Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-03-21
vherel and then went up to my room.

We NloltcO5 IL was NClA IulltloLACO thChs
and looked comfortable. Yet I disliked
the roar of the mountain torrent directly
under my window, and asked for another
room; but was told this was the only
one they had in readiness for travellers,
SO had to put up with it.
I always used to sleep with my pistols
under my pillow, and of course did so
on this occasion. Ihad faithful weapons
made on purpose for me in Manches-
ter-double barreled andpowerful. They
were pair of my own invention, and
one hammer operated upon both pans, so
that they were easier to carry than the
ordinary weapon with double flint locks.
1 left my lamp burning with low fame,
and having secured my door, went to
bed. The roar of the torrent soon be-
came wild music to me, and I was not
long in falling asleep.
I must have slept not far from three
hours, when 1 was awakened by feeling
something on my shoulder. l started up
and made an instructive movement to-
wards my pistols.
"-shw uttered some one close to my
ear. Don't be afraid. You saved my
life, and now I am come to save yours.
My eyes were now fairly open, and by
the dim light of my lamp I could seethe
features of the boy whom I had rescued
from the rock only few hours before.
"What is it?' I asked, not little
startled,
"You are to be murdered and robbed
before morningP' he replied, in low, quick
tones.
Murderedp' l repeated. "What
here?"
"Yes-here. The brigands are about
and they know you have money. You
are in danger! They mean to kill yor
and throw your body out of the window
into the stream, and that would be the
last of you p
"But how do they know I have mon
"" asked.
"You told them so.''
Me-told-"
Yes. You ate supper with the bri
gand chiefr'
So the mystery was out, and / knew
what fool / had been to trust stran
ger.
"But," said /, "the landlord will"
, "He dares not do anything interrupt
| ed the boy. "Fear binds him. w
come here-a-the brigands come her,
, when they please, and he serves them"
"Then you are with them p I re
t marked.
II cannot help myself" he said, " 70
: | have no other home but with them"
You may imagine how peculiar m,
) feelings must have been at that time.
( could not take my horse, for one Of TIL
: brigands was in the stable. / could no
/ fly, for the yard was watched. The bo
informed me that there were four of tn
robbers at the inn, and that they would b
). at my room in an hour. He also aC
$ knowledged that he was sent up to m
e room to see if 1 was asleep, and if m
. door was locked. / asked him if h
d could not help me.
9 81 have done all / can" he said. &c
D have told you all, and l should die il
It stantly if that were known"
It "But can you not get hold of the
IS pistols, and extract the balls ?" l asked
Y "They won't have pistols" he answe
k ed, "for they make too much noise, al
Ie there are some of the girls in the hou
e they wouldn't trust. The dagger al
lie club does their work. They mean Il
N club for you, and then if your body
n found in the stream, nobody could swe
s. you were murdered. You understal
rs now, and I must go back, for they'll e
lg pect me. l shall tell them that you a
j. snoring loudly, and that I found the do
re locked"
"And did lock it, l uttered, wondt
ed ing how the boy got in.
lp He smiled and showed me that t
i'd socket into which the bolt shut was
arranged that it could be removed fro
Il the outside. Once more he bade me
ry on my guard, and assured me that t
ok brigands would be up in an hour,
at least.
er "And now we are square" he said,
on as nearly as we can be at the present,
as you may be sure that I risk my life nc
Protect yourself if you can, and N
if God help you"
With these words he went away, a
he I was left to my own reflections.
ne lamp was still burning, and having kno
re- ed the crust from the wick, examir
ny. my pistols over again, There were f