Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1868-06-12

nau ABOUT me-suuueniy stepped back a
few PAGES, and without any design de-
manded who was there, if it was any
thing human.
AT that moment vivid fash of light
ming illuminated the surrounding dark
ness, and for an instant rendered every
thing visible. was no longer in doubt
A few steps before me two ferocious and
bloodthirsty looking men were standing.
Plainly enough they were both cut
throats and thieves, or, if not, their
brutal appearance belied them most won-
derfully. Two more diabolical looking
wietches it had never been my ill-luck TO
encounter. That they meant me no
good, / had not an earthly reason to
doubt; and, situated as ! was, the pros
pect was anything but pleasant.
Both the desperadoes held pistol In
their hands and the weapons were leveled
at my heart.
All this saw at quick glance, and
then again the deepest darkness enveloped
everything.
What should l do? / thought. At
tempt to reach my horse and trust to
Providence for my final rescue? To my
mind that seemed my only chance, for,
in an encounter with two such brawny
williams, my prospect would be very slim.
Whatever course | adopted must be
quick, or the next flash of lightning
would betray my purpose.
Quietly l stopped down to the ground
and prepared to crawl away in the direc-
ton of my horse. What the two cut
throats were doing, could not tell, for
the din of the tempest prevented me from
hearing any customary sounds. Their
ears, however, were sharper than mine,
for the very first movement ! made a
loud, coarse voice exclaimed:
""Taint no use, stranger, for yer can't
get away from h'ar till ye've paid toll.
We steal for livin', we do, an kill for
the fun O the thing, so yer may know
what yer got to expect. Keep still is
my advice, or afore yer know it, yer'll
get bullet inter yer carcass"
For moment hesitated. and in that
moment another flash of lightning lit up
the surrounding scene.
j There stood the two outlaws, with their
fendish looking eyes glarips on me.
The fash of lightning also revealed
, my own position to them, and at the sight
they set up broad and brutal laugh.
"Must think we are a couple of min
nies, Jako!" remarked one to the other.
"The cuss don't know we're sorter
owls, an kin see better in the dark nor
in the light" responded number two.
"Fancies he'll scape us, hi guess :"
continued the first speaker. "Wa'al, if
he does, he'll be the fust man ever did
that sort o thing"
"When he gets away, hi 'ope he'll let
us know it" replied the other confident
ly.
That had unfortunately fallen into
the hands of two of the worst sort of
outlaws, everything more and more be-
tokened. l knew well that with such
the life of a human being was of no more
account than the life of dog, and in
wardly resolved to part with it, if part
with it must, in an attempt to escape,
however desperate the adventure might
be under such circumstances.
1t was now about time for another flash
of lightning, and, Strengthening myself
up to avoid suspicion, waited for it to
pass.
The next moment it came with almost
binding brilliancy.
The outlaws had not removed step,
but remained as at first, closely regard
ing the spot where was standing.
"Come, stranger" yelled the same
one who had addressed me before, "it's
| about time we had better understand.
in all roun. Yer see we don't like to
fool long an we've been playin' with you
till we're about tired, we are. Yer mon
2 ey or yer life's what we want, and if yel
don't like that we'll take both without
E askin." Whatd'yer say, stranger-what
shall it be? Eff yer for fight, sing out
: an / guess we kin commerdate yer
Fightin's our helement, and we're always
ready for scrimmage. Now eff you
I don't do sumthin at wunst, we'll fire
around inter yer, we will, sartinl"
During the time occupied by the out
q law in speaking, | had been preparing
g myself for my attempt. Summoning al
my courage, all my energy, all my de
4 termination, assumed an attitude mos
e favorable to my purpose, and BOUNDED
!. forward at desperate speed, in hopes o
+ effecting my escape.
" The outlaws uttered loud yell, an'
+ then let me know that they understoo'
-. .,J xraro fo1lou-,I.r ~, M