The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-10-02


i've, as though his very nature led hin
thus. At length night came on. w
ate our supper, aud then smoked ou
pipes, and finally my companion propose
that l should sleep before he did. a
first thought Of objecting, but f.,
moments reflection told me that i hat
better behave as though he was an hon
est man, so l agreed to his proposition
He took seat at the stern, and ! movet
further forward, and having removed tn,
thwart upon which my companion hat
been sitting, spread my cloak in thu
bottom of the canoe, and then having
placed my valisc for pillow, ! lay down
IA soon a. possible, I drew out ons o
my pistols and beneath the cover Of q
cough cooked it. Then I moved my
body SO that my right arm would DO al
liberty, and grasping my weapon firmly,
with my fingers upon the guard, | drew
up my mantle, louched my hat and
then settled down for my watch.
Fortunately for me, the moon was up,
and though the forest threw a shadow up.
on me, yet the beams fell full upon Karl,
and could see his every movement
We were well into the Wabash, having
entered it about three O'Clock.
"You will call me at midnight" ] said,
drowsily.
"Yes," he returned.
'.Good night"
"Good highland pleasant dreams.
I'll have you further on your way than
you think, ere you wake up again"
"Pcrhaps So" thought to myself, as !
lowered my head and pretended to lower
myself to sleep.
For half an hour my companion steer
cd the canoe very well, and seemed to
take but little notice Of me; at the end
of that time | could see tha- hc became
more uneasy. | commenced to snore
with long, regularly drawn breath, and
on the instant the villain started as starts
tic hunter when he hears the tread OF
game in the woods.
But bark. Aha-therc was before
one lingering fear in my mind that |
might shoot the wrong man; but 1t was
gone now. As the fellow stopped the
paddle, distinctly heard him muttcr-
"Oho, my ydearsheep-you little dream
cd that Gus KARL was your companion.
But he'll do you good turn. If your
friend is dead, you shall follow him, and
! take your traps to pay your passage to
Heaven"
think these were the very words
At any rate they were their drift. AS
he thus spoke he noiselcssly drew in the
paddle, and then rose to his feet. lsaw
him reach up over his left shoulder, and
when he brought back his hand he had n
huge bowie knife in it; ] could sec the
blade CLEAN in the pale moonlight, aud ]
saw Karl run his thumb along the edge
and then feel the point! Ny heart beat
fearfnlly, my breathing was hard. twas
with the utmost excrtion that | could
continue my snoring, but managed TO
do it without interruption. Slowly and
noiselcssly the foul wretch approached
mc-Oh! his step could not have awak.
encd Homeland his long cleaning
knife was half raised. I could hear his
breathing plainly, and | could hear the
grating Of his teeth as he nervcd himself
for the stroke.
/ The villain was by my side, and he
measured the distance from his hand TO
my heart with his eye. In his left hand
he held thick handkerchief all waddcd
up. That was to stop my mouth with.
Every nerve in my body was now strung
and my heart stood still rs death. Oi
course, my snoring ceased at that in
slant the huge knife was raised above my
bosom. Quick as thought, / brought
my pistol up the muzzlc within foot OF
the robbers hcart-hc uttered quick
cry-I saw the bright Lladcquivcr in the
moonlight, but it came not upon me. !
pulled the trigger, and the last fear was
past. had thought the weapon might
miss fire but it did not. There was a
sharp report and as l sprang up and
backed, | heard fierce yell, and at the
same moment the robbcr fell forward,
his head striking my knee rs il came
down.
Weak and faint, | sank back, but sud-
den tip of the canoe brought mo to my
senses, and went aft and took the pad
dlc. AS soon as the boats head was
once more right, turned my eyes once
more right, turned my eyes upon the
form in the bottom Of the canoe, and i
saw it quivcr-only spasmodic move
ment-and was still.
All that night sat there at my watch,
and stecrcd my little bark. had my
second pistol ready, for knew not sure
ly that the wretch was dead. He might
be waiting to catch me of my guard, and
then shoot me. But the night passed
slowly and drcamily away, and when the
morning broke, the form had not moved.
Then l stepped forward and found that
Gus,us Karl was dead! He had fallen
with knife true to its aim, for he had
struck very near to the spot where my
heart must have been, and the point was
driven 70 far into the solid wood, that ]
had to work hard to pull il out, and hard.
or still to unclasp the marble fingers that
were closed with dying madness about
the handle. .s-'-
Swiftly flowed the tide, aud ere the sun
again had sank to rest had reached Lo.
ganport. The authorities knew the face
OF Gus Karl at once, and, when ] had
told them my story, they poured cut q
thousand thanks upon'my head. Apunc
was raised and the offered reward pu,
with il and rendered to me. took the
simple reward from the generous citizens,
while the remainder directed should be
distributed among those who had suffer.
cd most from the Wabash robbers dcprc.
dations. g ta.- =
found Kemp sickand miserable. II,