Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1852-10-20

celNc IIstt ~ '''
t to the oth,..
"I see it so plainly" replied the colonel,
with alarming GOODNESS, that should a.
ready have blown out the brains OF your
horse, but for fear lest mine, in a moment o. d
terror, should prccipitatc me with yoursel
to the bottom of the abyss. 49,
Our horses had the bride on their rcchs'
and put my hand in the holst"S u NY
saddle to draw out my pistols -,-.., =,
remarked, in fact, thu ,.c Iolo"e' , Wv w..
ready held his pistol III MS ''anu: w, we
na.S ,s"I' ',,ant,;nrd r. most profound silence.
So'" ~ "''lh ,nSsos G.i,the danger like ourselves,
ou, no1s; ID as immovable as if their feet
@ ''"u 'c'.',sd :, ..'i,esd to the ground. My excitement
WI M.t elltircly subsidized. "What are we go.
,S% nS to do!' demanded Of the colonel.
"Draw lots which of the two shall leap
into the ravine."
1t was in fact the sole means Of resolving
the difficulty. "'rhere are nevertheless
some precautions to take" said the colonel.
"E He who shall be condemned by lot shall
retire backwards. 1t will be but feeble
chance of escape for him | admit; but, i'll
short. it is a chance, aud especially one in
favor of the winner"
"You cling not to life, then Z" cried |,
terrified at the sangyfoid with which this
proposition was put to me.
"I cling to life more than yourself, !"
sharply replied the colonel. "for | have
mortal outrage to aveuge. But the time is
slipping away. Are you ready to proceed
to draw the last lottery at which one of us
will ever assist e
How we were to proceed to this draw
ing by lot? by means of the wet fingers,
like infants, or by head and tail, like the
school-boys Both ways were impractical.
Our hands imprudcntly stretched out over
the heads of our frightened horses, might
cause them to give fatal start. Should we
toss up piece of coin, the night was too
dark to enable us to distinguish which side
fell upwards. The colonel bethought him
of an expedient, Of which | never should
have dreamed.
"Listen to me, captain" said the colonel,
to whom had communicated my perplex-
ties "I have another way. The terror
which our horses feel makes them draw
every moment a burning breath. The first
of us two whose horse shall neigh
Wins?" | hastily exclaimed.
"Not so-shall be the loser. | know
that you are a countryman, ~and such as
you can do whatever you please with your
horse. As to myself, who but last year
wore the gown of theological student, |
fear your equestrian prowess. You may
be able to make your horse neigh-to him
der him from doing so is a very difficult
matter"
We waited in deep and anxious silence
until the voice of one Of our horses should
break forth. This silence lasted for a
minute-for an age! 1t was my horse who
neighed the first. The colonel gave no ex-
ternal manifestation of his JOY, but no
doubt he thanked God to the very bottom
of his soul.
"You will allow me minute to make
my peace with Heavens" l said to the
colonel, with falling voice.
Will five minutes be sufficient 2"
"It WILL" replied. The colonel drew
out his watch. I addressed towards the
heavens, brilliant with stars, which | thong hi
| was looking up to for the last time, an in.
tense and burning prayer.
"It is time," said the colonel.
| answered nothing, and with infrm hand
gathered up the bride Of my horse, and