The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1858-07-09

the face and Ches.The fever was now rising IN
my blood, and delirium making mischief in my
brain. The fate of my friend struck my Wild
fancy as udicrous rather than terrible, and
laughed aloud ana stretching;out my hand, tri-
fled with the wtedy teStoon that rose and fell with
the water on the breast of the dead. "Ab,
Harry Percy" said, mockingy, Fyou were
always longing for bonors and decorations re-
joice now-ay, grin with those white teeth
glory in the rank accolade OF Death, the insignia
Of silva, the Destroyer, from whose dread heart
flow The sacred waters that bear thee" Then the
apathy Of the fever, or sleep, or insensibiEty
came over me, and for a time | remembered 10
more. How long this lasted, know not, out
was rouse@ by a glare of light close TO my
face, and springing mp, j perceived two of the
natives close to me. One ofthem had placed
the muzzle ola 6relock to my temple. and pulled
the trigger, but the charge being damp, the pow
der had ignited WITHOUT exploding, and merely
fzzled in my face like Squib, while the bullet
dropped out harmlessIy on my shoulder. Even
as the light flashed in my face, full conscious
ness Of my position burst upon me. The two
Sepoys advanced TO seize me- before ] could gain
my feet, but ! lodged ball from my revolver
full in the chest Of the foremost one, who fell
violently against his comrade. The second
ruffian, who, | perceived, was armed with
bayonet, staggered under the shock, and ere he
could recover himself, dashed forward he fell
ovar tho rnp,,sI l., nd Tho tI,cl, ,,,o,.,c ,,llaI
unheedingIy over the living and the dead
The fellow at the helm had left the tiller, and
now sat in front of the platform, steadyng him
self with his feet against stay, whilst he CO.
vered me dead with his musket, and took
regular pot shot Whether the violent motion
of the unsteered boat served me, or whether the
raScafs nerve was shaken by the sudden disap-
pearance off comrades, know moi, but GER
tain it is that, although the distance between US
Was not more than four yards, he missed his aim,
and the bullet did no further mischief than
carrying away the crest of my pih helmet.
And there he stood at my mercy Nv finger
1t is a terrible thing thus deliberately TO take
a human life when the excitement OF action is
over. The fellow knew his life was forfeited,
and awaited death with stoical Insensblity,
which Asiatics rarely fail 10 eyInce.
quiet voice in my heart whispered Of mer
cy, bat then there came to my mind the image
ofthat horrible object Coating away in the dark
ness, the cries of my outraged country women
seemed to ring through the howlings of the
storm-might not even then lrenzied virgins
be struggling in more :han the agonies OF death
in the clasp Of the detesed ravisher? That lit
shoes on the CawnPore road, found with the
little white feet in Hiem, the story whereof had
made the hearts Of the most calIous to beat
wildly through the length and breadth Of many
lands-those little shoes arose to my memory in
Judgment. l thought of the many innocents,
the many fairhaired darlings, who bad been
wont to say ''Our Father" at their mothers
knees, ruthlessly butcheIed, muliated, burned.
A savage joy possessed me, aud sprang up TO
the platform. placed my hand upon the ath-
lttc shoulder Of the Indian, and held the pistol
/ 10 his brow. Resistance, he knew, was in
vain. Ksnmut--it was destiny. He stood up,
erect and calm, to meet death as became a man
and a soldier. Again I paused, and then J
seemed to hear again the trembling voice Of
! Percy say :-''Poor little Gertrude, she was a
mere child, +" and pulled the trigger! With
the hand grasped him with felt the shudder
Of death strike through the strong frame-a
heavy iaIl--a roll to the leeward-a splash in
/ the water-and ! was alone
THE MYSTERIOUS H0RSENlAN.