The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1872-08-09

could see he became more uneasy l COM
menced to snore with long and regular
drawn breath, and on the instant the vii
lain started as starts the hunter when he
hears the tread of game in the woods.
But bark Aha-there was before one
lingering fear in my mind that l might
shoot the wrong man, but it was all gone
now. As the fellow stopped the motion of
the paddle, distinctly heard him mutter
''Oho! my dear sheep-you little dreamed
that Gus Karl was your companion. But
he'll do you good turn. If your friend is
dead you shall follow him, and I'll take
your traps to pay for your passage to heav-
enp'
! l think these were the very words. At
any rate they were their drift. As he thus
spoke he noiselessly drew in the paddle and
then rose to his feet. l saw him reach over
his left shoulder, and when he brought
back his hand he had large bowie knife
i'll it. | could see the blade gleam in the
pale moonlight, and l saw Karl run his
thumb along the edge, and then feel the
point My heart beat fearfully, and my
breathing was hard. 1t was with the ut
most exertion that l could continue snor-
! ing, but | managed to do it without inter-
ruption. Slowly and noiselessly the foul
wretch approached me. o his step would
| not have awakened a hOund-and his long
cleaning knife was haIf-raised-I could
hear his breathing plainly, and | could hear
the grating of his teeth, as he nerved him
self for the stroke.
Ill
sured the distance from his hand to my
heart with his eye. In his left hand he
held thick handkerchief all wadded up.
That was to stop my mouth with. Every
nerve in my body was now strung, and my
heart stood still as death. OF course my
snoring ceased and at that instant the
huge knife was raised above my bosom =
Quick as thought l brought my pistol up
the muzzle was within a foot of the robbers
heart-he uttered a quick cry saw the
bright blade glitter in the moonlight, but
/ it came not upon me. 1 pulled the trigger,
and the last fear was passed. l had tho't
that the weapon missed, but it did not
There was sharp report, and as | Sprang
up and backed | heard fierce yell, and at
the same moment the robber fell forward :;
his head struck my knee as it came down.
Weak and faint, l sank back, but a sud
den tip Of the canoe brought me to my
senses, and went aft and took the paddle.
! As soon as the boats head was once right,
! | turned my eyes upon the form in the bot
tom of the canoe, and saw it quiver-only
slight spasmodic movement-and all was
still.
All that night 1 sat there at my watch
and steered my canoe. | had my second
pistol ready, for L knew not surely that the
wretch was dead. He might be waiting to
catch me off my guard, and then shoot me-
But the night passed slowly and drearily
away, and when the morning broke the
form had moved not Then l stepped for
ward and found that Gustus Karl was dead!
He had fallen with his knife true to his
aim, for it struck very near to where my
heart must have been, and the point was
driven so far into the solid wood that had
to work hard to pull it out, and harder still
to unclasp the marble fingers that were
closed with dying madness about the han
die.
Swiftly flowed the tide, and ere the sun
sank to rest had reached Logansport.-
The authorities knew the face of Gustus
Karl at once, and when | told them my
story they poured a thousand thanks upon
my head. a purse was raised, and the of
fered reward put with it, and rendered to
me. l took the simple reward from the
generous citizens, while the remainder
directed should be distributed among those
90 I
robbers depredations.
found Knapp sick and miserable He
was burning with fever, and the doctors
had shut him up in room where a well
man must soon have suffocated.
Water water give me water p he
gasped.
Haven't you had any?" l asked.
He told me no. / threw open the win
dows, sent for pail of ice-water, and was
about to administer some of the latter when
the old doctor came in. He held up his
hands in horror, and told me it would kill
the sick man. But L forced him back, and
Knapp drank the welcome beverage. He
drank deeply, and then slept. The perspir-
alton poured from him like rain, and when
he awoke again his skin was moist and his
} fever was turned. In three days he sat IN
: his saddle by my side, and together we
started for Little River. At WaltOn's set
tlement found my horse fully recovered,
l and when offered to pay for his keeping
the host would take nothing. The story ot
, my adventure on the river had reached
t there ahead of me, and this was the land
lords gratitude.