The weekly Butte record., 1861-05-18
I thought 50 too. and Rising my rifle. ANDY


yell that sounded more fearful than that Of the
wolf had so recently driven away.
" Now give them the pistols shouted Andy,
his whole soul in the conflict.
Each of US carried brace of double barrelled
pistols, which gave US eight shots between US,
and Immediately we were dischargng them in
the faces of the outlaws. Six more of the
brigands fell before u.s. while we remained I'M
injured, notwithstanding a number Of scattering
shots whistled around our ears and over our
heads
Now charge upon the thieves !" yelled
Andy, in stentorian tones.
followed my comrades lead, and together
we charged upon the remaining five outlaws.
for there were that many left. a fierce ard
bloody fight ensued. Andy performed miracles
and I done double duty; but, as fate would
have it, we were both rendered hors du combat
my comrade by pistol wound in the side, and
I by bowie knife cut in the right shoulder
| knew nothing more after that, for the next
moment | became unconscious. When came
to myself | found | was in q cave, and it was
not long before | discovered that the cave was
the haunt of the robbers. This much learned
by listening, for could see nothing, the bright
light of the day seemed never to penetrate that
dismal cavern. 1t was the gloomest, chiiest
place I ever was in, and from the bottom Of
my heart wished myself out of it.
1 thought of Andy you may be sure, but
could see no way of finding out what had be-
come of him.
After a while, an old and outrageously ugly
Indian squaw made her appearance. She
brought me food and medicine, and a Temporal
ry light My wounds had receatly been
dressed. OF course was eager to question
her.
Ny good woman" said I, very pleasantly,
" should like to know where am, will you
tell me %
She shook her head negatively, and to all l
could say or do got no answer. inquired
about Andy and other matters, but received no
satisfaction. Finally l gave up in despair,
and let the old hag go
A week passed. and l was comparatively
we'll About the expiration Of that time, the
old squaw came to me one day, and beckoned
me to follow her. Having DO reason to refuse
obedience, | complied with her directions, and
after traversing number of dark passages, l
found myself in the open air. 1t was a bright
sunny morning, and despite my situation, l
inhaled the pure atmosphere with delight
Assembled on the spot l beheld gang of a
score OR more Of the worst looking men had
ever encountered, and in the midst my friend
and comrade, Andrew Huff Andy looked
frightfully pale and emaciated, and appeared
to have suffered much worse than myself. We
had scarcely time to greet each other, and say,
" God bless you, comrade," when we were
suddenly and roughly seized and gagged. At
the same time one of the outlaws whom | at
once recognized as the leader Of the party
which we had at first encountered, stepped for
ward and addressed us
Now, cuss yer" he cried passionately,
" we'll make yer pay for yer handywork t'other
night. Strip emf
In few moments we were stripped to the
skin, and we had neither the power TO resist or
to expostulate.
"Out with that plank. hosses! !" yelled the
same fellow "fust show EN- the way they're
goin' to travel"
We were separately led to the brink of the
chasm near, and made to look down into the
almost unfathomably depths. A stream of
water dashed along over the rocks at the bot
tom. 1t made me dizzy to look down. We
were then stationed within few feet of the
brink, with guard over US. l began to com
prehend that some frightful death awaited US,
and my feelings were dreadful.
A plank about dozen feet long and foot
wide was then brought forward and placed
halfway over the precipice. My blood ran
cold at the preparations. On one end of the
plank two men stationed themselves.
Now drive the chap forward, shouted the
leader, pointing to Andy. "Tother feller
shall see him drop, and then he follers arter
him. Drive him on thar hossesn p
Every effort was made to remove Andy, but
the poor fellow continued obstinate. The out
laws pricked him with their knives, and beat
him with their rifles, but he refused to stir
Despite his struggles, Andy was picked up and
carried to the plank. As the outlaws set him
down. they gave him violent push, which
sent him forward to the end of the plank, over
the precipice. Andy swayed from side to side
and struggled wildly to regain his balance
He failed, however, and fell over, in his fall
clutching desperately at the plank There he
held, with his finger nails buried in the plank :.
It was horrid scene, and my blood runs cold
at the bare recollection of it.
Let him gol" shouted the fendsh leader.
The men who were standing at the other end
of the plank jumped off of it, and Andy went
into the seething depths below.
Despite the gag in his mouth, the poor fel-
low uttered a wild terrific shrek before he dis
appeared from sight for ever That cry rings
in my ears now, though years have passed since
then. l shall never forget it.