Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-05-18

tain side, without going down into the
valley at all, could gals . position di-
rectly over it, at the hight Of perhaps q
hundred feet; and though up to this mo-
ment had not thought Of changing my
course, ] now found myself instinctively,
as It were, moving of in that direction.
A moments reflection on the mysterious
warning / had received convinced me
this was the best thing / could do; for if
there was danger, 1t was most likely
from robbers, who were, probably, lying
in wait for me on my regular well known
reute-and as the night was warm, 1t
could do me no harm to pass 1t in the
open air.
So j went on, slowly and cautiously,
till l reached point directly over the
cave, which | now found was as far as
could 20 in that direction, owing to the
rock terminating in a precipice o few
feet beyond. Seine bushes which had
struggled up frem the little earth between
the crevices afforded me a place OF con-
cealment; and crawling into these, | dis
burdened myself Of my pack, spread out
my blanket, and proceeded without at.
tempting to light FIRE, to eat the food
/ had provided for my supper By the
time had finished my frugal repast the
sun had set, and the dark shades Of night
were coming on rapidly.
Perhaps am foolish in taking this
precaution against some fanciful danger,
/ mentally said; ''but no matter; ! would
rather be foolish in this way than fool
hardy" ~ "a
Scarcely had these thoughts passed
through my mind than fanciod | heard
voices speaking in low. guarded tones.
The sounds seemsd to como up from be-
low, and it may readily be credited that
| / listened most intently, straining my
senses OF hearing to the utnost, to catch
the words, if words indeed they were, for,
after all, it might be the breeze playing
anosg the rocks and trees.
For perhaps FIVE minutes I continued
to hear these sounds, but was all the
time unable to make out for q certainty
what they wers, and thsh they ceased,
and for another FIVE minutes all was 81
lent. 1t had now become so dark that
nsthing could be distinctly seen at any
distance; and though / crept cautiously
to the edge Of the rocks and tried to peer
down, it was like attempting to look into
some black gulf. My situation, under
the circumstances, was lonely enough;
but experienced secret satisfaction In
being where l was, and not down in the
cave, where rather felt than thought
some one or more persons were lying in
wait for me. I.i.flt4i.S /.
At length that same low murmer, as of
voices, was again heard, and again 1
listened, with my whole sense Of hearing
on the stretch. | soon became satisfied
that words were being spoken; but then
came the thought that it might be the
mysterious voices had heard at intervals
oil my life. This time, however, / was
not long kept in doubt, for presently
could distinguish the words, as if the
speakers in the cave had como out into
the open air. s.o5eg 400 ~, -
ut is strange he does not mako his
appearance" said one. llt.au !.
II do not know how to account for it, ["
said another.
"Are you perfectly sure that you saw
him at all 2" inquired q third. f
Am | sure am here now y was the
reioinder Have / not eyes and can
| not see with themi / tell you he was
within mile of here, coming along that
narrow dangerous path, with his pack
strapped to his back. Here we know is
where he usually passes the night in this
region, and why he is not here is more
than can conjecture. f"
"If he had gone past, we should have
heard from the others before this" re-
marked the first speaker. ,...-..-
Undoubtedly" was the reply.
mo, he must be somewhere on the
mountain-unless he has fallen over the
precipice and broken his neck-in which
case we shall find all We want of him in
the morning, and be saved the trouble Of
bloodlettinE, . 81
could he have got near enough to
have heard our voices, inquired another.
"No, for Ricardo is so posted that he
would have seen or heard him first "
"Well, then he may be here yet.
Hark hush there are steps coming this
way low = said the speaker in a whis-
per, which / could just barely hear, the
night being still, and my position
directly over the parties "Now, then, be
ready, and make quick work Of i'll "
After this the robbers were as silent as
death, and with feelings that must be
left to the Imagination, listened to the
approaching footsteps, which l knew
we're mistaken for mine. 1t vas with q
shudder, and a strange kind OF dread,
that / heard steps slowly and steadily
approaching, and now and then q slight
rustic of the bushes, and the occasional
looseniAg and rolling Of stone. felt
A L.
onward to his doom, and | would have
called out to him TO beware if had
known l could have saved him with
anything short of the penalty Of my own
life.
For the few seconds of awful suspense
which elapsed, trembled so that was
fearful of being heard, and the perspira-
ton started out Of every pore.
Suddenly there came wild, prolonged
shrek. and the thrilling words:
"Oh, heaveas / am stabbed am
killed / am killed Hi i. li.
Gracious heavenI" cried another,
"what have we done that is Riesrdos
voice A light here, quick light
A dark lantern vas in readiness, and
the next moment bright light flashed
upon the dark figure Of q human being
stretched out upon the ground, in the
last struggles Of death
r. A scene reconsideration and confusion
followed, when the murderous robbers
found they had slain their own look out,
or sentinel, in mistake for me. Some
blamed the man who struck the fatal
blow, and some the ill-fated man himself,
for approaching ia the way be did, with
out propet warning. Il was finally de-
cided that the man had been killed BY =