The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1857-10-17

eSt man; so l agreed to his proposition. II,
TOOK my scat at the stern. and moved furth
u forward, and having removed the thwar
upon winch my companion had been sitting
spread my cloak in the bottom of the canoe
ana then having placed my valisc for a pill
io"' lay down. As soon as possible | drew
out one OF my pistols. and beneath the cover
OF cough | cooked it. Then l moved m,
Dody SO that my arm would be at liberty. anC
SraSplng my weapon firmly, with my finger
upon the guard, drew up my mantle. slouch
ed my hat and then settled down for m,
watch.
Fortunately for ME the moon was up, and
though the forest trees threw shadow up
on me, vet the beams fell 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, drow,
silly.
! 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
Perhaps so. thought to myself. as | low
crcdm head, and pretended to lower myself
to sleep.
( For half an hour my companion stccrcd the
canoe very well. and seemed to take but little
notice of me: but at the end of that time
could sec that he became more uneasy. |
commenced to snorc with long regularly
drawn breath. and on the instant the william
started as starts the hunter when he hears the
tread of game in the woods
But hark. Aha-thcrc was before one lin
gcring fear in my mind that | might shoot
the wrong man: but it was gone now. AS
the fellow stopped the melton Of the paddle,
l distinctly heard him muttcr
Ohio. my dear sheep-you little dreamed
that Gus Karl was Your companion. Bat
he'll 90 yGu a good tarn. If Your friend is
dead YOU shall follow him: and | take Your
traps to pay for your passage to Heaven
think these were the very words. At
any rate they were their drift As he thus
spoke he no>clcssly 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 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. Nix heart beat fear
fully. and my breathing was hard. 1t was
with the utmost cXcrtion that could con-
tinuc iny>norir~. but managed to doi with
ont interruption. Slowly Nnoisclc>>v the foul
wretch approached ne. Oh. his step would
not have WaNcncd a hound-and his long
cleaning knife WAS half raised. could hear
his breathing plainly. and could hear the
grating OF his teeth, as l.c nrrvcd himself for
the stroke.
The villain was by my side. and he meas
urcd the distance from Lis hand to my hear,
with his eye. In his left hand he held thick
handkerchief all waddcd up. That was to
stop my mouth with. Every nerve in nv
body was Row strung. and my heart stood
still as death. OF course my snoring ceased:
'.I at that instant The huge knife was raised
above my bosom Quick as thought brought
my pistol up-thc muzzlc va>, within a foo,
OF The rohhcr,, hcart-he uttered a quick crv
i saw the bright blade qui>cr in TIE ,noon-
h:ht. hEt II came not upon ne. pulled the
trigger and the last fear WAS past. had
thought the weapon might miss fire. but it
did not. There WAS sharp report. and as
sprung up and backed heard a fierce veil.
and at the same moment the robhcr fell for
ward. his head striking NY knee as it came
down.
Weak and tain, sank back. but 4 sudden
tip OF the canoe brought ne TO my senses. and
| went aft and took the paddle Ns~oona as the
boat head was once more right. turned my
eyes upon the form in the bottom of the ca
roe. saw it q"vcr-onlva slight Spasnod-
ic movcmcnt-and then all was still.
All that ni"ht'I sat there at ny watch and
stccrcd m! bark. | had nv second pi>to!
ready. for knew not Surcl that the wretch
was dead. He might be waiting to catch me
oft my guard. and then shoot me. But the
night passed slow Y and ,rcarlv away. and
when the morning broke the form had not
moved. Then stepped forward and found
that GuStn> Karl was dead. lie had fallen
with his knife true to its aim. for it had
struck very near where my heart must have
been. and the point was driven so far into
the solid wood that had to work hard to
pull it out. and harder still to unclaSp the
marble fingers that closed with diving mad
ness about the handle.
Swiftly flowed the tide. and ere the sun
again sank to rest had reached Loranport.
The authorities knew the face of Gustus
Karl at once, and when told them nv sto-
ry, they poured thousand thanks on nv
head. n purse was raised. and the offered
reward put with it. and rendered to me.
took the simple reward from the generous
citizens. while the remainder directed should
be distributed among those who had suffered
most from the Wabash robbers dcprclatons.
found Kemp sick and miserable. lie
was burning with fever. and the doctors had
shut him up in room where well man
must soon have Sufocatcd.
atcr-watcr. give me water" he gasp
ed.
''llavcnt you had any | asked.
lie told me no. threw opcr the win
dows-sent for a pail of ice-watcr. and was
on the point of administering it when the old
doctor came in. He held up his hands in
horror, and told me it would kill the sick
man. But l forced him back and Kemp
drank the grateful beverage He drank deep
ly and then slept. The perspiration poured
from him like rain. and when he awokc his
skin was moist and his fever was turned. In
eight days he sat in his saddle by my side.
and together we started for Little River. At
Walton's settlement found my horse fully
recovered. and when l offered to pay for his |
keeping the host would take nothing. The
story of my adventure on the river had reach
there ahead Of me, and this was the land
lords gratitude.
E.EU1D-Ez-uzx1@~-
- y tattered looking stroller recognized
OConnell at some place where he stopped for
a few minutes and asked him for money.
nlnadinr q nnrSonal acn11aintancn In oil Ill: