The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1889-08-24
CHAPTEK LII.
FACE TO FACE WITH DEATH.


The man in the cabin dozed and nodded
as he sat, lapsing from troubled thoughts
into equally troubled dreams, out Of which
he would start, look about him, and utter
an impatient exclamation. Once, as he
saw the writing before him, he broke forth
into soliloquy that showed his uncom-
Portable frame of mind.
why, what folly / write letters to
her, Just as though there was any mail for
them to 90 in; Just as though there was
any United States to send a mail | write
to her, telling her all about my feelings.
and the hopeless situation [ am in; all of
which she knows already just as well as a
thousand more feelings could make it
known to her; and then l burn up the let
tiers, as I shall burn this one when [ have
finished 1t, and try to sleep, when there is
hardly such thing as sleep or rest for
me. How much longer shall | remain in
these savage wilds, roaming about among
these b0ors2 What is TO he the end of it
all? o, the torment of this suspense will
kill me"
He rose and paced the room, but could
not quiet his throbbing brain. A news
paper lying on the blankets caught his
eye, he picked it up, and for perhaps the
twentieth time in less than forty eight
hours he read over a column of double
loaded news, prefaced by displayed head
lines.
He threw down the paper. 1T may end
that way; it may end that way soon. And
if l raise no hand for it | can never see
her again-neyer see her again!'
He was sitting now, his head propped
upon his hand; and almost unconsciousIy
he repeated again and again those dreary
words:
Never see her again."
1t was while he dozed that the sudden
and furious barking of the dog aroused
him. Wi bout paTley or preliminary the
door was burst open and a dozen men
armed with guns rushed in. He was taken
too much by surprise for any resistance
even had he been disposed to make any.
He had jumped to his feet at this stating
Eruption; but before he could utter word
his arms were seized from behind. and
the muzzles of two rifles were thrust in his
face.
Surrender" Wallace Baird COM
handed
I can'twell g. anything else" was the
reply. You overPower an unarmed man
at the start, cover him with guns, and
then tell him to surrender Certainly
, will Now, perhaps you'll be so kind as
20 inform me what you mean by this out
rage.
All in good time, Mister" returned
Baird. "Hankins You Just keep your eve
on him; | reckon he's safe enough. but
his kind are sometimes sly. I'll take q
look round his shanty and see if he's
got any arms or anything else that we
want. Fall back to that side, boys. and
give me room
The rude mountaineers obaYed him, all
casting looks of hatred upon the object of
this raid. The mans character came out
strongly in his face at that moment He
was tall and well knit, and as he stood
among his captors he was head taller
than any of them. He was dressed in a
suit which showed by its cut and material
that 1t had been made in some other
region than this. His smooth face was a
striking one; it had large, regular features.
dark, expressive eyes, and was crowned
with black hair that had natural curl
The face was rather thin now. and bore
marks of keen mental suffering. The
man must have been over thirty years old.
Bui 1t was his conduct under the irving
and omiuouS circumstances described
that chiefly showed him to be one who had
seen and known something of lifes dan
gers and trials, and who was not easily 10
he thrown of the balance of his compos-
ure. Recovering from the first shock of
surprise he now looked at his scowlinc
! captors with an expression of unconcern
which might have been assumed, but
which was most admirably put on.
demand TO know the meaning of all
this. he said.
BY common consent. Baird was the
spokesman of the mOuntaineers. aud he
was at present too busy searching the eff
tects of the captive 10 heed his remon-
strSnces. He searched through the blank
cts and found nothing; N the knapsack.
and took out book, then two more. evil
IDENTIFY set, some tea done up in a parcel
and a lot of writing paper. A basket was
! hung on a nail: it contained bread and
dried meat. change OF clothing hang
Ing up vas rummaged over, and a wallet
well hled with greenbacks appeared.
Wallace Baird discovered another candle,
stuck it IL another knot-hole. and having
lighted it, looked over the contents of the