Nebraska advertiser., 1865-01-26

: and lifting his heavy piece IN the air
struck down the heroic wife. She fel
senseless aud bleeding TO the earth. Th,
. refugee gazed upon her for moment
and then, with a curse, called his men t,
follow him in pursuit of the flying bus
band.
An hour afterward the husband re-
turned, having baffied his pursners. Ian
guage cannot describe his emotions on
perceiving the condition of bis wife. A
neighbor CHANGING to pass, sPprensly some
ten minutes after Black Davy had depart
ed, found her senseless on the ground.
She was now scarcely revived, and could
with difficulty speak. Yet she sIrove to
smile, and family extended her hand 10
her husband, calling him by thUss fond
tones which only wife MAY use.
by all that is holy ~ exclaimed the
agonized man, as he rushed from her
bedside. Il will avenge this on that rem
egade, or die in the attempt! But Ellen
must not know of it. | will wait until
she is asleep. and then depart on my
erraLd. God will favor the right ~
The stars were faint and few that
night, as the bold farmer, extorting from
the kind neighbor a promise OF secrecy,
stole out into the air, armed with his
lrusry piece, aud, after looking for mo-
ment At the sky above. struck boldly &C
cross the forest ia less than an hour
he had visited two farmhOuses, and Oh
,aiued three neighbors to and him In his
design. Striking right into the hear!
Of the forest, they pushed on for several
hours, apparently without fatigue, and
almost IN silence. AT length he came 10
hail.;
Their haunt is somewhere. here, !
have learned" SAID the husband. Il
heard it by chance from one of their
gang. who misIOok me for Bill RichingS,
who you know was supposed TO have no
objections to their ways. should. not
BE- surprised if the knowledge of my
possessing this information has led to
Ihe attack lo-nigbt-"
.Hark :" said one Of the band ''Do
you not hear the tread of footsteps in the
wood 60
''It Is! it is ~
I'VE have found them! Lie close,
now, and wait till they come up"
The group instantly lapsed lnto silence,
and each OF them taking up a position
behind large tree. or some ia lien trunk
waEed breathleSsly for the approach of
The comers. whose tread might now be
heard increasing in distihctness every
moment. Directly afterwards voices
were recognized, conversing in a care
less tone then a loud laugh rang in the
night air, and afler a momentary silence,
one of the approaching gang burst into
song.
Now is our time" whispered the
husband to one of his companions
take the righl-hand man and leave the
leader to me. Ready-fre ~
The report of the rifles echoed sharp
ly through the woods, aud three of the
refugees, IeapIng into the air, fell dead
upon the ground. The husbands gun
flashed IN the pan, hul did not 60 of
The captain of the ruffians was unhurt.-
SprIngipg back a few steps from The
cover, where his assaiianls lay conceal
ed, he shouted
We are betrayed! We mpst run
fer 1t, my bOysT''
Aud before the eDraged pursuers
could we'll understand hls intention
he had turned and fed, followed by
those of his band who still remained be
hind II was. however. nn time for hes
lalion. The bafflet husband was the
first To dash from. his covert and, wIthenI
PausiIg E to see whether the fallen men
were really dead. he Numbered r.
Forward! forward pursue them to
he drs.h ~
As he spoke be dashed off in pursuit.
His companions hesna'ed moment, ard
'hrn followed hIs example. Three of
The refugees had escaped, but there were
four in pursuit. Fear seemed, however,
10 have seized upon them, else why
should they have retreated before force
so lIule exceeding their own! Il Is
probable that they imagined far greater
number of The enraged inhabitants were
on their track. for they could scarcely.
suppose that four men would have the
bardihood TO penetrate 10 their fastiness
when their full number was known TO
equal a dozen. However. whatever was
their motive. hey continued their fight,
their pursuers The while pressing hOiy
in their rear.
Ii was towards morning when TWO in
dIFiduals emerged upon The eets- or az
abrubt hlli, miles from the faslness of
the refugees. One Of them was Black
n