The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-11-15

1t failed to touch bottom; but, nowise
he seized the cotton cover
let, and spliced on. This succeeded, |
and the cord was drawn up preparatory |
to knotting it in place of cross-pieces.
In the meanwhile the silence without
had been broken more than once. A
shrill, keen whistle, such as | heard be-
fore, was given by the man on watch,
and replied to by some one seemingly
little way off Then l heard footsteps
soft, cat-like ones-on the verandah out
side, showing that the robbers were on
the alert at all points.
At length Bose announced the lad
der" ready. 1t was again lowered from
the window, and the end we held was
made fast to the bed we had dragged
over for that purpose.
"Now, den, Mars Ralph, l 60 down
fust, and see if UNI strong 'nough to bar
u.s."
And he was half way out of the win
dow before l could speak.
"No, Bose, you shall not" answered,
firmly, drawing him back into the room.
"You must"
The words were lost in the dim of a
furious and totally unexpected attack
upon the door.
The dull, heavy strokes of she ak were
intermingled with the sharp, quick clat-
ter of hatchets as they cut away at the
barrier, and once in while l could
been rendered double savage by our re-
sistance.
Here, Bose, your pistol! Quick!'
l whispered, and the heavy charge went
crashing through, followed by shrieks
and curses of pain and rage.
"Now, then, out with you! l will
hold the place. said, rushing back to
the window. "Come Bose, hurry, or all
will be lost"
The brave fellow now wished to insist
upon my going first; but he saw that
time was wasting, and he glided down
the rope, gradually disappearing in the
| heavy shadows.
| The fall of one of their number had
caused only a momentary lull, and /
| heard them renew the assault with ten
fold fury.
l dared not fire again, for felt that
every bullet would be needed, when af,
fairs were more pressing.
1t seemed an age before | felt the signal
from below that the rope was ready for
me; but it came, and l let myself down.
pausing an instant, as my eyes gained a
level with the sill, to take last look
into the room.
As did so, the door gave way, and the
bloodthirsty demons poured over the
threshold.
/ knew that had no time for deliber.
ate movement. They would instantly
discover the mode of escape, and either
cut the rope or else fire down upon
me.
/ had taken the precaution to draw
on my heavy riding-gloves, and my
hands, thus protected, did not suffer
as much as might have been expected.
With my eyes fixed upon the window
| slid rapidly down, and struck the earth
with jar that wrenched every bone il
my body.
Quick as lightning / was seized by
Bose, and dragged some PAGES on ont
side, and close against the face Of the
cliff.
Not second too soon, for down cam,
volley, tearing up the earth about tn,
foot of the rope where, moment before
| had stood.
Thunder, they will escape! Afte
them, down the ropew yelled voice, al
most inarticulate with rage.
And l saw dark form swing out ant
begin the descent.
"Now, Mars Ralph" whispered Bose
significantly, and, with quick aim,
fired at the swaying figure.
Without sound the man released hi
hold, and came down like lumpo of lead
shot through the brain.
Another had started in hot haste, an,
was more than halfway out of the win
dow, when suddenly the scene abov
, was brilliantly lit up by the glare of
torch.
Again the warning voice of the watch
| full black called my attention to tn
figure now struggling desperately to re
gain the room, and, as before, threN
, up my pistol, and, covering the expose
side, drew trigger.
With a convulsive effort the wretch
: springing far out into the empty voic
: turned once over, and came down with
rushing sound upon the jagged rocks tha
l lay at the foot of the precipice.
: A single look to see that the windo7
[ was clear-we knew there could be n
path leading down for a long distane
either way, OF they would never have a
4 tempted the rope-and we plunged heat
q long into the dense forest that clothe
t the mountain side.
2 We got clear, it is true, but with tn
: loss of our animals and baggage; for th
next day, when we returned with part
: of Regulators, we found the place hea
i of smouldering ashes, and no living sol
! to tell whether the robbers had fed.