The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1868-03-06

neighbor, and the night o'ertoolx rs
talking o. old times.n
Why did you not stop at your friends
all night, then 1t would have been
wiser than tramping this lonely road AT
such an hour
All, | should anger the old man. Yer
worship, who's waiting up for me at
home. It's a pretty bit Of a bateing |
shall catch as it is, she answered i'm a
shrill voice
Not wishing to be delayed longer. |
Daue the old woman jump up, which
she did with an alacrity not to be expect
Ell at her years, and the journey was re-
sumed. For IA mile or SO my compan-
ion was silent, while | was too much
absorbed in my own reflections to oDen
conversation. When, however, the
two or three wooden houses that then
composed the village of Pennington
We're passed, and the lights that had
flashed from the windows of the little
inn, known as the Halfway House. had
grown like tiny stars in our rear. NV
strange companion again found her
tongue, and gabbied away with such
garrullty that began to grow doubtful
whether she WAS insane, or rather the
worse Tor : "A drop of the crather." She
continued thus for some miles. and had
begun 10 wish her at a region at least as
remote as Jericho, when the moon again
shOne forth with n sudden radiance that
for moment quite dazzled my sight.
1t was ut this moment that. glancing
down 10 see that the small bag. contain
ing handouts and a few other little i'm
plements of my craft, had not fallen out
of my gig, / perceived a strange object
sticking out OF the pocket ofmy compan-
ion. Could it be? looked again. Yes.
II Was-the Steei-mOuIttcd butt 0fa pistol
IA genuine Colts revolver | knew il
IN an instant by the shape, and could
scarcely refrain giving whistle of sur
prise. | glanced at the face of the bear
or, and now, in the clear moonlight. |
could perceive that the deep wrinkles in
the cheeks were skillfully put on with
burnt cork, and that the struggling locks
OF gray halr were the destinations of "A
wig.
| was clearly in a trap; my own fire
arms were buttOned over in my breast
pocket. Were | to drop either rein or
whip, the suspicion of the bushranger-
for | doubted not the profession of my
companion-wOuld be reused and ere /
could draw my own weapon, | should
have bullet through my head
What strength can't accomplish, skill
must, is an old axiom of my profession
so, turning round, | exclaimed:
fear my horse has got a stone in
his shoe, mother; you won't be afraid
to hold the reins minute, whilst jump
down and see, viii you? pr
The careless and yet encouraging
tones in which ] spoke took my compan-
ion completely offhis guard / drew up
and handed him the whip and reins
then rising as if to ret out of the gig,
suddenly snatched the revolver from
his pocket, and leveled it at his head ex-
claiming
. You are my prisoner; move hand or
foot, and l blow your brains outr'
Faith, Mr.. Paaler, it's yourself has
got the best of it; but We can't be for ar
resting me-ye've no Evidence | meant
to do wrangn
" III be responsible for my acts, my
lad. Now listen to me, word for word,
and no lodges my fingers on the trig-
ger, remember
All right, yer HONOR answered the
william, perfectly cowed
ION the seat, YOU see bag-drOp the
reins, the horse won't bolt-put the whip
in its holder. Good Now, then. the
bag is unlocked-what do you see in it ?''
Bracelets yer honor, and bad cess to
them -
Key in the lock ~
Yes, yer honor"
Then put them ON
The man hesitated.
Put them on, or fire.
This time the fellow obeyed.
Now place your hands in such po-
sition that | can lock the handouts with
my left hand"
This he did also
Placing the muZzle of the revolver
against his forehead, and never taking
my eye off'his, for he looked mischievous,
/ locked his handouts with my left hand,
and put the key in my waistcoat pocket
then, taking piece Of strong cord from
the bag, | laid the pistol on the seat, and
strongly bound his arms and legs.
Now, my dear old lady" said, A.
/ concluded Next time you frequent
Paddy's market, don't get benighted on
your way home. I'll save you this time
from a bateing by the old man, but |
may not be able to do 50 always
Hang you, for meddling fool ~
was the answer. 1.-THE game may be
in BlV hands next time; if so, my hear
ty. look outn
| made no reply to this, and was about
to gather up the reins, when, frighten-
ed at a sheep which showed itself in the
brushwoOd, the horse swerved round,
and, before | could check him, had quit /
ed the road, and was galloping at a rat !
Ting pace across the country. BY the |
time had got the horse again in hand, /
we were far away from the high road. !
with the probability OF not finding it !
again.
This improbability was soon rendered |
IN impOssibility by the moon becoming |
again obscured. The heavens grew one |
eaden shroud-each moment the dark |
ness became more intense.
1t was now necessary to abandon the |
rig, for it was unsafe longer to stick to |
hat conveyance. | unbound my pris- /
)ner's arms, and made him unharness
he mare. whilst covered him with my |
Distol-an operation which his chain |
handouts rendered troublesome, but not |
| then rebound his arms and |
his legs, and mounting the
horse, in spite of my own bad leg, turn
I'd its head | knew not whittier, max
ng my captive march about length
before me, having first given him the
assurance that if he stopped,
n looked back, | would put a bullet
through his head.
<tlltI tIdNtlilliE iOi tNO fiOuIS III
his manner, to my great joy perceived
/ light little way ahead, and, as we
rev nearer, discovered that ii shOne
rom window ola long, rambling wood
N house. A deep growl of dogs greeted
,ur approach and when in obedience
o my command, the bushranger knock
d heavily at the closed door, voice
within saluted us, in an angry tone,
With
Pass on, whoever you are; you get
10 rest here tonight. They pay high
Who make this a resting-place. Be
rone!'
/ was abont to ride up and hold par
ey through the keyhole, when my COM
,anion, giving it a kick, exclaimed in
voice quite free from the brogue:
Come, my good people, you won't
nave the heart to refuse the shelter of a
oof and a crust of bread to two poor
travellers, lost in the bush.''
He had hardly spoken, when the door
'pened, and a rough voice answered:
Well, | don't mind if do, if that's
he time of day. / thought you were
My loafers, perhaps"
When, however, his eyes rested on the
eminine apparel and handcuffed wrists
4 the bushranger, he started in dismay..
20, to reassure him, l rode up, and said:
am an officer of police; this is my
Lost in ha |