Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1867-10-19

over him, Harry? Could you get to
that without being seen p
! Easily, but what good could I do
there 2
Leave that to me, old fellow his
flank will be turned at all events, and
you will have him under your gun.
Don't fire till you see ME down; then
use your own discretion
With some reluctance [ consented to
90 round. Taking off my shoes: l crept
cautiously down and peered over. |
had scarcely done SO when Frank step
ped out again with his watch in his
hand. He spoke low, but every word
fell on my ear distinctly.
4 shall give you five minutes, Ryan,
and if you don't throw down your arms
then and come out, expect no mercy,
for you will get none; III shoot you as
| would mad dog
Then say your prayers in the mean
time, said the ruaian, jeeringly; you'll
want them if you lift that gun to your
shoulder
That five minutes which ensued were
the longest | ever spent in my life. 1t
was glorious summer evening. The
sun was going down, throwing flood
of light on the ocean far below, and the
white wings of the sea gulls as they
fitted in and out from their nests in
the cliff. The rabbits were at play on
the slopes, and colony of coughs were
wheeling and screaming over my head
But for the crouching and blood stained
figure beneath, all would have looked
peaceful and happy. tried to keep
counting the seconds by the beating of
ny own heart which was plainly audible !;
but every trihing incident was sufficient
to attract my attention.
Two minutes had passed away. [
looked down at the murderer. 1t was
evident that the words were beginning
to tell He moved uneasily from side
to side like a wolf in a trap.
Several times he examined the lock
of his pistol, and tried to find place in
the rock which would afford more shell
ter. Once [ thong 1T he was going to
speak, but the words seemed to choak
him. Then having arranged his weapon
apparently to his satisfaction, he lay
sullenly abiding his time.
Would the FIVE minutes never pass
Frank stood directly in front, watch in
fbo !, To
had lit cigar, and was lounging lazily
back against the cliff. Careless as he
appeared, | knew him too we'll to doubt
that he would hesitate for moment in
doing or firing as he had promised. At
the time he was giving his antagonist
fearful odds. Then only I began to re-
alize the part I had to play. 1t was un-
fortunately too plain. The man must
be disabled before he commits another
murder That only could be done by
shooting him down. In fair fight |
would not, [ think, have hesitated but
my blood ran cold at the idea now. Yet
what was L to do? There was no other
way to save my friends life, and, God
help me, it must be done.
l nerved myself up to fire at all risk,
the instant [ saw the murderer putting
his finger on the trigger of his pistol,
and had just brought my gun to bear
when Franks voice rang out loud and
clear
Your time has come-look up.'
INCIDENTALLY he did so, and l caught
his eye a spasm Of moral fear spread
over his features. He made an effort
to raise his pistol, bnt wire cartridge
from Franks gun on the cliff passed
within an inch of his head. The weap-
on fell from his hand in three bounds
my friend had him in his clutch, drag
ged him over the rock, and the struggle
began
1t was short, but from the nature of
the ground, fearful one. A careless
step would have sent the two over the
precipice to the shelf below, and from
there a hundred feet into the Atlantic
ocean Both were strong, powerful
men; in weight the murderer was great
| ly superior, but in science aud activity
there were few able to cope with Frank
The murderer struggled hard for an
inside place, and succeeded in getting a
kind of cleft in the rock, which gave a
slight advantage. 1t was only momen-
tary; Frank tore him from it with a
pull that brought some of the loose
stones crashing down, and with a shock
they went reeling and staggering to the
very edge of the cliff.
| could stand it 10 longer; there was
long check cord which | had brought
for my dogs, in my pocket fastening
it to bush, l lowered myself down.
As | touched the ground he succeeded
in drawing a knife Frank parted the
thrust, and disengaging his left hand,
struck him heavily twice. The two of
US proved too much for him, and he
/ surrendered at discretion.
| A SWEET OLD S0LITUDE.-Boys
ought not to be permitted to travel in
the season. They are too sharp. The
American boy is dangerous weapon,
with edge to him and no handle to get
hold of him by. At the Fort William
Henry House saw lover and lady
tormented with the company Of the
lady's younger brother: g It's sweet
lake." sighed the lady. 81 wish |
might have an island in it, and soli-
tude." "Without me? ?" said the lover
plaintively. ''You are solitude to me y
she said; "you put the rest of the
world far off from US ~ eyes n' said
the boy, "he's sweet old solitude, he
| is He's a solitude with n bar-room in