The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1864-12-17

u 'ho tNu NlluluS III WHOSE company | was
shut up, and probaly they would hesitate
at no crime TO obtain possession of the valu-
able jewels | so incautiously carried about
my person. Both were strong mon, proba.
bly, armed too; and though | braced my
nerves and set my teeth for struggle, l
had little hope Of a successful resistance.
none Of rescue. The train was racing
fast through the black stiffness of moon
less night. There was to be no stoppage
short ofC--, and hours must elapse
before that station was reached,
AT the moment when my thoughts had
travelled thus far, II ade some slight move
mcnt; the Russian looked up, and our eyes
met, and the villain saw that his byc-play
had been Observed and instantly threw off
the mask, Grinding out an oath between
his teeth, he rose from his scat. rose,
TOO, and as the Russian noticed the action
he sprang like n tiger at my threat, grap-
ping with me so closely that the blow
dealt him took bat partial effect. Linked
together, We wrestled furiously for few
seconds, rising and falling; but was the
younger and more agile Of the two, and had
nearly overpowcred my enemy, when his
confederate eamG 10 his aid and dealt me
succession Of crushing blows upon the
head with some heavy weapon, beneath
which fell stunned and helpless, with my
face covered with blood and my strength
and senses left nc. When came to myself
again the ruflians w.rc rihing my pockets
as lay on the loor of the carriage. The
Russian had opened one of the morocco ca.
scs that held the ornaments, and he was ex-
amining the gems by the light of yhe lamp
overhead. The other villain wa. searching
Tor fresh pluuder He was livid with agita-
ton, noticed, and his face was blotched
with crimson and damp with heat drops,
while his hands trembleJ very much. lie
it was who first spoke, in husky whisper,
"What shall we do with him %
ala belle afdire! Toss him out! The
fall won't hurt him!" sneered tho Rus
sian.
1t was plain that they believed me TO be
lead. lay still, resolved that no cry, no
.witching of an eyelid, should betray that
life was still not cxtinct. Too well ] knew
hat mercy washopelcss, and that my chance
you'd be far better if flung out, at the risk
# being mangled and crushed beneath tho |
Vhirling iron wheels, than if romnined in |
slIq pcasts IN human gulse reauy 10 HnIsn
heir work at the first sign that yet lived
he Russian leaned out of the window and |
aut;ously opened the door. felt the chill !
f the fresh night wind upon my check as l
ion 10 my help to repress sludder as the |
1urdcrers stopped and lifted me up, one ta'
ing me by the head and the other by the
eet, as butchers carry a slaughtered calf.
he EDglishman breathed hard and trembled |
as he dragged me towards the
oorway.
81 don't half like the Job, ,"Lo growled
ut.
The Russian gave a scornful laugh.
"Pitch the carrion out, blanc bee that
ou are! One, two, three, and over with
!im."
I remember one agonizod moment Of
usponso as | was violently thrust for,
'ard; one hurried, ironzied prayer that
ose from my heart to my lips, but was
rOwncd by the roar and rush Of the
ong train of massive carriages as they
ore along the iron way. Twas launched
ut, and felt myself falling, and then l
ropped with a crash, and my brain
eeled and sensation seemed again to
csert me,
On coming gradually to myselfmy first
ague perception was that | formed
art of some vast moving body speeding
Witty along, swinging and swaying, but
ushing fast through the cool night air.
hen, as memory returned, | began to
ealizo my position. In falling, when
he assassins had thrown me out of the
arriage where the robbery had taken
lace, l had dropped upon the wooden
lank that runs like an elongated step
Glow the carriages, and my hand had
losed mechanically, in clutch like that
f drowning man, on some projecting
ortion Of the iron work above, which
rosently conjectured' to be the drop of
ne of Theron steps by which passengers
scend. And there l clung instiLc Lctively,
Ike limpet to'a rock, while the swes-
ing, swinging train few madly on
trough the black night. 1t was a posi-
ion Of fearful peril. True, 1 had es.
apcd immediate death; but to all appear
nee my fate was only deferred. The
rain was not to halt till it reached c..
despaired of being able to hold on till
hen; for already my cramped sinows
ecmod to be stiffening, and my attitude
Gas a painful and uneasy one. And by
light there was no hope that my danger
Tould be observed and an alarm given,
S l was hurled, helpless and despairiDg
hrough the darkness. The wounds 1,