The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-07-31

|
the fresh night breeze, and knew that
the window overlooked a chasm, the
soundings of which l could only guess
at.
In other words, the house, or that por-
ton of it was built upon the very verge
OF the cliff, the solid rock forming a
foundation more lasting than any that
could be made by the hands of man.
L leaned far out, and saw that there
was not an inch of space left between
the heavy log on which the structure
rested and the edge of the precipice; and
then turned away with the full con-
vlction that if escape must be made, it
certainly would not be made in that di-
rection. There was nothing especially
strange in this; there are many houses
SO constructed-I had seen one or two
myself-and yet when drew back into
the room and saw the look in Bosses
face, | felt that danger quick and deadly
was lowering in the air.
Without speaking went to my saddle
bags and got out my pistols-a superb
pair of long double rifles, that knew to
be accurate anywhere under half hun
dred yards.
"Dar! denis what like to sect" ex-
claimed Bose, as he dived down into his
bag and fished out an old horse pistol
that had belonged to my grandfather,
and which l knew was loaded to the
muzzle with No. buckshot. 1t was u
terrible weapon at close quarters.
The stables in which our horses were
feeding could be watched, and by events
transpiring in that locality we would
shape our actions. l found the door
could be locked from the inside, and in
addition to this, improvised a bar by
means of chair leg wrenched off and
thrust through a heavy iron staple that
had been driven in the wall. Its fellow
on the opposite side was missing.
We then lifted the clothes press before
the window, leaving just room enough
on one side to clearly see, and, if neces-
sary, fire through; dragged the bureau
against the door with as little noise as
possible, and felt that everything that
was possible had been done.
A deathlike stiffness reigned over the
place, broken only once by the voice of
he colored girl singing as she crossed
the stable yard.
in a chair near the window facing the
stables, where Bose was on the watch.
when suddenly | felt a slight touch upon
my arm and the voice of the faithful
sentinel in my ear.
Wake up, Mars Ralph; dey's foolin
bout de stable doo' arter de horses.
shuah," brought me wide awake to my
feet.
Cautiously peeping out. l saw at a
glance that Bose was right in his con-
jectul e-there were two of them-one
standing out in the clear moonlight, evil
IDENTIFY watching my window, while the
other-and fancied it was the landlord
was in the shadow near the door.
which at that moment slowly swung
open.
As the man disappeared within the
building, n low, keen whistle cut the
air, and ut the same instant l heard the
knob ofmy door cautiously tried.
y low hiss from Bose brought me TO
his side, from the door where had been
listening.
"Dey's got de horses out in de yard.n
he whispered, as he drew aside to let me
look out through the broken pane.
Take the door," l said, land fire
through if they attack. am going to
shoot that fellow holding the horses"
"Lordy, Mars Ralph, it's de tavern
keeper. lie amt no count. Drop the
big mani" was the sensible advice, which
| determined to adopt.
Noiselessly drawing aside the curtain
rested the muzzle of my pistol on the
sash where the light had been broken
away; and drew Il bead upon the tallest
of the two men who stood, holding the
three horses, out in the bright moonlight.
The sharp crack of the weapon was
instantly followed by a yell of pain, and
| saw the rutfian reel backward, and
measure his length upon the earth, and
then from the main building there rang
out:
Murder! Murder! Oh, help!n
Like lightning it flashed across my
mind. There were three horses out in
the open lot! There was, then, anOther
traveller besides ourselves.
"A heavy blow descended upon the
door, and voice roared:
Quick! Burst the Internal thing open.
and let me get at him. The scoundrel
has killed Dave!"
." Let them have it, Bose" I whis-
pered, rapidly reloading my pistol.
1.-THE second panel"
With a steady hand the plucky fellow
leveled the huge weapon and pulled the
trigger.
A deafening report followed, and again
a shrill cry of mortal anguish told them
the shot had not been wasted.
'.Sabe us how it do kick" exclaim-
ed Bose, under his breath.
The blow had fallen like an unexpect-
ed thunderbolt upon the bandits, and
moment later we heard their retreating
footsteps down the corridor.
"Dar'll be more of'em heah fore long,
Mars Ralph" said Bose, with an omin.
Gus shake of the head. Il 'spects desc
b'longs to a band, and if dey comes an
we still heah, we gone coons for shuar."
This view of the case was new to me;
but / felt the force of it. | knew that
such bands did exist in these mountains.
Stunned for a moment, / turned round
and stared hopelessly at Bose; but he,
brave fellow that he was, never lost his
head for an instant.
Bound to leab here, Mars Ralph" ,"he
said, quitecOnfidently "An' dar amt
no way gwine 'cept tro dat window y
and he pointed to the one overlooking the
cliff.
l 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. l heard him. fussing
around the bed for some time. but never
looked to see what he was after until he
spoke.
"Now den for de rope,"I heard him
say, and in an instant l caught his
meaning.
He had stripped the bed of its cover
ing, dragged off the heavy tick and the
stout hem,pen rope with which it was
In five minutes he had drawn the rope
through its many turninps and then