Middletown transcript., 1869-10-30


panion, who assisted him in rigging my
steed.
'1wlllght was now upon us, and forty
miles of as dangerous road as was ever
travelled by Dick Turpin, was before me.
The engineer, after endeavoring to dis
suade me from what he termed madness.
entered his room, and soon returning plac-
ed in my hand his six-shooter, remarking,
as he did so, ''you can depend on this,
and don't be slow to use it: for if you
reach Matanzas tonight not robbed or
murdered, you are lucky, that's ALL"
With this reassuring speech | mounted,
and waving my hand in adieu, disappeared
through the brake. Night was fast clos
ing over me as l entered the little village
OF Bermeja, about two leagues from the
estate, and dismouuting, entered cafe,
with the proprietor of which was acquain-
ted, and having learned the route, and re-
freshed myself, 1 was soon again on my
travels.
"The American looks wild," said the
good-natured Spaniard, as he looked after
me, ''and | would rather him than l for
the journey before him tonight"
wa "iS Sdlu HIS COM
panion, villainous looking specimen of
humanity, who, from the moment enter
ed the cafe seemed anxious to learn if
were really going alone, and who rolled
his eyes in holy horror when l foolishly
told him | was-"You are right, for the
murderous gang who robbed the Santa
Rosa last ght cannot be far off, and Ma
RE may help him if they shuold be on his
trail. :"
These remarks did not add to my hap
piness, but they gave me little concern.
when compared to the delirious fancies
which now had possession of my heated
brain, as burying the rowels in my pony's
sides | dashed madly along My road for
some miles lay along u beautiful valley,
from the summit of the hills surrounding
which, | was informed, ! could see the
Pan Of Matanzas, u high cone-like hill ,
which was cnioined to keep in view, as
kind of North Star, until | struck the
iiavana road, when, turning east. was
to follow such to the end of my journey
1t was nelr ten o'clock when | reached
the top of the hill, and dismounting, scat
cd myself tn wait the rising of the moon,
the better to observe the road and espe-
cially the mountain which was to be my
guide My pony was grazing a few feet
from ne; thousand maddenipg thoughts
were passing through my mind when sud-
"chly sense Of the solitary position | oc
cupicjl began to steal over he. What if
were attacked, aye. and murderod2 Then
! would think Of the mysterious letter, and
was all myself again. had been seated
half an hour when | fancicd | could hear
Il slight noise. listened attentively; in
few minutes | could distinctly hear the
approach Of horsemcn as they came at a
gallop up the side of the valley. Quick
as thought | was alongside my pony and
drawing him into the tall shrubbery so as
to conceal US both. | waited the approach
of the strangers, dot ,rmined to learn some
thing of their character before scraping an
acguintauce. That there was more than
one it was now evident, and as they neared
me they slackened their pace, their horses
being apparently blown.
The moon was just pecping from beneath
its bed, throwing a rich and sombre light
on the most bewitching, fairy-like picture
it were possible for eyes to look upon,
made ten times more lovely by the still
ness of night. AS the horsemen, three in
number, passed me at a walk, conversing
hurriedly in loud tone
"You must have been mistaken, Pun
cho," said one, who, mounted ON a white,
well knit pony, rode little in advance
"You must have been mistaken; no man
is such a fool as to pass this road after
sunset, alone, especially stranger" :"
"No mistake" replied the other sharp
ly, who did not seem to relish the doubt of
his companion.
"Did you notice if he was armed" said
the third party, turning around in his sad
die, revealing features anything but pre-
possessing,
81 cannot say as to that" said the fell
low addressed as Pancho, 'but he appear
ed to be half crazy, or probably drunk"
''Let us push on said the party on the
white horse, 1--WE will soon see, for he
cannot be far ahead" And breaking into
smart canter, they were soon lost to my
view.
My position was not to be envied, for it
was evident those cut throats were upon
my trail not that had anything worth
stealing, but l had learned enough to con-
vince me those gentry were not particular
whether they killed you before or after
robbing you. True, l could return to the
village, but that would not only spoil my
calculations, but would amount to some
thing very like cowardice. Such were my
thoughts, as tightening my girths, sprang
into the saddle and rode forward, my plan
being to outride them if possible, and if
attacked, defend myself while / could, and
having placed my revolver in convenient
position, | lighted cigar and pressed for
ward, keeping q bright lookout for my
knights of the road, though hoping piously
| wonld not see them
| had proceeded some distance, and was
congratnlating myself on my lucky escape,
when coming to turn of the road, through
which rivulet run, and over which it was