Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-11-03

second panel"
q With steady hand the plucky fellow
leveled the huge weapon and drew the
trigger.
A deafening report followed, and
again 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
ominous shake of the head. 81 'spects |
desc b'longs to q band. and @ # dsy comes
shuah.''
This view of the case was new to me;
but l 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, quite confidently. can dar
amt no way gwine 'cept fro dat win
dow and he pointed to the one over
looking 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. | 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" heard him
say, 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 it was
s.corded."
In five minutes he had drawn the rope
through its many turnings, and then,
gathering the coil in his hands. he drew
up the sash and prepared to take sound.
ings.
1t failed to touch the bottom but
nowise disheartened, he seized the cottor
coverlet and spliced on. This succeed
ed, and the cord was drawn up prepara
tory to knotting it in place of cross
pieces.
In the meanwhile the silence withou
had been broken once. A shrill, keel
whistle, such as we had heard before
was given by the man on the watch, an
replied to by some one seemingly littl
way off. Then l heard footsteps-soi
cat.like ones-on the veranda outside
showing that the robbers were on th
alert at all points.
At length Bose announced the lat
DER ready. 1t was again lowered froi
, the window, and the end was held an
made fast to the bed we had dragge
over for the purpose.
"Now, den. Mars Ralph, | 60 dow
fust and see if 'um strong enoug h to be-
u.s.
u And he was half way out the windo
u before | could speak.
"No, Bose, you shall not" | answer
u firmly, drawing him back into the roo1
io "You must"
IL The words were lost in the din of
~ furious and totally unexpected alta
- upon the door.
The dull. heavy strokes of the a
u were intermingled with the sharp, qui
o. clatter of the hatchet as they cut aw
W at the barrier, and once in while
could hear deep oaths, as though tt
had been rendered doubly savage by {
resistance.
:; "Here, Bose. your pistol! Quick !!
= whispered, and the heavy charge W
- crashing through. followed by shri
:. and curses of pain and rage.
49, "Now. then. out with you |
20 hold the place." | said, rushing bach
The the window. "Come, Bose, hurry,
the all will be lost"
tho The fellow now wished to insist
my going first; but he saw that t
to was wasting and glided down the r.
cen gradually disappearing in the he
shadows.
dn The fall of one of their number
let caused only momentary lull, an
heard them renew the assault with
fire fold fury.
to dared not fire again. for felt
- every bullet will be needed when af1
yern were more pressing.
the 1t seemed an age before felt
rice. signal from below that the rope
ready for me but it came, and let
tain self down, pausing an instant as
the eyes gained level with the sill. to
,ken a last look into the room.
Hest AS I did SO the door gave way.
out the bloodthirsty demons poured owe
threshold.
was | knew that I had no time for
and ate movement. They would inst
and discover the mode of escape, and {
and cut the rope or else fire down upon
rang | had taken the precaution 10