Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1871-02-23

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open. The rear vertilator l haC
left open, the little six by six hole
guarded by shree iron bars, giving
me ventilation. Near this | hac
slung my hammock, and then
with my revolver in box close
to my hand, and with the bel
rope running just over my head
| surely was In safety, so dropped
asleep.
How long / slept I could moi
tell before / was awakened with
start as something passed over
my mouth. 1t seemed like a
mouse or rat, but it left an over.
whelming smell, a close, suffocatins
feeling, and before l could open
my eyes to see clearly, or could
come to my senses, l was again
asleep. Again / awoke, this time
completely, but with a fearful
weight of oppression over my
eyes. My head ached, and
strove to place my hand upon it.
My hand would not obey my
wish; | must be paralyzed it
seemed as if / was yet-dreaming ;
l had no power over my head or
limbs. Another effort / would
make to shake off this deadly feel
ing, but as / strove to turn in my
hammock, or to lift myself, some
thing cold touches my forehead
with a refreshing GOODNESS, and a
gruf voice bids me lie quiet. i
turned my head with immense
difficulty and pain, and l saw a
black visaged man standing over
me. He repeats the injunction
to be quiet. I trace his arm
down towards my head, and see
it is revolver which is touching
my forehead. In a half asleep,
half foolish manner, glance at
the deadly instrument, and Won
der what it cost, and whether
it will shoot straight and into my
brain should it be fired. The .et-
fects of some drug are still work
ing upon me, and as / come more
to life, as it were, l recognized the
fumes of chloroform. s
Two other black visaged men
are busily sorting out my valuables
and are throwing all dangerous
bonds and papers into one corner of
the car, while they are placing
in bags the currency and notes.
The man watching me speaks and
says: "No. l, he is coming to-"
No. l comes close and looks at
me; he also is black visaged made
SO, 1 now see, by a Grape veil or
mask. Without speaking, he. re-
turns to his work of sorting the
money. Having nothing else to
do, l looked more closely at my
self. Small thin cords, which
cut deeply into my flesh, are tied
around my wrists and ankles,
while others tie me tightly to the
hammock. ! must indeed have
been far gone in sleep, and deeply
drugged, to have allowed this
The robbers evidently mean me
no harm, but how can face the
company after this robbery?--
How account for the absence Of
Joe, without bring about his dis
missal? AS for myself, twill be
the same old story. The papers
will say I was a willing Gonfeder-
ate, and submitted to being tied
and robbed / shall be imprisoned,
perhaps for life. My poor wife
and children will be worse than
fatherless. -..-
No. l, who is hard work yet
with his companion, opening their
bundles and sorting out their con-
tents, here for the fret time speaks.
eve are nearing the hog tunnel,
No. g." he says in light lisping
voice. Even in my half stupor !
know that. voice. If it is whom
think it is, his left arm is slightly
crooked, the palm of the hand
turning nearly outwards. AS he
moves into the light of the solita'
ry lamp to glance at some bonds ]
plainly see the turned hand
"Bill Lane" l calb won't you
tree my hands ? this cord hurts
me-" With a horrible oath he
springs forward you've sealed
your doom," he says; ''you mus
die now" I plead for life, for ht
has cast aside the Grape and | SCI
the devil in his eye Bill used II
be our run as messenger, but
robbery occurred of which be wa
suspected of assisting in, or a
least of allowing himself to b
robbed, and was discharged.
But I plead in vain. The con
spirators confer among themselve
for q few moments. and then m.
hammock is unlocked and throw
upon the floor and | am rolled u
!, in it, and into an incredibly smal