The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-05-18
enough. Yon are as strong as an OK while

to hurt u.s." l did not wish to be thought a
coward, so held my peace, but l knew that
wagner had drunk more than was good for
INN during the evening, and that it was
foolish thing to let a crowd OF gamblers
know that he had $1,000 or $4,000 upon his
person. Scarcely week passed in the
towns That some man was not Knocked
down and robbed of his money,
roamed over the State, stopping
travellers and shooting them down upon
the slightest resistance. | felt convinced
that we had not seen the last of the red
whlskered man and his one-eyed COM
panion.
No thought of danger kept my companion
awake moment after he lay down upon
our blankets, which we spread beneath the
wagon, but try as much as pleased / could
not Keep my eyes closed. The more tried
1ancled l heard noises in the dis
lance. and the fiuttering of the leaves
upon the great cOttonwo0ds overhead, the
ripple of the water and. even the deep
breathing of our cattle were painfully audi
Bile to my ear. 1t was not the unusual stu
alton. for night after night had slept in
Inc open air, till the position and appear
ance OF the consultations were familiar
sights to me. 1t was not the novelty
OF the situation, for month after
month during the long journey across
the plains had made my bed upon the
ground and neither fear of Indians, dread
oil M0rmons, nor danger of thirst and star
walton had been able to prevent me from
sleeping the moment | was off guard. Now,
however, there was feeling of impending
danger, nervous fear possessed me. felt
that something unusual was about to occur,
yet l could not tell what to expect or how
TO guard against it.
The fact that my employer had exhibited
to crowd OF gamblers that he carried a
large sum of money added TO the feeling of
dread. | somehow felt responsible for the
safety of Wagner and his gold, for | knew
that he did not realize there was the
slightest danger in our situation.
As last resort to court sleep l sat up in
bed, filed my pipe and was just in the act
OF striking a match when a slight noise
made me at once relinQuish the idea. |
tancled heard the faint splashing of water
as though made by an oar or paddle 1t
was so faint and indistinct that had not my
nerves been strung TO their highest tension
and my ears alert to an unusual degree |
would not have been able to distinguish IL.
l almost held my breath for an instant
Again l heard the splash Of the water
Some one in boat was
APPROACHING FROM TOWARD THE TOWN.
determined TO be on our guard, even at
the risk OF being laughed at, SO hastily
shook Wagner and said: Wake up; some
one is coming" then took my pistol and
crawled from beneath the wagon and
mounted one of the wheels, in order TO peer
over the load without being seen myself. |
again heard the dip of the oar, but no boat
was in sight. 1t was evident the parties
were moving slowly and cautiously. |
strained my eyes to their utmost,
and presently saw something upon
the face of the broad slough. 1t
was boat some distance away, and
moving almost imperceptibly. The moment
the occupants were opposite our wagon they
halted and cOnYerSed In whispers. I was
now satisfied that an attack was intended
and felt convinced that at least one of the
men was the red-whiskered fellow we had
seen in the saloon. / crouched down to
avoid detection, but the boat moved still
further along. / thought for moment that
l must be mistaken, but no, the parties
drew toward the land n few rods above US
and behind bunch of tall brown willows
was tempted to spring to the ground and
see If Wagner was alert and keeping watch,
but felt certain he was, so kept at my post
where L could see the men. In another
moment two forms emerged from behind
the willows and slowly approached the
camp. Alter advancing few yards they
halted and evidently cOnyerSed in whispers.
They seemed at q loss to determine where
we were sleeping, for the grass was SO high
that it concealed our blankets from view.
Probably fearing to stumble upon US una
wares they now began to move carefully
around the wagon, still some rods distant
from it.
Their movements obliged me to shift my
hiding place, and l moved from the wheel
to the brake bar; from there TO the for
ward wheel, and 80 on to the tongue and
around to the opposite side of the wagon.
l held my pistol ready for instant use, but
waited for Wagner to begin the battle. for
it was his money they were after, and / was
in his employ. They now seemed to have
located us TO their own satisfaction, for
they began 10 creep stealthily forward.
l was annoyed that Wagner should allow
them to approach so closely, and raised my
pistol to fire without waiting for him, when
L heard the snap OF dry twig behind ME.
| turned with low warning hush to nv
companion as l supposed, when a sharp
voice rang out: Hush be d. Boys, we
must fight for it; these fellows are awake"
The first words were accompanied by shot
that struck my shirt, but did not lnjure me.
The man was third member of the gang,
to obtain the money was to shoot us
down, they at once rushed upon us. l in
stantly sprang TO the ground, and the rob-
Der and myself fired at the same moment. |
was hit in the shoulder, but hardly felt il
at the moment: but my bullet must have
found mark IN turn. for the fellow gave
sharp cry Of pain. We fired again, but each
of us missed, and before another shot could
be sent, the two men from the other side of
the wagon ran toward me and both dis
charged their pistols. A sharp twinge in
my left arm and the helpless feeling that
followed made Inc aware that the bone was
broken.
i WONDERED WHY WAGNER DID NOT COME
To my assistance, but the only thing was
to fight it out. l fired as rapidly as possible
three times in succession and one of the
men dropped to the ground. Why was
not killed l cannot understand, for the bull
lets flew around me rapidly and a number
struck the wagon with q sharp twang.
Perhaps the fact that | stood near the
wagon and the shadow of 1t partially con-
cealed me helped to distract their aim.
The two robbers, however, now rushed at
me, one crying, 'Cut the fellows throat"
Two against one. with broken arm and a
wound in the shoulder made desperate
odds, and besides l had not a load left in my
pistol l however carried bOwie-knfe, as
most CalifOrnians did. and this | hastily
pulled from its sheath, and as they closed
upon me gave one of them blow with il
that must have let the blood run freely At
the same instant | was struck over the head
and knocked senseless to the ground.
When | recovered myself Wagner was
kneeling beside me examining the wounds
by the aid OF fire he had built from some
dry brush. The instant / showed conscious
ness he lifted my head and gave me drink
OF whisky from tin cup that infused new
life into me- DO you feel better, Jini?"
he asked in an anxious tone; 81 was afraid
the robbers had killed you" ".rhe gold"
said l in faint tone; did they -?''
Hang the gold, was his impatient reply;
no, lney uIun get IL, but L would
give it all to have you on your
said l. there, / feel better now.
l have sore head and a broken arm, but
am all right Where are the robbers?" /
asked. ''and where were your" Wagner
replied with Il laugh. 1.-Two of the fellows
are just behind you laid out for the under
taker, but let me get you to town
to doctor and l win tell Won ali
about it." There is boat" | said
'just behind that big bunch of willows
Get that; feel too faint to walk" Once in
the boat Wagner explained that the first
thing he heard was shot fired, and that in
attempting to spring up he had struck his
head with such force against the brake-bar
of the wagon as to stun him for few
seconds. Then you did not awake when
L shook your" l asked.