The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1867-04-27

AT length, emboldened by my attitude of de-
| renee, nc attempted to break my guard and head
at the same time by q downward blow nearly
corresponding to the seventh cut of the bread
| sword exercise. 1t is no joke to parry q blow of
this kind struck by such wrist as Pete had for
slight detection will disable your knuckles, and
| II you are not up to the dodge, your own stick
Will be driven down upon your head, which will
probably end the fight That blow, however,
sealed Pete's fate. l received it on my stick
held over my head and sloping sharply Just clear
of my left shoulder, in fact slightly touching it.
lie tried to check his blow, but had put his
heart too much in it; his shillalah glanced harm
lassly past my shoulder, while, with quick
| turn OF the wrist and forearm, l laid the whole
weight of my blow fairly on the top of his head,
| and Pete McGee measured his length on the
ground, while an involuntary 'hurrah" rose
from the balance of the workmen, who had for
got, IN their enthusiasm for the science, that
| their own champion was defeated.
Pete worked like Trojan after that, and even
grew more popular with the hands, except when
they were in liquer. 1t is great thing among
such fellows to know that in muscle and grit
boss IL not inferior to the best of them. Two
weeks passed after my battle royal with Pete and
saturday night came. The men were paid off,
ana the usi@.ii consumption of the "crature' be-
gan l examined my revolver, all six barrels
were properly capped and the points of the six
bullets showed as revolved the cylinder, stand
| ing where could catch the last light from tha
west. squad of hands strolled by as l srood
| at the window. l returned their good evening"
| and heard the word revolver" Pissed among
| them as they went on, showing mat they noted
my employment. laid my pistol on the centre
| table and leaned against the window sill watch
ing the light facing in the west, smoking my
pipe' ana Scarcely noticing the entrance of wo-
man VINO did my housekeeping tor me, she went
IN and out as usual 'reddin-up' the room for the
| night and finally babe me good night, and took
her departure / presently made all fast and
seated myself for quiet evening with my books
and pipe. By-and-by l began to hear the lnirth
at Pete's shanty, away at the other end of the
street, waxing fast and furious Iheard the noise
until nearly ten o'clock, when l turned in and
was soon asleap.
"The next sound heard was a stunning blow
on my door, and confused murmer of voices out
| side. To sieze my revolver and Jump into my
| trOwsers was the work of an instant and on the
repetition of the blow, called out, Stand clear
outside! I'm going to fire through the door,
The second blow had nearly dashed in the frail
pine boards, and as 1 spoke, the third shattered
the door, and l could see by the dim star-lighta
dozen heads and sticks pressing through the
| doorway. Aiming at the leader, 1 pulled trig-
| ger, and heard the click of the hamme, on the
capless cone. Quick as thought, / tried two
| more barrels, hurled the useless revolver at the
nearest head, and Selling chair smashed it to
pieces. Then came sharp crack or two over my
| own head, and the stars faded away, the dim
| room vanished in greater darkness, and [ was
senseless How long l remained unconscious l
cannot tell but it could not have been long, for
my face l Could hear the retreating steps and
| drunken laughter of party of men whom con-
cjuded were my late assailants. Gradually my
| senses grew clearer l found first, that / was
! bound hand and foot. Presently opened nv
eyes. lay on my right side, my head resting
on cold, haad substance Then distinguished
| the rush of waters afar off, against the piers of
| the bridge. AS my eyes became steadier,
saw that the cold substance on which my check
rested was railroad track. Il could see few
yards OF it, with its companion rail on which nv
feet rested. Beyond and around was the dark
prairie, and quarter of mile away twinkled
solitary light in of the cabins. All this re-
allied as my stunned faculties returned, when
suddenly the frightful question flashed upon my
mind: Has the night express passed. In an
! instant every sense was acutely awake. ! was
lying bound to cross-tie my head slightly
raised, rested on rail. l was not very near the
head of the bridge, but far enough up the grade
| to look out over the prairie.
Evidently Pete had planned vengence ter
riblc indeed. Yet how did know but that the
train had passed. ! twisted my neck till the
cords cracked, and made out to see the all right
| signal twinkling at the bridge / shouted and
yelled for help, but the more earnest became
the more every one within hearing would think
my shouts only the maudlin cries of some drunk
en- freshman. The signal man Mt the bridge
| could not leave his station for any ordinary
cause, and certainly the cries Of drunken man
Of Saturday night was not extraordinary. All
| this passed through my mind as I shouted, un-
| til my strength was gone. Then 1 lay and ST.
lently thought. My servant must have removed
the caps from my pistol. Why should she2 p
What cause for such treason had given her ?
Why had located the cabins SO far from the
track! Think as would the stern fact of my
situation remained and could only hope that one
| o'clock and the train too, had passed.
But now low down, on the very edge of the
horizon, my eye caught faint red CLEAN. Too
| often had watched the trains to doubt for a mo-
moment l knew the very spot at which that
| dreaded light would appear. So then twenty
minutes at the very longest, provided no accid-
dent, was the lifetime remaining for me. Istrain-
ed every fiber to break my bonds or twist my
head from the track, but the rope was too strong,
and couple of stakes driven, one on each side
of my neck, clear of the track, forbade any mo-
ton except a slight laternal one. In the inten.
sity of my muscular strain had shut both eyes.
AS Iopened them 1 saw before me, nearer, brigh.
ter, stcadier the shining reflection of the advan-
cling train Again shouted, again strained, but
to no purpose. Then l lay and watched the
light. as had often done in happier times, un-
til it seemed that my brain must give way.
closed my eyes and tried to pray, but that fear
full light shone through my eyelids and banish-
cd every other thought. And now faint,yet ter
lrh lttnnt hln h,.. II =.