The Plymouth pilot. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1851-1852, 1851-07-09

! with clouted shoes. tattered under gar
ments, cloak mended in hundred pla-
ces, and soiled broad brimmed bonnet
on his head. The money bag he tied
firmly behind the saddle; he placed pair
of pistols under his coat, and short dag
ger close by his side. Thus accouteIed
he wended his way slowly towards the
border, both he and the animal apparent
ly in the last stage of helplessness and
decrepitude. The bag behind was care
fully covered by the cloak. which spread
its duddy folds over the hinder parts of
the poor lesn beast that carried him. Sit
ting in crouching posture on the sad
die, with long beard and an assumed
palsied shaking of the hand, nobody
would have conceived that Willie was
man in the prime of life, of we'll built,
athletic frame, with more power in his
arm him than three ordinary men, and OF
an intrepid and adventurous spirit, that
feared nothing and dared everything. In
this plight our worthy went dodging
over the border, and entered the neigh
bori:.g kingdom. where every person that
met him regarded him as poor, dotted,
half insane body, fit only to lie down
at the hedge and die unheeded by the
crazy steed In this way he escaped
without suspicion, and advanced with
out adventure to the outskir: of the wood
where he expected to encounter his pro-
fessional brother.
! When Willie entered the road that
led through the dark and suspicious for
est, he was on the alert for the highway
man. Every rustling among the trees
and bushes arrested his attention, not
knowing bht a whizzing ball might in
moment issue therefrom, or tnat the re-
doubted freebooter himself might spring
upon him like a tiger. Neither of these
however occurred; but man on horse
back was seen advancing slowly and eau
tiously before him. This might be he or
it might not; but Willie now recollect-
ed every particular mark given of the
man with whom he expected to encoun-
ter, and he was prepared for the most
vigilant observation. As the horseman
adv auce6, Willie was fully convinced
that he had met with his man, and this
was the critical moment for here was the
identical highwayman.
How, now, old fellow' exclaimed the
robber; what seek you in these parts?'
Where are you bound for with this mag
nifcent equipage of yours?'
why, to tell you the truth. am cen
puir honest man frae Scotland, gaen
wee bit farther south on business of some
consequence, and am glad to have met
gentleman like you, and fain put my
self under your protection in this dreary
wood, as am stranger, and wadna like
any mischance to befai, considering the
errand I'm on.'
The robber eyed Willie with sort OF
old drivelling fool, at whose expense he
might amuse himself with impunity, and
play little on his simplicity.
What makes you afraid of this wood?'
said the robber.
why, was told that it was infested
with highwaymen; and to tell you the
Truth, as tax you to be an honest man
and gentleman, hae some thing in this
bag that wad ma like to lose, for twa
reasons-baith because it was intrusted
to my care
What have you got, pray, that you
seem so anxious to preserve? / cagnot
conceive that any thing of great value
can be entrusted to your care. Why
would not give a crown piece for The
half of it, for the whole equipage.'
That's just the very thing. You see
| am not what | appear to be. hae
ta'en this dress and this auld slovenlv
pony, for the purpose of avoiding suspi
cion in these precarious places. hae
behind me bag full of gold-you may
hear it by the jingling of the pieces when
| strike here with my hand Now l am
entrusted with all this treasure to con-
vey it to certain nobleman's residence
in the south; and l say again. that am
glad to hae met with you, to convey me
safely through this forest
At this the robber was highly amused,
and could scarcely believe that simplic-
ity so extreme, and bordering on insan-
ity. could exist; and yet there was an
archness in the old mans look, and
willingness in his manner, that hardly
comported with his external appearance
He said that he had gold with him-he
affirmed that he was not exactly what he
appeared to be-not so poor as his latter
ed garments would indicate, and withal
trustworthy, having so large sum en-
trusted 10 his care. 1t might be that
there was not a word of truth in his
story; he might be some cunning adven-
turer from the border. plying certain vo-
cation on his own account, not altogether
of a reputable cast; but, whatever the
case might be, the silly old man was
completely in his power, and if he had
gold in his possession, it must be seized