Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1868-11-10

uoNouout, uOWcFoT SilSuG. TOT my
own part [ stood utterly motionless.
| was calm, but at the same time |
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 in
tense relief, the outlines of the win
dows became dimly defined. Morning
was approaching.
Crouching down in the darkest por-
tion of the room, | waited watchfully,
warily, with my pistols poised and
ready for the sight or the assault of
the unseen ruffian who had effected
an entrance. Those wretches whose
wounds had dressed were asleep
The other two were groaning near
the door. The light increased steadi-
ly. At last | could distinguish every
one in the room. There were three
on the bed, three on the floor, and
two by the door. The other one was
not visible. 1t then seemed to me that
he had concealed himself under the
bed.
You scoundrelw ~ [ cried, II have
my pistol pointed under the bed
Come out at once or | will fire p
"Don't fire /" cried a voice, in fee
bic but imploring tone. "I1l come
out"
[ waited. A man crawled out from
under the bed. One hand was covered
with blood. 1t must have been from
my last pistol shot.
II have any quantity of shots here"
said l. You may as we'll give up
You have no chance"
Don't kill me-" said he.
"H You be quiet said l, an dress
your wounds as l already have done
to the wounds of these other wretch
es. l would have fixed up these last
two, but you wouldn't let me-"
He said nothing. There was an
expression of intense pain on his face.
He was large. stout; broad built
man, at least six feet high, and far
stronger than | was.
Il will dress your wound" said |,
"if you promise to be quiet"
He promised
"lf you make the slightest move
ment," said |, I'll put bullet thru
your head, so you had better be quiet"
went up to him.
"Come," said |, "Ill not trust you.
won't trust you unless | tie your
other hand up"
had IN. pistol, and he had moth
ing but knife. He flung the knife
| down.
go ahead, said he.
The miserable wretch was evident
! lv snfarina "'"f"ll., His wrist had
been shot through. In his pam he
thought of nothing but relief. At
first | intended to tie up his other
hand. but, seeing how he suffered, |
forebore.
He lay down. | put my pistols in
my side pockets, and began to bind
up his hand. 1t was his left hand
that was wounded. Suddenly be
plunged his right hand into my pocket.
| was on the watch; for there was
something in the devils face that made
me distrust him. | seized his hand
before it had grasped my pistol, and
with my other hand | clutched his
throat
He had only one hand to fight with.
| silenced him pretty quickly. His
hand dropped. He begged for his
life.
You scoundrel !" | cried, "you don t
deserve it. ANY how I'll spare your
life. But | won't dress your wound,
and, what's'more, Til bind your hand. -
| did so. He was afraid, and did
not attempt to resist | bound his
unwounded hand so firmly that be
could Got free it, and then leaving him,
went to the others. One of these
was desperately wounded. A bullet
had broken his leg, and there was a
stab in his shoulder. The other was
wounded in the arm. | dressed their
wounds as well as | was able, and
} waited for further developments
There | was with nine prisoners, all
; wounded. Some OF the wretches were
asleep. Those who were awake were
, groaning in their pain.
Nine were captured. 1t was very
: good nights work. | wondered how
} many more there might be. That
: however, it was impossible to fnd
out. None of the men would answer
t They all kept surly silence
"Well, said |, Il don't care how
many of you there may be. I'm ready
for you all. I've got enough shots
here to last me for some days. The
only thing that can reduce me is starv
alton but then, you know, if [ starve
you'll have to starve too. How dc
you like that p
Some hours passed away. No one
came. At last | went to the window
and shouted out:
"There are nine wounded men ur
: here. They all want food and drink
If anybody comes up won't nurt him
Send up the woman"
! Nothing was said for long time
At last there was rap at the door.
"Who's there ?"
"Me,' said a woman's voice.
| opened the door cautiously. If
there's any body else," said |, "I'll
2 fire"
There's nobody else" said the
Uomap Cho aama in carrvipO q ho O