The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-10-31
l must have slept for some hours


when l was suddenly reused to full
consciousness by the report of a pistol,
and gurgling sound as of some one
being strangled, and, by the faint
glimmer of the fire saw a man steal
ing toward the bed, and the glitter of a
knife he held in bis hand.
To catch up my pistol and fire was
the work of an instant. Fortunately,
though my aim had necessarily been
uncertain in the hurry and semi-dark-
ness, the shot had taken effect, thor
oughly disabling the ruffian, for the
arm that held the knife dropped power
less by his side. He groaned, and
staggered back against the wall for a
moment, then with volley of curses,
he turned and fled through the open
door.
Meanwhile I had sprung from the
bed and fastened to the assistance of
Lion, who had pinned another of the
brigands by the throat. The dogs in
stinct had proved right; as l had ex-
pected, it was the master of the cot
tage. He had ceased to struggle, and
was nearly at the last gasp. A dis
charged pistol lay close to where he
had fallen; it must have gone off in the
air when the dog flew upon him, thus
rousing me.
In my examination of the premises l
had observed coil of rope; with this l
bound the miscreant's arms tightly, and
then called Lion off, not a moment too
soon.
When the man recovered sufficiently
to speak he began to cry for mercy, but
the only consolation he got from me
was the assurance that l should by
early morning give notice of what had
occurred at the nearest prefecture, and
that doubtless a couple of gems darmes
would conduct him where he would be
taken care of. Alter awhile he ceased
to plead, and lay passive, only groan-
ing with the pain of the injuries he had
received from the dogs fangs.
l did not yet feel myself out of
danger. 1t wanted some time to day
break, and every moment l expected
others of the gang might come to the
rescue of their comrade. 1 reloaded
my pistol, and at a sign Lion placed
himself at the door on watch. At length
welcome streaks of light appeared in
the east. 1t was not so misty as the
evening before; the wind during the
night had brought a heavy shower, and
cleared the air. AS soon as it became
sufficiently light to distinguish the path
way through the swamp saddled my
horse, and, with Il feeling of thankful
the high road, leaving my treacherous
I,<c
The sun rose as cleared the morass,
casting long shadows before me, and
presently faint blue line on the far
horizon gave token that the bourne
toward which journeyed would soon
be reached. In another hour saw
the little fishing village before me, the
sea sparkling in the morning sun, and
beyond, the Island of Noirmontiers.
When l made my deposition, l gave
full and particular description of the
cottage. 1t appeared that gang of
highwaymen had infested the district
for some time, GLIDING the search OF the
police; no doubt was made but that the
men who had attacked me formed part
of the number.
When the officers arrived, the V
found the cottage empty; my host must
have been liberated by his accomplices;
but, once put on the track, the law
soon had the wretches in it's clutch.
The ringleaders were executed, the 9TH
ers sent to the galleys. My host con-
fessed. 1t had been his part to lie in
wait for belated travellers and lure
them to his cottage. My suspicious
had been too well founded; poor Favel
had been murdered, and the same fate
had been intended for me-. The ruff
fans, however, had not calculated upon
the strengthened courage of Lion. He
it was who saved my life, and de-
served the thanks of the inhabitants of
the Marais, and all who travelled that
way, for being the means of bringing
Il gang of desperadoes into the han>!s
of justice.