Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1860-10-31
MISCELLANEOUS.
A NARRoW ESCAPE.

had seen grave, and asked whose it was?''
bah, boys. turn pale, did I?'' There are
circumstances in the lives of most men who
live on the frontier. which, to have them re-
called, viii make them tura pale. And men
tionlng that grave, aud asking whose it was.
recalled fearful event in my experience.
But as the night is young yet, will tell you
about it; ano. Per ha?s it viii be a warning to
you never 70 trust too much to a stranger.
or throw temptation in his way
Thus spoke your humble servant some
months ago, to party of prOspectors, of
whom he was one The following is the
story to which l alluded above:
Several years ago l vas out with a party
prospecting for silver. high up the Gila River
! We had been sometime without meeting with
success. and were returning to- Fort Yuma
disgusted with the country. We had left the
| PimOs village days journey behind US, when
| We fell in with man travelling the same
way that We were. He was without grub or
blankets and said he was going to California
As we had some spare mules. we told him
that if he could ride pack saddle he could
go with US as far as I ort Yuma None of
US liked the looks Of the fellow, be had such
a Thoroughly villanious expression. But as he
seemed SO badly used up we took pity on him
and made him the offer that we did.
He accepted without any hesitation. We
found him taciturn, never speaking un-
less he was spoken 20. When We camped be
would take the saddle off his mule and go of
by himself, never helping to get the grub
ready: and when it was ready he would come
and pitch in with the rest of US.
However, though we did not like him or his
actions, we said nothing, thinking he might
have some secret sorrow we had no right TO
pry into. We travelled two days when what
am about to tell you occurred. We had
camped at noon, and as the weather was very
warm, some one proposed that we should all
take bath. All had felt that it would be a
delicious cool amusement, bathing IN the
shade of the cottonwood trees which hung
over the banks of the river. We stripped in-
stanter, and were soon enjoying ourselves
gloTiousIy had belt around me with sew
eral tweuties in it, aud took it OF to give me
free play in the water l laid it on my clothes
carelessly, never thinking OF hiding 1t from
any of the company, as they all knew that
had the money, and had no idea that
the stranger would be tempted to take 1t. As
[ came out of the water, noticed the stran-
ger looking very loDgingly II ~ belt, but
thought more about II.
That night, from some cause. I could not
sleep well, and when L would fall i1t0 d state
of unconscio1sness, [ was rather troubled with
wilk like dreams, that I would rather l had
remained broad awake. st last, about mid
night, L went to sleep sOundly; how long I
lay l do not know, but l wakeaed suddenly
TO fnd some one kneel.ng over me and very
carefully cutting my shirt open. now nave
always had the power (call Il presence Of
mind, or anything else) of cOmprehendlng IN
an instant al that was going on around me,
DO matter from how sound a sleep may be
walked 1t IS anything but pleasant 70 wake
and fnd ones self IN the power OF desPer-
ado who will have no hesitation II p.uncIng
a knife into your heart. / felt mys5-tIu any
thing but n enviable situation, knowing that
the slightest Indication on my part Of being
awake would cause the villain to give me be
tween the ribs the length of has bowie, or the /.
contents OF his pistol. Fer, although l could /.
not see his pistol, L felt sure that he had one /!
handy. /,
To secure my pistol without letting him
know that [ was awake, was very delicate ,
operation; and l attempted to accomplish 1t .
in the following manner; my pistol and bowie /
knife were under my saddle. which used for
q pillow. | threw my right arm up over nay 4
head, taking care not to touch the robber,
and yawned as if was half awake, but ready
with my left hand to catch his arm IN the
event of his attempting to stab me. L mad
my eyes partly shut, so that ne could not ca
SHY see them glisten. but sufficiently open to
see his every move, which | could easily do, f
as It was a clear star light night. On the IN
slant that moved he raised his arm to strike,
and l was very nearly betraying my being
awake, by throwing off my left hand, but
some strong impulse prevented me- from do
ing it. and be held his knife suspended to
give the blow had l made another move
When | threw my baud over my head. with
the same movement | placed 1t under the sad
die and on the butt of my pistol, which vas
cooked, ready for use.
lay in that position for about half min
ute, but 1t seemed like an hour. By that L
had power over my breathing, which on Inst
waxing came very quick. As soon as ne
thought that was sound asleep again, ne
lowered his hand and commenced operating
on my shit, clearing it away from the belt
Then L thought my opportunity had come and
tried to jerk my six shooter, but 1t was foul
some way aud 1t would not come. thought
nay time had arrived for, quick as thought
be drew and struck With his knife. lie struck
at my throat My eyes were broad open
then, saw where the knife was coming. By /
a quick involuntary movement L threw my
SELF aside, and he must have overreaehed him
self. for the knife struck into the saddle, and /
so tight that he could not get it out. In try
ing to get my pistol, my hand touched the |
cold silver hit of my bowie.
Instirctly took hold of it, abandoned my
pistol, and was nervIDg my arm for the pistol
when | felt the cold muzzle of his pistol
against my forehead L struck out blindly,
and as I did 50, there was the stunning re-
port OF his pistol. How | escaped l do not