The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1857-09-16

my heart with his eye. In his left hand
he held thick handkerchief all wadded
up. That was to stop my mouth with
Every nerve in my body was now strung,
and my heart stood still as death. Of
course, my snoring ceased; and at that in
slant the huge knife was raised above my
bosoml Quick as thought, brought my
pistol up-the muzzle was within foot
of the robbers heart-he uttered quick
cry-I saw the bright blade culver in the
moonlight, but it came not upon me.
pulled the trigger, and the last fear was
past. had thought that the weapon
might miss fire, but it did not. There
was sharp report. and as I sprang up
and backed l heard fierce yell, and at
the same moment the robber fell forward,
his head striking my knee as it came
down.
Weak and faint l sank back but sud-
den tip of the canoe brought me to my
senses, and I went aft and took the pad
dle.. As soon as the boats head was once
more right, l turned my eyes upon the
form in the bottom of the canoe, and I
saw it quiver-only spasmodic move
ment--and all was still. as12e q a23
All that night sat there at my watch,
and steered my little bark. l had my sec
ond 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 drearly away, and when the
morning broke. the form had not moved.
Then I stepped forward and found that
Gustus Kark was dead! He had fallen
with his knife true to its aim, for he had
struck very near the spot where my heart
must have been, and the point was driven
SO far into the solid wood, that I 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 500 2 it4E
Swiftly flowed the tide, and ere the sun
again sank to rest had reached Logan
port. The authorities knew the face oi
Gustus Karl at once, and when had told
them my story, they poured thausand
thanks upon my head A purse wasrai
sed, and the offered reward put with it
and rendered to me. took the simple
reward from the generous citizens, while
the remainder, directed should be dis
tributed among those who had suffered
most from the Wabash robbers depre
| dations.
found Kemp sick and miserable. HI
was burning with fever, and the doctors
had shut him up in room where wei
man must soon have suffocated.
i "Water! Water! In Gods name giv'
me water!" he gasped.
! "Havn't you had any?" I asked.
i He told me no. / threw open the win
dows-sent for pail of ice-water, ant
was in the point of administering it whel
the old doctor came in He held his hand
up in horror, and told me it would kill th
, sick man. But I forced him back, an,
! Kemp drank the grateful beverage. H
drank deeply and then slept. The per
! spiration poured from him like rain, an
when he awoke again his skin was moist
, and his fever was turned. In eight day
: from that time, he sat in his saddle by m
D side, and tegether we started for Littl
River. At Walton's Settlement, / foun
: my horse wholly recovered, and when
offered to pay for his keeping, the no.
i would take nothing. The story of my ad
venture on the river had reached thel
ahead of me, and this was the landlord
gratitude.