The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1878-04-02

ed Bose, under his breath.
The blow had fallen like an unexpected
thunderbolt upon the bandits, and a
moment later we heard the retreating
footsteps down the corridor.
Dar'll be more of dem fore long
Mars Ralph" said Bose, with omin-
Gus shake of the head. " / 'spects desc
belongs to band, and, eff dey comes,
an we still heah, we's gone coons for
shuah."
This view of the case was new to me
but felt the force of 1t. knew that
such bands did exist in these noun
tains. A hasty glance through the
window from which 1 had just fired,
showed me that escape in that direction
was impossible. looked out and saw
man, with a rifle in his hand, dodge
round the corner of the stable. He was
on guard and then knew they had sent
off for reinforcements.
Stunned for moment, 1 turned round
and stared helplessly at Bose; but he,
brave fellow that he was never lost his
head for single instant.
Bound to leab heah, Mars Ralph,''
he said, quite confidently. +" An dar
ain no way gwine 'cept trO dat winder;"
and he pointed to the one overlooking
the cliff.
1 merely shook my head and turned to
watch again, hoping to get shot at the
rascal on guard. Bose, left to his own
devices, at once went to work. heard
him fussing about the bed for some time,
but never looked to see what he was
after until he spoke.
Now den for de rope,'' heard him
say, and in an instant / caught his
meaning.
He had stripped the bed of its cover
ing, dragged off the heavy tick, and the
stout hempen rope with which 1t was
| corded. In five minutes he had drawn
the rope through its many turnings, and
| then gathering the coil in his hands he
threw up the sash and prepared to take
soundings. 1t failed to touch bottom
but, nowise disheartened, he seized the
cotton coverlet and spliced on. He sue
ceeded, and the cord was drawn up pre-
paratory to knotting it in place of cross
| pieces.
In the meanwhile the silence without
had been broken more than once. A
before, was given by the man on watch,
and replied to by some one seemingly a
little way off. Then 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 ladder ready. 1t was
again lowered from the window, and the
end we held was made fast to the bed we
had dragged over for the purpose.
snow den, Mars Ralph, go down
fust and see if um strong 'nough to bar
u.s." And he was half way out of the
window before could speak.
mo, Bose, you shall not" I answer
ed, firmly, drawing him back into the
room. "You must" The words were
lost in the din of furious and totally
unexpected attack upon the door.
The dull, heavy strokes of an axe
were intermingled with the sharp, quick
clatter of hatchets as they cut away the
barrier, and once in while could hear
deep oaths, as though they had been
rendered doubly savage by our resis-
tance.
"Here, Bose, your pistol Duck !"
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, T" 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 momentary
lull, and heard them renew the assault
with tenfold fury. dared not fire again,
for felt that every bullet would be
needed, when affairs were mere pressing.
1t seemed an age before l felt the
signal from below that the rope was
ready for me; but it came, and 1 let my
self 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 blood-thirsty