The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1868-07-18

SeS Il llJllc. w HeIe 3 my ndu
My passenger sat on the seat behind
me, aud I turned toward him.
Heres bag of some kind slipped
back under my feet, said he giving it
a kick as though he'd showed it for
ward.
Just at this moment my horses lum-
bcred forward in deep snow drift, and
| / was forced to jump out aud tread
| down the snow al cad of them and lead
them through it. This took me all of
! fifteen minutes, and when | got in |
pulled the mail bag forward and got my
feet upon it.
As was doing this, saw the man
take something from his lap, beneath
the Buffalo and put in his breast pocket,
At this thought it was pistol had
cought the gleNm of a barrel in the star
light, aud when had time to reflect,
knew could not be mistaken.
About this time | began to think
somewhat seriously. From what | had
heard and seen, soon made up my
mind that the individual behind me not
only meant to rob me of the mail but he
was prepared to rob me of my life. If |
resisted him he would shoot me, and
perhaps he intended to perform that de-
lectaBle operation at any rate. While |
was pondcring the horses plunged into
another deep snow drift aud | was again
forced to get out and tread down the
snow before them. asked my passcn-
ger if he would help me, but he didn't
fell very well, and he wouldn't try, so |
worked alone and was all of quarter Of
hour getting my team through the drift.
When got into the sleigh again, [ be.
gan to feel for the mail bag with my
feet. | found it where had left it, but
when | attempted TO withdraw my foot,
| discovered it had become cntangled in
somethihg-I thought 1t was the buffalo,
and | tried to kick it clear; but the
more l kicked, the more closely it was
held. | reached down my hand, and
after feeling about few minutes |
found my foot was in the mail bag D! |
felt again and actually felt my hand a
monG the packages Of letters and pa
pers. ran my fingers over the edges
of the opening, and became assured that
the stout leather had been cut with a
knife.
Here was a discovery, [ began to
wish | had taken a little more FORE
thought before | left DanturrV but as
I knew that making such wishes was
only waste Of time, 1 quickly gave it
up, and began to consider what [ had
best do under the existing circumstances
l wasn't long making up my m;nd upon
a few essential points. First the man
behind me was william ; second he cut
open the mail bag and robbed it OF
: some valuable matter. He must have
known the money letters by their
size and shape third he meant to
! leave the stage on the first opportunity
! and forthly,he was prepared to shoot me
, if attempted to arrest or detain him.
resolved these things over in my
: mind, and pretty soon ! thought Of a
course Of action TO pursue. | knew If
>, could get my hands safely upon the ras
r call muststake him unawares, and this
! could not do while he was behind me
for he kept his eyes upon me all the
time-so | must resort to srtatagcm
= Only little ahead was house, and al
: old farmer named Uogee lived there
= and directly before which was huge
Ii snow bank stretched across the road
:, through which track for wagons ha(
T been cleared with shovels.
:. AS we approached the cot, | saw
~ L 4 -. IL | fnlt pOnH-
II dent would, for the old man generally
! = sat up till the stage went by. l drOv'
!, y on, and when nearly opposite the dwell
= ling as had frequently done when ap
- preaching difficult places, | saw tb
= snow bank ahead and could Giscovc
III the deep cut that had been shovelle
through it. | urged my horses to
good speed, and when near the bau
forced them into it.
One of the runners mounted the edS
of the bank, afterSWhich the other ra
> into the cut, thus throwing the sleig
20 over about as quick as though lightnin
w w had struck it. My passenger had no
y, calculated upon such movement, an
a wasn't prepared for it; but had calcI
" ~ lated and was prepared. He rolled OF
u u into the deep snow, aud with heav
~ ~ buffalo robe around him, while li5ht
" ed upon my feet directly upon him.
:, punched his head into the snow an
~ ~ sang out for old Logee. ] didn't call
20 20 second time, for the farmer had come
% 90 the window to see me pass, and AZ SOC
,A -, at he seen my sleigh overturned he ha
" az lighted his lantern aud hurried out.
> o. 'cWhat's to pay?" asked the old ma
ii as he came up.
~ ~ "Lead the hogscs into the track, an
~ then come here"
.', As spoke 1 partially looscned N
hold upon the villiau's throat, and h
,r. drew pistol from bis bosom but l sa