New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-11-29
walked across the blacksmith shup when

looked back before crossing the river. l
saw there was going to be trouble. go put
my hand under the wagon cover and drew
out my rifle and cooked il. As the black
smith turned to come toward me, said,
Halt, or you're dead man! and with that
l raised my gun, the barrel fell into the
palm of my left hand, and l had a dead
sight on him right between the eyes, One
step more and drew the trigger. There
was no report. but a dull sound-a kind
OF 'cluck'--as the pan flew open. My
eve fell ON the cock, and in an instant
understood it all. The flint had been re.
moved and piece of black walnut to re-
semble it had been put in its place. This
had all been done by the blacksmith. when
I went down the hill behind his shop TO
drink a. his spring. The fellow bad re-
placed the gun in the wagon just as left it
10 avoid creating suspicion. l wolld nave
given ten years of my lifetime it could
have held in my hand one OF your double
barreled percuss sion rifles. However. 1t was
my life or N: money. perhaps both; SO
clubbing my tie. as the foremost advanced
with a long horse pistol. determined to
fight it ont to the end. On he came. cock.
ing and raising his pistol; but stumpng his
toe against a stone he stumbled toward me.
Before he recovered my old rifle. as 1t
whirled came in contact with his weapon
and sent it spinning across the road. lie
lodged second blow which ! aimed at his
head, aud ran TO recove. his pistol. Here
was, for a moment. like q buck at bay. Two
rascals one armed with a bar of iron and
the other with big cudgel. were afraid
to come within reach of my dubbed rifle.
had but a short respite. The ved shirted
man soon recovered his shooting Iron and.
advancing within five yards, fired. jumped
to one side, but there was a numb. dead
feeling in my righs arm. and it fell as use
less against my side as the sleeve that
encased it. l had now but one arm. ard
that my left, SO. OF course. there was
short scutiie. saw one of them approach.
ing, q large stone in both hands. raised
above his head. as another was pulling me
down. There was heavy thud on my
head, and remembered no more.
"When | came tO--as / did, of course, or
l would not be here to tell the story--it
seemed as if I was gradually awakening
from a long, confused dream, dream OF
years, in which had lived over my whole
could not tell. Then, as my faculties re-
turned, called to mind my starting fro M
home, and the journey all along until |
stopped to get my horse shod. Then l
thought of the blacksmith and his villianous
face, and realized my situation. The vii
lains had dragged me for dead man away
from the road,-I did not know how far
and covered me with leaves. l could not
move INV right arm, but brushed away the
leaves from my face with my lett. In a
short time | showed them from the lower
part of my body. and felt for my money
belt. 1t was dangling by one of the strings,
which had become entangled in button Of
nv pantalOOns. OF course it was empty;
and the money had in my pockets, and my
watch were also gone did not know how
long had lain there; it might have been
for hours or days, for what | knew. AS it
was hazy, there was no sun visible to tell
me whether it was morning, noon. or even
ing. was quite numb, but presently felt
nv body all over to find if was bleeding.
Much to my relief l was not, but there
was a great deal of ciOtted and dried blood
on the back of my head and down the
back of my neck There was also a large
cash on the top of my head, and the HAIR was
matted over it. Then felt all over head.
and the skull seemed to be sound. So
was convinced that the terrible blow had
received, although it had cut my head dread
fully, had only stunned me. The loss of
blood had in all probability saved my life."
Here Sue laid down her sewing and drew
a long sigh. Uncle Ben, putting a fresh
quid Of tobacco in his mouth, continued:
After while found that l could rise.
though with difficulty, and my wounded
arm, when l stood up, was not as bad had
supposed. The ball had struck that part of
the elbow known as the 'craZy bone.' and
had glanced. Although bruised and sore.
had some use of it; could raise and lower
it. and could open and close my hand and
work my fingers. OF course lamented the
loss of nv money. 1t was all had to pay
Shackleford for the land l had agreed to
buy OF him. ! also regretted deeply the
anxiety and grief my absence would cause
my wife. My immediate care. however.
was to know where ! wac. and to find the
road.
"rhere was small grecnsward in front
of me. probably an old wind clearing. The
cattle of the few neighboring settlers had
likely grazed here. and kept down the
bushes. Walking forty or fifty yards down
hill to the edge OF the sward. ] came to a
precipice of about ten feet. and below it
heard the sound OF running water. Peerins
through the trees l also saw bright, spark
ling brook. l was very thirsty, and Chamber.
ing down with much difficulty, went to the
brook, took a hearty drink, and after q
while drank again, and then again.
''By this time realized that it was even.
ing, for it began to grow dark. l did not
know on which side of the road l was or
how far from it, but felt certain that if
could even find the spring where I was
robbed, it would still be three or four miles
to the place where ShackelfOrd intended to
camp: l concluded, therefore, in my weak
condition, to spend the night where was,
and to find the road and push on in the
morning.
II found on searching my waistcoat
pocket that / still had flint and steel, which
generally carried. So gathering handful
of furze from birch tree, and peeling off
some of the bark, struck light and kind.
led fire. had selected a spot TO. this pur-
pose on q bare fat rock some yards in ex-
tent, Immediately below the slight preci-
pice | have just mentioned. On the fat
rock there We're several cavities. or shallow
holes, might cali them. about the size of
the top of hcgshead. and filed with dry
leaves. One III these holes was on the lett
hand side OF bed of dry moss. on which
had made up my mind TO sleep. Twas very
hungry. which l considered a good sign,
and lay down as reaief to the uneasiness it
gave me. Here ! bemoaned the loss Of my
money. instead Of feeling grateful TO God
that ms lie had been spared. I turned
from side to side a great many times. and at
last fell asleep. had many wild. wander
ing drsams. waking occasionally lust long
enough 10 find ont that had been dreaming.
remember the last one had very distinctly.
Imagined fought with the robbers again:
that killed one and drove another OFF. ard
followed him at q distance through the
woods. and saw him &C to place very much
like the Hat rock where I was lying. and
put money. which supposed lie had taken
from travellers, into holes like those around
me: that when he went away l CROPPED in
one Of the holes and found the ill gotten
treasure.
'ln my 10y woke up. and was really
ciutching the leaves in the hole on my left.
withdrew my hand with peevish excla.
nation, and found something entangled
around my fingers. Was it a string! No.
cn,,l3 ~ hra L II NliapS su6