Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1858-08-06

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and at mothers window added John in
a troubled voice.
The darkness, or some other impcdimcnt
must have delayed them more than it had
ourselves, or they would have departed before
that. What the precise delay was, however
we never knew it was the second link in the
fatal chain which had begun with our acci-
dent and stoppage at Enfield Bridge; and
it was none too long.
For, as werapidly nearcd the floating house.
wild scream rang from within. John Bar
nard's grave features grew white, and gath
cred and set a fearful expression of vindictive
anger, and, biting his lips until the b od
sprang, yet with no sound except sort OF
deep growl, he so lifted at the stout oars that
could almost swear that the two trcmen-
dous strokes which drove our bow hard
against the claboards lifted the skiff fairly
from the water.
As the last stroke was given John Barnard
dropped the oars, turned, and saying to me,
what was, doubtless, a wise direction, Stay
in the boat, Mr.. Truax, and be ready for us,
he cried out, Come on, Lilet = and sprinsing
past his brother to the bow, he caught the
side of the window rs the boats stern struck
the house, with one wrench snapped the
double cross-piecc of the two shattered win
dow slshcs, to which the other boat was tied
and leaped within followed by his brother
| remained as was bid for in the little
room, | should have added only to the con-
fusion, and the brethren needed not nv
strength.
There was confused sound Of blows and
curses from the inside and shrieks of women /;
but the room was so dimly lit that l only
saw struggling forms and the boat swung
away to one side and hid the fight, Seth Case s
skill, looscd from its attachment, aoated of
land passed dawn the stream. With such
strength as only mortal fear could give, En-
ly Ba rnard, all disarrayed and pale, brought
her crippled mother to the window nd gras.
pcu tne nolt SunWale.
'llold fast for a moment, Miss Barnard =
And, swiftly coming from the stern, has
tily tied the boat to the relic of the
window fastening. As | cast my eye within,
| saw the Barnards il a desperate contest
with the robbers But felon hardihool was
no match for the athletic wrath of John Barn
/ rl I l., -,
effort he threw the elder Case headlong to one
side of the room, as quick as thought seized Il
chair, dealt him Il stunning blow on the temple
and turned instantaneouslv add prostrated
Seth with another-thus freeing EIiphalct,
who had been hard pressed by his opponent.
There = said John, grimly, but like true
Connecticut farmer, without an oath. Then
he added,
EN- are you hurt?'
No, John; but make haste and help IN 9TH
err The two strong men easily lifted the
wasted form of the gray and withercd old in.
vailed into the boat, where she was laid on
a mattress and warmly covered and then
leaving the house anl the robbers to their
fate, we made for the shore.
Here, John, said Emily, you'd better
take this And she handed him u large, old
fahioncd wallet
Il declare, said he, Il had quite forgot the
money"
The two women had fallen asleep, fatisucd
with illness and watching, and had not dis
covered their danger until they awoke to find
themselves fairly ahoat, and swinging and
surgins along upon the flood. Emily had
tried, by showing lights and screaming, to
summon assistance but the river, in the
meadows, is miles and miles across at such
food, and in the wild, tempestuous night
few indeed were abroad; and of those who
were, perhaps the very worst We're, the only
ones who had discovered them. The two
Cases, delayed, perhaps, in their pursuit, or
possibly only discovering the lost house some
distance down the stream, hal cnt red, as it
appeared, only "a few minutes before our own
arrival and being much astonshed at find
ing the two women, had pr,misaI to res
cue them ; but had first explored all the up
per rooms-the lower b9ing fall Of water for
things worth stealing, and h,d then returned
and demanded the money, of whose existence,
rs It appeared they had somehow become
aware. Emily, who had wisely concealed
it upon her person, did not cquivocate
very well, and not being quite ready at "
ing, had aroused their suspicious They
were proceeding to search her: and, as
gathered from what John Blrnard said, used
such language and action as indie tied even
further villalnly in pursuance of the graft
fiction at once of sudden passions and of set
revenge, when the brethren sprang upon them
just as Emily's feminine strength was fast
failing her.
As soon as possible the two females were
carefully bestowed within the nearest house,
and placed in circumstances as comfortable as
the case would permit. 1t was then that
suggested to John Barnard that perhaps it
would be the part Of man to look after even
such scoundrels as thos, whom he had left
helpless in the floating house, lest he should
have blood on his hands,
lie hesitated-sI don't know as could keep
my hands off them if should meet them now, ,
Sir. Go you. You can como up with the
house as soon as |. Besides, We must stay
with mother at present, She's worse, anl
wouldn't leave her now for all the villains
that ever were knocked in the head, or ever
deserved to be-.