The Texas Republican. [volume] (Marshall, Tex.) 1849-1869, 1853-08-20


deep silence of the scene; the darkness
the whispered word OF consultation; the
fear of interruption the white monuments
about YOU; the open grave at your feet, and
the shrouded corpse within ii, all combine
to send n chill to the stoutest heart. And
now, sitting safely in my office, how deep
chill pervades me as | think of the events
Of that night, and day, aud night again,
which am about to relate for your benefit.
We were " bound 10 have that subject. "
As Seth said, it WAS "gone up " aud it
was ridiculous, nay more. 1t was ungener>
Gus and mean in the citizens OF D to
keep watch and ward over the grave Of one
whom they knew not. save as stranger,
passing through and diving in their town.
So with an experienced party Of four, be-.
side our trusiy old driver, lmost trusty whe II
mos, drunk we set Of, at an early hour in
the evening our object being to do our
work and get away before the guard reach.
I ed the spot at about o'clock In this we
succeeded The grave was left as we
/ found it aud So artinlly had every thing
been replaced, tia, had we left five minute.
/ sooner no suspicion would ever have been
excited. But alas we had gone but lit
tie distance on our rctur; nome. when we
heard the tramp OF horses in pursuit Old
II, the driver, laid on the whip most
vigorousl y, but to no purpose. With mud
/ dy roads, five persons in a wagon, ana n
caput mortlm to boot, we were no match
in speed for our pursuers, all on horseback,
and, As we had reason to suspect, all well
armed There was no alternative, we
mus, be overtaken. How to save the bo
dy y was the question. Aquarter OF mile
1 ahead we we're to turn corner in the road.
/ Lying in that corner was recently clears
ed field, with many stumps OF trees remain
| ing which offered some chances for con
cealmen, accordingly, some of us left
/ the wagon. taking the subject" with us,
/ while H drove more slowly around
/ the corner. Before knew how 1t happen.
od or by what process OF discovery we
had hi, upon so lucky hiding place, we
had mounted upon high stump, and with
some effort had succce ded in dropping the
dead head into the cavity OF AN adloin.
ing stub which had broken of a, about
twelve feet from the ground,
But we were late about IT, Our pnrsu
efs were already in the field, was perched
upon the top Of the stub, and So near We're
they, that To sp'ing to the ground would
betfay our "caehc, and most probably
lead to my capture. The bows were max
ing Tor the wagon at very praisewor'hy
rate of speed so | gently lowered my self
down into the cavity where We had just,
" buried our dead, hanging on to the top
with my hands, 10 avoid too low descent
In a moment our followers were about me.
They had noticed our pause at THE spot,
and snpposing that We had abandoned the
subject. commenced careful search for It,
OF course | maintained q strict reserve as
to my whereabouts An uA,ucky cough or
suee1e would bctrav me; and in that case
| was elected for an imprisonment Of not
less ihan two nor more than five years
all of which thought of during their tedi'
Gus STAY. At last they lett with an agrees
ment to return in the morning aud complete
their search.
Hu; my troubles were not over. ! had
hung SO long suspended nt arms length by
the hands. thu, on attempting to swing up
again to the top of the stub, found It was
NO go; and after several attempts, m,
crsmped hand. gave way, and down | went
upon the head aud shoulders Of my depart
cd friend and fellow prisoner. The position
was disagreeahle, but was ever plucky
fellow, and felt uowise Discouraged until,
after resting WHILE | tiled to chamber M
out of my long chimney Of a grave. and
found the sides so smooth and slippery WIN
damp as to serve an eUec'nhl NJ h'"
upon me \er'iY' thought l. the way oil
the tran-grcssorls hard
! consoled myself for a while with the
hope of speedy return 81 my party, but
hour after honr passed on, aud they dad not
come. Day broke, and as the sun rose in
the heavens, the lgh, crept down into my
prison, aud illuminated the CHASTITY eounte'
nance Of my fellow captive. His eyes were
hall opened and a, last my nerves grow.
ipc weak from hunger and long confne>
men, in one position. | fancicd ,ha, saw
upon his up,urncd face strange and cum
ming leer-a trum, ,hant expression, rs If
he were chuckling over the horrible scrape
into which my attempt to disturb his rest
had brought me. shifted my position SO
that could only see the back of his head
and his bare shoulders but the rascal had
kind Of french shru. in the latter. which
still lcf, the same impression on my excited
7 fancy.
I, ,re,v clopdv and cold and slect and
IL