The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-01-06
ADAsH FOR LIFE.

wears ago. 1uete muht, Iuluk, nave
been five or six hundred OF us in and
about S-----.. We were surrounded on
NIL sides by buslIrangers. 0utrages OF
every possible kind were of daily occur
renee, and many brave fellow met his
death in attempting, with others, to
break mp the camps of these daring out.
laws. Did I come near losing my life,
You ask ? Yes, more than once. And
I particularly recall one time Of which
I will tell you.
We had u small, resolute company Of
men under us, made desperate by re.
peated wrongs, and they hardly cared
what they did or what risk they ran, in
trying to exterminate those fierce bush.
rangers.
Almost every movement Of ours was
watched but Sheldric Day, our captain
was as keen rs the sharpcst of the out
laws. So when nm old farmer came in
with his wngOn filled with green stuff
ind covered with straw, Day watched
his chance and succeeded III starting
him homcward with load OF rifles I'M
der the straw.
Toward nightfall one man struggled
of, whistling in one direction, with his
hands in his pockets another one an
other way; another, another; and 80
on. Our rendezvous was Dury's Forks,
lonely track of country, where the
roads branched OF in many directions,
When We got fairly beyond the lin
its haunted by spies, we mended our
pace, and the men were soon coming in
from MI directions upon the run, ready
to seize their weapons and go whittier
Captain Day might lead.
Shaping cur course in n soutlwestorly
direction, We made what speed the
tall, tangled, bothersome priirie.grnss
would allow, and crept on stealthily.
Tho camp Of tho bushrangers was ut
supper; We surprised it, and fierce
hand.to.hand fight Gnsucd. The fellows
were finally routed but somehow be.
came separated from the rest, and two
or three Of the rrlfIians, discovering my
situation, bore down upon me. Inspite
OF my frantic efforts they captured me,
and bore me with them on tho retreat.
\, - company probably did not mt first
J;Soov.- my abseHce, MS it was quite
Jart and al, was left to the mercies of
gang Of cut-thlS SntS;
With no delicate ouch they seized
upon me, securely bound i2,y hant,s, and
advised me, with the cold lips o. re-
volyer, to keep quiet. They then d. lsll-
ed away toward a village some miles as
tant, where their headquarters were, or
rather where the prison was located;
Without word, l was thrust into a
damp, dark, underground apartment,
whose only aperture Tor light and AR
was grated holo which lust rose above
the ground level. Igathei9d myself up;
and looked my situation in tie face. l
Knew these outlaws well. I hid moth
ing to expect but to DO dragged forth
during tho night and hanged upon me
first projection which offered suflicicn.'
support for my weight. ] was too we'll
known Ms first lieutenant Of the K-.-.--
Regulator to hopo for mercy. My com.
panionB would doubtless think that !
Ind fallen, and leave me to my fate.
Worn out with hard work and care,
fell asleep.-.tllough l have often Won
dered since at it--.from which delightful
rest l was awakened by u soft, rasping
noise close by
Rats" I:mentally commented, and
turned over
"Hist," said voice Mt the window,
or the grated opening that served for
one. care You awaken"
Awake and more than awake"
answered, and Immediately brought my
face to The aperture. ...--.
"Bc quiet, said tho voice. "Tlcir
guard is pacing not ten yards from here,
but the darkness is favorable. Get this
iron bar between the rods md wrench
carefully toward you. l have strlight-
ened ont the ends that were clcnchcd
upon this side"
Carfully Selling upon the iron bar
thrust in to me, inserted the end I'M.
der the first rod, and gradually started
it.
"Hist! tho guard is coming this way;
whit until hG returns to- tho 'front.'
breathed my helper. Hist"
The guard clanked by, starting the
sweat from every pore OF my body; for
/ expected him to stumble upon my
friend aud delivercr outside.
"Be quick" resumed the voice ut
the grating again. +" He will return in
Just twenty minutes, for have marked
his beats; and.--Quick."
One after the other each OF the bars
was dropped from It's place; and then,
by reaching my hands out through the
aperture, and by dint Of using my shoe
less feet against the wall, l struggled,
and was drawn through. Fortunately,
! was slim md slight; large man must
have hopelessly struggled himself. Not
too soon, either, for the guard turned
the corner Mt the moment md came to.
ward us. We crouclied behind in the
shade Of the projecting wall.
He heard nothing; saw nothing; paced
his bent, md went buck. Once out Of
sight, be very sure we did not lose any
time. Springing up, and catching by
the top Of the high fence, We swung our.
selves outside.
1.-The only thing that I could get, "
said Davis, leading mo to M old mule,
and cautiSning me in n whisper to be-
ware OF the vicious old animals heels.
"Ncw, look sharp; don't take the Red
Forks, mind You, nor tho main route
TINT leads to the courthouse. There
arc four roads by the Live Oaks, nil
running west; YOU know them; be sure
don't take the third one, that leads right
into the camp Of the outlaws, but the
fourth takes you down among our boys
1.-THE Rcgs. Mind well my directions,
and ride softly, while l try TO take up