National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1870-01-21
A Ride for Life.
BY CHARLES CALVERT.

Toward the end of November, '65,
the writer and two companions were
almost hOpelessly lost in one OF the
dense forests which abound on the
Texan border. Night was fast
approaching, and violent thunder
storm rendered our beasts nearly
unmanageable. MOmemtarily were
we in peril from the lightning-strick
en- trees that crashed terrifically
through the underground at each
CLEAN of electricity. l was on my
way to Clarksville settlement with
some $500 in gold to be deposited in
the branch of our Office, at that
place. Not knowing the route, had
engaged two guides professedly
skilled in wOOdcraft. Stout muscu.
lar fellows, had engaged them as
much for protection as guidance
for certain rumOrs were aflOat that
an individual of bloOdthirsty dispO.
sition, known as Red Nick and cred
tied with marvellous prOtean powers,
infested the district for the purpose
of enticing travellers within his
murderOus reach.
This desperate, it seems, hal
lately escaped from Judge lynch,
but some of his adherents had paid
their debt to the inexOrable Neme>
sis of the backwOOds; and in re-
venge for this defamation of his
follow ers, the ferOcious gentleman
had instituted a series of murders
and roberies unparalleled against
mankind in general and Texans in
particular.
To resist the advances of such
marauders, | had purchased a brace
of derringers and thus equipped,
and with my gold concealed in a
? belt, | rode ont of San Saban as the
sun gave last look over the far
away peaks.
About Il month before leaving
San Saban, when was mounting
my horse in front of the hotel, IAN i'll.
looking fellow jostled me 50 rough
ly as to almost throw me on my
back 70 my expostulation. he mere.
ly cursed me, and acted so threaten.
ingly that. indignant at the fellows
ruttianly audacity. Il felled him to the
ground with ~ blow of my whip
= Without examining into the extent
of the injury had wrought, | mount.
ed and rode rapidly away, and in a
short time totally forgot the occur.
- renee.
After that, | had engaged my
guides, and had travelled some fifty
miles when we halted, bcwildered,
in the midst of the thunder storm.
; The deluge was fast oblterating the
= trail,a we determined to camp for
the night ut the foot of grassy
hillock, few yards from the edge
of gaping chasm, from whose
= depths iesOunded the roar of a
swollen torrent. Oar horses teth.
y cred and the inner man satisfied, all
" three of us threw ourselves into the
voluptous arms of Morpheus.
- Suddenly, in the wee morning
hours a rough shake awakened me
from my dreams of domestic associ
ations. The Scarred and horror
stricken face of one OF the guides
bent over me, ,speechless from terror
He pointed eXcitedly toward the
as bank of the roaring chasm. At first
is is saw nothing but closer scrutiny
si revealed the draggled and torn con
dition of the ground and herbag,
t. about the chasm's edge; and FIJI
- hat suspended by a twig from it'
side. The truth flashed upon me
Sutler. the senior guide, had gon,
- over the precipice in his sleep!
| strained my eyes into the abyss
but it was all gloom, save whcr,
struggling moonbeams strcamet
their soft and weircd light agains
its rocky sides. | tried to distin
ID guish human moan in the pan.
demonum of f,r.down rushing wa
ters; but naught save the ricrcin,
- shrek of some passing nightow
betrayed living existence in th
lonely forest.
Echoes above answered our shout
- and the discharge Of firearms an,
with sad hearts we turned to saddl
our horses, one of which we dlscov
cred to be missing; broken tethe
. told that the beast had broken lOOs
h1n hn and had strayed away.
GloOmily we rode along, till W
d, emerged upon less frequented trail
y, which my guide said led to Clarks
-, vile. This had been n most beaut
~. ~ full day,and the southern sun CLEAN
eel through the oaks and cedai
y, with oriental splendor. a sudde
to- turn brought us in view of q 10,
ir. cabin Of rough logs, from who's
50. chimney curled the wrcaths tina
betrayed the proximity of man.
Rackcd by a twelve.hours ride, W
gladly dismounted and Knocked
. To our inquiry rough and shagg
man grtiiuy asked MS in, while Ii
conducted onr stceds to the rear.
The cabin consisted of n sma
,ns ,nse room, furnished with couple ,
home made chairs and table; an
around the roaring fire n tall nm
-. stalwart man was hcaping fuel q
'. the blaze. Both men were ostent,
" tiously arrayed in bowie, pistol, nm
" ammunition pouch, and dilligcntl
" concealed their faces by their hug
II sOmbreros.
Their reserved and silent moo,
which even the relation of Sutler
horrii,ln Jaath did uot d,sturl csug.