Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-08-11
IRAsBURGH, VERMONT FRIDAY, AUGUST II. 1855.

"Come on !" said an impatient voice
"don't hold prayer meeting over it.
They then tied their horses to fence
that ran at right angles TO the pos
against which / stood, and approached
the entrance still in single file. de.
termined to adhere strictly TO the orders
| had received, and waited the opposite
fire. / knew that my companion would
allow the men to advance little, so that
he nigh, not endanger me; and it was
with a throbbing heart that | saw the
black form of the first bushranger pass
between us.
/ heard him stumble with an oath
over a cartrut. Then line OF fame
cut its abrupt short track on the dark
ness, and the sound had not passed to
echoes before shrill cry followed it, as
the villain staggered on few PAGES and
fell, blowing up the dust. The light ol
the discharge had just died out when
heard another snap, as sportsman
shoots when firing right and left.
knew that the masters gun was now
useless.
"Come on, Nix It's the cove him
self. saw him by the light of the shot
his sings gone now" And one of the
men rushed to where my master stood,
followed by his comrade.
/ had one of them covered but if ]
fred (I heard the noise of struggling) |
might kill my master Thus stood with
the gun at aim, undecided and mad
The voice of one Of the men saying,
damn you knife him y resolved me,
and | fred amongst them. ! saw some
one sink down, but could not tell who
it was, and, as be appeared to let 60 his
hold, and rush to the horses | took a sec
ond buried aim and fired then bound
ed across the entrance, just in time to see
the wounded wretch bending over Mr..
Christmas and trying to strangle him.
In a moment the gun was poised and
smashed to fragments on his skull. But
we had exposed our strength, and the re,
naming bushranger, who believed he bad
stabbed my companion, seized one Of the
guns left standing at the fence, and fired.
The ball was unpleasantly close aud |
had scarce time TO know that | was un-
injured, when Red Jim himself was upon
me with the weapon clubbed. | made o
rapid spring at him before the blow could
fail, and, grap2led with bin. We rolled
on the ground together. With all the
force of my strength / resisted bis efforts
TO grasp me by the throat, but at last his
hideous face sunk close to mine, and his
teeth met beneath my chin. | expert
enced a suffocating giddy feeling, and then
I neaId hurituu voices aIu running feet
just as | felt my grip relaxed too, and
Red Jim rose to his feet, and jumped on
my chest with all his force.
When | came to consciousness, ! found
myself in the cheerful parlor, and the
ladies' hands we're tenderly washing away
he traces of the fight. Mr.. Christmas
had tainted from loss of blood, but was
not dangerously wounded.
Red Jim escaped, but bis two compan>
ons, neither of whom was killed were
given into the safe keeping of the author
ties, and afterwards hanged. Three |
years after the affray, Mr.. Christmas
made me his overseer, and finally his
A long time has passed since
hen, bu: yet a closer relationship exists
us. am writing the tale of
ny experiences at the same table where
IN | saw the Bible on that memorable
hight. There is lady who sits opposite
o me. She was the reader of Ivanhoe,
he daughter of Mr.. Christmas, and she
5 my wife.