The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-08-07
WHOLE NO 1910

' Donney you speak OF is trump Ia
,ne way OF courage, and is pistol to pistol and
Aniie 10 knife with him before he gives up"
EN- De 1t so, returned the one addressed
as captain; there are four of us. and there ara
pu' TWO OF them and the driver. The driver IL
easily managed, and as for Bonney and his
| companion we are equal to them. Two NJ ma
can go ahead and JON the coach and ,yo o.,
keep in the distance, and bre eadv in ooso .,
emergency ! take this precaution for Long
ana Birch may not wish to have us interfere for
reasons OF their own Jun and Will io,n the
coach al the road tonight, and on our loo,ono
IN the window, for know the stage will carry
hight inside, II the boys wish our interference
they VIII give sign. Are we all agreed 2r
a iuii toned aye from all was the response
ana the whskey jug having been passed around
the party then took up their pistols and how;e
knives, and having secured them about their
persons, left the cabin to get their borses
1t was the midnight Of the day when Bonnev
Wisecraft, and their prisoners left Naperyile.
that they arrived at Little Rock. The drivers
wished to stop all night, but Bonney insisted
that they should go Oh, to which. after much
alteration, they consented. II was a ride of
no little hazard, and Bonney knew il, knew that
ne was IN the very midst Of the quarters OF the
most desperate OF the gang; but believing. az
we said before. that bis greatest safety was jn
pushing forward with haste. he once more
seated hlmseH In the coach, prepared for what
ever might come. The FAINT light OF few
struggling stars. wbich.the thick cloude now and
then Tor moment left bare, alone shone down
on the travellers, as the stage rolled ont q. a
! quick pace. from the town of Little Rock and
rumDied along once more on the main road. TO-
wards the little town Of Dixon. \ class lamn
burned brightly in the coach. but without. tbe
scene was gloomy, AMI calculated 10 insnre ir
Bonney and Wisecraft. reflections of no verv
pleasing character. An almost bou,dlos., ,,..i
RE skirted the road on either side and tho mar
Tie OF darhness rested deep upon it. Aubus.
caues might be on either hand Of the traveller.
at every turn OF the road, or behind every hl-
lock OF the prairie; and owing TO the dar),ness
or the night rendered still more .mpenetrab,a
by the bright light inside the coach. thew won,6
DC unable 70 perceive the approach OF the ene
N.Y. until that enemy should be a. the very win
dows OF the stage Such being the case Bon
| ney drew up the windows OF the coach and
fAa
| closed the curtains by which precaution no
shut ou, as 1t were, the full view os his s;tro-
ton, and at the same time gave himself and b;s
conhpanioh chance for preparation, in the
time II would take the rescuers OF Long and
Birch, should any appear, to open the CURTAIN.
or windows in order 70 ascertain how tbe mar
ties were situated before they fred Tins ar.
ranged, the coach proceeded for some time op
It's way The silence OF death was ON the broad
prairie, and a silence almost as deep answered.
1t from the travellers in the coach NangbA was
heard without, but the rumbing OF the wheels.
naught within but the breathing of the murder-
ers and their guardians, as they sat side by side.
the former covered with irons and the latter
Win pistols IN their hands. ready for any emer-
gency. suddenly two horsemea galoped up
on either side Of the coach, and put their faces
TO the windows. endeavorng TO look in. Bon-
ney Immediately raised his pistol to the head OF
Long, while Wlsecraft did the same TO Birch
The faces then withdrew from the window. the
horsemen evidently being at loss what course
to pursue.
'Bonney," said Birch, these men arc our
friends. told you they would come 10 rescue
us"
"Make then, the sign to them to do 70, an
swered Bonney, ''ant your last moment, and
that OF Longs is passed on EARTH
Would you murder us, Bonney ?"
1t would not be murder, Birch. il would be
taking the law in my Own hauds, and in such a
way that any court OF justice 10 christendom
would justify IT."
Nisecraft expressed the same determination
as Bonney, and the prisoners seeing that there
was no hope mtiDei motionless as statues
avoiding even to turn their eyes II the direction
of the windows. again and again at frequent
int eryals, the horsemen appeared at the win
dows' and withdrew without addressing word
to the inmates OF the coach or the driver This
continued until the dawn OF the day, when they
turned their horses heads TO the prairie and
galloped swiftly out of sight They had waited
for the sign, and it came not, and Bonpey and
Wisecraft rode safely with the murderers, INTO
the town OF Dixon, about nine O'CLOCK in the
morning. Here they changed coaches, and ear
in the evening arrived at q tavern within six-
teen miles of Rock Island, where they halted to
take supper.
When the coach. which they had expressly
chartered for themselves and prisoners, was
about to start. stranger took a seat in it, and
insisted on his right to retain il. Ee was offer
ed seat in the regular mail stage which left
at the same time, but he refused, and swore
that he would go in Bonney's at all hazards
Bonney adopted the only chance left, which
was to take hold OF the stranger by main force
and put him out This he did, much to the sur
prise of the stranger himself, and plainly to the
disappointment OF Long and Birch The stran-
ger was doubtless one of the gang, intending
to lie on hand to discover the remotest chance
Of rescue.
At midnight on the 26th OF September, Bon
new and Wsecraft arrived az Rock Island, and
Long and Birch few moments afterwards we're
safe in jail under the custody OF Lemuel An
drews, sheriff of Rock Island county. Bonney,
exhausted and worn out with fatigue and ex-
citemeut threw himself down TO rest, Juetice
stood by his pillow, and his slumber was sound
and sweet.
The Sagnawlan, with its qualms at swallow