Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1869-03-30

vious conversation with the captain OF the
Clara. knew the fellow did not prop
crly belong to the boat but thought little
of it, as Chinese boatmen often aid one
another to make up u crew when short
harded. Accordingly, 1 folded rug
around me, placed my head upon pillow
L had brought, which covered my revolver
aal the money-bag, and wifi my faithful
canine friend stretched at my feet, was
soon asleep.
1.-The sky was somewhat overcast when
we started, and before We had progressed
very far, the clouds opened and the IAN
poured down in torrents, pattcring upon
the Iignt bumboo frnuc-TOriS aSeve INC.
as if seeking to beat in the frail awning.
| noticed that a little Chinese boy, the
son of one of the boatmen, was aboard
when we started, and my bowels of com-
passion were touched when | saw him cod
anl wet, as lay warm and dry under
shelter
"'Come hither, little one,' | cried m
his own tongue, and the urchin readily
obeyed my invitation. | took good
nip from flask, and sinking back upon
my pillow was soon dreaming. / thought
| was far, far away in the land of the
West. Suddenly the dream changed from
vision Of a fair girl with golden, wav-
ing ringlets, to a horrible incubhs; "a 81
gantic shadow looming upon me seemed TO
$ lc my breath, and though tried TO cry
aloud, no uttcrance came The phantom
uext took the shape Of The aying-dragdn
OF Chinese story, the hideous mons er's
great opal eyes rolleu in their sockets,
his cruel talons seized me, and with a
mighty effort att resistance, awoke--
awoke to find myself pnicned in the grasp
Of two of the boatmen.
"My hand sought the revolver which |
had placed beneath my head; it was gore
having probably been distracted by the
by. One william was knee ing ON my
chest, the other had his hand upon my
mouth, choking my utterance. In the
darkness | could see nothing, but instilc-
lively felt they must have entered the bed
place from aft. All was still and motol..-
less. With sudden jerk twisted my
head, and one of my assailanls' fingers cn-
tered my mouth. BIT it 10 the itne.
Ho Withdrew his hand with cry of fan
"'Hi, Nero y | shouted to my dog.
" In an instant his fierce growl answer
ed, as with bound like tigers leap be
spraag on my treacherous foe. | felt the
pressure on my chest relax, but | cou d
MT rise, as thc man whose finger ad
bitten pressed hard on my jugular vein
with his knee. saw knife CLEAN in
his hand, and the blow he aimed at my
throat took effect on my face, where yeu
see this deep cash. | struggled in vain
to free myself. heard the furious COLI
a CT between my faithful dog and his Of
po lent felt peculiar sensation in my
ace from strangulation, and remembered
NJ more until, on regaining consciousness,
l found myself half-immerscd in water,
and my brave dog whining over me as he
licked from my face the blood which we'll
ed up from the wound had received, and
the clots Of foam Which dripped from his
Claws. With much difficulty | staggered
to my feet and groped my way from be-
neatl the awning. In the pale moonlight
| saw the manged bodies Of my late as
sailants stretched across the deck Of the
bJat which had struck upon rock, stay-
ing in her bottom, and was now firmly inn
bedded in sand-bank. | patted my
stanch preserver, who fawned affectionatc-
y before me, and STOPPING down, sought
to ascertain whether any life yet remained
il his victims. Their rgidity sufiiced to
tell me the spirit had fled; the throat Of
one was literally torn away, and the other,
though much laccratcd, had probably been
held by the dog beneath the water until
drowned. The other bcatmen, with, the
boy, had made good their escape; bat |
recovered the money-bag.
81 tore my shirt into strips and BAN
daged up my face, the chill water
stauc'ing the stream Of blood
which poured from the wound. Then,
stepping overheard, pushed the boat lfl
the bank; but as soon as she reachtd d
deep water. she sank, and | had to wade
to the shore, Nero swimming after me.
With much difficulty managed to Giant
Der up the steep banks, and finally rested,
much exhausted, upon huge boulder that
jattcd from the prccipitous sides. The ST.
lent silvcry river ran swiftly at my feet,
the bright stars twinkled calmly down from
the dark vault Of heaven, and no sound
broke through the stiffness save the mon
oionous whir of gittcring firc-fies in the
brake above me. At length bright Venus