The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1888-02-23

with him. We pencilled few line
to our friends, informing them {
what had befallen us, and were the
walked off into the forest, the brigand
filing up on both sides. A halt wa
made in thick covert among th
pines, not far from the road, unit
night set in, and then we resumed ou
weary march in the dark, with Ion,
sticks provided by the brigands t.
help US in picking our way over tn
rough ground. At length we cam
to Yakakeni, small place amons
the hills, but the fear Of discover,
forbade too near an approach, and
long circuit was made to reach tn,
further side of the village, where VIZ
entered deep gorge and again halted
By this time we were all desperately
hungry, but the brigands had nothing
to offer US, save scanty supply OF
dry bread. With difficulty we
persuaded them to try and get us
some food from Yakakeni, and our
native hunter was despatched in
custody of two of the brigands to
make the necessary purchases. But,
although the shop stood quite at the
outskirts Of the village, there was so
much noise and hustle in the vicinity
that they dared not enter, and return
ed to our hiding-place in half an hour
after fruitless errand.
Seeing, however, that unless we
had enough to eat, we should soon
become too weak to accompany them,
after waiting little, they made
another attempt, and remained absent
for so long a time, that we fully
thought they must have succeeded in
obtaining provisions. But our hopes
were destined to be one more disap-
pointed, for when more than two
hours had elapsed, the brigands re-
without any food. and
greatly enraged at the escape of our
hunter. They had sent him into the
shop, themselves remaining some
distance off; but he, once at liberty,
had no intention Of rejoicing them.
In vain they waited and waited; he
did not leave the shop, and they dared
not enter it; so at length they with
drew, not little alarmed lest their
whereabouts should be betrayed by
our faithless hunter. His conduct
vas roundly abused by the whole
oand, for these hunters are accustomed
20 look upon absolute devotion to
heir masters, even at the risk Of life,
IS sacred duty, and the brigands
lad doubtless relied upon this admir-
4ble trait when they allowed our man
o go alone into the shop. I confess,
however. that but for our hunger the
we felt would have been
with some little satisfaction
t seeing our captors outwitted.
The impunity with which brigands
oam about the country, even in the
Immediate neighborhood Of towns .
nd villages, is extraordinary One
Tould have thought that such an act
5 lighting fire where we s
ere must have involved con- {
derable danger But, when we '
of cold, the atmosphere be- ,
lg sharp and chilled by heavy dew,
le chief, without moments hesita- !
on, ignited large heap Of brush s
ood, which some lime-kiln burners t
ad piled up the day before, and t
emed to have no fear Of the conse- /
1ent risk Of discovery. t
The bright flames gave me good a
'portunity OF closely examining the G
dividual members of the band. The f
lief was a short, slightly-built man, a
lth blue eyes and fair complexion h
hose handsome face, with it's
mustache, by no 4
cans conceded with ones precon- p
ived ideas Of the brigand leader, t
hose ferocious mien and swarthy f
untenance strike terror into his vic n
MS; but perhaps the accurate range II
his scimitar enabled him to dis S
nse with the more STACEY qualif- a
tions for his post. The second in f
was much fercer-looking b
low, about thirty years of age, p
med like the chief, but with a 81
rhine instead of the long rife. as
nong the rest of the band nothing d.
IS more curious than the variety of W
cir weapons; one had a Chassepot b,
lie, another sixteen-bore pin-fre, IL
other an old muzzle-loader, and al
nilar diversity was apparent in their &C
ords and knives. There was only ce
e man who looked a regular villain B
the backbone. His feature were al
,rthy of Caliban, and the violence CT
his character was well portrayed in as
J dark leering eyes, sallow COM us
.xion and hideously- y-distorted cheek al
nes. lie confirmation were needed, h;
J disgusting language and frequent &C
tbursts of temper left no doubt as af
his depraYed nature, and several su
nes he was on the point of openly OF
'ulting US, had he not been restrained of
his companions. ez
The Pickering light Of the flames,
ing and falling as fresh boughs VI
re enveloped and consumed, gave a az
ird aspect to the scene and recalled OF