Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1868-09-01


time to reflect, knew [ could not be
mistaken.
About this time began to think
somewhat seriously. From what |
had heard and seen, I soon made up
my mind that the individual behind
me 1ot only meant to rob me of the
mail, but he was prepared to rob me
of my life. If | resisted him he wo'd
shoot me, and perhaps he meant to
perform that delectable operation at
any rate. While | was pondering
the horses plunged into another deep
snow drift, and was again forced to
get out and tread down the snow be-
fore them. I asked my passenger if
be would help me, but he didn't feel
very well, and wouldn't try; so |
worked alone, and was all of a quar-
ter of an hour getting my team all
through the drifts. When got into
the sleigh again, l began to feel for
my mailbag with my feet, found
it where | had left it; but when | at
tempted to withdraw my foot, I dis
covered it had become entangled in
something's thought it was the buf-
falO, and | tried to kick it clear; but
the more | kicked the more closely
was it held. | reached down nv
hand, and after feeling about a few
minutes, found that my foot was in
the mailbag | felt again, and found
my hand in among the packages of
letters and papers | ran my fingers
over the edges of the opening, and be-
came assured that the stout leather
had b9en cut with a knife
Here was a discovery. | began to
wish | had taken a little more fore
thought before leaving Danbury; but
as | knew that making such wishes
was only waste of time, I quickly
gave it up, and began to consider
what | had best to do under the ex-
isting circumstances. wasn't long in
making up my mind upon a few essen
tial points. First, the man behind
me was a villain; second. he had cut
open the mailbag, and robbed il of
some valuable matter He mnst have
known the money letters by their
size and shape; third, he meant to
leave the stage on the first oppOrtuni-
ty; and fourthly. he was prepared to
shoot me if [ attempted to arrest or
detain him.
resolved these things over in my
mind, and pretty soon | thought of
course to pursue. l knew If | would
get my hands safely upon the rascal,
| must take him wholly unawares,
and this | could not do while he was
behind me; for his eyes were upon
stratagem. Only little distance
ahead was a house, and an old farmer
named Longee lived there, and di-
rectly before it a huge snow-bank
stretched across the road through
which a track for wagons had been
cleared with shovels.
As we approached the cot. saw a
/ light in the front room as | felt conf
dent | should, for the old man gener-
ally sat up until the stage went by.
| drove on, and when nearly opposite
the dwelling, stood up as had tre-
quentIy done when approaching diff
cult places. | saw the snow-bank
ahead. and could distinguish the deep
cut which had been shoveled through
it. | urged my horses to a good
speed, and when near the bank forced
them into it
One of the runners mounted the
edge of the bank, after which the 9th
er run into the cut, thus throwing the
sleigh over about as quick as though
lightning had struck it. My passen-
ger had not calculated Oh any such
movement, and wasn't prepared for it /;
but | had calculated, and was prepar
ed. He rolled out into the deep snow,
with a heavy buffalo robe about him,
while lighted upon my feet directly
on top of him. | punched his head
into the snow, and sang out for old
Longee. | did not have to call a sec
ond time, for the farmer had come to
the window to see me pass, and as
soon as he saw my sleigh overturned,
he had lighted his lantern and hur-
ried out.
What's to pay?" asked the old
man as he came up.
Lead the horses into the track
and then come here" said l.
AS spoke partially loosened my
hold upon the villains throat, and he
drew a pistol from his bosom; but
saw it in season and jumped his head
into the snow again, and got the weap
on away from him. By this time Lon
gee had led the horses out and came
back, and | explained the matter tC
him in as few words as possible. We
hauled the rascal out into the road
and, upon examination, we founC
about twenty packages Of letters
which be had stolen from the mail
bag, and slowed away in his pockets
He swore, and threatened and pray
; ed; but we paid no attention to hi
blarney. Longee got some stou
cortland when we had securely bounC
= the villain, we tumbled him into tn
pung. i asked the old man if he wo',
accompany me to Littleton, and h
J, said "of course" So he got his ovel
coat and mufler, and ere long W
= started on.
| reached the end Of my route wit
my mail all safe, though not as snu
as it might have been, and the mai
bag little the worse of the gam
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