American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-07-24
FEARFUL ADVENTURE.


wild, dreary forest. No roads, moth.
ing but horse-paths---through wood;
and the only marks to guide the trav-
eler upon his journey were the blazes
and notches upon the trees. L was
dressed in true backwoods style, and [
rode fiery mustang, with name and
tail as white as snow, beautiful arch
cd neck, and an eye like an eagle. He
was perfect beauty, and as fleet as
the wind. Across his back l had
thrown pair Of saddle bags, on one
side a dozen 'pones' of corn bread, and
to balance them there was pile of
rocks, in the other end, in the shape of
two thousand dollars in gold, which |
had collected, and was transporting to
bank in Kentucky, to be disposed of
for eastern exchange. Two large
wooden stirrups hung dangling from
my saddle, and the holsters in front
contained two beauties in the shape of
enormous horse-pistols. Over these to
keep them dry, were the squirrel.
covers.
L had been riding for several hours,
swimming the rivers that crossed my
path, snuiling i'll the rich perfume of
the forest flowers, watching the squr-
reiS playing about the tree-tops, and
listening to the music which issued
from the throats Of the thousands of
brIght-wlngcd songstcrs with which the
woods aboundcd. | had not seen a SOL
itary human being since morning, and
night was rapidly approaching; indeed
it had already begun to grow dark, and
l had made up my mind that | should
have to camp for the night. l was
looking around to select a good place,
when | was startled by the neighing
OF horse ahead of me, and presently
l saw two men approaching me on
horseback. They were rough-looking
fellows, dressed in hunting shirts, and
with squirrehskin caps on their heads.
l did not like their looks, and unseen
by them | drew my pistols, and cock
ing them replaced them in the holsters,
and casting my eye forward l saw one
OF them make motion did not like.
resolved if they proved to be what |
suspected, l would give them hard
fight and die braycly.
"Pshaw, what a fool was." thoucht
|, as they rode up and bado me good
evening. We conycrscd for few min
utes, when one Of them said:
/ "My youngstcr, what have you in
your saddle-bags that rattlcs so?"
mails" replied.
"Nails?" said he. "Eh, Bill, let us
examine the article and see;" and he
caught hold of the horse by the bit.
| Quick as lightning drew my pistols,
and pointing the muzzles at each of
their hearts said:
"Gentlcmcn, make motion to draw
q weapon, and that motion seals your
fate!"
They were taken by surprise, and
wheeling around, struck off into the for
est. After getting acyeral rods off,
one Of them raised his fist in % threat.
cning manner. / drew the trigger of
my right hand pistol, and the villains
arm fell upon the saddle; and uttering
4 yell of agony, they darted off into
the wood. l reloaded my pistol,
struck my spurs into the horses sides,
and after ten minutes of the fastest ri.
ding / ever experienced, | reached
log house, where | put up for the night.
Two years after the incident Just noted
took place, | was travelling down the
Mississippi on an old.fashioned boat,
when my attention was attracted to an
individual on board, whom thought |
had met before, but where | could not
tell. / was determined to follow him
up, and see if could not call to mind
where we had met, and under what cir.
cumstances. At last found an oppor-
tunity to look at him; he was seated on
an old barrel-head earnestly engaged
in a game Of "sevcn up" [ stepped
up and looking over his shoulder, per-
ceived that two fingers Of his hand were
missing. The game progressed until
in the exciting moment he arose, and
shaking his fist IN thc face of his oppo.
nent, in answer to sOmG remark of the
latter concerning the game, exclaimed:
81 swear you lie!"
] placed my hand on his shoulder
and turned him around.
"Ah. hah!' exclaimed /, eve have
met before"
Lifting his manned hand, his face tur.
ted as white as sheet, and hoarsc with
passion, he vocifcratcd
eyes, wo have met before, in the
woods of Tennessee, and j have sworn
that you shall die Take that
And the wretch ondeavored to draw