The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-11-26


4 tions, and who at this moment came up
them, be Still was.
a consultation WIS now held as to tb
best mode Of proceeding to the capture
the dreaded outaw-a feat hv no mean
considered either sale or an easy one b
those by whom It was now contemplated
for all were aware Of his prOwess, and I
the desperate courage for which be was dis
tncuished.
Macpherson, in the meantime, wholly Ut
conscious of bis danger was still quietl
sc1'el on the small green uank where we lef
him. Ellen had not Yet arpeared, and b
was listlessly employed in drawing figure
on the ground with the point Of his scabbard
when he was suddenly startled by smila
noise amongst the bushes with that whcI
had alarmed him on a former occasion III
sprung to his Feet, drew a pistol from hi
belt with his left hand, and his sword iron
its sheath with bis right, and, thus prepared
awaited the result Of the motion, which b
now saw as well as heard. The rustling II
creased, the foliage rapidly opened in lin.
approaching him, and in an instant after
wards, biz friend, Eneas Chisholm stood
before the astonished freebooter
"Eneas!" he exclaimed, under breath
but in a tons Of great surprise,
Hush, hush =" said Eneas, seizing bis
friend by the aTm-"not a word. Iu five
minute you will be surrounded. You have
been recognized and dogged. There arc
dozen Of the sheriff men within five hun
dred yards Of you. planning your capture.
Let Us be oii--off instantly. Macpherson, =
he continued, urging the latter onward, if
We can gain the town, we may escape. |
know a place of concealment there"
" Nay, but Ellen-EIlen, Eneas :" said
Macpherson, hanging backwards, and
resisting the efforts Of bis friend to drag
him away
Fool, fool MANI said Eneas passion
ately, and still urging him forcibly alCug.
An instant's delay, and both you and
are in the hands Of our deadliest enemies. "
we can fight, Eneas"
Ten times a fool y exclaimed the latter,
with increasing anger. Eight dozen men,
all as well armed as ourselves And OBJ
serve, BESIDES he added, ''your obstinacy
will sacrifice me as well as yourself"
"Ay, there you have me, replied Mae
pberson. That shall not be-God forbid. "
And be hurried along with bis friend
At this instant a shrill whistle was heard
from the copsewood
They are on us, exclaimed Encas, as,
with one bound be cleared FIVE feet wall
that intervened between them and the high
way that led to the town Of Bantf
He was instantly followed by Macpher-
son, who, having thrown bis sword over be-
fore him, cleared the impediment with ret
greater ease. Having gained the road, the
two outlaws hurried towards the town. No
pursuer bad yet appeared, and It seemed as
if they had already effected their escape In
this fancied security, the fugitives slackened
their pace, that they might not incur the
risk which would attach to a suspicious
haste. During al this time, not a word
more than We have recorded had passed be
tween them. They had pursued their way
IN silence, and were thus Just entering the
town when Macpherson suddenly felt him
self seized by both arms from behind Their
route had been marked and they were in
tercepted.
Macpherson, exerting his great personal
strength, with one powerful effort freed him
self from the grasp Of bis assailants- for
there were two-finging both at the same
instant to the ground by a sudden and VIC
lent extension Of his arms. Having thus
set himse.s at liberty, be hastily drew his
sword and stood upon the defensive His
friend Eneas also drew, when they found
themselves opposed to at least dozen-the
two who had sprung on Macpherson being
now jC.led BY their comrades. Undaunted
by the number Of their enemies, and aware
Of what would be their fate if taken, the
intrepid outlaws determined on a desperate
resistance. Macpherson, with bis other ae-
compllshments, was an admirable swordsman
and be felt that he had not much to fear
from the unskilled raLble to whom be was
opposed, so long as he could keep them from
closing with him, and in this conviction he
cody awaited their onset.
1t was some minutes beforc this took
place; for their opponents, awed by their
fierce and determlned bearing, hung back.
At length, however, they seemed to be gath
ering courage by degrees, as they came
gradually moving on till they were within
two or three PAGES of Macpherson and bis
comrade, when two of the boldest Of them
made a sudden rush on the former, with the
view Of rendering his weapon useless BY
closing on him but the attempt was fatal
to the assailants. With a fierce shout Of
defiance and determination, Macpherson
struck down the foremost, with blow that
split bis head to the chin, while bis comrade
despatched the other by running him through
the body. Both the outlaws, on striking,
( leapt back pace or two, so as to maintain
the necessary distance between them and
their enemies, who we're still pressing on
But, panlc-stricken by this, the first result
Of the encounter, they now paused, and en-
tered into basty consultation, which ended
in the resolution of their attacking stimuli
taEeously, and in a body, and thus, by mere
force, bearing. down their opponents. Act
ing on this resolution, the whole rushed for
ward, with loud shouts, when a desperate
conflict took place. For long time, both
Macpherson and bis friend not only warded
Of the numerous cuts and thrusts that were
made at them, but brought down several o.
their assailsnts, one after the other anc
the issue of the contest seemed very doubt
full, great as the odds were against them.
In the meantime, however, Macpherson
though fighting desperately, was compelled
to yield ground, to avoid being closed upor
and surrounded for the pressure Of th,
crowd was now greatly increased by an &C
cession Of towns people, who, having hearC
the din Of the conflict, fastened to the seen,
to witness it. and to assist in the capture 0
ehe freebooters. Finding himself in DANCE
Of being assailed from behind, be rushed I,
one side Of the street, and, placing bis bacl
IN tho uall ne a bousa Aorr;.hol IL. - !