Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1857-07-18

raised. could hear his breathing plainly,
and could hear the grating of his teeth as
he nerved himself for the stroke.
| The villain was by my side, and he neasur-
ed the distance from his hand to my heart
with his eye. In his left hand he held a
thick handkerchief all wadded up. That was
to stop my mouth with Every nerve n my
body was now strung, and my heart stood
still as death. OF course my snoring ceased
and at that instant the huge knife was raised
above my bosom Quick as thought l bro't
my pistol up--the muzae was within a foot
| of the robbers heart-he uttered quick cry
i saw the bright blude quiver 10 the moon
light, bnt it came not upon me. pulled the
trigger. and the last fear was past. i had
thought that the weapon might miss fire, but
it did not. There was sharp report and as
1 sprang up and backed heard u fierce yell,
and at the same moment the robber fell
forward, his head striking my knee as it came
down.
Weak and faint sank back, but sudden
TIP ot the canoe brought me to my senses,
and | went aft and took the paddle As soon
as the boats head was once moro right. i
turned my eyes upon the form in the bottom
OF the canoe, and saw it qnver-only
spasmodic movement-and then oil was still
All that night sat there at my watch and
steered my little bark. / had my second
pistol ready, for knew not surely that the
wretch was dead. He might be waiting to
catch me off my guard and then shoot me.
But the night passed slowly and drearily
away, and when the morning broke the form
had not moved. Then l stepped forward
and found that Gustus Karl was dead He
had fallen with his knife true to its aim, for
1t had struck very near the spot where my
heart must have been, aud the point was
driven so far into the solid wood that / had
to work hard to pull it out, and harder still
to unclasp the marble fingers that were
closed with dying madness about the handle.
Swiftly flowed the tide, and ere the sun
again sank to rest had reached Loganport
The authorities knew the face of Gustus
Karl at once, and when had told them my
story, they poured out thousand thanks
upon my head. A purse was raised, and the
offered reward put with it, and rendered 10
me. i took the simple reward from the gen.
erous citizens, while the remainder directed
should be distributed among those who had
suffered most from the Wabash robbers de.
predations.
] found Kemp sick and miserable He was
burning with fever, aud the doctors had shut
him up in room where a we'll man must
soon have suffocated.
Water! Water! In Gods name give me
water" he gasped
Haven't you had any?" asked.
He told me no. l threw open the windows
sent for pail of ce-water, and was in the
point Of administering it when the old doctor
came in. He held up his hands in horror,
and told me 'twould kill the sick man. But
forced him back. and Kemp drank the crate
full beverage. He drank deeply!y and then
slept. The perspiration poured from him
like rain, and when he awoke again his skin
was moist, and his fever was turned. In eight
days from that time he sat in his saddle by
my side, and together we started for Little
River. At Waltou's Settlement found my
horse wholly recovered, and when ] offered
to pay for his keeping the host would take
nothing. The story Of my adventure on the
river had reached there ahead of me, and this
Was the landlords gratitude.