Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1855-08-11

| could plainly see, and were engaged in dividing
or securing the booty.
The glittering ewes of the wrinkled Zingara,
for such she was, then turned upon me- 1t
was evident from their expression that my turn
was at hand. tumult of thoughts agitated
my breast To die thus, after escaping with
| life from the events of the week 1t was
horrible. Already felt the clutch of those
bird-like fingers at my throat Already 7
fancied that butcher-like knife, red from a
hundred murders, and warm from the old
Generals side, slowly passing into my breast.
[ could offer no resistance. Ny left arm was
broken-my ankle twisted-ny strength utterly
gone. | raised myself partly up, as with
hidious deleberation the pair cautiously ap-
preached, one on each side What would
| have given at that moment to be heading a
" forlorn hope y to be struggling with the
breakers as when lately wrecked on the stormy
Caspian to be standing opposite the best saw
handle shot in rhe county Galway to be hob
nobbing over my fathers claret, in my grand
fathers house, with the blackguard attorney
who ruined US all to be listening to the un-
mistakable refusal to marry me of the only
girl ever loved or to be arrested by a dirty
tailor on the eve of a steeple chase, in which
| was the favorite gentleman rider. Don't
fancy that thought of all these things at
time, though | never thought so much in year
as | did in those few moments.
The ugly Jewish features of the man ap-
preached me with the fascination of serpent.
| twisted myself round to meet the still more
fendish glance of the woman They neared
me. The clutch of the hag is already at my
throat. The knife of the man is upraised.-
Suddenly the chords of speech were loosened.
and [ screamed-screamedl like horse in the
middle of the battlefield. | shall never forget
the sound of my own voice in that unearthv
cry. The monster drew back, but it was only
to look at each other At that instant
thought of something my right
hand | drew forth my Colts revolver
| remember distinctly during the instant it
took to pluck it forth all the incidents of the
two days previous--each time | had fred it,
and that there were two charges left when [
was shot down from my horse To snatch it
forth, cock it. level it, to pull the trigger, was
the work Of second. Down went the man,
filthy corpse upon the ground / remember
seeing the shadOwy forms of the obscene birds
cropful in the solitary tree near me lazly
extend their wings as the sharp report rang
out. The hag fed q half dozen PAGES, like q
sldl IlCu Suuuu buG was DuIututu NltH
spoil, and her foot caught against the very
corpse Of him whom she had assisted to murder.
Before she could rise, / had covered her with
my pistol One ! two three 81 She has it !"
| cried. But it was not fated that she should
enjoy the privilege Of instant death. She fell
wounded and crippled Her means and
maledictions Were horrible | had struck her,
| believe, in the hip joint.
At length, | conceived the idea of dragging
myself from that appalling vicinity for these
two wretches had made the accustomed sights
and sounds of the battle field familiar and en-
durable by comparison with their neighborhood
either in life or death. | was not disturbed
again that night and indeed do not remember
much more until found myself on litter and
among friendly faces Looking forth, as was
borne away | saw only one sight in all that
ghastly field of death 1t was the old Zngara's
corpse Plundered in turn by my soldiers, it
lay naked, stripped of its gaudy rags, and a
monstrous vulture had selected it for his prey,
as something more corrupt than all that lay
around
My faithful Achmet told me that for hours
after they found me he could not succeed in
getting me to relax my grippe on my Colts pistol.
If | survive these wars, and ever become
respectable citizen in ould Ireland" again,
that weapon shall be a precious heirloom to
hand down to my children's children as the
instrument of my proyidential escape from such
O death