The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-11-04
RAVENNA. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1868.
aRichl To Be sure he's rich, or we'll of,

"Well, don't dispute IL. (rnls was
the wOman.) 'f noticed his watch, and
am very certain II could be Bought for q
thousand francs. He has ring too, on his
finger, that I'm almost sure is diamond ;
for l know about such things better than
any Of yOd. But still 90 for the little one
as have told you!7'
"But haven't told SoG, over and Over"
"Well, well, I see yod ali will have il
your own way but still ! must say that II
either of them is to have his throat cut, the
little one will do best; and I'll tell you ano-
ther reason why think"
With my teeth chattering and my hair
actually bristling with horror, arose and
stole softly to the bedside OF my sleeping
companion, to ree whether he or I was the
"big one" thus coolly doomed to destruc.
ton.
Tbs room was quite dark, but there was
nevertheless, light enough to verify the fact
that the man in the other.bed was decidedly
below the middle site, while lowered up
to the unfortunate longitude Of six feet in
my stockings, with proportionate degree oil
latitude. had expected nothing better, /,
10 true, for, in a casual comparison of this
sort, knew that it would be altogether un.
reasonable for me to aspire to the hope oil
turning out to be a "little one." Yet it was
with more tottering step, and still further
sinking of the heart, that / resumed my pos,
Of observation.
Feslibg desire to see as well as hear,
searched out still larger hole. and put my
eye to it. found that l could get a view
OF the greater part of the room below, anG
hear, at the same time, nearly as we'll as
before.
Besides the old people, there were now
FIVE or six young men, stout, strong, stall
Witt strupping fellows, all debating the
question whether the "big one" or the "lit.
tie one" should have his throat cut. While
looking at them, my attention was attracted
by hnrsh, grating sound in one corner
Ugh it was one Of the tall voting mer
whetting one Of the most undeniably mur
derous looking knives my eyes had evel
rested upon. Even When lying quietly in I
knife box, such an implement has "poker
ish" look, but just imagine it undergoing ,ht
process of sharpening preparatory t6 making
acquaintance with your own jugulaEs unt
carotids--f tell you what, now, it is no,
a thing to joke about, at all, at all ]!
Human nature coud stand no more I!
Jumped up, and, as hastily as possbl.
could without making noise, slipped OF
my neither garment, took the rest Of my ef
fects in my hand, and went to the window
determined to max e jump for it.
Just as I was beginning cautiously II
open the window, my proceedings were sud
denly bhought to stand still by glimpse
of one Of the tall young men, standing like
sentinel directly beneath the place where
was.
Still determined to get out, if possible,
crossed to the window on the opposite side
which was in wont of the house. But escape
in that quarter was still less practicable, fo
the door was open, and some one Of the peo
pie on the inside was every now and ther
coming to the threshold, If not quite out o
doors.
Like q hunted beast, knew not which
way to turn; but at all events, escape for thu
present, at least, was impracticable. l re
turned to the hole in the floor. The tallest
and the ugliest, too, of the whole batch, wa
taking of bis sabots-his wooden shoes
with one hand, while he held that horrible
knife in the other. After the shoes wer'
removed, he felt the edge of the knife, an
with q diabolical complaeency exclaim
ed:-
"rll cut his throat with that, and do it 81
slick that he'll never know il -
II you had been in my place, dear reader
dare say you would have acted very brave
ly. and dare say you will feel great dea
Of contempt for me because I wac not NOR
courageous; but must "teIl the truth an
shame the DEVIL" though l am sorely afrui
that 1t will look more like shaming mysel
than Satan.
The simple truth is, that was about q
thoroughly scared as any one could well be
so much so that my knees actually smote to
gether as staggered off to my bed. 1t wa
that long.bladed, sharp-pointed, buckhorn
handled, pokerish.looking knife that did tn
business. have always had mortal ant
pathy to cold steel. "Villainous saltpetre
and its compounds, are nothing to it.
bore it all tolerably well, till / saw the nsu
derous mau.sticker, and fancied that ! felt
ersting against one Of my ribs then
"cayed In" and acknowledged myself
scared lcan.
Twas NOT b abjectly frightened, howeve
as not to take tn>, necessary steps for d
Tending myself, nor wa | at all doubtful
to my ability to make cred,tt able resistance
| he'd Q brace Of loaded pistols I"nd a oil
beneath my pillow. Placing the cHagg
where could readily seize it, cooked tt'
pistols, and held one In each hand, just VI
derneath the bed.clothes. In this positic
, awaited the result with such calmness as
/ could command.
I was not kept long In suspense. Le