Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-11-09


For long time we rodein silence,
the Gathering of our horses hoofs, rem
dering conversation difficult. Mar
shall's animal began by this time to
show symptoms Of exhaustion, and my
own steed was pretty we'll tired down,
so our progress was necessarily slow.
By the time darkness fell upon US we
were yet miles from camp, but the
moon would soon be up, and hoped
to complete the journey in two hours
at most. But "man proposes and God
disposes," and fate had decreed that
should not reach camp that night.
Scarcely had the moon risen, when
we heard the sound of approaching
hoofs coming towards US. | thought
it was some of my own men on their
way to meet US, but in this I was bad
ly mistaken. On they came-eight of
them in ell.
1t was not until they had got within
ten yards of me, that | recognized the
graceful form of Black Bill, the favor
ite horse of the man whom | thought
was my prisoner. Yes, could not be
mistaken for an other such a horse
was not to be found on the plains. |
was not mistaken, and ! soon found to
my dismay, that her owner was in the
saddle, on her back
By this time the carbines of the rob
bers were covering our bodies, and we
both saw that resistance would be
worse than madness. Wehad already
come to a standstill, and, with the ut
most GOODNESS, Gentleman Dick ad-
dressed me.
Well, really, captain, I'm glad I
met you, for ! can save you the troub-
le Of going further to witness my eX-
ecution. In palmer language, l have
escaped, as you doubtless perceive by
this time. The scale has turned and
we have changed places, being the
captor and you the captive. Come
now, you have several lines enter
tanned me in your abode and now l
will return the compliment by feasting
you in my abode, or rather in my
mountain cave. Come along, let's be
of. Lower your weapons boys 10
tone of authority to his men.
Just at this moment tie moon dis
appeared behind a cloud and | found
opportunity to transfer my revolver
from my saddle-bags into my boots.
a am sorry to say, gentlemen
continued our exultant captor, just
after | had finished my little business
with the revolvers, that if YOU have
any arms about you, we will be obIig-
ed to take them from YOU for fear you
may be foolishly tempted to use them.
Like the ancient Romans, shall take
nothing from the vanqushed except
the power of doing harm"
There are my arms" | replied,
showing the limbs nature had given
me.
Alter a careless search of the upper
part of our persons he seemed salts
fed that We were unarmed and NOV
ed on.
You are a wicked set Of fellows
over there in your camp, Jameson"
continued the robber chieftain, appar-
emily in a humorous mood At any
rate, Lieutenant Preston doesn't much
admire ministers with tracts, and he
laughed at his own joke, as did also
the rest of the robbers.
During the remainder Of our slow
and tedious journey. which lasted. all
night, Gentleman Dick talked on in
the same ocular strain. Myself and
Marshall were sulIen and morose, not
at all pleased with our captivity, and
consequently silent.
We arrived at the foot Of the noun
tain at daybreak, and leaving our hor-
ses in large cave, began the ascent.
The path was narrow, permitting only
three to walk abreast. On one side,
was a precipice Of great depth, and
on the other side the mountain rose
nearly perpendicular. Moreover, our
way was winding, so that q person
could be seen only at a short distance.
| noticed all these things as | was
marched along, Tor intended to make
an effort to escape, and if | succeeded,
bring a force and capture the band.
5 We reached the top of the ascent at
last and entered another cave, much
larger than the first, and having four
passages leading from it. Without
stopping here we pushed on into one
of the passages, and after walking a
half mile right into the mountain
found ourselves in one of the most beau
tiful rooms | ever saw. | will not take
t up time Or space by attempting to de,
: scribe it, for even if | tried l could
: give but faint idea of its dazzling
splendor.
We were permitted to rest here. e.and
t | had an opportunity to see the rest O.
t the band. There were about twenty
t five men IN all, great, powerful fellows
! whose countenances bore unmistak
: able evidences of crime, and whose
= eyes sparkled with fendiSh glee a
a our capture, for they recognized me a.
S once, and thought they would soon bt
rid of the captain of that company of
a soldiers which prosecuted them Sc
9 much.
r The order came for US to move on
Il and we followed Gentleman Dick t.
|. our cell. This was a little cave a
d some distance from the one we ha(
just left and had huge iron door tt
s guard its entrance. With mock Ger
emony we were ushered into our nev
n quarters by the robber chieftain, wht
r thus addressed US:
d "Gentlemen, these are the best quar-
y tiers, | can assign to you, but | hop
e you'll find them comfortable. Yor
$ have always treated me kindly when
? have visited your camp this wa
5 said in a sarcastic tone-"and now II
e see what | can do for you. | am sol
)" ry to say that no man not a membe
d of our band ever left this. cave aGv
u after once entering its forbidding arcl
and therefore you may prepare 70
y your execution, which will take plac
10 day after tomorrow. Until then yo
a will not bedisturbed either by mysel
Is or my men. Farewell and with
q. .-n..,- .,ol.4, L1.-. / u - -. i Il