The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-04-15
my usual preparations for self-defense.
l thought would go down and get

oo WOTuS COulu uttef III, tuat the Ia
door had been successfully forced IAN
that the robbers were then actually il
the house. FL
retreated TO the shelter of my lit
tie room, locked and bolted the dool
a prey to my worst apprehensions.
remembered the cruelty of thes
q masked men, and knew that if the,
did not murder me outright, the,
would by binding and gagging to tor
ture me as to- make even death itsel
desirable.
OF one thing / was satisfied, tha
the safety of the robbers depended
upon my being secured,and to achieve
that result would be their first object
If had a weapon, SO that I could
have made an effort to preserve my
life, would then haye been contented
but the idea of an unarmed boy being
thus left to the mercy of these unfeel-
ing ruffians almost drove me to dis.
traction.
l heard their footsteps ascending
the stairs and proceeded to barricade
the door, when thought flashed
across my brain, How was it that it
escaped me so long? The csrrier-pig-
con that had just received from I'm
Gle Toby would release with mes
sage; it would return to Uncle Toby's,
and would be saved, and the rob-
bers foiled in their search for plunder
wrote message hurriedly, secur-
ed it to the bird, which placed upon
the window-sill, when, after a mo-
ment's hesitation, it ascended sky
wards, and when it passed from my
sight was flying like the wind in the
direction OF Uncle Toby's. The mes
sage read as follows:
UNCLE TOBY: The house has been
entered by six masked burglars. Come
Immediately. ROB.
| Scarcely had the bird started on its
homeward flight when the robbers
reached my door and tried to force it !;
but had pushed my bedstead against
the door, and, with my personal ef-
forts to prevent them from entering
l had improvised a barricade that
promised to resist all attacks made
against it.
The prolonged defense 1 was max
ing incensed and exasperat ed the fell
lows to such degreed that they pour
ed forth threats of vengeance upon
me. Their patience became exhaust
ed at last, and pistol-sho which
grazed my cheek warned me of the
danger of my long remaining in that
position. 1t had been fired through
the panel of the door.
Irushed to the window and gazed
out upon the lawn below. The dis
tance was great, and it seemed to me
that, while torture awaited me if cap
tured by the ROBBERS, there was certain |
death in leap from the window.
What should do? The distance to |
Uncle Toby's house was five miles, |
which the pigeon must have covered |
by this time. But suppose the bird |
should not be discovered ? Suppose |
Uncle Toby had gone to his room for
the night, and my message should not
be seen and read before morning
The very thought was so agonizing to
me that refused to entertain it.
All this time the fellows were work.
ing at the door. The bolt was forced,
and slowly but surely the barricade
was yielding to the power outside.
saw masked face peep through the
opening thus made, and the glimmer
of the dark-lantern from outside.
could remain no longer. Death itself
seemed preferable to the uncertainty
of my fate at the hands of these des-
perate fellows.
l rushed to the window, and, with.
out hesitation, jumped. 1t seemed
to me lifetime before I struck the
ground, and when did, rolled over
upon the grass temporarily paralyzed
from the shock / had received. When
attempted to rise, the grip of an iron
1snd pressed my throat, and 1 felt the
cold steel of a pistol as it was pressed |
against my temple.
To resist meant death. The house {
was surrounded. 1 held my peace
while the robber proceeded to bind
ne; for whenever I displayed my
'estlessness that cold steel was press {
I'd against my temple. The only
struggle made was when he attempt
ID to insert gag in my mouth but l I
lad to submit, for received q blow t
rom the butt of the fellows pistol c
hat multiplied the stars that 1 saw in t
he heavens hundred fold.
Completely discouraged, gave my. {
elf up in despair. l resisted no long I
II, closing my eyes to shut out, as it 9
we're, the gloomy prospect before me- I
surprised at the prolonged a
lelay of the robber in perfecting my g
opened my eyes. ~
Uncle Toby stood over me. Stretch a
ID upon the grass by my side was the t
elbow who had secured me, a gaping t
wound in the head affording an ex- c
of the sudden ending of his q
.ttempt upon my liberty. t
A dozen determined and well-arm- S
ID men were with him. The masked l
obbers at first showed a disposition i
o resist; but on reflection, seeing the i
lopelessness of such an attempt, they 2
uncOnditionally. At the f
lext term of the court they were each
entenced to fifteen years. imprison-
nent i
Uncle Toby was making his final
ounds of his grounds ON the night in
question, when the rustling of birds
wing attracted his attention. 1t enter
cred the pigeon-cote. Unable to COM