Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-10-05
NARROW ESCAPE.

Come, jos tell Us what made yo1
turn pale awhile % when Jack told us
be bad seen grave and asked whose
il was
Bah, boys! tarn pale, did II There
are circumstances in the lives Of most
men who live ont frontier, which, to
have them recalled, willmake them turn
paie. And menhoniRg ahaa grave and
asking whose II was, recalled fearful
event in my experience But as ahe
night IS young yet, | viii tell you about
il; and perhaps it will be warning to
you never to trust too much to a stranger.
or throw temptation in his way
Thus spoke your humble servant some
months ago, to a party Of prospectors, OF
whom he was one. The following is the
story to which | alluded above;
Several years ago, l was out with a
party prospecting for silver, high up the
Gila river. We had been some time
without any success, and were returning
to Fort Yuma, disgusted with the coun-
try. We had left the Pimos village a
days journey behind US, when we fell in
with q man travelling the same way that
we were. He was without grub or blan-
kets, and said he was going to California.
As We had some spare mules, we told
him that if he could ride a pack saddle,
he could go with Us as far as Fort Yuma.
None of US liked the looks of the fellow,
he had such a thoroughly yillainous ex-
preston. But he seemed so thoroughly
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 unless spoken
to. When we camped, he would take
the saddle off his mule, and 90 of by
himself, never helping to get the grut
ready; and when it was ready he would
come and pitch into it with the rest Of Us
However, though we did not like him, OF
his actions, we said nothing, thinking he
might have some secret sorrow that ",
had no right to pry into. We had trav
eled two days, when what I am about Il
tell you occurred. We had camped al
noon, and as the weather was very warn
some one proposed that we should all tax,
bath. All had felt that it would be de
liciously cool amusement, bathing in thr
shade of the cottonwood trees which hun,
over the banks of the river. We strip
ped instanter, and were soon enjoyin.
ourselves gloriously. had belt arounl
me with several twenties in it, and tool
it off to give me free play in the water
I laid it down ou my clothes carelessIy
never thinking of hiding it from any c
, our company, as they all knew had th
money, and had no idea that the stran
ger would be tempted to take it.
As came out Of the water, notice
the stranger looked very longingly at m
belt, but thought no more about j
That night, from some cause, I could ne
sleep well, and when I would fall into
state of inconsistencies 1 was trouble
with such wild-like dreams that l woul
l rather l had remained broad awake. a
last, about midnight, went to sIee
soundly; how long I lay | do not know
: but was awakened suddenly TO find som
one kneeling over me and cutting m
shirt open. Now l have always had Il
power (call it presence of mind or an
e thing eIse) of comprehending in an il
: slant all that was going on around me, I
: matter from how sound a sleep may
n awakened. 1t IS any thing bat pleasa
to awake and find ones self in the pos
! er of a desperate who viii have no he
+ itation in plunging knife into yor
n heart.
r I felt myself in any thing but an ems
Is able situation, knowing that the slights
n indication on my part Of being awaL
p would cause the villain to give me, b
D. tween the ribs, the length of bis bom
lt or the contents Of bis pistol For, thou
ID l could not see his pistol, / felt sure til
n. he had it handy. To secure my pis
If without letting him know that I v
Ie awake, was very delicate operation, a
: / endeavored 10 ACCOMPLISH il 10 the
h lowing manner; my pistol aud bos
to knife were both under my saddle, whi
Ii used for pillow. ] threw ny rig
lis arm up over my head, taking care noi
be- touch the robber, aud yawned, as i
= awake, bu. ready With my left hand
ve catch his arm IN the event Of his aatem
A. ing TO stab me. ] bad ny eyes par
he shut, 50 that be could cot see them 2
=. -. t.s -,,gs; .tg.F .,.,es.. a.. -, 4sse 49,