The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-12-12
the candl, spluttered en- the damp
ground and went out. The darkness

the candl, spluttered en- the damn
ground and went out. The darkness
was intense.
But the fight went on. Curses,
blows, and tearing of garments, ali
sounds Of n hand.to-hand contest
that told tllnt the men we're still
fiercely engaged.
In that moment gathered nv
wits together long enough to plan
my escape. Starting out along the
path, crawling on my hands and
knees, feeling my way, moved rap
idly down the hill.
After a little l gained sufficient
courage to rise and walk, and pres
emily found myself ut the bank of
the stream. Here dropped again
OH my lIahds and crept across the
log that spanned the brook. On the
other side l stopped for a moment
and listened. The fight was still in
progress. could hear the curses,
the threshing Of the leaves, the cries
of rage and pain, then the sharp
report of n pistol, and. after that;
silence. But in q minute some one
appeared to be coming down the
path as had come. thought they
weregiying chase to me, and i turned
and scrambled up the hill. The way
was long and steep, but the woods on
this side OF the brook were not SO
heavy, and my eyes, accustomed
again to the darkness, were OF much
service to me. But 1 imagined that
the robbers were still following me,
] thought | heard the crashing OF the
underbrush, and once l was sue
they called out to met stop. Famil-
iar with every foot OF the path, and
clambering rapidly as l was up the
steep hillside, it still seemed to me
that l was going at a snail's pace.
had had hepresence OF mind to cling
to the package, and now thrust It
into the pocket of my coat, that l
might use both hands in climbing,
graspingroots, twigs, sods, anythi, g
accelerate my progress.
Finally, l reached the top of tie
hill, and soon afterward the end of
the path where it met the highway.
From here on the road was level, a, d
ran. Behind me heard shouting,
calling, confusion of noises, but /
never turned. Down through tie
village street fled, past the light n
the houses. in at the open door of
the post office, and, stumbling at the
door-sill, iell headlong upon the
floor.
"They've robbed the mail!" 1 cried
to the astonished assemblage.
They've robbed the muil-thcyre
after mel saved the money!" And
drawing the package from my peck
ct l placed it into the hands OF the
clerk. and sank exhausted in chair.
For few moments the excitement
ran high. Everybody questioned
me at the same time. But man.
aged to make enough of my story
understood to give them a clew to
the situation, and in very short
time a party started out in search oi
therobbers. Not so yards from the
door they met my father and u neigh
Dor, who had gone out half an hour
earlier to meet me, and between
them they supported the dropping
form OF n man. 1t was Bill. lie was
covered with wounds and exhausted
from loss OF blood. 1t seems that
my father and his companion had
gone out to the turnpike by
the public road, and then,
finding that l was already on my
way home, they had come back v
the path, hoping to overtake me.
Nenr the foot Of the hill they had
come suddenly on the wounded ror-
Der. the cut mail bug and the scat
tered letters. Though greatly alarm
ed for my safety, my father waited
to gather up the mail and to helptl
wounded robber along; but shall
never forget his look of reliet when
he saw me sitting, safe but exhaust
cd, in the big chair ut home, in IL g
midst midst: Of al On admirins. and symna-
Bill recovered from his wounds and
served n term of years in prison for
his offense; but Andy was never cap.
tured and even his identity was never
known.
The mail package contained $500
in crisp, new government bills.