Litchfield enquirer., 1863-03-05

and conld see that there was heavy be ar
 under the chin. l thought of the man whor
 the postmaster had described to me, but
 didn't think seriously upon it until had stal ted. Perhaps hadn't got half a mile when
 noticed that the mailbag wasn't in it's ol
 place uuder my feet. ..es.s5.@
 {" Hallo!" says I. holding up my horses lii tie. where's my mail P. 5ss My passenger sat on the seat behind nc and turned toward him.
 |" Here is bag of solle kind slipped bacl under my feet,' he said, giving it a kick, a though he'd shove it forward.
 Just at this moment my horses lumheret into deep snow-drift, and was forced to get out and tread down the snow ahead of then and lead them through it.
 This took me all of fifteen minutes, and wher I got in again pulled the mail bag forward and gotm feet upon it and as was doing this, saw the man take something from his lap beneath the buffalo, and put it in his breas pocket. At this thought it was pistol. had caught gleam of the barrel in the star. light and when had time to reflect, Lnew could not be mistaken.
 About this time I began to think somewhat seriously. From what I had heard and seen I soon made up my mind that the individual behind me not only meant to rob the mail, hut he was prepared to rob me of my life. If re- sisted himyhe would shoot me, and perhaps he meant to perform that delicate job at any rato. While was ponderng, the horses fell into another deep snow drift, and was asa Il forced to get out tread down the snow before them. l asked my passenger if he wouldu t help me. but he said he didn't feel very we'll wouldn't try it; so worked alone, and was all of a quarter of an hour getting out of the drift. When Il got into the sleigh again, I began to feel for the mailbag with my feet, and fount it where had left it; but when I attempted to withdraw my foot, discovered that it had become entangled in something. I thought it was the buffalo and tried to kick it clear; but the more kicked the more closely was it held reached down my hand and after feeling about few minutes, fonnd that my foot was in the mail bag! felt again and found my hand in emong the packages ofletters and pa pers. ran my finger along the edges of the opening, and became assured that the stout leather had been cut with knife
 Her. was a discovery. l began to wish had taken little more forethought before lea wing Danbury but as knew that making ouch wishes was only a waste of time, quickly gave it up, and began to consider whatI had best do under the existing circumstances. wasn't long in making up my mind upon few essen- tial points. First, the man behind me was villain; second, he had cut open the mailbag and robbed it of some valuable matter. He must have known the money letters by the size and shape; third he ,8cunt to leave the stage on the filst opportunity ;.and fourthly, he was prepared to shoot me if attempted to arrest or detain him.
 resolved these things over in my mind, and pretty soon thought of q course to pursue. knew that to get my hands safe upon the ras- cal must take him unawares. and this could not do while he was behind me-for his eyes were upon me all the time-so I. must resort to stratagem. Only a little distance ahead was a house; an old farmer named Longee lived there, and directly before it was huge snow bank stretched across the road, for which a track for wagons had been cleared with shovels.
 Aswe approached the cot, saw a light in the front room as was confident should for the old man generally sat up until the stage went by. drove on and when nearly oppo- site the dwelling stood up as I frequently did when approaching difficult places. I saw the snow-bank ahead, and could distinguish the deep cut which had been shoveled through it l urged my horses to good speed, and when near the bank forced them into it.
 One of the runners mounted the edge ofthe bank after which the other run into the cut thus throwing the slsigh over about as though tightening had struck it. My passenger had not calculated on any such movement, and was not prepared for it; but had calculated and was prepared. He rolled out into the deep snow, with . buffalo robe about him, while Lighted uponmy feet directly on top of him. I punched his head into the snow, and then sang out forsold Longee. I did not have totcall second time, for the farmer had come to the window to see me pass, and as soon as he saw my sleigh overturned, he had lighted his lantern and hurried out. s
 " Whats to pay?' asked the old man as he came up. Y. {. -.e aLead the horses in to the track, and then come here." " said I. As Ispeke I partially loosened my hold up
 on the villains throat, and he drewa pisto
 from his bosom ;sbut I saw it in season, am ljammsd his head into the snow again, and go' the weapon away from him. By this tint
 Longee had led the horses out and came bacl
 and explained the matter to him in as fey
 Woras as possible. We hauled the rascal ou Into the road, and upon examination s we found t Sl,ny,t twenty tnarl{o s,n. ,xf t. Il l.