The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1880-03-20

hole in the center, into which l crept
and stretched my fatigued limbs for
rest, while / was mentally occupied
planning operations for the future, dur
ing which 1 fell asleep and had delight
full dreams of my career as chief of
1.-THE Band of Death" was just pre-
pairing. to engage in q personal encoun-
ter with traitor to the gang, when
hog came skurrying through the woods,
making passageway across my body,
at which he put little more animation
in his heels, and with "Ooff -ooff, GOO
ooff,' he darted through the under
growth and was lost in the darkness, for
it was night. Discovering that 1t was a
hog clutched my dagger, and, jumping
up, addressed an imaginary host OF enc
mics, defying the dastardly horde to
make an unanimous assault, when /
would confront and vanquish them sim
gle-handed.
The challenge not being accepted l
denounced them as cravens, foes I'M
worthy of my steel, and, flushed with
victory, sheathed my blade and strobe
majestically out of the woods to see
what time it was.
1t was early in the evening, and
stepping cautiously around back of
Jeff's mothers barn l gave the
signal agreed upon, three boots of
the owl, and presently l saw a form
sneaking like murderer through the
| darkness.
"This way, Jeff" loud whisper.
"All right;n cautious whisper.
A few strides brought him before me,
and in subdued but eloquently tragic
tone asked:
"Are you readyp"
When the answer came with equal
impressiveness:
II yam!"
81 say, Jeff"
"What is itP"
"How are you going to get awayp l
never thought of that before, and 1
haven't got money enough for but one
of us. Oh, say! let's 60 and break
open the bank
"Umh-mh-uh!" said JEFF, with his
mouth closed. s'Tain't no use Robin !,
got plenty"
This was revelation for which was
not prepared, and l requested Jeff to
enlighten me, when l was informed
that he had persuaded his employer to
advance six months wages, and, fur
Their, that he had sold his mothers
twenty-five dollar cow to the butcher
for thirteen dollars, and still further,
that he had slipped her watch from I'M
der the pillow, and it was then in the
recesses of his clothes.
Elated at this evidence of his accom-
plishments as a member of the "Dis-
NAL Band''-I mean the "Band of the
Dismal Cave"-I embraced him and
pressed his hand with that grand elo-
quence whose only voice is silence.
promoted Jeff at once. He should be
next to me in command.
And in order to fit him as a member
of the band, after going through the
!. formalities of the oath myself, 1 handed
Joff my dagger and commanded him in
the opulence of stage bombast to
"swear!" The oath was q peculiarly
blood-curdling one, with the collateral
maneuvers of drawing the dagger three
times across the throat, and making as
many plunges over the region of the
heart, which was to signify what the
swearer hoped would befall him if he
should ever betray his chief. Satisfied
of Jeff's loyalty, / handed him Der.
ringer, one of a pair l had purchased
and cautioned him to keep a sharp look
out, we took a secluded road out of the
village, and entered the woods on the
way to the station to board the early
morning train.
We had proceeded about half a mile
when suspicious noise of breaking
twigs was heard short distance in from
of us, and advising Jeff to take care Of
himself while looked after the enemy
I ran back two or three hundred yard.
in search of q tree. OF course there
were trees all around but have Away:
been considered eccentrically fastidious
!, and couldn't think of compromising
my official dignity and personal valol
; by coveting the first tree / came across
No, l wanted to get where l could hole
, the enemy at bay, and finding tree o.
q size that would enable me to accom-
plish this bold resolve, l assembled il
with more rapidity than grace.
l didn't want to lose any time il
, meeting the foe.
had reached height of about sixtl
|, 1eet ana was SCn prospecting upward 1ol
place where could command by SOUND
the enemy's position, when l heard
voice through the darkness, and appa
, rently on . level with myself.
: "Sayp"
WellP"
|; "It's the parsons old blind mule"
In few seconds / was on the GROUND
and called to JEFF:
"Where are youp''
"Up'n this tree. Where are your
"Just about to surround and maxi
!. the hireling horde prisoner" ans
while Jeff was coming down 1 stood
under his tree, deluging him in torren
of abuse, and immersing him in rive
: of whitening sarcasm.
"Jeff," l said in effect, al will tax,
the earliest opportunity to award you
: bravery. There is no knowing VIVA
r | hoiUhfS Won NAV rooob IN our ,,rofascso,