The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-03-16

Then he relapsed into silence; but the
tone of his voice had been so kind to me
that presently l made bold to speak to
him again.
"Papa," said I, laying my hand upon
the butt of the blundeIbuss, which hung,
mouth downwards, from his shoulder, " is
this the old blunderbuss that used to hang
in the hall at home, or is it new one?"
"Its the old one, Dick, my boy" re-
piled my father. "Clean or dirty, !
wouldn't part with it for the best score of
Queen Besses in the English army" % g..
"Papa," said, with something of a
shiver, and yet feeling attached to the
shining, cruel thing, "has it ever killed
anybody"
"Ah, yes; it has done it's duty many a
time" replied my father. My great
grandfather took it from the hand of a
dead cateran on the field of Aughrim. 1t
was then black and bloody, and it has
done many days work since"
shuddered, and shrank back from the
evil thing so far as could without losing
NY DdIduCC. III ldthSl lClI tAiC detiou.
"Don't be afraid Of the poor thing"
he muttered, half-laughinglv; " it won't
hurt you. And l do hope it may never
more have any work to do"
"Ahr' l said, "I'll never go near OF
touch the nasty thing again. I'll--"
"Tut, tut" replied my father, "you
talk like girl! But, halo! here we are
in the middle of the bog, and l intending
to go the other road. That's what comes
of gossiping."
Looking round, l recognized part of
the road over which we had passed in the
morning. 1t was sort of raised cause
way, like railway embankmcnt, and ran
right across the center of large tract OF
bog. 1t was the nearest way from our
house to town, but was seldom made use
of except in the daytime. Out Of repair,
unsheltcred from wind Or rain, and
tianked on either side by deep ditch,
full Of ugly, black, deadly-looking water,
it was anything but a pleasant road to
travel after dark. In addition, an evil
repute hung over it. Several lives had
been lost in the ugly ditch on either side I;
and of late it had become notorious as a
place frequentcd by agrarian criminals.
This, of itself, was enough to deter most
men; and my father halted the pony and
looked round.
"Ahm he said, after moments pause,
it's all right. See, the moon II be out
in a minute or two. Meanwhile, we'll
jog on qsietly."
"Dolly knew the road of old, and
stepped forward carefully. But scarcely
had she gone dozen yards when, as ii
sprung from the bowels OF the earth, or
rising out of the black ditch, as Venus
from the sea, a tall form-lOoking taller
than it really was, in the weird light
stood forth in the way.
Another step, and we saw that the figure
was that of man, dressed in long
fricze-cOat and carrying an enormous
stick, or waffle" so long that when used
for resting it was grasped onc-third Of its
length below the top.
"God save ye, sir!" said the mau, step
ping aside a little as we drew near.
'God save ye kindly" replied my
father, as he swayed the pony II little to
one side, so az to allow the man to pass.
But the man turned, and faced toward
the way we were going.
"a very fine night, sir,' said the man,
as he edged nearer and nearer to the head
of the pony, who seemed to have an in
stinctive desire to keep as far from him as
possible. GA fine night, but rather dark
for this road"
ooh, there will soon be plenty OF
light" replied my father. Besides,
know this road very well, and have proved
it in many a darker night"
"True for ye, SIR" replied the man,
with another accession of love for being
near the head of the pony. But there's
worse things nor the dark night to be
afraid of on this road.'
"lndeed," said my father, as his right
arm gradually slipped round to his back
and his hand grasped and drew on to his
right knee the barrel of the blunderbuss
"Yis; an l wonder you're not afraid, ,
said the man. "Didn't ye hear how they
trated Purcell, the malemonger, few
days ago, an what they done to ould Do
ran of Ballymaturk9 Yis; there's worse
things nor the dark night about here,
can tell you.h
"True for ye," replied my father, in {
bitter tone of mimicry of the mans voice
and style, can you're one of'them."
The man halted for half a step, and ex
claimed
Gone ov--"
Look here!" cried my father, as he
bent low over the neck of the pony, at th'
same time bringing round the mouth o
the blunderbuss SO that it gaped right il
the face of the man" this is what makes
me not afraid of all the prowling villain
in the country"
As he spoke he regained his former po
sition, and the moon, shooting from be
| hind the last cloud that had hid it, FLASHED
full on the polished barrel of the blunder
buss. The man staggered back an in
slant, then made step as if he were abou
to leap the black ditch, and disappea
among the clumps of turf that dotted th
waste. ..
Holdr' cried my father, still in tn
same fierce, low, quick tone. "Dont at
tempt TO leave u.s."
The man, as if moved by some powe
beyond his will, turned obediently, AM
stepped forward.
Now, listen," continued my father
eff you attempt to move one foot out o
the direct path, if you go a single stel
faster or slower than we do, if you whistle
sing or make sign of any kind that ma.
be heard or seen by your murderous com
panions lurking behind those stacks O
turf, I'll blow your brains out"
The man gave one quick glance owe
his right shoulder, saw the wide mout
and bright barrel of the blunderbuss beal
ing right down upon him, my father
hand grasping the lock and my father
fierce eyes and white, stern face lookin
for the slightest sign of disobedience. IL
shivered, dropped his eyes to the groun
and walked on steadily.
After this no sound, save the pat of th
pony's feet, the noise of the brogues, Q
the deep breathing of the man, broke tn
stiffness until the bog was passed and tn
regular road was gained.
AT this my father drew breath of re
lief, and leaned back in the saddle. Th
man glanced quickly round, then spran