The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1880-08-31
TWICE SAVED.

TT was u cold day In February and
i was only half way from Leadville to
my place of destination. Night was
fast drawing on and my horse was very
tired.
wrapped my blanket yet closer about
my shoulders and urged my steed for
ward through the cleaning.
"Curse my luck |" / muttered. !" Ex-
cept for Black Dams threat / would
have gone by the stage In comfort. And
yet, TO have braved his gang would have
been certain destruction Ill warrant
they've ambushed the night coach, In
tending TO catch me. But I've slipped
them this time, and Uncle Sam has the
proof that she wants at last. Three days
more, my rascals, and you'll jump these
mountains or wear handouts, If / reach
Pueblo alive |"
shook Charles reins to hasten his
speed, and whistled cheerily to Don, my
great st. Bernard.
We must reach Johnson's ranch on
the Platte, old friends, or sleep out, and
its too cold for that" ! muttered
was returning from search for GER
tain desperadoes wanted In the courts at
Pueblo. The cutthroats had hidden In
the mining camps about Leadville, and
my search had been long one. Find
ing them at last, however, and the proof
of their crimes with them,I was about TO
return and make arrangements for their
arrest, when by some unknown means
they learned who was, and fled. Fled
pursued by the wrath of the worst man
between the Gunnison and Denver
Black Dan. Had he found me, my life
would not have been worth the toss of
card. / must reach the settlements
quickly and return with force in Or
der to capture my game, and that with
out delay.
In cleaning of the morning / had be-
gun my perilous horseback journey
in the cleaning Of the evening 1 was
continuing it. No soul had met me
along the the wagon trail, and 1 be-
lieved that had really tricked my ene-
mics.
The blackness of the canyon crept up,
the narrow trail ran down, and among
great masses of powders, across patches
of snow, and again along the bare earth
followed with watchful eye the indis-
tinct path until, just at the verge of the
last steep descent that should carry me
into the river gulch itself, halted for
moment to rest my weary horse.
"Only little further, Charlie" said
I, dismounting and patting his droop-
ing head; ga couple of miles more,
and we will strike supper and bed
You have done well, old boy, and saved
me-
A sudden fierce growl from my dog as
he sprung toward the shadow of the
pines behind me, single lance of light,
ringing report, and, without a moan,
threw my hands quivering into the
air, whirled heavily away from my
horse, and fell. Black Dan had found
me
\
Slowly, and with great pain, con-
sciousness returned-conscious for
my brain was still alive, but not person.
ality, for of my body 1 knew nothing.
What had happpened9
Laboriously my mind travelled
through the mists Of death that still
surrounded it. Slowly one idea follow
ed another until at last came the knowl-
edge that sought. had been waylaid
and shot.
Yes, 1 remembered now! Remem-
bered the cry of my dog, the ring of
rifle, the sheet of flame, the blow of the
ball, and then-nothingness!
had been shot and was dead
And yet not dead for pain revived,
and dead men feel no pain. was shot
but not dead. And SO came at last
the consciousness of matter. 1 still
lived.
I sought to rise, but could not, for
was bound bound hand and feet, arms
and legs, body, neck and head, fingers,
lips and eyelids, even; bound, yet not
with cords
Where was l ? And what was the
trouble !
Nearer and still nearer came the truth
as groaned in spirit and struggled to
gain knowledge of myself; nearer and
still nearer, until, with mighty effort,
throwing off all lethargy, I made one
desperate attempt to rise; then the odor
of new-broken earth filled my nostrils,
the weight of newly-turned earth press
ed upon my heart, the clinging bonds
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