The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1863-11-18

By hard riding he soon managed to over
take the latter, who on recognizing the
Mexican, refined up to allow him to pass.
This, however, was not the purpose oi
Sanchez, who suddenly refined up his Mus
tang and saluted the wayfarer.
"You are unsocial this morning. said
Sanchez, with an attempt to look affable
which only gave him close resemblance
to hyena 'sI have ridden after you as
hard as | could, for the sake Of your COM
pany to San Andreas, and you hardly
deign to fling me word in common civil
ity.' sa
Il have no need of company" said
the young traveller, as if hall ashamed oi
his impolite conduct; "but if you must
have some one to gossip with by the way,
| can not object. [ shall prove but an
indifferent companion, as you will find. "
Notwithstanding this rebuff, Sanchez
-galloped unabashed by the side of the
stranger, with whom he at last succeeded
in opening u conversation. The stranger
was OF that age when as yet guile and
suspicion have not entered into the com
position, and frankly described his posi-.
ton and prospects. He had prospered
handsomely since his arrival in the coun-
try, and, having amassed as much as he
thought he would need to return and es-
tablish himself in his native town at the
East; was now on his way to San Andreas,
where he was shortly to be United in
wedlock to the lady of hisiheart. San
chez asked few questions now, for, the
Mexican having INDUCED N lavish praises
of the ladys miniature, which the trav-
eler had iucautiously shown him, the lat
ter grew communicative, aud displayed
to the fascinated gaze Of nis companion
a case Of jewels of such dazzling iustre that
Sanchez fairly trembled with agitation as
he surveyed it.
They had ridden two thirds of the way
to San Andreas, and were passing through
the widest and loueiieSt portion Of the
rugged rayine, oyerhung by
aud crowned by double rows OF
stunned brush-ft place ior the eonsum-
ma ton OF deeds Of violence. gr
The youth had restored the case of
jewels and the miniature to his wallets,
and was adniring the sunset as seen
through the farther extremity of the
gorge. The momeDt was too favora Bile
to be lost. Raising his whip, Sanchez
aimed with the heavily loaded butt terri
ribIe blow at the travellers head The wea-
pom took forcible effect, insonuch that it
k nocked the traveller from his horse to the
ground; but the blow, falling upon a par
eel covered by the sombrer5,~ ~had falied
to crush the skull, as intended.
A fearful struggle ensued: for the young
stranger was as muscular as his antago-
MIST, in spite of his youthful appearance,
and understa' ding thoroughly the dan
gers of his position was resolved that if
either fell it should not be himself. His
Jacket, wrapped around his arm in the
Mexican fashion, received the bullets
aimed at his heart. He received not
several ugly wounds, and
being greatly weakened from loss Of blood,
must have yielded at last, when an unfor-
seen incident diver ted the attention OF
both. }H#
The traveller had discharged all but the
two last barrels of his revolver. Sanchez,
wounded and bleeding had taken to his
knife. With nervous and uncertain aim;
the intended victim leveled his weapon,
and fired The shot missed Sanchez, but
did unexpected execution far beyond; for
at that moment, "a howl rose from the
copse, and gigantic, hairy form, with
bristlipg claws, and eyes of fire, rushed,
with roar of mingled rage and pain,
upon the Mexican Before such an an
Sanchez was powerless. He
uttered cry of terror, and vainiy stroye
to defend himself from the fatal hug Six
times his keen-edged knife sought the
heart of the grizzly bear: the monarch Of
the California forests. The seventh stroke
reached his heart, but the dying brute
in his agonies had torn the luckIess San
chez limb from limb. The young traveller
nesitated as he brought the last barrel to
cover the noble brute that had rendered
him such signal service. FaEHs
In dying, Sanchez made clean breast
of all his misdeeds, informing his antag-
onist of the secret cache in which his
treasures were hidden, and, bidding him
use them for his own profit, brcathed his
last. -..s--- ....
Archibald Merton was the greatest man
of the hour, as early next morning, be
rode into San. Andreas, dragging after
him, with the united strength of two
horses. the carcass OF the grizzly. His
which took place soon after, was
attended with immense eclar, in conse-
quence of the event which had so nearly
resulted in the premature bereavement of
his betrothed
Asnuslng Anecdote.
Daniel Webster had an apecdote of old