Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1878-03-20

well armed to fear tricks or uAug01S
from outsiders. If-as one theory
had been held-the disturbance
was kept up by band of concealed
marauders or road agents, whose
purpose was to preserve their
haunts from intrusion, we were
quite able to pay them back In kind
for any assault. need not say that
the boys were delighted with this
prospect when the fact was revealed
to them. The only one doubtful or
apathetic spirit there wat. our host,
who quietly resumed his Seat and
his book. with his old expression of
patient martyrdom. 1t would have
been easy for me to have drawn
him out, but felt that did not
want to corroborate anybod else's
experience; only to record my own.
And | thought it better to keep the
boys from any predisposing terrora
ave ate our supper, and then sat,
patiently and expeetant, around the
fire. An hour slipped away, but no
disturbance; another hour passed
as mon0tonously. Our host read
his book; only the dash of hail
against the roof broke the silence.
But"
Here the Doctor stopped. Since
the last interruption, ] noticed he
had changed the easy slangy style
3 of his story to more perfect, ar.
/ tstic, and even studied manner.
He dropped now suddenly into bis
old colloguial speech, and quietly
S said: .If YOU don't quit stumbling
=. over those riatas, Juan, III hobbae
you. Come here, then; lie down,
$ will you'll"
I We all turned fiercely on the
q cause of this second dangerous in
G terruption, but a sight of the poor
r fellows pale and frightened faco
c withheld our vindictive tongues.
e And the Doctor, happily, Of his
$ own accord went on:
t "But had forgotten that it was
u no easy matter to keep these high.
& spirited boys, bent on a row, in de-
cent subsection, and after the
II third hour passed without a super.
d natural exhibition, observed, nom
L. certain winks and whispers, that
i. they were determined to get up in
Il dications of their own. In q few
c. moments violent rappings were
y heard from all parts Of the cabin;
le large stones {adroitly thrown up the
e chimney fell with heavy thud on
t. the roof. Strange grOans and omi'
Y, nous wells seemed to come from the
. outside (where the interstices be
ut tween the logs were wide enOugh)
I'd Yet, through all this uproar, ouI
a host sat still and patient, with nc
II. sign of Indignation or reproach
/ upon his good humored but haggard
" features. Before long it became
I'll evident that this exhibition was ex
al clusively for his benefit. Under thu
to thin disguise of asking him Il
he assist them in discovering the dis
y. turbers outside the cabin, those in
X, side took advantage Of his absenc'
'st to turn the cabin topsey turvey.
We "'You see what the spirits hav
nd done, old man. said the arch leade
NC of this mischief They've upee
in that there flour barrel while "
ng wasn't looking, and then kicke.
II over the water Jug and spilled o.
"a the water"
I'd. "The patient man lifted his hea'
all. and looked at the flour strcwn walt
me Then he glanced down at the fioo
mt but drew back with q slight tremo
ras salt amt waterr he said quietly.
Hr "'What is it, thenf
] "'It's BLOOD! Look"
'or. "The nearest man gave sudde
zen start and sank back white as
vas sheet.
! "For there, gentlemen, on II
zen floor, lust before the door, whe
zen the old man had seen the dog hei
zen ta.e and lift his feet-there! there!
ing gcn,lencn-upon my honor, slow
in. widcned and broadened a dark r
ute pool Of human blood! Stop hi
tine Quick. Stop him, say!T
10 a There was binding fash th
lick lit mp the dark woods, and a sha
ing report. When we reached the DC
tors side he was holding the smo
iick ing pistol, just discharged, in o
ace, hand, while with the other he "
was pointing to the rapidly disappeaTi
pa. figure of Juan, our Mexican
red, quero' =.
not "Missed him! by Cdr said I
Doctor. "But did you hear hi
npa. Did you see his lurid face as be n
your up at the name of bloOdi Did )
see his guilty conscience in his 70