Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1867-12-21

but the darkness and my headlong
speed we're in my favor, and the bullet
whizzed idly over my head. Shrieking
like mad person, l ran on and on,
tumbling two or three times, and dart
ing through briars and brambles that
tore at my arms and clothes, but never
pausing until l had passed through the
gate at the end of the lawn and had
met my father, when l held up both my
hands with one shrill cry
'Murderp
have but faint recolle,t elton of what
followed. l think my father took me
into the carriage, trying to soothe and
pacify me, while my mothers tears
were dropping over my face. There
was short blank, during which lost
all consciousness of what was passing
around me. The next that | knew, we
were in the parlor at home and besides
Jane, several of the neighbors were
also lowering over me and trying to re-
store my scattered senses.
learned afterwards that Jane had
arrived at the rear of the house, with
the promised assistance, about the time
| had made my escape from the win
dow. Not finding me under the steps,
and being guided by the sounds which
they heard, they had Immediately as
cended the stairs and had thus taken
the robbers entirely unawares, just as
they had fired that parting shot at me,
and so had easily overcome and made
them prisoners.
We were thankful party that night
and but for poor Ellcn's fate, might
have been happy one. The girl was
quite dead, and we buried her the next
day, digging a grave among the rose
bushes, and laying the dog Tray at her
feet
We soon sold the house, and went
away l could never endure to stay
there after that terrible nis ht. AS 1
said to begin with, all this happened
nearly three years ago but even now [
have not quite recovered from the eff
fects of that thrilling experience and
sometimes start shrieking from my
sleep, thinking the robbers are after
me again, for [ often live over. in my
dreams, those dreadful hours. | am to
be married next week, and start at once
for Europe, where, in the excitement
of travel and the constant change of
scene, l sincerely hope that I may yet
be enabled to recall with Indifference
the events of that terrible night.
SPECULATING IN MULLs.-An anus
ing story is told of "Rocky" Thomas,
who enjoys quite notoriety on the
plains, for his genial nature and spark
ling wit; "Rocky' served for seven
years in the - regiment, U. S. A,
with the rank of Sergeant.
While his regiment was stationed in
Texas, several years ago, Sergeant
"Rocky" had charge of a corral. One
morning two mules were found dead,
which fact was promptly reported to the
Colonel, who gave the laconic, "drag
them OUT" which was forthwith done.
1t occurred to "Rocky" that if the
Ia uieo "0i0 uidSSou Oa0h ihtO Cu0 0h-
closure that night, he could remove and
sell two mules, and report "Two mules
dead" as he had done previously. The
mules were accordingly drawn back,
and other mules sold, and the morning
report, 1.-TWO mules Dead" evoked the
same order-"Drag them OUT
The ruse was practiced several sue
cessive nights, until the Colonel's sus-
picions were aroused that something
was wrong, and he determined to keep
watch the following night. About mid
night, he espied from his office window
the enterprisiDg "Rocky" in the act of
dragging the veritable mules into the
corral. He raised the window and
shouted:
Sergeant, you had better get fresh
mules-those are about worn out!'
"Rocky'' quit his mule speculations,
and served brief time in the guard
house.