Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-10-14
The MarkSman.

Two centuries ago throughout Europe
life und property were but slightly pro
tected, compared with the arrangement
of cur advanced system. When the
poacher failed to capture sufficiency
of game, the temptation to supply the
want by obtaining the ready possession
of purse Well filed With gold was ir-
resistible to the half savage minds of
men living in laVless state. The
latter course had this advantage, that it
precluded the necessity of going to
market. and disposing of the game
under suspicious circumstances, and at
reduced price; while. in either case.
the prize Was won By the pulling of a
trigger.
The leader OF the bund Of poachers
which frtquen,e,! this forest was q
young man Of good family. residing
near village on the skirts of the for
est. Librrtini-m had inred him into
crime. Passions,eiy eDamored of o
young girl wha had been refused him
10 marriage, he decided upon her ab-
duction. For this purpose he associated
himself with some wild youths of du-
bious or decidedly bad character; and
to escape the vengeance of tie laws
which the greater Duniber of the N had
outraged, they were together to pass
their lives in the midst of the forest.
Skiliful aud fearless poachers, they
presently became the terror OF the
keepers; and when any of these opposed
their derredatioDs, d shot from an ar
quebuse 1.-THE fre-arm then in fashion,
aimed from behind the covert of tree,
speedily silenced the gamekeepe's
attack. Presently no one dared to peu'
citrate within the recesses of the Great
Forest; AID few were hardy enough to
journey on its borders.
Hans Rudner. the leader OF this 2ar-
| irG band, had commenced the reckless
life of an outlaw by carrying off the
young girl OF whom I have already
spoken; but running riot in the excess
of his unbridled power, he presently
became sated with his conquest. Like
other galiants, lees uliena.ed from so.
ciety, hut scarcely less mischievons, be
was fond OF change. He visited the
neighhoring towns and villages under
different DISCUSSES, end whenever he
spied beautiful woman, hs WAS sure
to watch her movements until favor.
able moment arose, and then ponnciu2
upon her like @ vultnre, he bore hei
away into the heart of the woods. After
this came the turn Of o second and q
third, until there were reckOned In
Frankfort NO fewer than nine beautiful
| girls thus carried of, eight of whom
were subsequently retnrned to theil
disconsolate parents in state little cal,
culated t. aliay their sad di.quietude.
When The kt tepers Of the forest Jointly
attacked the poachers, the latter, form
ing au ambuscade in the pits and ra
viBes, or amid the branches OF the tai
trees, allowed the enemy to advance
At q signal given bv Rudner, theil
pieces were sill fired ut once, and seldom
did one Of the unfortunate keepers
escape from the cruel massacre to Garry
the intelligence to the neiehbOriDg vii
lagos. Rudner's companions fired q
the bodies OF their opponents; bu
Rudner himself always lodged bis bal
in the left eye of the man at whom ht
took aim. Whenever o poor wretch
wss found lying dead upon one OF tht
forest paths. or on the roads adjoining
with the mark of o ball having passet
through his left eve, the customary ex
clamatlon was: - lis the ball of Rud
ner Lincks.Auge (lrft eye).
Euormities like these could not fai
to lead to catastrophe. The senators
Of Frankfort assembled to deliberate
upon the most effectual means of break
ing up and utterly exterminating thi
atrocious band. Troops were hastily
enrolled for the service. All the hard,
youths Of the neiRhboring villages
iucluding the brothers and those wht
had been affianced to the injured maid
ems, painting for revenge, joined th'
expedition with an ardor which Wa
nursed by the sense of personal wrong
armed themselves to the teeth, pro
claimed crusade, and swore never Il
return without the body of Hans Rud
ner. living or dead.
The forest WAS surrounded, and tht
circle contracted by degrees, as in tht
grand huating exhibitions of the east
until the poaching brigands were a
length discovered, hunted to their lair
and urged to extremity, these lawles.
men defended themselves with grea
bravery, but, overpowered by numbers
they were taken almost oil alive, witt
the exception of the chief, the dreaded
Left-eye." and led in triumph t.
Frankfort. to be judged and hurg.
AS might be we'll expected, sbor
work vas made of euch notorious Grim
inals. The inhabitants OF all the sur
rounding dis 'ricts rushed to Frankfor
to witness their execution as mos
delightful spectacle.