The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1878-04-19

your horse but for the fear lest mine, in
moment of terror, should precipitate
me with yourself to the bottom of the
abyss"
remarked, in fact that the Colonel
already held his pistols in his hands.
We both maintained the most profound
silence. Our horses felt the danger like
ourselves, and remained as immovable
as if their feet were nailed to the ground.
My excitement had entirely subsided
"What are we going to DOR demanded
of the Colonel.
Draw lots which of the two shall leap
into the ravine."
1t was in truth the sole means of solv-
ing the difficulty. HThere are neverthe-
less some precautions to take" said the
Colonel. "He who shall be condemned
by lot shall retire backward. 1t will be
but feeble chance of escape for him, /
admit; but, in short, it is a chance, and
especially one in favor of the winner"
"You cling not to life, then," cried
out, terrified at the sang troidwith which
this proposition was put to me.
Il cling to life more than yourself"
sharply replied the Colonel, "for 1 have
a mortal outrage to avenge. But the
time is slipping away. Are you ready
to proceed to draw fhe last lottery at
which one of US will ever assist"
How were we to proceed to thisdraw-
ing by lot? By means of the wet finger,
like infants, or by head or tail like the
school-boys? Both ways were impracti-
cable. Our hands imprudently stretched
out over the heads of our frightened
horses might cause them to give fatal
start Should we toss up piece of coin,
the night was too dark to enable rs to
distinguish which side fell upward. The
Colonel bethought him of an expedient
of which never should have dreamed.
Listen to me, Captain" said the Col
onel, to whom had communicated my
perplexities. II have another way. The
terror which our horses feel makes them
draw every moment burning breath.
The first of us two whose horses sha' 4
neigh"
Wins" hastily exclaimed.
"Not so-shall be the loser. know
that you are a countryman, and such as
you can do whatever you please with
your horse. As to myself, who but last
year wore the gown of a theological
student, fear your equestrian prowess.
You may be able to make your horse
neigh-to hinder him from doing so is a
very different matter"
We waited in deep and anxious 81
lence until the voice ofone of our horses
should break forth. This silence lasted
for minute-for an agel 1t was
my horse who neighed the first
The Colonel gave no external manifes-
ton Of his joy, but no doubt he thanked
God to the very bottom of his soul.
@You viii allow me a minute to make
my peace with Heaven?" 1 said to the
Colonel, with faltering voice.
"Will five minutes be sufficient"
at will" he replied.
The Colonel drew out his watch. /
addressed toward the heavens, brilliant
with stars, which thought was look
ing up to for the last time, an intense
and burning prayer.
at is time, said the Colonel.
Ianswered nothing, and with in6rm
hand gathered up the bride ofmy horse
and drew it within my fingers, which
were agitated by a nervous tremor.
"Yet one moment more" l said to the
Colonel, for have need Of all my cool
ness to carry into execution the fearful
maneuver which am about to COM
mence."
Granted" replied Garduno.
Ny education, as I have told you, had
been in the country. Ny childhood and
part of my earliest youth had almost
been passed on horseback. I may say,
without fiattering myself, that if there
was anyone in the world capable Of exc
cutting this equestrian feat, it was myself.
Irallied myself with an almost super
natural effort and succeeded in recover
ing my entire selfpossession in the very
face ofdeath. Take it at the worst, had
already braved it too often to be any
longer alarmedat it From thatinstant
l dared to hope afresh.
As soon as my horse felt, for the first
time since my recontre with the C colonel,
the bit COMPRISING his mouth, l per
ceived that he trembled beneath me. /
strengthened myself firmly on my STIR
rups, to make the terrified animal un-
derstand that his master no longer
trembled. / held him up with the
bridle and the hams, Is every good
horseman does in a dangerous passage
and, with the bride, the body and the
spur together, succeeded in backing him
a few PAGES. His head was already at q
greater distance from that OF the horse
Of the Colonel, who encouraged me Ill
be could with his vo;cs. This done, I
let the poor, trembling brute, who Obey
"A rsa 4, ,r:ta ~ ~ SosFW. Wpooo him