The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1867-01-26

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end of that time l went out one day at th
head of small party to follow up q seen
which Ali had discovered Toward mid .da,
l chanced to be alone, having sent the mel
| away on various crrards. The hoas was In
| tense, and dism ounted from my horse ant
stood for short while under large tree tt
enjoy the shade which looked 50 eulptiug tc
me. had BEEN there scarcely ten minute,
when q rustling in the leaves above caused
me to look up. / saw dark figure leap to
ward me from the tree, and from a handker'
chief, which he held in his hand, | know he
was Thug and bent upon my assassination
He was SO sudden and unexpected In his
movements that he might have succeeded
but for timely iuterposition. He had
| hardly sprung from the tree when | heard
the sharp report of rifle, and the next
Instant the Thug fell crashing at my feet.
looked around in astonishmen: to discover
whence came this timely aid, and saw Ali
running toward me with full speed, with his
discharged rifle in his hand. He asked me
ahxiously as he came up if l was safe, and
sesmsd Eratiied when l assured him that /
was unhurt. He listen ed calmly to my sx.
preston Of thanks, and said he wss glad to
be able 20 show me :har my suspicious OF his
fidelity were entirely unjust.
l could no. help blushing with mor,ifca-
ton a. be spoke, and felt heartily ASHAMED
OF having suspected him at all. i told him
that he should have no occasion to feel hur,
at my conduct assir, SIS he had that day Civ
en- me the best Of proof of his lor;.ltv that
could desice. / could not see hi. face as he
SD, X, %: his eyes were bent Oh the ground
and his head lowered.
4 week passed away after this and the
,.I,b I'll LII Il
danly.deserted US. | could not account for
II. Ny movements were as secret and ener~
geiic rs formerly. and felt satisfied that w
had not yc. damaged the Thugs 10 a suli-
cient extent TO warrant our departure, but
each day recorded new failures for US.
Somehow | could sot help connecting Ali
with want of success, though for the life
of me | could not tell why | should do so,
and id my best 10 ban:sh the suspicion as
both ungenarous and unjust
Toward the close of the wa,k | sent ont
party with better prospect Of success than
had heen youchsafed to us daring the past
seven days, That light. feeling somewhat
worn down by my constant e%.r!Ions, | re-
tired carly without undressing.
could no. have been sleeping very sound
ly, for was awakened by slight rustling
ia nay tent. | endeavored to sprIng up, bat
in an instant | was seized by a powerful
hand, and handkerchief, which j, the ins
.,rHme't used by the Thugs in their work,
WAS twisted around my neck. | managed to
thrus: M left hand between IN. fold of the
handkerchief and nv throat, and TINS pre-
vent the scouadrel from stransling me :,
once. BY powerful effort | succeeded IN
gaining my feet. but the fellow hung on TO
me with almost suprrhuman strength. | Wa.
counted then one OF the most powerful men
in the army, and | was much larger and
heavier than my antagonist, but il WAS 4.I
as much as | cond do 10 keep him from
mastering he. By the dim light Of The
moon which struggled in through the OF en-
ing ef the tent, recognized in nay adversary
my native spy Ali. Like lightning it flashed
across my mind that the whole affair was 2
pot. Ali had been sent 10 via my conf
dcnca AMI throw off guard. The
shooting Of the Thug week la X had been
simply par; OF the plot. | knew that bad
powerful and desperate man to deal with,
and / neryel myself 10 the task before me,
The fellows grip on the handkerchief was
like that OF vice, and It seemed that he
wouId crush my left hand. The strain OF
my throst was terrible, :.n, felt that u.le.s
it was released Yery speedily | would tc at
4 novel and desperate pan presented
itself to me in this emergency, and n once
proceeded 10 rut il into execution.
Bracing myself for a IA ghty effors sank
back SLOWLY, as If being gradually overcome.
and Ali with a triurns shaus glance tIghtened
bis grip ON my throat, and ben, over vn,li
his flashing eve, were est above my face.
With sudden bound | sprau. forward. re-
covering myself and thr wing Ali backward.
At The sane instant | spit. with true aim.
mouthful of tobacco juice straight into
his eyes. Thoroughly astounded and thrown
Of his guard, he relinquishea his hold on
the handkerchief. and with yell OF pain
clapped his hand to his eyes. This was just
a, had expected, and in another instant
pu, him out Of the way Of doing more harm
by sending pistol bullet clear through hi.
Lead.
The mex. nnrnin- the expedition | had
sent out returned, bringing two prisoners
with them. From these | learned that n =
would be assassin uas no other han the no.
terious chief Of the Thugs. Runibeet, who
rad sworn to take nay life IL revenge for
damage mich had inflicted upon his sect.
IN q month more returned TO Calcui's.
having Thoroughly accomplished the work
assigned me-