East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1863-07-21

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his breath labored and painful, coming il
short, quick gasps, aud before daylight
he was in raging fever. When tn
doctor of the boat was called in h,
shook bis head mournfully, and declar
ing it to be severe case of intermitten
fever, advised his being taken on shore
at the next landing. With good care
and nursing he (the doctor) felt ass ureC
the patient would recover without it he
would certainly die. i did not hesitat,
to take his advice, which was prefferet
! with an air of candor and sympathy
And rude but comfortable litter wai
Immediately constructed, covered will
cloaks, blankets and pillows, upon which
the sick man was placed. and carreC
ashore by strong and willing hands.
| / procured .he best accommodation,
the place afforded, and installed my
self head nurse. 1t were needless to
recount the incidents of his illness, ever
If had space or i.clination, which
have not. Therefore suffice it to say
that the naturally strong constitution
of my patient triumphed evantually
over the disease, though it was not unit
after an illness of several weeks His
gratitude to me was unbounded, and
expressed in the warmest manner. AS
soon as he was sufficiently recovered
to travel. we took the boat TO Memphis
where we parted--I contin uing on my
way, while he ent, as he said, to his
plantation, inviting me TO visit him on
my return, which request j assured him
should be most happy to avail myself
of.
/ reached New Orleans, transacted
my friends business, and after stay of
a fortnight, started home with light
heart and heavy pocket. l arrived
safely at Memphis, and then remember.
ing my promise to visit Monsieur Bre.
tuel, hired a horse and SGT out for his
plantation. 1t was a fine, though rath.
cr sultry day in August, the merry
"Moth of Sheaves," and my spirits rose
as | gzaed on the fine country through
which | was passing. | had rodo sew
eral miles, and began to think L must
be somewhere in the vicinity Of my
friends plantation, when, as l entered
tract of land thickly covered with a
large growth of underbrush, / was start
ed by tie words:
"Your money or your life!" uttered a
hoarse, inenacing tone.
AT the same moment tall fierce
looking man stepped forth from his con:
ren while two more presented them
selves, each holding in his hands rath.
er ugly looking ''persuader," cooked
and ready for instant service.
Now / am not a coward, and having
considerable amount of money about
my person, determined to make, at
least one effort for the preservation of
both life and property. drew forth a
pistol, and knocking down the fellow at
my bride rein with the butt, / spurred
my horse forward, and leveling the
weapon at the nearest rufEan, pulled
the trigger The william dropped to the
earth with a groan and a curse, at the
same moment that couple of bullets
whis.lcd 10y my head; but before / could
draw my second weapon, half a dozen
more surrounded me. was dragged
from ny horse, fierce faces were over
and around me, aud l thought twas
call up" with poor Inc; therefore be.
gan casting up that mental balance of
good and evil deeds, which every man is
supposed to form when about TO die,
aud finding that the evil predoiuinated
over the good at an alarming rate, de.
termincd to make one more desperate
effort for the raganing of my freedom
The man who had been prostrated by
the blow from the butt of my pistol, had
by this time recovered his senses, and
now strobe savage!y to the place where
| sat surrounded by my captors, his
hand upon the haft of his knife which
peeped from his bosom, and with look
fmost determined hostility on his swar-
thy face, down which the blood trickled
from his bruised forehead. AS the
reader may well conjecture, my position
was none of the most enviable; surroun.
ded by men who would not have scru.
pied at shedding my blood under ordi
nary circumstances; buthaving wounded
two of their number, my situation was
perious in the extreme. Already were
rel hands uplifted against my life al.
ready bright knives We're glancing in the
sunlight, Imade desperate effort to
break from the grasp of the strong hands
that held me. 1t was fruitless; and so
commencing my soul to the mercy OF
Heaven, awaited the final stroke, when
-"The man who strikes blow dies u
came in authoritative tones.
The men who held me loosened their
grasp, and l lcaped to my feet, and
gazed around in search of the owner OF
the voice, which thought | had recog-
nized. Finanly, my rowing glance fell
on his form, l uttered an exclamation OF
surprise, and sprang forward with the
cry:
"Great heaven Monsieur Brctual, do
I see you here Pn on my lips, at the same
moment seizing his hand.
"Not Monsieur Bretual; but John
Murrell he replied with burning cheek.
Then turning to his men he continued ;
--"My men, it is my wish that you leave
us alone. This man is my friend. Pick
up poor Brady and carry him to the
cave, where l myself will soon Join you,
He waived bis hand and the men sui
lenly obeyed, casting hostile glances at
me as they withdrew.