The southern aegis, and Harford County intelligencer. (Bel Air, Md.) 1862-1864, 1862-04-19

"eAioiouoiy 0ool duuoStHent, UdtuiuS III
the shade Of the cottonwood trees which
hung over the banks of the river. We
stripped instantly, and were soon enjoying
ourselves gloriously. l had q belt around
me with several twenties in it, and took it
off to give me free play in the water
laid it down on my clothes carelessly,
never thinking of hiding it from any of
the company, as they all knew that [ had
the money, and l had no idea that the
stranger would be tempted to take it. As
[ came out of the water, I noticed the
stranger looking very lovingly at my belt,
but thought no more about it. That night,
from some cause, could not sleep we'll,
and when | would fall into state of un-
consciousness, / was troubled with such
wild like dreams that would rather l
had remained broad awake. At last, about
midnight, [ went to sleep soundly. How
long | layed l do not know, but I awaken
ed suddenly to find some one kneeling
over me and very carefully cutting my
shirt open. .s 49,. >
Now | have always had the power (call
it presence of mind, or anything else, of
compromising in an instant all that is
going on around me-: no matter from how
sound sleep I may be wakened. 1t is
anything but pleasant to wake and find
ones self in the power of desperate who
will have no hesitation in plunging knife
into your heart
felt myself in anything but an envia-
BILE situation, knowing that the slightest in
dication on my part of being awake would
cause the william to give me between the ribs
the length of his bowie knife or the contents
of his pistol, I feltsure he had it handy. To
secure my pistol without letting him know
that l was awake, was a very delicate
operation and attempted to accomplish it
in the following manner: My pistol and
bowie knife were both under my saddle,
which l used for pillow. I threw my
right arm over my head. taking care not
to touch the robber, and yawned as if I
was half awake, but ready with my left
hand to catch his arm in the event of his
attempting to stab me. I had my eyes
partly shut, SO that he could not easily see
them glisten, but sufficiently open to see
his every move, which l could easily do,
as it was clear starlight night. On the
instant that / moved, he raised his arm to
strike and | was nearly betraying to him
my being awake by throwing up my left
hand but some strong impulse prevented
me from doing it, and he held his knife
suspended to give the blow had I made
another move 'f
When | threw my hand over my head,
with the same movement I placed it I'M
der the saddle and on the butt of my pis-
toll, which was cooked ready for use. I
layed in that position for about a half min
ute, but it seemed like an hour. By that
timeI had power over my breathing, which
on first waking come very thick AS soon
as he thought that I was sound asleep
again, he lowered his head and began ope-
rating on my shirt, clearing it away from
the belt. Then | thought my opportuni-
ty had come, and tried to jerk my six
shooter, but it was foul some way, and it
would not come. thought that my time
had arrived, for as quick as thought he
drew and struck with his knife. He
struck at my throat. My eyes were broad
open then, and / saw where the knife was
coming. Bya quick, involuntary move-
ment threw myself aside, and he must
have overreached himself, for the knife
struck into the saddle, and so tight that
he could not get it out In trying to get
my pistol, my hand touched the cold sill
yer hilt Of my bowie. Instinctively I
took hold Fit, abandoning the pistol, and
was nerving my arm for the blow, when I
felt the cold muzzle Of his pistol against
my forehead / struck out blindly, and
as / did SO there was the stunning report
Of his pistol. How / escaped I do not
know; my face was blackened with the
powder, and NY whiskers nearly burned
off, but that was all the damage done me-
My blow, though struck at random, had
proved a severe one, My knife had gone
into the left side of the neck, inside Of
the collar bone, The knife must have
reached his heart, for as I drew it out to
strike again, he fell On me with his whole
weight, and his blood spirting all over my
face. He gave one CULVER, and stretched
out his length and lay perfectly still
stone dead. The whole transaction did
not take over three quarters of minute.
The report of the pistol bad aroused the
company every man sprung to his arms.
Some were looking for the mules, while
others askedwho fred the shot, and where
the Indians were. I called to the boys 70