New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-04-14

clad miners, with their masked face and

their stout sticks. fs5A III IL
Its no use for you to bubble over
what we saw the first man put in quickly;
III only wastes time, and we don't care to
spend much in this climate. You've moth
ing to do but pass us over those watches
you brought from the public, and your own
watch and chain; we happen to know
they're worth having. Come, do it at once,
or it'll be the worse for you"
81 wonder whether you understand that
the descriptions and numbers are all ia
ken 7" said, as easily as l could, Just still
for the purpose Of gaining time; ''and won
der whether you understand that the police
will be at once on the track OF the thieves
You'll wish the watches anywhere but on
your persons, I'm thinking
l believe / said it as coolly as any one
could under the circumstances, but could
see that the men were little impressed by
the import Of my words.
"We'll settle all that between ourselves"
the ostler said, with grating chuckle: land
rs you dou't seem inclined to hand that
there box over peaceahly, we'n just,help
ourselves. Go ahead, mate
"Come, look here. you fellows" began
know you both. well enough. and can swear
to yOn before any judge III England. Don't
you think 1t would be your wisest plan to
go Oft before you've seven years transpor
tation to look forward to 2"
Leave those little personal affairs for us
to SETTLE" sneered the miner; "well look
after ourselves when we leave you tonight
Come, look sharp, that we amt tempted to
make your swearing to US rather harder
than you could wish. Don't you see that
we're two of us, each with twice your
strength, and there's 90 help within cou-
pie of miles p
NOW then, mate, stop this ridiculous
dawdling," put in the other man, sullenly.
II won't wait a minute longer dawdling
here in the cold. As he won't hand the
things ons without any fuss, we'll do it all
for him, and do it sharp. Tie up his
mouth with tie handkerchief, and pass me
the cord"
My mouth was gagged in an instant, as it
seemed to me; and while | fought fran
tically at the rutfians, they seized my wrists.
and bound them round and round with
thin cord, piercing the flesh until the blood
came.
1--we got 'em safe enough, and I'll tie
EN- so," muttered one fellow, with d ieer-
ing laugh, while the other had his great
ugly hands tight on the breast of NY coat.
"HOld hard one moment"
just as the man spoke and tied the first
link in. the cord, there came toward us
slowly from the hedge on our right. great
black tiff, his shaggy head raised, and
his sharp gray eyes shining in the dim,
weird gloom OF the snowy night. He hest
tated moment before he reached us; then.
with the shrill bark with which mas,itf
generally prepares himself for an attack, he
rushed upon the fellow who was holding
me, seized him by the throat, and throwing
him down upon his back, stood with his
forepaws on his neck and chest. Shall
ever forget the mans affect, craven fear as
the dogs fierce eyes met him SO closely; as
the dog white tangs cleaned between his
drawn lips, and his angry, painting breath
rose and fell upon the mans own CHASTITY
cheek E..
Cali your bloodhound off," cried the
other man. drawing back from me in terror.
Of course l saw it was best that they
should think, as they naturally would. that
the dog was mine; SO | answered. with
light, sathical laugh, you don't know
much Of mastiffs if you think that such
one as that would let his master be way
laid. With word, can have you sprawl
ing there beside your rascally companion
spoke it confidently enough, feeling that
both my lite and property were safe; but
could not help hoping he would not force
me to prove my words.
Call him off, he cried again, shivering
as he looked at the dog, who-eviden,ly
and unmistakablv ready to spring to the
assault in moment, as only mastlh can.-
watched every movement of one nah,
while he held the other, his great shaggy
haired chest heaving quickly.
You'd be safer, you and Your cursed &C
complete, if you were ten miles away row.
l said, almost jauntily.
Nov. then. sir, take him off, the man
answered, suddenly affecting jocund inno-
cence. I'VE were only frightening you, 10
test your pluck. l wonder you didn't I'M
derstand that from the first. Take your
dog CD, please, and let us get back; we've
been long enough over joke
Seeing that the mans fear was most
thorough and unfeigned. looked the dog
steadily and kindly in the face, and whis
tied. l knew that it was such whistle as
my own dogs used to understand and an
swer TO in the old days: but was not with
out sickening fear that the animal, know
ing me stranger, would ignore my call,
and SO perhaps make his rescue OF no effect.
Slowly he shook his great black head and
shaggy breast, raised his fore feet deliber-
ately one at time, and turned to join me.
The man on whom he had been standing
still lay PROSTATE in the snow, too much
terrified to attempt TO rise while the animal
was near.
Good dog Noble fellow y whispered.
in the low, caressing tone which l knew
that dogs were keen to understand and
quick to appreciate. He looked up into my
face with as much of an answer in bis eyes
as had ever seen in my old tavorite's,
and then walked on beside me. so close be-
side me that could feel his soft hair touch
my hand. Silently and watchfuIly he walked,
his step utterly noiseless on the fast deep
ening snow.
Fast deepening, indeed Every moment
it fell thicker and thicker. Each moment it
lay deeper and deeper under my tired feet
for l was tired already as | never remeln-
bered to have been before after only three
miles walk. Only three miles even YET, ard
twelve to come. threw away the match
had lighted to enable me to read the figures
on the milestone. and started again on my
toilsome way, dazzled almost by the white
eXpanse OF deepening snow, and wishing
with all my heart that | had been an
habitual smoker and had pipe with me
now. Before l had gone another mile the
aspect OF the weather had completely
changed fierce gale set in from the south
east, driving clouds Of snow before If: and
NE must have been battling so whole
night. Yet, probably, it was not more
than an hour, and l had no progress
worth speaking of. though little strength
seemed left to me. l could not look up
now. as pressed on against wind that
literally seemed to scream as it passed me,
and drifted the snow in heaps against the
gates and hedges. Did / ever remember
such a sudden, binding snow storm as this
in my life before! Never. l plunged 10y
hands deep into my pockets to warm them,
but even in their thick driving gloves. they
were benumbed and helpless. My strength
and spirit were failing. Nine or ten miles
to walk even yet before home was reached,
and it seemed as if could not make any way
fighting on in the teeth of the furious wind
l felt that long before those nine or ten
miles were travelled the road would be i'm
passable and my strength exhausted
Faster and thicker the snow fell now. and