The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1860-11-09

lust hold your lantern so tha' '"e
shine into his face. ,,oa into
the npng | got fair view OF such po,IMs
- ~, No.. rser's face as were not muHeS
M r short, thick frame; tuii hatC
features and ~ >Gll also see that there ~ae
a Leayv heard nn,,, the chin. though, .,
the man whom the p. <'','aS'er ~
to me; but didn't thin, s.'ioHS'y upon 1t
until had started. Per-. >s;s ) mad gone
half Il mile, when l noticed til fl'- Ha'l bag
wasn't IN It's accustomed plac, aa'ef my
feet.
"Hullo" says l, holding up my horses 4
little, where's my mali ?"
My passenger sat on the seat behind me.
and turned toward him.
Here is bag of some kind slipped back
under MY feet" he sail, giving it kick, as
Il he had showed it forward.
Just at this moment my horses numbered
into deep snow drift, and was forced to
get out and tread down the snow ahead of
them through it.
This took all of fifteen minutes, and when
got IN again pulled the mailbag forward
and got my feet upon it. AS l was doing
this. saw the man take something from his
lap, beneath the buffalo. and put it in his
breast pocket. AT this thought it was a
pistol. had caught the CLEAN of the barrel
in the starlight, and when had time to re-
fleet. knew could not be mistaken.
About this time began seriously to think.
From what had heard and seen, soon
made Up my mind that the Individual behind
me not only meant to rob the mail, but he
was prepared to rob me of my life If / re-
sisted him he would shoot me. and perhaps
he meant 10 perform that delectable opera
ton a, any rate. While | was pondering,
the horses plunged into another deep snow
drift. and was again forced 10 get out and
tread down the snow before us. asked NV
passenger If he would help ne, but he said
he didn't feel very well, and wouldn't try: SC
| worked alone, and was all of a quarter Of
an hour getting my team all through the
drifts When got into the sleigh again,
began to feel for the mailbag with my feet.
found it where had left it. but when at
tempted 10 withdraw nv foot. discovered
that i: had become entangIed in something.
thought it the buffalo, and tried to kick
it clear. but the more kicked the more
closely WAS 1t held reached down nv
hand. and after feeling about few moments
.o;;nd that my foot was IN the mailbag,
felt ag.i and found MY hand IN among
the packages of letters and papers. taa my
fingers over the edges of the opening, and
became assured that the stout leather had
been cut with a knife.
Here was discovery. began to wish l
had taken a little more forethought before
leaving Danbury, but as knew that making
such wishe> only waste of time, l
quickly gave it up, and began to consider
what had best DO under the circumstances
, wasn't long in making up nv mind upon a
few essential points. First. the man behind
, me was villain: second, he had cut open
the MAJ. l.-bag and robbed it of some valuable
matter. He must have known the money
, letters by their shape: third, he meant to
leave the stage on the first opportunity; and
, tourthlv. he was prepared to shoot me if |
{ attempted to arrest or detain him.
resolved these things over in nv mind
, and pretty 500" thought of course to pur-
sue knew if could yet nv hands safely
on the rascal. must take him wholly una
wares. and this could not do while he was
behind ne. for his eyes were upon me all the
time. SO must resort to stratagem. Only a
little distance ahead was a house; an old
farmer named !.ougee lived there, and di-
. r,ctiy before which was a huge snow-hank
r Stretched across the road. through which
. track for wagons had been cleared with sho-
2 velS.
As we approached the cot. saw a light in
the front room. as | felt confident | should,
. for the old man generally sat up until the
stage went by. drove on and VIXEN near
ly opposite the dwelling stood up as had
r Frequently done when approaching difficult
, places saw the snow bank ahead. and
could distinguish the deep cut which had
r been shoveied through it. urged nv hor-
| >cS t. good speed, and when near the b ank
io,ced them into il.
S One OF ihe runners mounted the edge of
: the bank. after which the other run into :he
, cut. thus throwing the sleigh over about as
n ql:ck though lightning had STRUCK it. My
: passenger bad not calculated on any such
Y movement. and wasn't prepared for it /; but
: mad ca!custed and was prepared. He roll
: ed out into the deep snow. with heavy buf-
faio robe about him. while | lighted upon
r nj feet directly on top Of him. | punched
( his mead !nts the SNOW, and then sing out
t for old Lousee. did not have to call Sc
/ coTd time, for Tn" farmer had come to see me
/, pass. and as soon a> he saw nv slei IN over
= turned, he had lighted his lantern and hur-
rei out.
f What ~ pay" asked the old man as he
came up.
). Lead the horses into the track, and then
I come here said |.
/ As | spoke partially loo>ened my hold
{ npIn the Villains throat, and he drew j pis-
= to- from his bosom: hu: saw it in season,
and jarimed his head into the snow again.
: ard gpt the weapon away from him. by this
i time Lou"ce had led the horses out and came
k back. and | exrained the matter to him in
As few words as possible. We hauled the
n rascal out into the road, and upon examina
f ton, We found about twenty packages of let
l. tcr> which he had stolen from the mailbag,
It and slowed away in his pockets.
d He >wore, and threatened, and prayed;
IS but we paid no attention to his blarney.-
y Lougee got some stout cord, and when We
i had securely bound the villain, We tumbled
II him into the pung | asked the old man if
{ he would accompany me to Lttleton, and he
II said "of course SO he got his overcoat and
mutiier, and ere long we started on.
# reached the end of nv route with nv
d mail all safe, though not as snug as it might
have been. and my mail bag little the worse
d for the game that had been played upon it.
e However the mail robber was secure, and
e within a week he was identified by some Of
.e ticers from Concord as an old offender; and
is I'm rather inclined to think that he's in the
E. states prison at the present moment. AT