Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1869-02-17

SO lev, and then his eyes had such 9
wicked look that the most practiced
phys;opnomist could not have failed
TO detect the william.
During the rest of the afternoon we
cOnversed freely, but not so freely as
before. L could see that the williams
eyes were not so frankly bent on me
as he smoke. and they seemed to avoid
my direct glanceS. These movements
on his part were not Intentional, but
intuitive as though his very nature
led him thus. At last night came on;
we ate our supper, and then smoked
our pipes. and finally my companion
proposed that | should sleep before he
did.
At first 1 thought of Obiecting, but
a moments reflection told me to be-
have as though he were an honest
man; and so L agreed to the proposal.
He took nv seat at the stern, and |
moved further forward; and having
removed the plank on which my sus-
picious companion had been sitting,
/ spread my cloak on the bottom OF
the canoe, and then hayingplaced my
valisc for pillow, 1 laid down. As
soon rs possible L drew out one of my
pistols, and beneath the cover of a
cough. | cooked it. Then l moved
my body so my right arm would be at
liberty, and grasping my weapon
firmly, with my finger on the guard,
l drew up my mantle, slOuched my
hat and then settled down for my own
watch.
Fortunately for me the moon was
up, and though the forrest trees threw
Il shade upon me, yet the beams fell
full upon Karl, and l could see every
movement he made. We were well
into the Wabash, having entered it
about two o'clock.
you will call me at midnight"
said.
"Yes," he returned.
Good night"
Good night and pleasant dreams.
Hi have YOU farther on your way
than You think ere you wake up.n
perhaps so, y thought TO myself,
rs / lowered my head and pretended
to settle myself a sleep.
For half an hour my companion
steered the canoe very well and SEEM
ed to take little notice of me; but at
the end OF that time he became more
uneasy; l commenced to snOre with a
long regular drawn breath, and at that
instant the villain started, just as the
hunter starts when he hears the tread
of game in the woods.
But hark ah-there was before me
one lingering fear that l should shoot
the wrong man, but it was gone now.
As the fellow stopped the motion OF
the paddle, distinctly heard him
mutIcr.
"Ob, my dear little sheep, you lit
tie dreamed that Gus Karl was your
companion. If your friend is dead
you shall follow him, and l shall take
your traps TO pay your travelling eX-
peuses to heaven"
l think these We're the very words,
at any rate they were the drift. As
he thus spake, he HOislessly drew in
the paddle, and then rose to his feet.
| saw him reach over his left shoulder,
and when he drew his hand back he
held large bowie knife in il. / could
see the blade CLEAN in the moonlight,
and then l saw Karl run his fingers
on the edge and then feel the point.
My heart beat fearfully yandmy breath
ing was hard. 1t was by the utmost
eXertion | could continue my snOr-
ing, hut managed to do it without
interruption. Slowly and nOiselessly
the foul wretch approached me-his
step would not have awakened a
hOund-and his long knife was hall
raised. | could hear his quick breath
ing and the gFatin27of HE teeth az he
~ hinnEalf for the stroke
The villain was by my side, and he
measured the distance between my
heart and his hand by his eye. In
his left hand he held a handkerchief
all wadded up. That was to stop my
mouth with. Every nerve of my
body was now strung, and my heart
stood still rs death. OF course my
snoring ceased; and that instant the
huge knife was raised above my bo-
som. Quick as thought | raised my
pistol. the nuZzle within foot OF the
robbers heart. He uttered Il quick
cry-I saw the blade glitter in the
moonlight, but it came not upon me.
| pulled the trigger and the last fear
was past. There was sharp report,
and | sprang up and backed. | heard
a fierce yell, at the same time the rob-
Der fell forward, his head striking my
knee as it came down.
Weak and faint sank back, but, a
sudden tipping of the canoe brought
me to my senses, and L went aft and
took the paddle. AS soon as the boat s
head was righted, l turned my eyes
upon the form in the bottom of the
canoe, and saw il quiver-Only aspas-
mOdic movement, hOwever-and then
all was still.
All the night / sat mt my watch and
steered my little bark. l had my sec
ond pistol ready, for | knew not that
the wretch was dead. He might he
watching to catch ME off my guard
and then shoot me. But the night
passed drearily away, and when morn
ing broke and the form had not mOv-
ed, then | stepped up and found Gus
tus Karl was dead. He fell with his
knife true TO its aim, for itstruck very
near to where my heart must have
been, and the point was driven lar
into the wood, and | had hard work
to unclasp the marble fingers clasped
with dying energy.
Swiftly flowed the tide, and the sun
had sunk again. l had reached LO-
cansDort. The authorities knew the
face of Karl, and when / told them
nv story, they poured a thousand
thanks on nv head. A purse was
raised and the reward put with it and
rendered 10 me. l took simply the
reward from the generous citizens; the
rest | distributed among those who
suffered most from the Wabash rob-
ber's depredatiOns. i found Kemp
sick and miserable. He was burning
with fevers, and the doctors had shut
him up in room where n healthy
man must soon have sufiocated.
Water, water! In Gods name
give me water" he gasped.
Haven't you had any yet?' l ask
ed. He told me no. L threw open the
window, and was on the point of adj
ministering it when the old doctor en-
tered. He held up his hands in hOr'
ror. and told me it would kill the sick
man; but l forced him back, and
Kemp drank. He drank deeply and
then slept. The perspiratiOn poured
from him like rain, and when he
awoke his skin was moist and turned
In eight DAYS from that time he sal
in the saddle, and together we started
for Little River. At WaltOn's settle
ment 1 found my horse wholly recov.
cred. When / offered to pay for his
keeping, the host would take nothing
The story ofmy adventure on the riv-
er had reached there ahead of me, anC
it was the landlords gratitude.
LAW OF THE EROAD.-PersOns meet
-. !. ......;...... an tho hinrh r,-nrr m.