Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1863-08-14

tney KNOW my Oanger; Out l Ieit that
would prefer being devourcd by the fierc
brutes to calling on them Cor aid. Indeed
A. soon As thoughts Of the women came int,
my head the chief fear that tortured me wa
that they might hear the noise Of the dog.
and come out to learn the cause Of the up
roar. The thought of the shame of being
seen by the ladies in my ridiculous position
had scarce entered my head before window
on the ground floor opened and by the star
light could see night-capped head peer
ing out. Then l could hear tho hum O
shrill voices and soon light was fitting tt
and fro in the house. Iexpccted every mo
ment to see some Of the family leave tn,
house and como toward me, and cold swea
started over my whole body. became des
perate, waved my arms and kicked out IN,
legs toward the dogs, in the vain attempt I,
frighten them, and wishcd-oh, how l. dit
wish for some weapon anything; a gun, .
pitch-!ork, or stout club. now saw
cluster Of night capped heads at a window
and knew that the inmates Of the house wer,
regarding in big.cyed astonish,nent the din
outlines Of the white object on the gate.
knew they must have thoughts of ghosts
and goblins, and prayed Heaven that thei,
fears might keep them within doors. There
was no man about the house; the women
certainly would not dare venture to approach
such fearful white spectre as must ap
pear to them. At length they all left the
window; prayed that they might all be go.
ing to bury their heads under their feathe,
beds. No such good fortune; the front doc,
opens and | can see tho outlines of a group
Of women huddled in the portico. They
seem to consult and appear in much doub,
as to what to do. Pray God their fears
may conquer.their curiosity" was my ftrvcn,
mental ejaculation. They return within
good May they stay there u"
Curse Squire Clark's bull dogs How
am ! ever to got off this perchY" hea,
my name called within the house; they wan,
me to find out for them what the dreadful
white thing is that is freed on the gate post
Curse me If ever tell themi" The doc,
opens again-"Confound it they kave light!'
They call my name; scan they suspect the
white object to be me? III die before
answer!" Ono Of the girls has the light
the old lady is armed with Hrc-shovel; an
other OF the girls has a poker, another the
tongs, another q broom.stick all there ant
armed but Betty. Thank Heaven that Bet
ty is not with thcm!" They form in battl,
array and start for me, kissing Oh the dogs
| think may frighten them and make u hor
rible noise, half groan and half screcch, a.
owls do sometimes at their laughing matches
They halt, but it's only for q second, then or
they come again. Their courage is admira
ble, but | am not in humor or position tc
admire it. " Curse their pluck !" is my men
tai comment. They will soon be upon me
| feel my affairs coming to focus. Des
perate situations must be met by desperate
actions. determine to make leap to tho
outside Of the yard. The fence about the
dooryard is not high; but it is of piokets
which offer but little foothold for the dogs
aud they may be unable to get over till ]
have fair start. | half rise to face toward
the street; at which (seeing the ghost in,
crease to a more formidable size) some ol
the girls give terrific shrek bpt without
looking round to see if they havdretreatcd |
make my leap. Just as expect a smart jar
in my feet, feel a heavy tug in the opposite
direction and find to my great CONSERVATION
and disgust that the tail of my strong linen
shirt has caught over the turned wooden or.
nament on the top Of the arch, and am,
rAbsalom-like, suspended between heaven
and earth. / make conyulsive effort to
reach up to loosen myself /; but find the feat
impossible. hear the dogs whining as their
claws scrape the fence; the women are en-.
couraging them with their voices, in q mo.
nent they will be over and seize my legs
The peril of my situation gave me quickness
Of thought; there was one chance for free.
dom and saw it. tore the buttons from
the wristbands and collar Of my shirt then
tossing my arms aloft above me, peeled my.
self Of my shirt, leaving il dangling wrong
side out at the spire of tho arch. Lwas lust
in time, for had scarce taken Eve steps after
alighting npon the ground before both dogs
were over and after me. Away along the
road bounded, but before had run six rods
found that the dogs would very soon over
take and pull me down. There was nothing
left for It now but to double on them and get
back to the fence, placing it bstvcen myself
and my parssers as quickly as possible.--
This maneuver successfully accomplished,
and without a thought Of what was to do
next, found myself again within the yard
aud but three or four rods from the group Of
women near the walk. The dogs were at the
fence and would soon be over, 50 deter
mined 70 make circnit around the women
and try a bold push for the house, hoping
that they, blinded as they were with light,
might not see me enter. I succeeded in
reeching tbs hoase but haye since conc!u-
dsd (upon considering how close the old lady
and girls we're at my heels) not without be.