Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1858-09-15

'Now we are all right" said the Ole
man, taking his seat at the table, and
mixing rum and water in large bowl
can triomphe de Ia bonne cause!':
he said, touching glasses with me.
''But don't see any arms" I pre-
sently suggested.
"Arms? I have plenty of that stuff
How do you think a man could get OF
in these woods without arms? But we
shant want them tonight" Again he
laughed. eve have the Princess Roy
al.''
He removed the candle with the
went other things from the table, and
out Of the room.
The door was opened again about
five minutes afterward. I heard the
crack of a whip. l saw a rapid flash
before my eyes; and with a mighty
bound that made my very blood run
cold, a large jaguar leaped in, alight-
ING with a heavy pounce upon the ia,
bic.
LA Princess Royal.' announced my
host.
| do not know exactly what figure
may have presented at that moment:
but | should not wonder if ANYBODY
were to tell me that [ looked Ike a
crayan.
'Don,t be afraid of her. said the
laughing Frenchman, when he saw me
still as mouse, scarcel Y daring to turn
my looks to her bright, cruel eyes,
''She is as decent as cat when am by.
Caress her, she likes to be founded;
it's the weak side of the sex, you know
l touched her delicate fur but slight
ly with my hand, stroking it softly
down her strong and beautiful back,
the right way Of the fur, you may be
sure.
She bent her powerful and elastic
limbs under my frail hand, and tanning
the air with her curved tail, seemed
to encourage me to bestow more cares
Ses.
"Well, how do you like the Princess?
asked my host
"Why, she is indeed handsome, and
| have seen none in the old world more
majestic.''
''Take her down stairs, George" he
said to the lad, handing the whip over
to him, "and keep look out yourself
but mind you don't give her any more
supper. She shall help herself to-
night
He placed the candle and our glass
es again upon the table, and began to
sip his grog quite leisurely.
''By heavens, man." / said after a
pause, cit cannot be your real purpose
to set the tiger on those people?'
"Eh, parbleu!'' replied be, ''and why
not? What else do they deserve?-
Are they not also tigers? You don't
know them as / doi The tall rascal is
a convicted felon, and ought to have
been hanged two years ago at San
Francisco. He contriyed an escape,
and fed to Kansas AS to the other
rogue, there is hardly a crime he has
not stained his hands with. Make your
mind easy about that"
A sudden thought came into my
mind, and | asked him whether he
knew anything about that murder of my
friend ten years ago in the ravine near
Jose Maria?
No, he knew nothing about that 1t
was before his time: only he should not
wonder if the major had had hand in
it; it looked very like him.
W. u-oro
knocking at the door. The lad came
in soon afterward, telling us that he
could descry five Of them all on horse
back.
The old man rose, and moving one
of the mattresses a little aside, he look
ed cautiously through the window. 1t
was about o'clock, and the darkness
began to set in with the rapidity pecu-
liar to southern climates.
The knocks were repeated more We
hemently, accompanied now with a
loud summons to open the door.
''llere they are, sure enoughr' said
the old man. Il wonder why this ma
jor doesn't go TO Kansas, he is the very
man for Kansas politics."
'If you don't open now, you French
dog" said coarse voice, "we'll break
the door.."
The eyes Of the old man flashed fire,
bat he spoke never q word.
'S1o know me, Delamottc,' said
another voice, which I had heard be-
fore. "You know Colonel Brown.-
But though we ave to settle an old ac-
count, | ave no business with you this
time; it's the stranger I want; he has
stolen a 'ors; give him up to US, and
we'll be off in a minute.n
"No use talking to that old miser,' -
said the former voice with an OATH
"Come on, boys, break that door in,
and end it.''
He seemed to suit the action to the
word, for tremendous crash came.
''Eh avent,' said the old man to the
lad, and they both went down stairs,
I arose and paced up and down the
room with rapid steps. Something
terrible, awful was going On.
The whole block-house shook and
trembled with the violent kicks and
blows which were dealt at the door.
but nevertheless / could hear distinctly
when the iron bar was removed from
it, and then-I felt as if all my blood