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

f1ected with glee upon the fact that |
had very little money, and my saddle
bags contained nothing but oils of
accounts which | had come to collect.
These ruffians would risk much for
nothing whatever. AS | only had thir-
ty 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 fcourse.
| had to watch and guard my life
Sleep was not hard to fight off. In
fact, it never even attempted to come
to me. t.
I 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-holes through which
to spy me. My room was in the front
of the house and looked out 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 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 revolver8 in my hands, waited
for events.
1t was not long before heard foot
steps slowly ascending the stairs, and
soon the door was tried. The weights
| had placed against it prevented it
from being opened.
Hes fastened the door," said a
voice.
"Poohl There's no lock. Push
hard"
There was push. The door yield
ed.
"What do you want ?" said l quiet
| ly.
There was pause. | heard whis-
pers, but at last some one said:
"lf 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" I said calmly.
They pushed. The door opened.
put my pistol close to the opening and
fired.
There was a wild shrek! Some
one was hit. There was fearful con-
fhsion. | could not resist the oppor-
tunity. | thought | had got to die at
any rate, and therefore it would be
best to put some of these fellows out
of the world too. So | fired again.
Another yell followed Once more |
fired. There was anotter yell. Then
L heard a rush down stairs, and grOans
outside my door.
By this time the intensity of my ex-
citement had made every nerve as
rigid and as terse as iron. | pulled
away the things and opened the door.
Feeling in the dark, found the groan-
ing wretches. There were three. |
hastily dragged them into the room,
and then barricaded the door once
more.
"You scoundrels !" said |. "I ought
to show you no mercy; but you're
suffering and I'll help you
| They only groaned in reply.
lighted 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
| always carried different ointments
and drugs with me in case of accidents.
Here they were quite useful. | bro t
out my little stock of lint and rene
dies and dressed their wounds. The
one who had been shot in the breast
did not say a word. The others beg
ged my forgiveness. | did this wari-
ly and carefully. | was afraid of be-
ing seen through the windows or thro'
the crevices Of the door. But the oc-
cupation served to while away the
time; and these wretches, miserable
as they were, afforded company at
least.
After making them easy, put out
the light and waited. | knew that
such desperate gang as these would
now be only more furious than ever
and determined to watch still more
warily.
After a time | heard a noise out
side. | conjectured that they were
putting ladder against the window
! These men were certainly fools, for
what possible chance could they have
there since they had failed against the
door? off any of you say one word,
[ muttered to the wounded men. '1'll
blow your brains out" Satisfied with
this threat watched beside the win
dows. 1t was so dark that nothing
could be seen. | waited for what seem
ed long time. At last l heard the
door move at the impulse of some
strong push. Then the whole truth
flashed upon me- They were attack
!, ing me from both sides, thinking thus
to bewilder me. My resolution was
taken at once. I rushed to the door
and fired. There was groan and &
fall. [ fired again; another Shrek
followed, and again, as before, there
was rush down stairs. At the same
time there was a crash at the window
A gun was fired into the room. Loue
curses arose. | rushed to the win
dow. My outstretched hand touched
!, the knee Of a man, which was resting
. on the window-ledge. l fired again
: The villain staggered back. | caugh
, him before he fell. The window-sasl
: had been smashed away by blow