The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-06-14
a. SDAY JUNE14

Ahihc ioSo H1IASc4l, anu WHO were no
doubt his partners in crime.
l drew back from the aperture and
sat thinking. The helpIessness of my
condition at once presented itself to
me. There l was, penned up, as it
were, with no means of egress, while
there stood rufflans, who cared no
more fol-, the shedding of human blood
than they would have viper's bided
their time to come and knock me on
the head. And when they came, There
was no donbt but that they would
come and shortly,) what could I do?
l was totally unarmed save with a
small pocket knife, and this, knew
would be entirely useless to me. had
nothing at all to defend myself with.
Truly was my situation perilous.
1 But must needs do something :;
and arising as noiselessly as 1 could,
hastily donned my clothes. was de-
termined to make all the resistance in
my-power, to sell my life as dearly as
possible if it came to the test.
I My first act now was to make close
survey of the room in which l was,
thinking perhaps might find some
weapon, or something to assist me.
But there was nothing of the kind
about. f
What should l do, again and again
asked of myself. To remain there was
certain death; yet there was no means
of escape, as l saw. q. -
1t has been said, and with much
truthfulness, that necessity is the
mother of invention" In less than
half minuate dozen places of escape
had suggested themselves to my mind,
and the one thought most likely to
succeed I determined upon adopting.
l noticed that the roof Of the cabin,
like most other structures of this class,
was formed of thick, heavy boards,
which, instead Of being nailed, were
secured in their places by means of
weight-poles upon the outside. The
boards probably were very loose; and
if could manage to remove as many
of them as would snf1ice to pass my
body through, I could easily gain the
roof, and then safely spring to the
earth, for the cave was not over ton
feet from the ground.
| The attempt was worth making, any
way; so, creeping noiselessly back to
my rude bed, from whence l could cas-
lily touch the roof, it was so low l be-
gan my work. To my great joy found
that the boards could be removed with
out any great effort on my part, and
soon l had an opening sufficient to let
me pass out, and had done it all so
noiselessly that it had not, in the least,
attracted the attention of those below.
| Before making my exit, once more
took glance at the scene below, to as
|sure myself that they had not yet dis
covered my intentions. was quickly
relieved on this point, for they were
all sitting where I had last seen them,
and engaged in a low, animated con-
versation. . b.
i In few moments more, by the aid
of weight-pole which lay directly
across the opening, had made in the
roof, swung myself up, and sooD
stood on the top of the cabin.
| The night was dark one, with but
few stars to be seen in the armament.
Although it was midsummer, yet there
was cool breeze stirring which made
me SILVER with cold, SO unaccustomed
was to the mountain Cline.
paused moment to listen, but
hearing nothing proceeded down the
roof, and creeping upon my hands and
knees as softly as possible, till I ap.
: preached the cave. l had at first de.
/, termined to spring from here to the
ground, but a new idea struck me, ani
one 1 greatly repented of the moment
after putting it in execution.
\, The shed in which my horse was Sc
!, cured was only a few feet from me, 81
close that / could easily step upon i
. from where stood. Crossing over thi
on the opposite side, a stunted GAL
grew, its branches extending out owe
the shed. could reach this and slid,
, down the trunk to the ground, thu
avoiding the danger of a leap, and al
I SO the chances OF warning the inmate
h of the cabin of my proceedings.
t But this venture brought about wha
l had all along been so anxious to ayoi
f Ia disturbance. As stepped eau
), tiously across, my foot by some mean
or other, slipped, and was precipita
, ted headloDg upon the shed with ter
rible racket, narrowly saving mysel
e from fall to the ground.
: l was partially stunned, and la
o there for moment utterly unable t
n rise. / could hear the trio with in til
cabin, as they sprung to their fee
!; startled by my fall, and then the heav
b tread Of Dawton who hastened up til
: ladder into the loft. Icould hear plain