Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1858-09-08

w III Ely tceth caattering and my EaIr ac- |
tually bristliDg with horror, I rose and stole |
| softly to the bedside of my sleeping compan-
ion, to sec whether he or was the big one
thus coolly doomed to destruction
The room was quite dark, but there was,
nevertheless light enough to verify the fact,
the fatal fact that the man in the other bed
was decidedly below the middle size, while
lowered up to the unfortunate longitude of
Sax feet in my stockings, with proportionate
degree of latitude. | had expected nothing
better, 1t is true, for, in casual comparison
of this sort, knew it would be altogether un-
reasonable for me to aspire to the hope of tur-
ming out to be little one" Yet it was
with more tottering step, and still further
! sinking of the heart, that | resumed my post
! of observation
Feeling desire to see as well as hear, [
searched out a still larger hole, and put my
eye to it. ifound that [ could get view of
the create. part Of the room below, aud hear,
at tho same time, nearly as well as before.
Besides the old people, there were now five
Or SIX young men, stout, strong, stawart,
strapplng fellows: ak debating tie question
whether the ..big one'' or the slittle one
should have his throat cut. While looking
at them my attention was attracted by harsh
| grating sound in one corner Ugh. it was
J one Of the tall young men whettiug one of
the most uudeEiably murderOus- looking knives
my eyes had ever rested upon. Even when
| living quietly in i knife box such an instru-
ment has ''pokcrish" LOOK; but just imagine
it undergoing the process of Sharpening pre-
paraJory to making acquaintance with your
| own iugulars and carotds-L tell you what,
now, it is not . thing TO joke about, at all,
at ali.
Human nature could stand no more! l
jumped up, and, as hastily as possibly cod,
without making a noise, slipped Oh my
ther garment, took the rest Of my effects il
my hand and went to the widow, detcrmi-
ned to make a jump for il.
just as 1 was beginnin3 cautiously to open
the window, my proceedings were suddenly
brought to a stand still by glimpse of one
Of the tall young men. standing like SEMI
nel directly beneath the place where | was.
Still determined to get out, if possible, |
crossed to the window on the opposite side,
which was in front of the house. But escape
in that quarter was still less practicable, for
the door open, and some one Of the peo-
pie on the inside was every now and then
coming to the threshold, if not quite out of
doors.
Like hunted beast, knew not winch way
to turn; but at all events: escape, for the
present at least. was imoractcable. | re-
turned to the hole in the floor. rhe very
tallcst, and the ugiiest, too Of the whole batch,
was taking off his sdGOtS--hls wooden shoes
with one hand, while he held that horrible
knife with the other After the shoes were
removed, he felt the edge Of the kaiie, and
with diabolical coinplacency exclaimed:-
IN cut his throat with that, and do it SO
slick that he'll never know itn
If you had been in my place, dear reader,
/ dare say you would have acted very brave
ly, aGd | dare say you will feel great deal
Of contempt for me because | was not more
courageous; but | must tell the truth AMI
shame the devil" though | am sorcly afraid
that it Will look more Ike shaming myself
thaa Satan.
The simple truth is, that was just about
rs thoroughly scared as any one could well
be, SO much so that my knees actually smote
together | staggered off to my bed, 1t
was that long, bladed sharp pointed, buck
horn handled, pcherish-looking knife that did
, the business. | have always had mcra! an
, tipa!hy to cold steel "Villanous saltpetre, "
and its compounds are nothing to it. | bore
it all tolerably well, till saw that murderous
] man stckcr, and fancied that felt it gratin g
, against one of my ribs-tbcn [ ''caved in, y
+ and ack nowledged myself scared man.
I was not so abjcctly frightened, however,
as not to take the necessary steps for defend
: ing myself, nor was | at all doubtful about
I my ability to make creditablc resistance
had brace of loaded pistols and a dirk. be-
r meath my pillow. Placing the dagger where
l could readily seize it, cooked the pistols,
+ and held one in each hand Just underneath
the bedclothes. In this position [ waited the
: result with such calmness [ could command
vas not kept long in suspense Less than
| five minutes had elapsed, when the tread of q
9 naked foot, but nevertheless heavy one, re
t sounded upon the stairs. The room door wa:
fastened by wooden bols tolcrably stout
Would the midnight assassin break it open
He did not When he found that it was
Y fastened, he funbled about it for some time
n with some sort Of an instrument, trying,
/ suppose, to push the bolt back. After pret
i to long trial, during which my feelings were
, certainly not of very enviablc character, ht
became satisfied, apparently, of the futility o
the attempt, and gave it up.
f After the dull sound of the rctrcatins foot
u steps had died away, profound silence reign
$ cd throughout the place What was to come
e next? The murderous wretch assuredly would
: not forego his horrid purpose because of sucl
a trifing obstacle as "a wooden bolt. What
f then was he preparing to do?
There are few situations more trying, ever
c to the strongest nerves, than one like this;
/ terrible danger hanging over your head, Will,
ell efforts to avert its fall are denied you TIL,
s compulsory inaction, in such eases, is harder
r to beat than any thing else.
{ At last. the noiseless, motioness suspense
| became SO intolerable, that l resolved to wa
ken my companion, at all hazards. had al
- ready one leg ou. of the bed, when sUddcr
interruption of the oppressive silence attraatoe
f my attention. It was noise outside but .