The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1857-06-03

cart 1 simply knew this on the in
slant. Of course I felt puzzled. At
first imagined some poor fellow had
taken this method to obtain ride; but
I soon gave this up, for knew that any
decent man wosld have asked for ride.
My next idea was that somebody had
got in to sleep; but this passed away
as quickly as it came, for no man would
have broken into my cart for that--pur
pose. And that thought. gentleman
opened my eyes. Who ever was in there
had broken In.
sMy next thoughts were of Mr. Dick
Hardhead. He had heard me say that
my load was all sold out, and of course
he supposed had some money with me.
In this he was right, for I had over
$4,000. I also thought he meant to
leve the cart when he supposed l had
reached safe place, and then either
creep over and shoot me, or knock me
down. All this passed through my
mind by the time had got rod from
the hoe.
CHOW never made it any point to
brag on myself. but have seen great
deal of the world, and I am pretty cool
and clear headed under difficulty. In
a very few moments my resolution was
formed. My horse was now knee deep
in mud, and 1 knew I could slip of
without noiso. So dew nay revolver
I never travel in that country withou:
one-I drew this, and having twined the
reins about the whip stock, 1 carefully
slid down in the mud, and as the cart
passed on 1 went behind it and exam
ined tho hasp.
nThe door of the cart lets down, and
is fastened By hasp, which slides over
q staple and is then secured by a pad
leck. The paddock was gone, and the
hasp was secured in it's place by bit of
pine-so that a slight torcc from within
could break it. My wheel wrench hung
in leather bucket on the side of the
cart, and I quickly took it out and
slipped it into tho staple, the iron han
ole just sliding down.
!" Now 1 had him. My cart was al
most pew, made in Q stout frame of
white oak, and made on purpose for
hard usage. I did not believe any or
binary man could break out. I got to
my cart as noislessly as I got off, and
then urged my horse on, still keep
ing my pistol handy. ] knew that at a
distance of half mile further 1 should
come to good hard road, and SO I al
lowed my horse to pick his own way
through the mud. About ten minutes
after this 1 heard motion in the cart.
followed by grinding noise, as though
some heavy force were being applied to
the door. I said nothing, but the idea
struck me that the villain might judge
where I sat and shoot up through the
top of the cart at me, Sd I sat down on
the foot board.
"Of course, I knew now that my un-
expected passenger was q villain, for
he must have been awake ever since I
started, and nothing in the world but
absolute villainy would have caused him
to remain quiet SO long, and then start
up in this peculiar place. The humping
and pounding grew louder and louder,
and pretty soon I heard human voice.
''Let me out of this !" he cried, and
he yelled pretty loud.
81 lifted up my head SO as to make
him think I was sitting in my usual
place, and then asked what he was do
ing there.
"Let me cut, and I will tell you," he
replied.
"Tell me what you are there for"
said l.
81 got in here to sleep on your rags"
he answered.
Let me out, or I'll shoot you through
the head" he yelled.
"Just at that moment my horses feet
struck the hard road, and knew that
the rest of the route to jackson
would be good going. The distance was
twelve miles. I slipped back on the
footboard and took the whip. 1 had
the same horse then I've got nova
tall, stout, powerful bay marc, and you
may believe there's some go in her. At
any rate she struck gait that even as
tonished me. She had received good
mess of oats, the air was cool, and she
felt like going. In fifteen minutes we
cleared the woods, and away we went on
a keen jump. The chap inside kept yell
ling to be let out.
FINALLY he stopped, and in few
minutes came the report of pistol
one-two-three-fou one right after
the other, and heard the balls whiz
over my head. If had been on my
seat, one of these balls, if not two of
them, would have gone through me. I
popped up my head. again, and gave a
yell, and then deep groan, and then I
said, "Oh, God, save me I'm dead
man |" Then made shutting noise,
as though were falling off, and finally
settled down on the foot board again. 1
now urged on the old mare by giving her
an occasional poke with the but of my
whip. stock, and she pealed in faster