The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1856-09-06

myself, but have seen great deal OF the
world, and am pretty cool and clear head
ed un''er difficulty. In very few moments
my resolution was formed. My horse was
now knee deep in the mud, ard | knew I
could slip of without noise. So drew my
revolver Il never travel in that country
without one-I drew this, and having twined
the reins about the whipstock, carefully
slipped down in the mud, and as the cart
passed on went behind it and examined the
hasp.
The door Of the cart lets down, and is fast
ened by a hasp, which slips over staple and
Is then secured by a paddock. The paddock
was gone, and the ha>p was secured in place
by bit of pne-so that slight force from
within could break it. My wheel wrench
hung in a leather bucket on the side of the
cart and Iquickly took it 0ut and slipped it
into the staple, the iron handle Just sliding
down.
"Now had him. NY cart was almost
new. made in stout frame of white oak, and
made on purpose for hard usage | did not
believe any ordinary man could break out.
got on to my cart as noisclcssIv as | GOT off.
and then urged my horse on, still keeping
nv pisto: handy. knew that the distance
of half mile further | should come to a GOOD
hard road. and so allowed my horse to pick
minutes after this heard motion in the
cart followed ty grinding noise a. though
some heavy force were bein: applied TO the
door. | said nothing. but the idea >tru,k me
that the villain might Judge where sat aud
shoot up through the top of the cart at me, so
| sat down on the foot board
"Of course knew now that nv unexpcct-
ed passenger was a villain, for he must have
been awake ever since started. and no,hir
in the world bat ab>oIrte villarny would have
caused him to remain quiet 50 long and then
start up in this particular place. The thump-
ln- and pushing grew louder and louder, and
pretty soon hcar,! human voice
LET NE on, of this" he cried, and he YELL
ed prrtt, loud
Il IItrd up my head so as to make him
think | was sitting in my usual place, and
then asked him what he WAS dom. there
81 I n
Piled.
"!cll me what YOU are in there for ?" said
II got in here to sleep on your rags" he
answered.
"Ilow did yon get in ?" | asked
Let me out or III shoe; you through the
head" he Yelled
Just at that moment my horses feet
struck hard road. and knew the rest of
the route to ia k>on would bc good going
The distance was twelve miles. ! slipped
back on the foot board and took the whip
bad the same horse then I've got nova
tall. stout. powerful bay mare-ani YOU ma,
hcIIrve there, s"m" go in her. At any rate
she struck gait that even a>toni>hrd me-
She had Received good mess OF oats. the air
was cool and she felt like gong In tit,ccu
minutes We cleared the woods, and awav we
went at a keen jump. The chap inside kept
yelling to te let out.
FINALLY he stopped, and in few minutes
came the report of pi>tol-one-two-
thrrc-tour. one right attcr the other, and |
heard the balls whz over my head. II had
been on my seat one Of those balls if not two
of them would have gone through me.
popped up my head again and gave yell,
and then deep Groan and then | said-"O,
God save me, I'm dead man Then made
>hnfllIng noise as thongh were falling off,
and finally settled down on the foot board a.
gain. now urged up the old mare by Civ
ing her an occasional poke with the butt of
my whip stock and she peeled it faster than
ever.
"The man called ont 70 me twice more,
pretty soon after this, as he got no answer he
made some tremendous endravors to brake
the door open, and as this failed him. he made
several attempts upon the top. But | had
no fear of his dong anything there. for the
top of the cart is framed with dOvetails, and
kol hn I'll
bolts had made it so could carry heavy
loads there. BY and by, after all else had
failed, The scamp commenced to halow whoa
to the horse, and kept it up. until he became
quite hoarse. All this time | kept perfectly
still holding the reins firmly and kept pokine
the beast with the stock
I'VE were not an hou. in going the dozen
miles-not bit of it. | hadn't much fear
perhaps might tell the truth and say that
had none, for had good pistol, and more
than that. my passenger was safe, yet was
glad when came to the old flour barrel fac
tory that stands at the edge of Jackson VII
lage. and in ten minutes more hauled up in
front of the tavern. and found a couple of
men in the barn cleaning down some stage
horses.
We'll, old feller," says I as ! got down
and went round to the back of the wagon
won have had good ride haven't ye?"
WHO are you 2" be cried, and he kind Of
swore little, too, as he asked the question
I'm the man You tried to shoot" was my