The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1879-10-21
easy reach, and his keen eyes followed

NY cNctt uOtlOH.
For time 1 talked generally of the
country. the game, mining, and other
similar topics, drawing from him but
few replies. At last I touched him upon
the matter nearest my heart, and with
careful steps sounded him upon the
question Of bribery.
He seemed to take more interest in
my words now; and at last when came
to the point, and plainly asked him if be
would let Tom go if he was paid for it.
he said "Yes."
NV heart bounded within me.
"How much will you take2'' said /,
speak quickly. And we must have hor.
ses too"
"More'n ye've got, ye cussed green.
horn,y hissed the outlaw, 'smore'n we've
got SBut I'll take the yellow all the
samts for safekeepin', and then turn ye
over to the cap in the mornin'."
Aud, quicker than thought, his arms
we're about me. and / was borne strug-
Cling to the ground.
Although much smaller man than
my opponent, / was no child, and fought
furiously; but he was too strong for me,
and at last lay before him breathless,
one Of his hands gripping my throat, and
the other grasping his heavy knife, while
his eyes cleaned with murderous rage
For an instant we glared at each 9th.
er, both painting and exhausted; then
bending closer, he whispered hoarsely
"Whar's yer goli2 Tell me, or ri
cut yer heart out Tell me without 8
sound, or I'll--thunder and furies!!''
He half released his grasp, and. turn
ing, struck at something upon the
ground close at my side with a horrid
OATH. u i 9H
There was flash of his knife, SHARP
metallic rattle, and then little some
thing shot like quivering lightning
straight at his face, and two little drop.
of blood ran down his cheek He wa.
bitten by rattlesnake!
The same instant the reptile drew his
Shiny body across my hand, and disap
reared again in his hole among the rocks
near by, from which our struggle had
aroused him se
MY captor breathed hard and turned
deathly white
Whisky" said he hoarsely; II rhus'
have whisky, or die"
He.strove to rise, but it was my turn
now Wrapping my arms about him
With an energy horn of despair. ] bound
him 70 me. If ] could but hold him
until the poison had time to work, ]
could escape, and Tom with me-
1t was horrible, but we struggled life
for life, and / was the cooler man of the
two now. His knife was broken-we
could only fight with our hands, and all
my enemy's efforts we're to escape; but,
with q strength which hope renewed,
resisted, and dragged him down again
and sgain, until in his quiverine muscles
and:felaxing hands, in distending eyes
and outhanging tongue, I saw that the
venom was beginning to aid me. Then,
redoubling my effort with an almost SUI
perhuman strength, / threw him at last
to the ground, bound him with his own
gaudy scarf, gagged him, and was free
For a moment | was utterly exhaust
ed then, slowly recovering, crept to
where Tom lay. and with few blows of
my knife released him from the heavy
cords which bound him. My old friend
had heen silent witness of the entire
battle, and had seen the snake. and knew
all, q As he arose to his feet he grasped
my hand, and nearly crushed it in his
expression of joy; then, without word,
he pointed toward the pile of rock, and
notsa dozen feet from the place my an
tagonist lay. ssffgsca5 ytsf
turned to look. From every hole
and crevice, from every crack and cor
ner. by twos and threes, single and III
pairs, we're crawling the most dreaded of
mountain reptiles-rattlesnakes!
Tom leaned toward me and said:
eyer fight aroused them, and they
will Kill every man here! We are In
that place I've hesrn tell ot-Rattle-
snake Gulcb!
Then, seizing my arm, be led me
away rapidly across the open glade, by
the sleeping robbers, to the spot where
the horses were hobbled.
Selecting two we quickly mufded their
hoofs, rode cautiously through the wind
ing outlet until we reached the open
country, and then, with shake of the
reins, dashed away at headlong gallop.
We were free! ..g. -
Red Jim, the outlaw, was never seen
again, hut five years later strange tale
was brought in the mining camps on
Red Water run. of lonely ravine in
the mountains to the west, where bleach
ing skeletons had heen found.
The prospectors who discovered them
would have sought further among the
whitening homes other relics OF the lost
party. but the canon was 80 filled with
.rattlesnakes that it was not safe to re-
main there, and the simple finding oil
the remains is all that will every be
known
Old Tom, however, said to me:
"Twelye outlaws-twelve skeletons,
The ratilers caught them all !"