Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1873-12-18

"Not sharp enough yetY said the
younger, looking up from the gOrdian,
knot which he was unlOosing.
"Hush,n said the other, sdon't speak so
loud; you will awake the travellers"
/ We drew nearer to the door.
"No; it takes sharp knife to cut
muscle and bone.' And the whetting
went on with renewed vigor.
Again pausing and trying the edge, he
addressed his companion in a low grum-
bling tone
81 thought we should catch them when
l saw them enter the wood last evening
but we must be careful not to spill any
blood around, for that would warn others
You must hold the pail while cut their
throats-ha! ha! this will be the best
mornings job we have done for many a
day."
You may well believe that our hearts
sunk within us on hearing these brutal
words. SO then there was no mistake
about it; we had indeed fallen among as
sassins, and every moment might be our
last.
As there must be an end to all things,
so at last the knife was deemed sufficient
ly keen; and LAYING it down upon the
table, the elder ruffian-for could call
him by no other name-took up the rope
which the other had just shaken from the
last knot, and winding one end around
his foot was seemingly trying its
strength.
II think it will do, /" he said in the same
low tone he had used before, shut you
know the two bodies will be heavy"
| At these words all doubts as to our be.
ing the two who were meant, vanished
/ sr,, oil OF aud a m nj
| ly unnerved us. To die 80 young-away
from home and friends, and such terri
BILE death, too--the thought was horrible.
There seemed to be no means Of escape
but through the window, and that we
dared not attempt to raise, lest the noise
should alarm the ruffians, and bring them
Immediately upon us. In this alternative,
after whispered consultation, we resolv-
ed to sell our lives as dearly as possible.
In my valise was small package OF
bullets, which had placed there so that
we might amusc ourselves by shooting at
mark, In case game should prove scarce;
but how to get them was the question.
| The snap of the lock would alarm our
pleasant neighbors, who, meanwhile, were
occupied in making slip-noose upon one
end of the rope.
However, to our inexpressible relief,
having finished their bloody apparatus,
| they both arose and left the room, carry
| ing their tools with them. Soon as their
steps died away in the distance, snap
went the lock of the valise; and, fright
lending us speed, venture to say never
were two guns doube-loaded, or two indi-
viduals dressed quicker than we. Placing
two chairs abreast, and resting our pieces
upon them so as 20 command the door,
with by no means pleasant feelings, we
awaited the issue. For long time we
kept vigilant watch, till the morning
sun streamed through our window, bat
saw no trace of our expected assailants.
Soon smell of hot coffee and rolls began
TO penetrate the crevices of the door, and
a light step in the adjoining room led us
once more to our lookout. Instead of the
sangunary rufiians we had seen before,
there was cheerful-looking young female
moving lightly about, and preparing sa-
vory-looking breakfast.
"Sure," said my friend, "such coun-
tenance does not look like one used to
scenes Of Blood" and, opening the door,
before could prevent him, was by her
side. After the interchange of the usual
| morning salute, he casually inquired after
| the men whom he had seen the night be-
| fore.
ooh, said she, "they are in the barn
skinning two foxes that they have just
killed they were caught just before you
| came last night"
The merry laugh of my companion
| rang out at this explanation Of the bloody
mystery, and for my life / could not help
| joining with him, to the no small amuse-
ment of our hostess.
We Immediately proceeded to the barn,
and there, sure enough, were two foxes
with their throats cut and their hides
almost off, You may believe that we felt
| as though relieved Of a heavy burden.
Soon the breakfast bell summoned us to
| the house, and after partaking of the good
things, settling with our host, and inquir-
| ing the way to our destination, we babe
all hands good-Gay, and started merrily
on again.
| So ended our adventure, with the ex-
ception that after driving about a mile, we
alighted and discharged our guns, rid
| ding fence with much more satisfac-
| ton than we should have felt in putting
cold lead into human being.
Suffice 1t to say, that after pleasant
ride we reached our destination; but
never to this day can either of us restrain
a smile when recounting that night among
! the woods.