The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1858-03-26


The villain was by my side, ard measured
The distance from his hand to my heart with
his eye. In bis left hand he held a thick hand
kerchief all wadded up. That was to stop my
mouth with. Every nerve in my body was
DOW strung, and my heart still as death. O
course my snoring ceased, and at that instant
the huge knife was raised above my bosom -
Quick as thought brought my pistol up-the
muzzle was within foot of the robbers heart
lie uttered quick cry-I saw the bright
blade quiyer in the moonlight, but it came not
upon me. Ipulled the trigger, and the fear
was past had thought that the weapon might
miss Ere, but it did not. There was sharp re-
port, and as spfang up and backed, heard a
fierce yell, and at the same time the robber fell
forward, his head striking my knee as it came
doE,u.
Weak and faint sank back, but sudden
tip OF the canoe brought me TO my senses, and
went aft and took the paddle. As soon as the
boats bead was once more right / turned my
eyes upon the form in the bottom Of the canoe,
and then | saw il quiver-only slight spas
modic moyement-and then all was still.
All that night | sat there at my watch and
steered my little bark. had nv second pistol
ready, fer | Knew not surely that the wretch
wasdead He might be waiting TO catch me
fmy guard, and then shoot me. Bu! the night
passed slowly and drearily away, and when the
morning broke the form had not moved. Then
| stepped iorv ard and found that Guslus Karl
was dead He had fallen with his knife true
10 It's aiIR, for it struck very near the spot where
my heart must have been, and the point was
driven so far into the solid wood that had 10
r.ri, har H.
clasp the marble fingers that were closed with
dying madness about the handle.
Swift flowed the tide, and ere ;he sun again
sank 10 rest | had reached LoganspoIt. The
authorities knew the face Of Gusus Karl at once,
and when I bad told them my story, they pour
ed out thousand thanks upon my head. A
purse was raised: and the offered reward put
with il, and rendered 10 me. took The simple
reward from tie generous citizens, while the
remainder directed should be distributed a.
mong those " Ito had suffered most from the
Wabash robbers dppradations.
found Kemp sick and miserable. He was
burning with fever, and the doctors had shut
him Up in room where we'll man must soon
have sufoeated.
aWa,yt-water l. Gals name Give me
water" he gasped
Haven't you had any" | asked.
He told me no. threw open the windows,
sent for pail Of ice-water, and was on the point
of administering il when the old doctor came in.
He held mp his hands in horror, and told me it
y ould kill the sick man. Bot | forced him
back and Kemp drank the grateful beverage.
lie drank deeply and then slept. The perspi-
ration poured from him like rain, and when he
awoke, the shin was moist, and the fever was
turned. In eight days he sat in his saddle, by
my side, and started for Little River. AT Wal
tous settlement found my horse wholly recov-
cred, and when | offered TO pay for bis keeping
the host would take nothing. The story .otmy
adventure on the river had reached there ahead
Of me, and this was the landlords gratitude.