The Ottawa free trader., 1857-08-01
A Startling Adventure.

A Startling Adventure.
, In the summer of 1915, was travelin,
, on business in the western part of Tennes
see. That part of the State which lies be
tween the Tennessee and Mississippi lin,
} was at that time wild, dreary forest. NJ
roads-nothing but horse-paths- through
the woods, and the only marks to guide thu
! traveller upon his journey were the 'blazcs
and notions upon the trees. | was dress
ed in the trte back-woods fashion, and
rode fiery mustang, with name and tai
as white as snow, beautiful arch neck
and an eye like an eagle. He was perfect
beauty, and as fleet as the wind. Across
his back had thrown pair of saddle bags,
containing on one side dozen 'pones Of
corn bread and a piece of bacon, and to bal
anee them there was 'pile of rocks in
the other end in the shape of two thousand
dollars in gold, which l had collected and
was transporting them to bank in Ken
lucky, to be disposed of for Eastern ex-
change. Two large wooden stirrups hung
dangling from my saddle, and the holsters
in front contained two beauties, in the shape
of enormous pistols.-Over these, to keep
| them dry, were the squirrel-skin covers.
had been riding for several hours swim
ming the rivers that crossed my path, snuff
| fing in the rich perfume Of the forest flow
ers, watching the squirrels playing about in
the tree tops, and listening to the music
which issued from the throats Of the thou
sand bright winged songsters with which
the woods abounded. l had not seen a soli-
tary human being since morning, and night
was rapidly approaching; indeed, it had al
ready begun to grow dark, and made up
my mind that | would have to camp out
for the night was looking around to Sc
lect some good place when was startled by
the neighing OF horse ahead Of me, and |
presently saw two men approaching me on
horseback. They were rough looking fel-
lows, dressed in hunting shirts, and with
squirrel-skin caps on their heads. | did not
like their looks, and unseen by them, drew
up my pistols, and cooking them, replaced
them in the holsters, and casting my eye
forward. | saw one Of the iren make mo-
ton did not like. l resolved that if they
proved to be what suspected, would give
them hard fight, and die bravely.
'Pshaw, what a fool / was" thought /,
as they rode up and bade me good evening.
We conversed for few minutes, when one
Of them said:
MY youngster, what have you got in
your saddle-bags that rattes so?'
Nails replied.
Nails said be. 'Eh, Bill, let's examine
the article and see.' asd caught hold of my
horse by the bit.
Quick as lightning / drew my pistols,
and pointing muzzle to each Of their hearts
and said
Gentlemen, make q motion to draw a
weapon, and that motion seals your fate
They were completely taken by surprise,
and wheeling their horses around, struck
off into the forests. After getting few |
rods off, one Of them raised his fist in a
threatening attitude. l drew the trigger Of
my right hand pistol, and the villains arm
fell upon the saddle; and uttering yell Of
agony, they darted off into the woods. |
reloaded my pistol, struck my spurs INTO my
horses side, and after ten miles Of the fast |
est riding l ever experienced, | reached |
log house, where | put up for the night.
Two years after the incident just noted |
took place, l was travelling down the Missis-
sippi on an old-fashioned boat, when my at
tention was attracted to an indivual on |
board wtom.I thought | had met before,
butwhe,e | could not tell. Twas determin-
ed TO follow him UP; and soc If + cvufu mot I
cali to mind where we had met, and under
what circumstances. At last found an op-
portunity TO get look at him, as lie was
seated on an old barrel head earnestly en-
gagged in game Of seven up stepped
up, and locking over his shoulder, pcrceiy-
ed that two fingers of his right hand were
missing. The game progressed, until an ex
citing moment, he arose, and shaking his
fist in the face of his opponent, in answer to
some Eemark of the latter concerning the
game, he exclaimed:
| swear you lie,'
placed my hand upon his shoulder and
turned him around:
'Ah har exclaimed |, we've met beforey'
Lifting his mairned hand, his face turned
as white as sheet, and, hoarse with pas
sion. he vociferated:
Yes, we have met before, in the woods
Of Tennessee, and l have sworn that you
shall die. Take thatn
And the wretch attempted to draw pis-
.ol from his coat, but the trigger caught in
the ragged lining Of his pocket-it went off
md he rolled over into the muddy water Of
the Mississippi-a corpse Life in tie West