Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1868-10-21

A groan came from the bed. Instantly.
as | felt the door thrust open, | fired
five or six shots in swift succession,
Some others were wounded. The shrieks
and curses were fearful. Footsteps a.
gain from some who were rushing down
stairs. There were two men who had
fallen ic through the doorway and lay
groaning on the floor. l dragged them
inside. | closed the door again, as be-
fore, placing the barrieade against it,
and, for additional security, putting
these wounded men against the barri-
cade. 1t was a cruel thing to do; but
wait till you have been attacked, till
your blood is at fever heat, and you
are mad with the excitement and the
pitiless fever of battle-wait, and then
see what you will do.
Scarcely had | done this than heard
a cry from one Of these wounded men.
| started back. There was silence for a
time. Then l heard soft footsteps in my
room. Some one had got in.
This was the discovery that flashed
upon my mind. What was to be done?
| drew myself deeper into the gloom.
Yes. Therewas a amovementin my room
Some one was in it. No doubt in that
last attack one of my assailants had
flung himself in before / had fired. In
shutting the door | had shut him in.
What was he doing now? Where was
he? The groans from one of the woun-
ded men whom [ had last pulled in ex-
cited my attention and my pity.
"Oh, my God,'' he groaned; 'sto
stab wounded man!a
''Stab, thought, "a wounded man.
What words are these? Who stabbed? =?
Was it this mysterious newcomer? Did
he think that he had caught me? Yes;
it must be so. But Why had he stabbed?
Evidently he had no other arm. No; if
he had held pistol in his hands he
would have fred. He had dagger or
a knife and that only. What was l to
do? All was silent in the room. The
newcomer was shut in and dared not
move. / waited in silence. There was
no sound except the groans of the woun-
ded men. No doubt this man had found
out that he had attacked one of his own
comrades in the dark by mistake.
Not single thing could be perceiv-
ed in that intense darkness. The man,
whoever he was, stood motionless, afraid
to move. The groans of the wounded
men arose incessantiy. At last | heard
a movement near the window. | fired
and instantly changed my position to
the other side Of the door so as to be
undiscovered. | had missed him, who
ever he was. There was long silence.
After long time, l heard plung-
ing movement against the place which
I had Just occupied. The man in the
room had evidently made desperate
rush at that place from which l had fir
ed my pistol. Instantly I fred again
A low moan arose. | heard a rustline
movement. Had | struck him, or had |
not? I thought that perhaps 1 had
struck him and he had smothered his
cry of pain and crawled away.
After this felt more security, though
I still kept up my watch. No more at
tacks were made. The result of the last
assault had, no doubt, dishearted these
desperate wretchos. There was silence in
the room. Ny most watchful attention
failed to detect any movement, howev-
er slight. For my own part, | stood ut
terly motionless. | was calm, but at the
same time l feared by any movement
to give any indication whatever of the
place where | was standing.
The night gradually passed away.
How long that night seemed to me [
need scarcely say. At length, to my
intense relief, the outlines of the win
dows became dimly defined. Morning
was approaching.
Crouching down in the darkest por-
ton of the room, | waited, watchfully
and warily, with my pistols poised and
ready for the sight or the assault of the
unseen ruffian who had effected an en-
trance. Those wretches whose wounds
| had dressed were asleep. The other
two were still groaning near the door.
The Light increased steadily. AT last I
could distinguish every one in the room.
There were three on the bed, three on
the floor, and two by the door. The 9TH
er one was not visible. 1t then seemed
to me that he had concealed himself