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


At length the very desperation of my
situation reused me to action. 'sHere. ;
| thought, Il will wait and receive nv
doom. | will sell my life as dearly as
possible: | will not fly. l will remain
here, trust in God, and fight till the
last. After this decision | felt better.
L went to the door and barred it as well
as | could, and put all the furniture of
the room against it. l also crammed
some pillows against the windows. Then
opening my saddle-bags, L took out my
pistol case, to see how my arms were.
My arms consisted of two of the
most beautiful reyolvers that ever were
seen. Both were ''seyen-shooters. !"
with the very latest improvements
movable chamber for the insertion of
cartridges, which of themselves were of
new invention. | had large supply
of these cartridges, and never did
feel greater reyulsion of feeling than
when these reyolvers of mine presented
themselves before me as my very good
friends TO protect me at this hour.
So great was the reaction that | felt
a positive exultation. Ny life will be
hard to take, l thought; some of these
devils will, perhaps, lose theirs first.
Then my humor grew somewhat pleas
ant. [ reflected with glce upon the
fact that | had but very little money,
and my saddle-bags contained nothing
bat bills of account which | had come
to collect. These rufians would risk
much for nothing whatever. As | had
only thirty dollars, these ten men, for
there seemed to be about that number.
would have to risk their lives for three
dollars apiece.
| Was too excited to sleep, of course.
| had TO watch and guard my life.
Sleep was not hard to fight off. In fact,
it never even attempted to come to me-
| concluded that it would be best to put
out the light. so as to conceal myself
to the best advantage, in case they had
any peep-holos through which to spy
me. by room was in the front of the
house, and looked ont upon the road
| put out the light, and then walked
softly to the window. 1t was too dark
to see anything. | found some sticks
which | placed on the windows in such
a way as to prevent their being opened,
thus making them still more secure;
and then sitting down on one side Of
the door, With my revolvers in my
hands, | waited for the events.
Ii was not long until l heard foot
steps slowly ascending the stairs, and
soon the door was tried. The weights
which l had placed against it prevent
ed it from being opened.
''He's sfastened the door, said voice.
''Pooh, There no lock. Push hard.
There was a push. The door yielded.
''What doyou want?' Said quietly.
There was pause. [ heard whisp-
ers. but at last one said:
''If you're awake open the door"
Il will not said |.
"You must. If you don't we'll push
it open
''Do if you dare said I, calmly.
They pushed. The door opened. |
put my pistol close to the opening and
fred. There was a shrek . Some one
was hH. There was fearful confusion.
| could not resist the opportunity. /
thought | had TO die at any rate, and
therefore it would be best to put some
of these fellows out of the world too.
So 1 fired again. Another yell follow
ed. Once more I fred. There was an
other yell. Then | heard rush down
stairs, and groans outside of my door.
BY this time the intensity of my ex-
citement had made every nerve as rigid
and as tense as iron. pulled away
the things and opened the door. Feel
ing in the dark, / found the groaning
wretches. There were three. | hasti-
ly dragged them into the room, and
then barricaded the door once more.
.You scoundrels,' said l, Il ought
to show you no mercy; but you're suf-
fering, and I'll help you
They only groaned in reply. l light
ed the lamp, and kneeling on the floor,
examined their wounds One was
wounded in the thigh, another had his
arm broken, a third had been hit in
the right breast.
l always carry different ointments
and drups with me In ase of accidents