Huntington independent. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1871-1874, 1873-08-21
A MIDNIGHT ADVENTURE.
BY "MoNTEzUMA."

In the year 1869, was spending
most of ny time in admiripg the
scenery of Virginia and West Vir-
j. gina. The summer was drawing to
close, aud there was some grand
mountains scenery, that myself and
/ crowd-which was composed OF half
4 dozen pleasure seekers ike myself
wanted to see.
The scenery above alluded to was
some fifteen or twenty miles distant;
so We determined to take provisions
and necessary trapPings, &c, for
camping out, at least one night, il
not longer Accordingly about 10
O'Clock in the morning we started on
our journey. During the day We had
a very pleasant ride and when night
set in, we drew rein and began look
ing around for q place to pitch our
tent. " g soon found a good place
aud in an hour every thing was com
Portable After finishing our supper
naturally set about for romance,
scenery &c.
The place selected for our camp
ing ground was situated in a kind of
basin, surrounded on three sides by
mountains, on one side an over hang
ing rock some twenty feet high, for
ming an excellent shelter. On the !
other side of the camping ground,
next to the mountain, ran clear lit
tie brook which tumbled over a
preeipice of at least twenty feet ADD
then disappeared under the ground.
The land between the two mountains
was covered with en- abundance Of
good grass, so We tied our horses st
some distance from Us, and all but
myself threw themselves on the
gruOud for = smoke and chat. Loav-
ing my companions | climbed to the
top of the nouDtain aud looked
around me. Never before, or since
have l seen such grand scenery. | /
stood lost in admiration Of the beauii-
ful landscape presented TO my view.
| stood mOtionless for full twenty
minutes, when was aroused from my
reverie by a heavy hand suddenly !
laid on my shoulder, Gud rough
voice commanded me to he quiet.
Hardly knowing what l was doing,
permitted myself to be bopai oni
gagged. Then placing u curious
kind of whistle TO his mouth my cap !
tor gave low peculiar ~Gistle, when
he wac i,etsngly joinei BY tao corr
ruliaus who Looked As bad =, Ihc G'-,
one. The two, from sign from their
leader, instantly picked me " aud
hurried down the moc2:sia.
After an hours travel, We came to
= small, dismal looking hut. from
which few sircaks OF ligh; crept
through the crscks in the logs.
Going to the door, the leader raped
three times, when the door opened
and we eutered the hut. | was laid }
on pile Of straw in one corner Of
the room. Then the three men that
brourh nc to the hut gathered around
the fire and were pretty soon joined
bp a msu about thirty FIVE years Of
ape, stoutly built, with red hair aud
whiskers. After = conversation Of !
some minutes, the three meu that had
caught me, left the hut. After his
companions had left, my red haired
friend, who | had heard addressed So
Bill Dice, came to me, u0boUnd my
feet sud bade me follow him Up 9 lad
der which served for srair steps.
Arriving at the top Of the lsdter !
was told that | would end some straw
to make me a bed. threw myself
the straw in one corner aud Icing
fa,icued, | soon fell asleep.
DO not know how Ioug remain
ed asleep. but it must have been
about midnight, when | WAS aroused
by voices down stairs. che sound OF
blows, aud cry for help, came 10
my ears. 10 sn instant | was on ny
feet, and grabbing rcyolver which
las on a box 10 the room | h'stlly /
descended the ladder, sud there tc-
held a sight that filled ne with hor'
ror.
"Die! you wench, die" and in az
instant a gliitering koife was raised
in the air. In one hand Bill Dice
/ held a knife and with the ether, held /,
a lovely girl Of sixteen years. Eeady |
to plunge the Knife to the hil.. !
Before he could perforn the bloody !
act, raised M revolver sud Grcd.
Wi'h low moan, no snnk 70 the |
floor and the spirit of Bill Dice dis
solved from its tenement cf clay
| | then procured some water and |
bathcd the face OF the girl, for she !
had tainted during the fray, and |
when she had sufficiently recovered
we started across the mountain, aud
| in two hours We were at the camp.
! After partaking Of hesrty break !
fast | related my adventure TO ny
companions, when it was decided 90
return Immediately; aud in su hour
We " ere ready to return home. In
two weeks more, the beautiful SELA
! CAsTELLo was my own little wife
Kind reader, this Is the result of "Ay
/ HjGaiqLt Adrmtpe. '-PeTsJR'J
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