The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-09-19

ned with knife and pistol then, all the
Others descending, the trap-door was
closed. and left TO its two occupants,
to silence, and-the event. The reader
can imagine the situation better than
can portray it, and will readily agree that
MANY a man whose courage would have
carry him undismayed and even cheer
fully to storm masked battery in open
day, might be pardoned for treInors OF
unknown terror amid the silence and
conscious presence of an unknown toe,
whose stealthy approach might be hrst
announced by the fatal thrust or bull
let through the brain.
For time that seemed terribly long
to poor r., not sound was heard in the
chamber of ordeal. Every nerve in his
body grew tense with excitement, and
an underlined fear caused every hair on
his head to commence assuming per-
pendicularity. Too engrossed with the
strange terror of his situation to act, his
busy thoughts were engaged in imag-
lining what his opponent would prob
ably do to obtain the advantage ofhim,
until he became almost frantic. At
length slight creak ofthe foor-boards
flashed conviction that the enemy was
upon him, whether by intention or in
voluntarily he could never tell as he
afterwards recalled those terrible mo-
ments,) the pistol he was holding with
finger on trigger exploded, and Instant
" that of his antagonist, (whose expe-
rience had taught him to wait until he
could fire by the flash ofhis foe) fol-.
lowed, the ball from which shattered
Us left arm. Another ominons silence
succeeded, during which T., agonized,
faint and bleeding, gradually sank down
beside the wall against which he had
been leaning, and holding his knife be-
fore him, awaited the denouement which
for him presented no hope.
Pain and the loss of blood, however,
soon compelled him to lie down, and he
felt his consciousness fast forsaking him.
He could take no accurate note of time,
but it seemed awfully long, and he was
about going into obliviousness, when
he again heard the boards creaking be-
meath stealthy step advancing toward
him. Anon he perceived the hot breath
of his foe upon his face. Summoning all
his remaining strength he made the final
lunge of desperation upward with his
knife, and swooned away. A fall, fol-
lowed by absolute stiffness, informed
the expectants below that the finale
had been reached, and mounting to the
aloft again with lights they found the
huge body of''the major" knife in hand,
lying across that of young T., whose
weapon,still grasped, was buried in the
heart of his antagonist. Both appear
ed dead " the major" really was SO,
while T. was carried below. His re-
turn to consciousness revealed a group
of men who, acting under the direc-
ton of and aided by gentleman whom
he had not seen before, were binding
up his broken arm and administering
restoratives. The latter arrived dur.
ing the transactions in the loft, and had
waited to know the result. As soon as
T. was measurably retored, he had him
placed in his carriage at the door and
carried him tenderly to his house some
four miles away. Then sending for his
family physician in all haste he babe
his patient give himself no anxiety, as
surfing him that he was among friends
and that he would exercise paternal
care over him and explain all on T.'s
complete recovery.
Under the kind treatment he received
convalescence was rapid, and when at
length he began to speak ofleaving and
of emunerating his generous host, he
was interrupted thus +" Don't mention
it, my young friend by your fortunate
destruction of that man you have rem
dered myself, in common with the PEG
pie of this entire section, service that
cannot be estimated by money. HI
has been for three years the terror O
these parts. He dropped down here
from heaven knows where bought
plantation with quite a number of ser
wants, in whose treatment he was per
feet barbarian, mutilating and ever
numbering at will. Lawless, reckless
fearing neither God nor man, he ha
ridden over the adjoining plantation
hunting with his pack of dogs, regard
less of the rights of his neighbors, ant
when demonstrated with, answered witt
curses, threats, and the exhibition O
deadly weapons. We were all afraid Q
him, but knew not how to get rid @
him, till your perilous encounter re
lieved us of the curse and imposed upo
us lasting obligations. And now, sill
my house shall be your home as long a
you may choose to stay or, if 70
still desire to teach hereabouts, I vii
do my best to aid you in that behalf
Meanwhile be in no haste, but us
freely whatever l have as though 70
were master here" But T. conclude
that he had had enough of Of Souther
experience, and was resolved to try hi
fortune further northward. On annount
ing this to his host, he, with many +,
grets that he had SO decided, took hi1
In his own carriage to Charleston, PAL
his fare by steamer to New York, an
when he babe him goodbye, gave hir
a 500 bill, saying, Should you eve
Venture South again, remember m
promise is lifelong one of welcome t
yon or any of your friends" Durin
the days Of success that eventual
crowned TBS efforts to aid himself els,
where, the incident of the " dark room
occasionally required to mind as hit
eous dream, the happy awakening frol
which was as grateful as his after yea,
OF prosperity.