Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1857-09-08

! Ah-he spoke that with too much
meaning. ] understood it we'll. | knew
what that sly tone, and that strange
cleaning of the eye meant. He meant
that he would put me on the road TO NEE,
| poor Kemp in the other world | won
/ dered only now that | had not detected
/ the robber when first | saw him, for the
/ expression of his face was so hearlless,
/ SO iey--and then his eyes had such a
wicked look that the most Impractical
4 physiognonist could not have failed to
! detect the villain at once.
| During the rest of the afternoon we
/ conVersed some, but not SO freely as be-
{ fore. / could see that the villains eyes
were not so frankly bent upon me as he
spoke, and then he seemed inclined 10
avoid my direct glances. These move
ments on his part were not studied, nor
even Intentional; bat they were instinc-
tive, as though his very nature led him
thus. AT length night came on. We
ate our supper, and then smoked our
pipes, and finally my companion propos-
ed that | should sleep before he did
At first | thought of obecting, but a few
moments reflection told me that | had
est man; so | agreed to his proposition.
lie took a seat at the stern, and | moved
| further forward, and having removed the
thwart upon which nay companion had
been sitting, | spread my cloak in the
bottom Of the canoe, and then having
placed my valise for pillow, | laid down.
AS soon as possible, | drew out one Of
my pistols, and beneath the cover of d
cough, | cooked 1t. Then | moved my
body so that my right arm would be at
liberty, and grasPing my weapon firmly,
with my finger upon the guard, | drew
up my mantle, slouched my hat, and then
settled down for my watch.
Fortunately for me, the moon was up,
and though the forest trees threw a shad-
ow upon me, yet the beams fell full upon
Karl aud | could see his every move
ment. We were we'll into the Wabash,
having entered it about three o'clock.
& You viii call me at midnight, l said
drowsity."
Yes" he returned.
Good night .....f
Z" Good highland pleasant dreams
I'll have you further on your way than
you think ere you wake again"
Perhaps so,' thought | to myself, as
! lowered my head, and pretended to
lower mysefto sleep.
For half an hour my companion steer
ed the canoe very well, and seemed to
take but little notice of me and a, the
end of that time | could see that he be-
came more uneasy. | commenced to
snore with a regularly drawn breath, and
on the instant the villain started as starts
the hunter when he hears the tread Of
game IN the woods.
But bark Aha-there was before one
lingering fear in my mind that | might
shoot the wrong man; but it was gone
now. AS the fellow stopped the paddle,
| distinctly heard him mutter-
Ohio, my dear sheep-you little
dreamed that Gus. Karl was your COM
panion. But he'll do you a good turn
If your friend IS dead, you shall follow
him, and | take your traps to pay your
passage 10 Heaven -
| think these were the very Words
At any rate, they were their drift. As
he thus spoke he noislessIy drew in the
paddle, and then rose TO his feet. | saw
him reach over his left shoulder, and
when he brought back his hand, he had
huge bowie knife in it; | could see the
blade CLEAN in the pale moonlight, and
| saw Karl run his thumb along the edge
and then feel the point Ny heart beat
fearfully, and my breathing was hard
1t was the utmost exertion that | could
continue my snoring, but | managed to do
1t without interruption. Slowly and nois-
lessly the foul wretch approached me
Oh. his step could not have awakened
hound--and his long cleaning knife was
half raised. | could hear his breathing
quickly, and hear the grating Of his teeth,
as he nerved himself for the stroke.
The william was by my side, and he
measured the distance from his hand 10
my heart with his eye. In his left hand
he held a 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
instant the huge knife was raised above
my bosom! quick as thought, | brought
my pistol up--the muzzle was within a
foot Of the robbers heart-he uttered
cry saw the bright blade quiver IN the
moonlight, but it came not upon me. /
pulled the trigger, and the last fear was
passed. | had thought that the weapon
might miss fire, bit it did not. There
was sharp report, and as | sprang up,
and backed | heard fierce yell, and at
the same tine the robber fell forward, his
head striking my knee as il came down.
Weak and faint | sank back, but
sudden tip of the canoe brought me to my
senses, and went aft and took the pad
die. As soon as the boats head was
once more right, turned my eyes upon
the form in the bottom of the canoe, and
saw ii quiver-oniy a spasmodic move
ment-and all was still.
All that night sat there at my watch,
and steered my little bark | had my
second pistol ready, for | knew not sure
" 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 dreariIy away. and when the
morning broke, the form had not moved.
Then | stepped forward and found that
GazfrrS LarI vs-,- Go.1 He had "a Hen