Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-09-12
a What could it be-? looked quickIy

knew that the sound that l heard was
very close TO me. As the hind wheels
came out l felt something besides the
jerk of the hole. | heard something
tumble from one side 10 the ether of my
wagon, and could also feel the jar oc-
casioned by the movement. Il was sim
ply man in my cart I knew this on
the instant. Of course / felt puzzled.
AT first l imagined some poor fellow had
taken that method to obtain ride; but
l soon gave this up, for 1 knew that any
decent man would have asked me for a
ride. Ny next idea was that somebody
had got in to sleep; but this passed away
as quick as it came for no man would
have broken into my cart for that pur-
pose. And that thought gentlemen,
opened my eyes. Whoever was in there
had broken in.
My next thoughts were of Mr.. Dick
Hardhead. He had heard me say that
my load was all sold out, and of course
he supposed l had some money with me.
In this he was right for I had over two
thousand dollars. I thought he meant
to leave the cart when be supposed 1
had reached a safe place, and then eth
er creep over and shoot me, or knock
me down. All this passed through my
mind by the time 1 had got rod from
the hole.
Now l never make it point TO brag
of myself, but I have seen a great deal
of the world, and l am pretty cool ard
clear headed under difficulty. In very
few moments my resolution was formed.
Ny horse was now knee deep in the mud
and knew l could slip off without noise.
So drew my revolver, never travel in
that country without one-I drew this,
and having twined the rsins about the
whip stock, [ carefully slipped down in
the mud, and as the cart passed on l
went behind it and examined the hasp.
The door of the cart lets down, and is
fastened by hasp, which slips over a
staple and is then secured by a paddock.
The paddock was gone, and the hasp was
secured in its place by bit of pine-so
. that slight force from within could
/ break II. Ny wheel wrench hung IN a
leather bucket on the side of the cart and
I quickly took ii out and slipped it into
the staple, the iron handle just sliding
down.
Now had him. by cart was al
most new, made in stout frame of white
oak and made on purpose for hard usage.
l did not believe any ordinary man could
break out. I got on to my cart as noise.
lessly as 1 got of, and then urged my
horse on, still keeping my pistol handy
i knew that the distance Of half mile
further l should come to a good hard road
and so allowed my horse to pick hi:
own way through the mud. About ter
|, minutes after this / heard motion IL
the cart, followed by a grinding noise al
t though some heavy force were bein:
applied to the door, I said nothing, bu
! the idea struck me that the villain nigh
, judge where 1 sat and shoot up through
: the top of the cart at me, so I sat dow
: on the foot board.
2 "Of course / knew that my unex
1 pected passenger was a villain, for b
2 must have been awake ever since star
l ted, and nothing in the world but abso
: Lutte villainy would have caused him /
It remain quiet SO long and then start i
n this particular place. The thumpin
o grew louder and louder, and pretty 500
h l heard human voice.
d Let NE out Of this" he cried, and
yelled pretty loud.
ct q lifted up my head so as to mak
Ut him think 1 was sitting in nv usual plac
sr and then asked him what he was doir
d there.
1 Let me out, and viii tell you"
le replied.
er "Tel me what you are in there for
1 said /.
ID Il got in here to sleep on your rags
ct he answered.
re How did you get in" asked.
ne A." Let me out or III shoot you throu1
the head" he yelled.
Sc Just at that moment my horses fe
e. struck the hard road, and l knew I
&c rest Of the route to jackson would
- good going. The distancexas but twel
Cd miles. l slipped back on the foot-boa
ne and took the whip. / had the sar
he horse then Eve got nova tall, sto
'aa powerful bay mare and you may
5nt heve there's some 90 in her. At a
nd rate she struck gait that even astc
nay ished me- She had received good M
'ha OF CATS, the air was cool and she felt Il
sx- going. In fifteen minutes we cIeai
vas the woods, and away We went at a ke