The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-02-07


dered was inferred in this very church
yard.
We gradually drew nearer to the river.
heard It's roaring with fear and trepida-
ton. 1t Smote my heart with awe, when
ponder1d upon the deed had in con.
temptation. could discover, from its
rushing sound, that it was much swollen,
and this was owing to the recent heavy
rains. The stream in fine weather, was
seldom more thn couple Of feet deep,
and could be croSscl without danger or
difficulty; there, however, we're places,
where it was considerably deeper. On
the OCCASION i'll quest; on, it was more dan
gcrous than had ever known it. There
was no bridge constructed across it ut this
place, aud peop! were obliged 90 get thro'
1t as well us they could. Nearer anl
nearer we approached. The night was 50
dark that it was quite impossible to dis
Germ anything. | could feel the bcatings
of my heart against my breast, Il cold
clamny sweat settled upon my brow, and
my mouth became SO dry that fancieI
| was choking. The moment was at
hand that was to put my resolution to
the test. y few yards only separated Us
from the spot that was to terminate nv
journey, and, perhaps, the m)rtal career
OF my incomprehensibIe companion. The
light of the lamps threw dali, lurid
CLEAN apOn the surface of the water. 1t
rasheI turiousIy past, sursing AMI boiling
as it Ieaped over the rocks that here and
there intersected its channel. Without a
moments hesitation, | urgol the mar.
forward, aud in a minute we were in tn.
midst Of the stream. 1t WAS case of
lie or death the water came down like
torrent-its tile WAS irresistible. There
was not a moment To bo lost. Nv own
life was at stake. With the instructive
feeling OF self-pr servation, drove the
animal swiftly through the dense body of
water, and in few secon'ls We had gain
ed the opposite bank of the river. We
were safe, but tho opportunity of riJdiny
myself of my companion was rendered,
10y the emergency Of the case, unavai.-
able.
know not how it WIS, but suddenly
became actuated by a new impulse
Wretch though he was, he had entrusted
his safety, his life, into my hanls. There
was, perhaps, still some good in the man /;
| by enabling him to escape, | might be
the instrument OF his eternal saIvation.-
lie had done me no injury, AMI at SO ne
period Of his life he mi sht have rendered
good Offices to Others. pi,ieL his situa-
ton, aud determined to render him what
assis ance | could. applied the whip
to the mire. In moment she seemed to
be endowed with supernatural energy and
swlftncss though he was murderer
though he Was henccfprth t. b. driven
from soc ETY. aS an OutcsSt-h1 should not
be deserted III his present emcrgcncy.-
On We sped; hedges, trees, houses, were
passed III rapid succession. Nothing i'm
| peIed our way. We hal Il task to per-
form, duty to fulfil !; dangers and diffi.
culiic' fled before Us. 4 human life de-
pended upon oar eXcrtions. and every
nerve required to be strained for its pre-
scrvation. On, on we hurried. My en-
thu5lasm assumed the appearance of mad
ness. shouted to the IN ire till | was
hoarse, and broke the whip in several
places. Although We comparatively flew
over the ground, fincicd we did not 90
fast enough. My body was in constant
motion, rs thoush it woull give an i'm
petus 10 our movcm .nts. My companion
appeared conscious Of my intentions, and,
for the first time, evincel an interest in
our progress. He drew out his hnndker-
chief and used it necessarily aS an iiccn.
tive TO swiftness. Onwlrl we fled We
were all acluatel by the same motive.-
Tbs .sseonccntratioa Of energy gave force
aud vitality 10 our actions.
The night had hitherto been calm, but
the rain now began TO lessen in torrents
and at intervals We heard distant peal.
Of thunder. Still we progressed We
were not to be batfled, not to ba deferred
we would yet defy pursuit. Large tract,
OF country were passed over with amaz
ing rapidity. OBJECTS that, at one mo
ment were at Il great distance, in another
were reached, and in the next, left far be
hind. Thus we sped forward-thus we
seemed to annihilate space altogether
We were endowed with superhuman en-
crgIes hurried on by an impulse, inyol
untry AMI irresistible. My companion
became violent, and appeared to thinl
VIC did not travel quick enough. He rose
once or twice from his seat, and at.emp.
teJ to take the remnant Of the whip from
my hand, but resisted, and prevailed
upon him to remain quiet.
How long We were occupied in thi
mad AMI daring flight cannot even con
lecture. We reached, at length, our des
tination but, alas we had no sooner
done so, than the invaluable animal thai
had conveyed US thther dropped down
dead!
My companion and | aligbted.
walked up TO where the poor animal lay
and was busy depIoring her fate, when
heard a struggle at a short distance.
turned quickly round, and beheld th
mysterious being with whom had riddle,
50 fatal journey. in the custody OF tw
powerfullooking men.
"Ha 4! ha thought he would max
] for this here place" said one Of them