Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-07-10

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hat, squeezed into no shape at all; h
black hair had probably not been cut fc
a twelvemonth; he was clad in buckski
from neck TO ankle; buffalo robe CO.
cred his saddle, by the side of whic
hung an eighteen-shot repeating rifle o
each hip he carried large revolver; an
a straight knife in ieathcrn sReat
hung in his belt. At the sight of me h
recoiled, as have said, and half Dire,
one OF his revolvers, but seeing that | wa
alone and quite in his power he cam
slowly on, keeping, however, his eve o
me all the while. thought conciliatio
best, so said: " Good morning. t
Good evening"" he replied, as every
BODY out there would have replied, what
ever the time of day. 't.t 't-l
VIII you have drop of brandyY"
asked, by sudden impulse. He griml
smiled assent and drank, pronouncing
good" then he said Where's you
hoss, strangery"
looked round, and, to my dismay, say
that my steed had vanished" had va
moosed," the stranger said then he con
lnued; thought | saw hoss in tn,
| gully over there, and when l see YOU
thought it might be yourn. Here, com,
this way" 'tt'GE' 'T's'
scrambled over the rugged sion,
after him, but the horse was nowhere IL
sight. The stranger pointed to where he
had seen 1t, and then by signs totally un.
Ineligible to me we tracked il for some
half mile until we found it in perfect
maze of rocks and gullies. ] thanked
him very heartily and made an offer OF
reward; but with the same apathy which
had marked his conversation all through
he declined it, and bidding me "go0d
night" rode slowly off, first having con.
Quoted me back to the track.
followSd the road for long time, un.
I'll began to grow uneasy at the time
which elapsed before | struck the plain.
| could no longer see the base OF the
hills, and although l believed I knew the
exact direction ! ought to follow | at
last began to conceive the possibility of
my having lost my way. To get back to
my original road before nightfall was
impracticable and pushed desperately
on until nothing but the highest peaks of
the tremendous mountains behind me
were tinged by the setting sun. In n
very short time this died away, and the
valleys and ravines below became more
dense and gloomy every minute
All this tinp I ~ H. g<SSoUu ny
path few score yards ahead of me. To
make matters worse | found that my
horse was nearly exhausted, and could
only limp painfully along the rough
track. | was growing more out OF
heart with my situation than | ever was
in my life, when, on turning an angle,
found that had come upon large tract
of level ground, and that not hundred
yards ahead stood shanty, from which
a light feebly cleaned My jaded horse
prickcd up his ears and stumbled briskly
along, and in another minute | was
knocking at the rude door. 1t was
thrown OPEN by gaunt-looking fellow
in an old blue army cloak, and who held
although he partially concealed it, a
pistol in his Fight hand. The interior. as
could see, w@ of the most uninviting
character-scartely an article of furni.
ture, and lighted Iy lamp which, void
of glass, flared on be window.ledge.
told my case, and sullenly bidding
me turn my horse int, the corral by the
side of the house, ant then enter, he
moved away. When had secured my
steed in the inclosure, and the door of
the shanty swung to behind me. | was
almost sorry | had not chosen to sleep
Win tne wolves In Jnc mountain gun1os.
My host was silent and sullen, showing
very plainly his intention not to talk
presently, however, he said: "Guess
you'll want supper. There's water in
that pail; there's whisky in that bottle
there's beef in that locker. You cant
have nothing else"
said, which was partly true, that
was too tired to eat. | certainly could
not have eaten or drank in his dirty
hovel, or of such uninviting food, espe
cially with so forbidding ruffian for my
companion.
then you'll want to go to Sleep" Ii,
said, roughly, and kicked bundle apar
| disclosing a couple of buffalo robes, will
two rude pillows. There you are. Gc
| to bed then"
1t was of no use betraying any fear
and he was evidently giving up his be-
to me, so lay down and in a short tim
was doing, when was aroused by hear
ing the tread of horse, and then tn
door opened half rose from my bed
and to my surprise saw enter the MAJ
whom | had met at midday on the mour
tain. He recognized me, too, but sat
nothing distinct.
"Well, how is it, Joe?" said the othe
man, with very serious, If not anxious
look
Bad" said my friend, or " Joe"-"ver
bad. It's all correct"
|
began the other.
"Yes," said Joe, filing up the pause
"they mean coming. They may com
tomoTow-perhaps tonight. We sha
have to vamoose."
They conversed in undertones as the
sat on their rude stools by the low woOC
fire chewing or smoking, and occasion
ally drinking from whisky bottle; the
discourse seemed very grave and di
quieting, and from word or two
caught, and from their glances, fancie
they were often referring tom me. At las
in spite of myself fell asleep, and tire
as | was might have slumbered ii
morning, but a tremendous crash awoR
me, and rising l saw that the door ha
been burst open, and that the shanty WI
filling with strangers, all armed, whi
Joe and his comrade had drawn sudden
to my side of the room. On the instal
half dozen men surrounded them al
took their firearms.
"Hallow exclaimed one of the nev
comers, as he caught sight of me, "wl
is this9 Are there three in the gang?"
All eyes being upon me, although d
/ not quite understand the situation, e
planned briefly who was; and the a
] count seemed satisfactory.
J "NOw, Joe Blakey, and you, III
/ Marll, reckon you know why we ha
} Gomez" said the man who seemed spoke
man.
, "Guess we do" said Joe, in his usu
| apathetic tone.
Q '"You expected visit" continued t
I man. "We have heard all your braggi
g agin the Vigilantes'--
{ "Never said so," interrupted Joe.
e | was amazed at these words. He
! was in the presence of the prompte
most terrible tribunal of modern tim
/ and / OWNED only too clearly their
| rand. The Vigilantes, or Vigilance Co
0 mittee. as may be known, is selfcons
: tuted body, which, In the remote pa
/, of the United States, springs into spC
!, taneous existence TO remedy In rouI
d fashion the monstrous defects of {
0 prevalently imperfect courts of justi
q Acting without and, in fact, in defian
4 of law, these committees, though dol
s things roughly, help materially to ma
| III 4 III