Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-11-12

"Oh, you'll meet him, never fear" said my
companion.
Ah-he spoke them with too much meaning
| understood it well. knew what that sly
tone and strange cleaning of the eye meant
He meant that he would put me on the road
to meet poor Kemp in the other world /
wondered only now, that had not detected
the robber when first saw him, for the ex-
preston of his face was so heartless, so icy
and then his eyes had such wicked look, that
the most unpracticed physiognomist could not
have failed to detect the william at once
During the rest of the afternoon, we con-
yersed some, but not so freely as before
could see that the williams eyes were not
so frankly bent on me as he spoke, and then
he seemed to avoid my direct glances. These
movements on his part were not studied not
even intentional but they were intuitive, as
though his very nature led him thus. At
length night came on. We ate our suppers
and then smoked our pipes-and finally my
companion proposed that | should sleep be-
fore he did. At first thought of objecting
but few moments reflection told me that
had better behave as though he was an hon
est man so l agreed to his proposition
He took my seat at the stern, and | moved
further forward, and having removed the
thwart upon which my companion had been
sitting, | spread my cloak in the bottom of the
canoe, and then having placed my valise for a
pillow, | laid down.
AS soon as possible, drew out one of my
pistols, and under cover of cough, / cooked
it. Then | moved my body so that my right
arm would be at liberty, and grasped 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 shadow upon
me, yet the beams fell upon Karl, and could
see his every movement. We were in the
Wabash, having entered it at three o'clock.
You will call me at midnight" l said
drowsily.
Yes" he returned.
"Good night"
Good night, and pleasant dreams. III
have you further on your way than you think
ere you wake up again"
"Perhaps So" thought to myself, as /
lowered my head and pretended to lower my
self to sleep.
For half an hour my comeanon steered the
canoe very well, and seemed to take but little
notice of me-but at the end of that time |
commenced to snore with regularly drawn
breath, and that instant the william started as
starts the hunter when he hears the tread of
the game in the woods
But hark 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 motion of the paddle, | dis
tinctly heard him say &:
ooh, my little shecp-you little dreamed
that Gus Karl was your companion ; but he'll
do you good turn If your friend is dead
you shall follow him, and I'll take your traps
to pay your way to heaven ~
think these were the very words AT any
rate they were similar. As he thus spoke
he noiselesSly drew in the paddle, and then
rose to his feet | saw him reach over his left
shoulder, and when he brought back bis hand,
he had huge bowie knife in it | could see
the blade CLEAN in the pale moonlight, aud
saw Karl run his thumb along the keen edge,
and then feel the point My heart beat fear
fully, and my breathing was hard. 1t was
with the utmost eXertion that | continued my
snoring, but | managed to do it without in
terruption. Slowly and noslesSly the foul
wretch approached me and so cat-like was
his step, that it would not have awakened a
hound and his long cleaning knife was half
raised. | could hear his breathing plainly,
and could hear the grating Of his teeth, as he
nerved himself for the stroke.
The william was by my side, and he measur-
ed the distance from his hand to my heart with
his eve. In his left hand he held thick hand
kerchief all wadded up. That was to stop
my mouth with Every nerve in my body
was strung, and my heart stood still as death.
OF course my snoring ceased and at that in
slant the huge knife was raised above my bo-
som. Quick as thought | brought my pistol
up-the muzze was within foot of the rob-
bers heart-he uttered quick 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, but it did not. There was sharp re-
port and / sprang up and backed | heard a
fierce veil and the robber fell forward, his
head striking my knee as it came down.
Weak and faint I sank back, but a sudden
tipping.of the canoe brought me to my senses
and | went and took the paddle. AS soon as
the boats head was once more right, turned
my eyes upon the form in the bottom of the
canoe, and I saw it quiver-only spasmodlc
movement-and then all was still.
All that night sat at my watch and steer
ed my little bark | had my second pistol
ready, for knew not that wretch was dead.
He might be waiting to catch me off my guard
and then shoot me- But the night passed
slowly and dreariy away, and when the morn
ing broke the form had not moved. Then
stepped forward and found that Gus Karl
was dead. He had fallen with his knife true
to its aim, for it had struck very near where
nv 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 were closed with
ho,f tho handla