Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-11-09

SNihB 'nemS huu DeueVe only what l might
chCpse.
"Are there any more forks Of the road to
puzzle me7' Inquired. 7 ''.
"'No, sir!' replied the man.
"'Dose this wood continue all the Wsy1'
"'Yes, sirn
Any dwellings on the route2
"'Not for the first two miles
DO you consider Il safe travelling for q
stranger7'
what do you mean2' inquired the man,
With quick, threatening glance at the child,
VINO now suddenly looked up at me, with an ex-
preston that seemed to caution me 10 beware
Of danger.
l mean If there are any such beiogs In this
section of country as highway robbers7'
oh, Lord bless you, no, sir7' replied the
FELLOW, with a king of forced laugh: the few
people In this region are perfectly honest
ihe girl now gave me quick, startled,
warning look, which the man perceived, and
said hastily:
q" Run on. Maggie, and tell mother am
coming; and then added sometng In language
which did not understand.
instantly the girl crossed the road, and,
without glancing at me again, disappeared in
the wood TO the left.
Ny hand quietly found its way back to my
pistols, and while l continued to put further
questions to the fellow and note bis answers,
was considering what was bes. for me to do IN.
der the circumstances. was well mounted on
a good horse, and, should dash forward, what
chance Wonld the man have of overtaking me,
even supposng him to have an evil design upon
my property aud life? of which as yet had no
proof, and only some vague suspicious; while,
should turn to go back, he would know was
fancying some trouble ahead, and might attack
me at once. Then, again, If he were really q
robber, he probably had sccomplioes within
hearing, whom he could at once bring 10 his
aid, and IL would be tho safest for me to seem
wholly unsuspicious and uuconcerned, and foil
design by stratagem. So resolved to ride for
ward, as If perfectly satsfed with my Inquiries,
but to keep sharp lookout on all sides, and
then, as soon as | might bo supposed to be well
on my way, 10 turn my horse and get back to
the main road, which now began to fear had
been advised to leave with view to my rob-
berry and perhaps murder.
"Three miles to the great highway said, i,
as if simply considering the matter of my jour
ney. can easily tide that 10 three q quarters
of an hour, if not in less time, and then, If cor
rectly Informed, shall have gained three miles
more
Correct, sirD said the fellow, with a salts.
fed emile.
Thanking him for his information, now
rode slowly up the bill before me, keeping my
face the while turned back toward the stranger,
and making some commonplace remarks, till
turn in the woody path shut him from my view +,
when l dashed forward for quarter of mile,
intending to wheel suddenly and retace my
steps the moment l should think IL safe to do
80. .r..
~ had descended the hill toward low
swampy wood, where the muddy path-for Ii
hardly deserved the name of road--Wound
through the interlockipg trees in fearful
gloom, when was surprised and almost startled
at hearing the words, spoken in a low, silvery
tone:
"'Stransey, for the bue of Heaven, turn back,
or you ioiH be muydeyedn
/ "Looking up, as / refined in my horse, per
celved, on kind of bluff to my left, the deli
cate form of the little girl, with her hands
clssped before her, her features white with
terror, and her eyes glsncing In every direc
Iion, as, If fearful of being dscove cred -
Instantly strange impulse seized upon me,
to save her and myself at the samo timo.
"'Quick, my child-quiok! said ], reaching
out my hand: come here to me!'
"As if mag etically governed by my will or
desire, ehe instantly leaped down into the path,
bounded up to my side, and seized hold Of my
hand. The next moment swung her light
form upon the horse In front Of me, wheeled
the animal, drove my spurs into his Aanka, and
sent him galloping up the hill had just de-
scended. When near the summit Of the eleva-
tion, there come a loud, wild shout of three or
four voices behind me, and | could distinguish
the words:
"'Stop him! stop him! shoot him! kill
himn n9s
"a felt that it was life or death now, and /,
squirting my horse at every leap, went over
and down the hill upon the full run. With my
left arm around the slender form Of the tremb-
ling girl and my reins firmly grasped in my LEFT
hand, drew one of my pistols with my right,
and held 1t ready 20 shoot down the frat human
being that should atsemp. to bar my way. As
neared the spot where had fret seen the girl
and her companion, thought | caught q
glimpse Of the robbsr orouched down by the
path and thinking there might be some adyan.
tage in being the first assallant, | aimed my
pistol at the spot and fred, A loud yell fol-
lowed. the man suddenly started into view,
and, springing forward, made an effort to Btor
my horse, which was still on q full run, at the
same time discharging pistol at my head. The
ball whizsed close, but missed me, and hs
hand also missed the rein, and the next mo-
ment was past him and speeding on like the
wind. had by this time drawn my other ps.
tol; but not knowing what trouble might vet
meet with ahead, l reserved my fire and went
bounding onward, still holding my precious and
trembling charge before me. .....
| ri was not again molested, and In few min.
utes reached the great highway, where con-
fess breathed much ireer. ! nov slsckened
my pace, and, as rode on to the next town, |
questioned the girl closely, concerning herself,
the man she was with, the design against my
life, and so forth and 80 on. OF herself che
only knew that she belonged to a wandering
tribe of gipsies, who we're encamped not far
from where first saw her. The man she was
with, was wicked wretch, who claimed to be
her father; and from what she had been able
1 was expected over that lonely road, and thai
she intention Of her reputed father, and some
| of his wicked companions, mas to commit muir
der for the purpose Of robbery, She had STEALTH.
IL followed him, to prevent, il possible, the con
summation of the awful deed, and took advan'
| tage Of his order TO return home, to get ahead
OF me and give me timely warning. Whethe,
the innkeepcr was In the plot or not, che die
not know. She was as deeply grateful for Oh,
preservation Of her life, as for that of mine
and begged me to save her from again fsllinl
into the clutches of the vile crew from WHOM
she had just escaped. which readily promised
to do, .s. .
"On reaching the next town, went before
magistrate, made oath to the facts, and ha,
warrants issued for the apprehension of th
villains. But they had fed meantime, and
had not the satisfaction Of seeing them caugh
though believe they were subsequently, al
4 rested, in another part of the kingdom, 70
some other crimes, and sentenced to transporta
tion for life.n sga Lila ss A'gssa -