Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1872-10-24
They were in the breast pocket of

could reach them at any instant. An
other hour passed away, and by thai
time I had become assured that ths
robber would make no attempt upon
me until after pightfall. he sal
that it would be convenient that we
were together, for 4 we could run all
night, as one could steer while the
other slept. 2al ...2.. ..ss ii ~
i:@ Aye" 1 added with a, smile
"that is good for me, for every hour
is valuable. .I.would not miss meet
ing my friend Tor the world"
"Ohl you'll meet him, never fear,
said my companion.
Ah-he spoke that with too much
meaning. 1 understood it well. /
knew what the sly tone, and that
strange cleaning Of the eye meant.
He meant he would put me on the
road to eetpoor Knapp in the 9th
er world. Il only wonder?nows sthatI
had not detected the robbsr when I
first saw him, for the expression Of
his face was 80 heaftless, 50 icyA Aand
his eyes had such a. wicked look
that the most unpracticed physiogno-
mist could not have failed to detect
the villain at.onee.
t, During the rest Of the afternoon we
conversed some, but not so freely as
before. I could that the Villains
eyes were not SO frankly bent on me
as he spoke, and that he seemed In
clined to avoid my direct glances.
The movements ON his part were not
studied, ,-or even.inteptiopal, bptsthey
were;instincsive, as Though his very
nature led thus. AT length night
came on. We late our supper and
then smoked DUR pipes, and finally
my companion proposedthatI should
sleep before he did. At first I thought
of objecting; but a few moments re-
Aection told me that I bad better be-
have as though be were an honest
;m.sa; SO t.agFssd to his spropoaition:
He took my seat at the stern, and |
moved further forward, and having
removed the tbwart upon which my
companion had been sitting, I spread
my. cloak>in the bottom Of the canoe,
'ahi theh having placed my valise for
a pillow,, I laid down. As soon as
possible 1 drew out one of my pistols
a and beneath the cover Of a cough I
cooked it. Then I moved my body
so that my arm could be .at liberty,
and grasping my weapon firmly, with
my finger on the guard, drew up
my mantle, slouching my hat, and
then settled down for my watch.
Fortunately for me the moon was
up, and though the forest threw a
shadow upon me, yet the beams fell
upon Karl, and I could see his every
movement. We we're well into the
Wabash, having entered tabout three
o'clock.
You will call me at midnight" :"
said I, drowsily."
eyes," he returned.
"Good night" :.
GOOD mig ght-and pleasant dreams.
III have you further on your way
than you think ere you wake up
again"
:" Perhaps so, I thought to- myself,
as lowered my head, and pretended
to compose myself to sleep.
For half an hour my companion
steered the canoe very we'll, and SEEM
ed to take no notice. of me but at
the end of that time I could see he
became more uneasy. I commenced
to snore with a long and regular
drawn breath, and on the instant the
villain 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 |
might shoot the wrong man, but it
was gone now. AS the fellow stop
ped the motion Of the paddle, I dis
tinctly heard him mutter:
30 hol my dear sheep-yon little
dreamed that Gus, Karl was your
companion. But hs'll do you q good
turn. If your friend is dead you
shall follow him, and I'll take your
traps to pay for your passage to
heaven u
l think these were the very words.
At any rate they were their drift. q AS
he thus spoke he noiselessly drew in
the paddle and then rose to his feet.
l saw him reach over his left shoul-
der, and when he: brought. back his
hand he had a large bowie knife in
it. could see the blade CLEAN in
the pale moonlight, and I saw Karl
run his thumb along the -edgeY and
then feel the point My heart beat
fearfuny, andmy breathing was hard.
It was with the utmost exertion that
1 could continue snoring, but 1 man
aged TO do it without interruption.
Slowly and. noiselessly the foul wretch
approached me. O! his step would
not have awakened a hoqnd7and
his long, cleaning knife was halErais-
ed could hear his'breathing plain
ly, and I could hear the grating of
his teeth,, ashe nerved himself for
the stroke. ..s'';..Hh5.
The villain was by my side, and he
measured the distance from his hand
to nv heart with his eye. In his
left hand he held a thick handker-
chief all wadded up. That was to
stop my mouth with. Every nerve
in nv body was now strung, and my
heart stood Still as death. OF course
my snoring ceased and at that in
slant the huge knife was raised above
my bosom Quick as thought I brought
my pistol up-the muzzle was within
foot 20 of the robbers heart-he ut
tered quick cry-I saw the bright
blade glitter in the moonlight, but it
came not upon me. I pulled, the
trigger, and the. last fear was passed.
1 had thought that the weapon miss
~ = 49,,