The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1867-06-21

f heard not q sound. 1t began to &c
T. dark; and as we had not tasted any
| thing since the dawn of day, we par
Y took of some cold mutton and bread
, Not word was spoken; the lengtl
of time we had waited for the attacl
9 had made us both nervous. Ten
J twelve o'clock, passed away, and ye
! they came not Alexander now be
gun to suppose that the bushrangers
had taken some other route, and that
; our station had escaped their notice
About one we went to bed. All was
quiet during The night. Morning
dawned as usual; and rs Alexander
was now confident that the bush
rangers had taken contrary direc.
ton, tho door was opened, and we
sat comfortably down to breakfast
Hardly, however, had we been seated
at the table, when the hut. Keeper,
who WIS outsihr, rushed in, crying.
80 God, there they come!" Alex
ander started TO the door; and sure
enough. he bcheld five men mounted
on horseback, and heavily armed,
riding Up the hill at full speed. lie
had Just time to shut the door and
made all secure, when they came up
There were three of us in the hut:
but the hut.keepcr was unarmcd. /
had Il double .harreled foYling piece,
and Alexander had his rife. The
party halted at the door; and the
voice of one, who appeared to be the
leader, roared:
"Halloo, within there! Who lives
hereH Speak, you---, or we will
send to you damnation in five min
utcs."
We answered not a word. The
whole party dismounted; and having
tied their horses to fence, proceeded
to try the door So well had Alex.
ander secured it, however, that al
though the lock burst in five minutes,
it withstood all further efforts; and,
with dreadful oaths, the rufliars gave
the attempt up in despair.
at you have any wish to live
cried the leader, "You had better
surrender and open the door; for we
are certain to get in, and we will blow
out the brains of every man of you.n
We did not speak. They now ap.
preached the windows; and, having
smashed the glass, began to batter
down the deal boards inside. IL was
with a beating heart that we saw
them give way. The lowermost
board loosencd, and at last fell in
the corner OF the room; and the mo.
ment the board fell in, he discharged
ms piece straight through the opc.
ming. . | reserved my fire to protect
the breach while he reloaded. The
leader roared out:
"Iou -, shall sulTnr severely
Tor that. Set iiro TO tho hue at ,,nov,'
he continued to his cpadiutors; sur.
round IL with arms presented, and
shoot the ---- as they rush out.
All was qaietnow for some minutes,
when the leader again spoke.
~ on are acting very foolish
part, he said, "you are eXasperating
us, and bringing your fate on your
own heads. We only want money
and arms, and you shall have one
more chance for your life. Come
out at once, and we will not harm
you"
Alexander began to perceive that
this was the most prudent step; and
ha answopod Lin. being the first word
which had been spoken on our part,
shat if he you'd promise not to-
harm any OF the party, he would undo
the door,
The promise was given; and Alex
andcr iclt his corner to 20 toward
the door. AS he passed the opening
in The window ball whinHUd past
him, grazing his arm in its progress.
Enraged Mt such llagrant breach OF
laith, Alexander sat down in sUllen
silence, and refused to give any re.
ply to the further questions OF the
bushrangers. A heavy pile Of wood
WAS placed against the door, and cy-
cry preparation made for smoking us
out.
You had better come ont at once
again cried the leader, rs he set about
kindling the fire; "for you will be
burned alive in twenty minutes"
Il am airaid," said Alexander
"YOu did not keep any faith with me
last time, and / will not trust you"
fyou come out now" replied the
bushranger, 81 pass you my word OF
honor that no harm shall approach
you; and you stay there to certain
death"
| 1t was hut too true; our sole chance
was now to surrender We deliver
ed our arms over to the leader
through the opening in the window
and in rushed the whole body, having
!. smashed the barricade to atoms witt
one or two strokes Of their heavy
battering-ram.
CONCLUDED NEXT WEEK.
| Expanding the Eungs.
I, SteD out into the Durest air yo