The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-01-05
THE GAME FOR LIFE,
An Adventure In the Far West.

An Adventure In the Far West.
II was terrible stormy night darl;
as pitch, and blowing a hurricane. My
overcoat was wet through, and my jack
boots completely filed with water. The
lightning kept up one constant success
sion of vivid flashes, and the deep thun-
der rolled in every direction. Under
the most favorable circumstances such a
night would not be considered pleasant /;
but when you are alone in a country
you don't know, have lost your way, and
can't see foot beyond your horses nose,
L don't think any one can imagine any,
thing more unpleasant, This however,
was my case. was in the far, far West,
in fict 1T a gfgGrer distance from the
At.ontc seaboard than 1 had ever at
- I'd before. Business had called me
tht ge, and for certain reasons 1 had had
to travel toward the backwoods, taking
with me considerable sum of money,
Iawhi,h it was of the utmost Importance
s. ould deliver safely at its destination
as BON as possible.
my anxiety to perform my mission
well l had foolishly passed the place
where L ought to have rested for the
night, fondly hoping to reach another
station before the close of evening; but
the storm coming on, I lost my way, and
there l was, stumbling about over
stumps of trees, my horse knee deep in
the mud, and I without the slightest
idea which way to turn.
Down came the rain in torrents, beat
ing the muddy earth as if it wished to
wash it clean. 1 was wet through to
the skin, and my horse at every step
seemed sinking deeper and deeper into
the mud, till at last he refused to move
step further. In vain 1 plunged my
spurs into his sides, and used my whip,
not another foot would he move, but
stood with trembling flanks and extended
nostrils, the picture of agonized fear;
50 l was forced to dismount and lead
him. But you may judge my surprise
when reached his head to find that he
was nearly touching wall. L stretched
forth my hand, and, to my delight, found
it was log hut.
"Here is shelter, at all events" said I
to myself, though scarcely deserve it
for my foolhardiness in riding past the
station. Well, l suppose l shall have to
go supperless to sleep, and heaven knows
that is bad enough in my present con-
dition."
Drawing the bride over my arm,
led my horse round the building, feel
ing carefully SO as not to miss the door
way. passed down one side and turned
the corner, when, to my delight, 1 per-
ceived light shining through some
chinks in the logs. Without pausing a
moment to consider what guests might
be assembled inside, 1 hastened to the
door, and beating loudly upon it, de-
manded admittance. had not long to
wait. The door opened slowly, and a
tall, thin man stood before me.
The fellow was roughly dressed, and
wore large broad-brimmed hat thrown
carelessly on his head; a cloak, much
the worse for wear, hung from his shoul-
ders, and nearly reached the ground
his figure was spare, but very powerful.
With his left hand he held the door, SO
as to be ready to close it in an instant,
and in his right Colts revolver
Young Americas constant companion.
Having glanced at his toilet, 1 turned
my attention to his face, and l must say,
a more disagreeable one l never wit
messed. 1t was long and thin, but very
sallowS high cheek-bones, sharp, evil
looking eyes, nose like an eagles beak,
low, receding forehead, and a huge |
mouth filled with horrible tusks. A |
long tutt of hair hung from his chin,
and his upper lip and cheeks had not |
felt the touch of a razor for some days.
Having fixed his evil little eyes on |
me, and taken good inven tory of my
personal appearance and effects, he |
pocketed his pistol, and drawled out:
"Wal, what's the mattery"
Matter l exclaimed; "matter
enough, I should think. / have lost my
way. and am wet to the skin"
" Wal, l can't help that" he replied, |
a'd drew back as if to shut the door.
9nt l need SHELTER" / cried; "my
sooa fellow, l am nearly drowned
:. You du look as if you'd been making
wel goods of yourself" he drawled, OPEN
Y ms mouth, and showing his fright