sleeping.
Lion, too, appeared uneasy, came and
put his fore pows upon the door, and laid
down with kind of fevcrish anxiety.
At last | feigned sleep, and snored most
musically; but | did not fail to look
through the crevice to see what my host
and hostess were doing. They laid down
upon the bed, which stood in the room,
without taking off their clothes, and were
quiet till began to snore, then | heard
them whisper. What were my sensations,
when | saw them rise softly, and the man
took the gun from behind the bed saw
him, assisted 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 of action was ar.
ranged in moment.
had worn wig for several years, on
account floosing my hair by fever.
now determined to make it of more use
to me than it ever had been before. |
lifted myself from the bed, and felt about
in the dark, until had found one of the
pumpkins had ssen. Over this drew
my wig, and it happened to be an excel.
lent 6t.-Having dressed this useful vege.
table in this uncommon manner, | crept
back to my bed, and placed it on my pill.
low. in the exact position my head had
occupied.-When it was thus adjusted, il
was i'll juxtaposition with the long crevice,
through which l now took another look
Heavens! the fends were loading brace
Of horse pistols with the same Internal
slugs.
| can't say but l felt little dry about
the throat then. | looked towards old
Lion. | could just discern his great eyes
through the darkness. He was still upon
the alert. The perspiration began to roll
down my face In great drops; not that
felt absolutely afraid-for fatter mysel
that | am no coward-but did not like
thic ;doo of human life ,,,s ,..cI.