The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-02-09
a aTRUooLE FoR L1Rn.

seen grave, and asked whose it vast"
"BalI, bOys-turn pale, did II There
nre circumstances in the lives OF most
men on The frontier, which, to them re.
called, would make them turn pale. ana
mentioning that grave, and asking whose
It is, recalled fearful event IN my expo
ricnce. Nu', as the night h young vet,
will tell you about it, ard perhaps 1t
will be n warning to you never u trust
too much TO n stranger, or throw tcinpta-
tion in his way
Thus spoke your humble servant, some
time ago, TO . party Of prOsPectOrs, M
whom he was ono. The following is the
story to which l alluded above:
Several years ago wns out with party
prospecting for silver high up on the GiIA
river. We had been SOME time without
meeting any 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
u man travelling the same wHy we were.
lie was without grthC or blankets, and
said he was going to California. AS We
had some spare mules. we told him II nc
could ride 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 vilIainous expression; but
as he seemed so badly used up, we took
pity on him aud made him the offer that
VIC did. lie accepted without any hesita-
ton. We found him tacituTn, never
speaking unless he was spoken TO. When
we calnpcd, he would take the saddle of
his mule. and go off by himself, never
helping to get the grub ready; and xhcn
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 that VIC had no right
TO pry into. We had travelled two days,
when what ] am about to tell you occur
red. We had campcd at notn, and ~ the
weather was very warm, sOtno one pro.
posed that we all take Q bath. All bad
felt that II would be . dcliciously cool
amusement, bathing in the shade OF the
cottonwood trees which hung over the
banks of the river. We stripped instan-
ter and were sOon enjoying ourselves
gloriouSly. ! had belt around me, with
several twcntIes in 1t, and took IT on 70
give the free play In the water. Iaycd
il down on my clothes caTelcssly, never
thinking OF hiding II from any Of my COM
panions, as they all knew that had the
money, and had no idea that the stranger
would be tempted to take It. As came
out of the water, noticed the stranger
looking very lOngingly ct my belt, but ]
thought no more abont it. That night,
from some cause, could not sleep well,
and when would fall into a state OF un'
consciousness, was troubled with such
wild dreams that would rather / had
remained wide awake. At last, about
midnight, 4 went to sleep soundly. How
long Has, do not know but axokc sud
denly 70 lind some EORs keeling over me
and very carefully cutting my shirt open
Now have always had the power (call !,
presence Of mind or anything else,) o.
comprchending in an instant all that q
going on around me, no matter from how
sound sleep may be walked. It is any
thing but pleasant to wake and flnd your
self In the power Of desperate who will
have no hesitation in pInngiug Q knifC
into your heart. ] felt mySeifin anything
but an enviAble situation, knowing that
the slightest indication on my part Of be
ing awake would cause the villain to give
me the length Of his knife, or the con
tents Of his pistol for, although coulG
not see bis pistol, felt sure he had i
handy. l..
To secure my pistol without letting hin
know that was awake was a very deli
cate operation, and attempted to accom-
plish Il 10 the following manner: my pis
tol and bowie knife were both under my
saddle, which used for my pillow.
threw my right arm up over my head
taking care not to touch the rO6ber, ant
yawning, as II was half awake. bu
ready with my left hand to catch his arm
In the event Of his attempting 10 stab the
I had my eyes partly shut, 80 that h
could not easily zee them glisten, but sui
liciently open to SEQ every move, which
could easily do, as 1t was clear starligh
night On the instant that I moved, h
raised his arm IN strike, and I was nearl,
betraying to him that vas ewSlee;. b
throwing off my left hans, bAtureom
strong impulse prevented me. from. deinI
it, and he held his knife suspended u Civ
tho blow had made another move
When threw my hand under my head
with the same movement placed It IN
der the saddle ard on the butt of my pis
tol, which was cooked ready for use.
! laid in that position for about half
minute, but It seemed like an hour. b
that time had power over my bFsathine
which on first waking came very quiCL
As sOOn AZ he thought was sound aslee
again, he lowered his hand and CON
nlenced operating on my shirt, clearing
away from the belt Then thought m
opportunity had come, and tried to ieF
out my six-shoOter, but it was foul som
way and would not come. thought m
time had arrived, for as quick as though
he drew back and struck with his knit
He struck at my throat Ny eyes wer
wide open then, and saw where the knit
was coming. BY q quick involuntar
r movement l threw myself aside, aud
must have OverreAched himself for tn
knife stuck into the saddle, 90 deep thI
he could not get tout. ~, - y
In trying to get my pistol my han
touched the cold silver hit Of my bowl,
Instinctively took hold of II, abandonin
the pistol, and was nerving my ERIN "a
the blow when felt the cold muxxle I
his pistol against my forehead. Struc
out blindly, and as / did 80 there vas Ii
stunning report Of pistol. How I q
capped do not know my face was black
ened with powder, and my whisksFs neat
ly burned OF. but that was all the damag
done me. Ny blow, though struck 4
random, had proved . severe one. N
knife had gone into the leit eide Of 81
neck, inside Of the collar bone. } ID 'ha
reached his heart, for as,E Aruw Il. out 3
strike again, he fell on NE, with his whpl
weight, his blood splrting al iosar my ~.
He gave one quiysr aud slrafchsd Cks ID
length, and lay perlactlR ssIIl -stona dsai
The whole transaction diA not .eeS1np.
three.q quarters Of : maHadt - asss.'a1,
The report Of the tiaaN Nd