Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1871-08-03

tuc pcaiiiS vi thS 'iuiiNNi HN
louder. Finally the storm burst in all
its fury. For while / beat against
it determinedly but the violence of
the hurricane was at length too
much for me, and L was
compelled to stop and seek the uneer-
tain shelter of a tree, much as | was
opposed to such course. However,
had no other alternative, for brave
the storm l could not.
The deepest and most intense dark
ness enyelopcd everything. Except
when the heavens were lighted up by
flashes of lightning, could not see a
foot before my nose, and every other
sound was absorbed by the fierce bel
lowings of the tempest.
/ dismounted and groped my way
to the nearest tree. A flash of lightn-
ing showed me it was one of the lar
gest magnitude, Beneath its far
spreading branches, might be as
comfortable, if not as safe, as | should
beneath a roof. OIL
After attending somewhat to my
horse, I divested myself Of my wet
outer garments, and disposed my wea-
ry body to enjoy as much comfort as
was compatible under the circum-
stances.
The tempest continued with no
sign of abatement. Never before had
seen such lightning, never before
heard such thunder. 1t was tcrrify-
ing and | could not resist the temp
tation to shudder. Ever since that
night, a thunder storm has occasioned
me considerable uneasiness.
In this manner half an hour may
have passed. Still the storm howled
on in the most furious and terrible
manner-still the loud thunder crack
ed and roared-still The lightning
flashed with blinking brightness and
fury. Suddenly 1 felt, or thought !
felt something brush slightly against
me. l leaped to my feet and quietly
demanded:
Who's there9'
/ I listened; got no answer and
nothing was to be heard above the
roar Of the fearful storm.
| The thought struck me that j
, might be some wild beast. If sucl
: should prove to be the case, it woulC
r be almost impossible to guard agans
it's attack under such circumstances
4 and made my heart beat like stcar
f engine to think of the danger i
which l was probably standing
!, felt for my pistols; they were in tn
G holsters, and l dared not move froi
: the spot where 1 was standing for fea
: provoking the attack which dreal
n ed, and which l was in such poo
position to resist. .r.-...
" I drew my knifc-the only weapo
: which I had about me-suddenly
e stepped back few PAGES, and, withou
a any thought or design, demanded VIII
was there, if it was anything human.
y At that moment a vivid flash {
e lightning illuminated the surroundin
darkness, and for an instant rendere
I evrything visible. A few steps befor
e me two ferocious and blood thirst
looking men were standing.
Plainly enough, they were bot
cut-throats and thieves; or if the
!, were not, their brutal appcaranc
G belied the most wonderful. Tw
more diabolical looking wretches
n has never been my ill-luck to encoul
ter. That they meant no good, | ha
d no earthly reason to doubt; and, 81
| uated as I was, the prospect W;
d anything but pleasant. o.,
d Both the desperadoes held pistols
y their hands, and the weapons were le
e eled at my heart. -a r
e All this l saw at quick glance, al
D then again the deepest darkness cnvc
], oped everything. bsss usopE
d What should / do? I thought
s. Attempt to reach my horse and tru
to providence for my final cscap
d To my mind thatseemed my chance, {
ii in an encounter with two such brawl
b. Williams, my prospects would be We
s. slim. Whatever course | adoptt
rs though, must be quick, or the ne
r, fash of lightning would betray u
re purpose. 2 i.ipa' 'lf ~ H'.'
ID Quietly | stopped down to the grom
and prepared to crawl away in the I
ID rection of my horse. What the q
Ill cut-throats were doing, l could n
err tell, for the tempest prevented ,
ut from hearing any customary soun'
he Their ears, however, were sharper tn
es. mine, for at the worry first movement
,o, made. loud coarse voice exclaimed
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