The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1872-03-07

out the Chinese camp, and proposed to me
to Join him, saying that when Edwards
returned with the horses he would pay him
the $500, as agreed By Sam Chong Lung.
| was on my guard; but told him | would
have nothing to 20 with robbing the
Chinese; that they were my friends and
customers, and he had better let them
alone: after which answer he went Of.
That afternoon, Edwards came in with
his prisoners and horses. He was very
tired, on account OF having Travelled at
night, to prevent the rescue of his prison
ers by other vagabond., and to avoid the
Indians.
You will understand how the presence
of the horse. increased my peril, as there
was no doubt the scoundrels meant to
take them. 1t wouldn't do either, TO let
Edwards 60 on to the Chinese camp; so |
persuaded him to wait another day. We
brought the prisoners, bound, inside the
fort, and took care Of the horses. | said
nothing TO Edwards of my suspicions.
About dusk, my expected visitor came.
He appeared to have been drinking; and,
after some mumbling talk, laid down in
side the fort, near the gate. | made the
gate fast, driving the big wooden pins
home with an axe; built up great fire,
| and sent Edwards to bed in the tent The
| Chinese prisoners were already asleep on
| the ground. Then | sat down on the
opposite side of the fire, facing the gate,
| placing nv double barreled rifle beside me,
and mounted guard
Had You no arm. but your rife I!
! asked nv husband, anxiou-iv.
wanted nuue other, for we under
stood each other-my rifle and L.
What were YOU looking for; what did
YOU EXPECT A hand-to hand encounter
with these men ? was next my inquiry
1t seemed most likely that he had
planned an attact on the fort. If so, his
associates would be waiting outside for a
signal. He had intended, when he laid
down close to the gate, TO open it to them:
but when | drove the pins IN go tight 1
caught CLEAN from his eyes that wa, not
a drunken one, and he knew that | sus-
pected him. After that, il WAS a contest
of skill and will between US. He was
waiting his opportunity, and 80 was L.
You think I've a quick ear, don't You
You see what my temperament is: all sense
all consciousness. NJ hearing was
cultivated, too. by listening for Indians:
Well, by and by | detected very stealthy
movement outside the fort, and thea faint
chirrup, such as a young squirrel might
7 Ea In tn on N
sprang up, and covered him with MY
rifle, cooked. lie saw the movement anC
drew his pistol, but not before | had or
dered him to throw down his arms, o.
DIE.
1t is impossible to convey, by types, al
idea of Ella manner or tone as he pro
nounced these last words. They SOUNDED
from the bottom of his chest, and con
yeyed in the utterance, distinct notion
that death was what was meant. Hearing
him repeat the command, it was easy tt
believe that the miscrcant dared not d,
more than hesitate in his obedience. After
a momant's si!ence-wbich was the eli
max to his rendering Of the sceac--ho
continued:
Il hayn't told you, yet, how the maj
looked. He was a tall, swarthy, black
bearded fellow, who might have been hand
some once; bat who had lost the iooi
which distinguishes men in sympathy
with their kind: so that then be resemble,
some cruel beast, in the shape of d man
yet whose disguise fitted him badly. Iii
eyes burned like rubies, out OF the gloom,
cayerns under his shaggy eyebrows. Hi
lips were drawn apart, so that his tcctl
glistened. The mans whole expression
and murder
My eye never winked, while he hest
tated. lie saw that, and it made hin
quail. With my finger on the trigger,
kept my rifle level-i, while he threw
down his arms--pistols and knife-witl
Il horrible oath. With the knife in III.
hand, he made movement, as if he woui1
rush on me, but changed his purpose II
time to stop my fire. His cursing wa.
awful-the foam few from his mouth
lie demanded to be let out Of the fort
accused me Of bad intentions toward him
and denounced me fora robbcr AMI a muder
en- To all his rawlings had bat one answer:
70 be quiet, to obey me- AMI be might live
dare to dI.obey me, and he should die
i directed him TO sit down on the on
poslte sGe of the tire--not to move from
that one spot--not to make doubtful
motion. And then | told him | knew
what he was, and what he had meant to 90
When he became convinced of this, lie
broke down utterly, and wept like ii child
declaring that, now he knew my pluck,
and | had been the first man ever to get the
Lest of him, he loved me like brother {"
There was long night before us, and
and ! had got to sit there, with my rifle
across my knees till morning. l could
move little, to stir up or adj to the fire
bat be could have no liberty whatever.
The restraint was horrible to him. One
moment he laughed uneasly-another
cursed or cried. 1t was a strange scene,
wasn't it? Finally, to pass the time.
asked him to relate the history Of his life.
lie wanted first to shake hands, for the
love he bore me. Touching my rife, sig
nficantly, pointed to a stick lying acros.
the fire between u.s. THAT is our bonn
dairy line: dom 20 to reaching your hands
over that Then he sank into a fit Of gloom
| and sullenness.
We must have remained thus silent
until near midnight. Several times OBJ
served him listening to slight sounds out
! side the fort. But his associates must
! i'.t'O Si'Nu }" T. lio S'iiC ana gone Oh, IOF,
as the morning hours approached he ceased
to listen, and everything remained quiet
| His head was bent forward, his chin
resting on his breast, the shaggy beard
| spreading over it like mantle
How horrible it must have been to
keep such company. Why not call on
! Edwards ?
The boy was worn out; and there was
no need. | was very much strung up, too;
so that the exhaustion of sleeplessness, ia
tlgue, or excitement was not felt or noticed
But he suffered. lie was ike hyena Gagged
though he showed it only by involuntary
movements and furtive gIances. FINALLY,
he could bear it no longer, and entreatcd
me piteously, abjectly, to give him his free
dom or blow out his brains | told him be
couldn't have his freedom just yet; but he
knew how to get his brains blown out if he
desired it. Then followed more execrs-