Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-08-05

my snoring, but 1 managed to do it without
interruption. Slowly and noiselessly the foul
wretch approached me-Oh his step would
not have awakened a hound-and his long
cleaning knife was half raised. l could hear
his breathing plainly. and l could hear the
grating of his teeth as he neryed himself for
the stroke.
The villain was at my side, and he measur-
ed the distance from his hand to my heart with
his eye. In his left hand he held thick
handkerchief 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 bo
som. Quick as thought 1 brought my pistol
up! the muzzle was within foot of the rob-
ber's heart-he uttered quick cry saw the
bright blade 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 a
sharp report, and as l sprang up and back 1
heard a fierce yell, and at the same moment
the robber fell forward, his head striking my
knee as it came down.
Weak and faint sunk back, but sudden
tipping of the canoe brought me to my senses,
and went aft and took the paddle. AS soon
as the boats head was once more right turn
ed my eyes upon the form in the bottom of the
canoe, and 1 saw it quiyer-only spasmodic
moment-and then all was still.
All that night sat there at my watch and
steered my little bark. had my second pis-
tol 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
when the morning broke the form had not
moved. Then I stepped forward and found
that Gustus Karl was dead. He had fallen with
his knife true to his aim, for it had struck very
near the spot where my heart must have been,
and the point was driven SO far into the solid
wood that l had to work hard to pull it out,
harder still to unclasp the marble fingers that
were closed with the dying madness about the
handle.
Swiftly flowed the tide, and ere the sun a
gain sank to rest had reached Logansport.-
The authorities knew the face of Gustus Karl
at once: and when told them my story, they
poured out a thousand thanks upon my head.
A purse was raised, and the offered reward put
with it, and rendered to me. took the sim
pie reward from the generous citizens, Willie
the remainder directed should be distributed
among those whe hnd suffered most from the
Wsbash robbers depredations.
1 found poor Kemp sick and miserable. He
was burning with fever, and the doctors had
shut him up in a room, where a well man must
soon have suffocated.
"Water. Waterl In Gods name give me
water! he gasped.
ssHaven't you had any 90 asked.
He told me no. threw open the windows
sent for a pail of ice-water, and was on the
point of administering it, when the old doctor
came in. He held up his hands in horror land
told me 'twould kill the sick man. But fore
cd him lack, and Kemp drank the grateful
beverage. He drank deeply 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. AtWal-
toms settlement found my horse wholly re-
covered, and when 1 offered to pay for his
keeping, the host would take nothing. The
story of my adventure on the river had reach
ed there ahead of me, and this was the land
loads gratitude.