Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-26
THEY COUNTED THE MINUTES.

THEY COUNTED THE MINUTES.
The Travellers Suffered Agonies Of Fear ~
the Desperate Sat Glowering at Them.
From the New York Sun
crowd Of ten had been sitting in the Hoff-
man House bar room all the evening telling
stories. This stranger with q broad brimmed
hat had been admitted to the circle early in the
night and had listened attentively, but had not
talked. 1t was near midnight when one Of the
| circle demanded a story from him.
REALLY, gentlemen" said the stranger. "rm
not much Of q story teller, but 1 can tell You Of
an experience had 1t was the time came
nearest being scared to death My friend George
Wood and l had been out in the mountains in
Tennessee prospecting for coal mines all day,
and 1t was coming on toward dusk. We hadn't
seen living soul or habitation of any kind in
the whole journey till We came to this hut. A
white haired old darby sat by the door hum
ming salvation hymn. An old woman, evil
IDENTITY his wife, was fixing hoe cakes and the
smell that came from her kitchen was most de-
iightful. We hailed the old man and he babe
us welcome. The old woman came out and
greeted us as only the old mammies can, and
then she hustled around and increased the sup
ply Of hoe cakes
1T was dark when supper was ready and then
there came an addition to the family in the
shape OF the most Misunderstanding negro that
ever saw In my life. He looked the brute if
ever man looked it. He was fully six feet
three inches In height, with coarse features, q
coarser tongue and a surly manner. We felt
lnstinctlvely the moment We laid eyes on him
that he was probably the wickedest man in the
whole mountain region, and it made us feel I'M
comfortable, especially rs we had arranged TO
spend the night at the cabin. The aged couple
had assured us that the next house was ten
miles away, beyond little mountain pass, hard
to travel over at night.
This big brute OF a negro had rife. which
rs he came In he flung down by the hearth,
making some savage exclamation as he did so.
We realized that we we're in for it, as II was i'm
possible for us to reach the next house in the
darkness, strangers that were. We were
hungry. but somehow couldn't eat. This
fellow all the time glared at us out of the cor
ners OF his eyes. We we're glad enough when
the meal over. We all sat around the big
open fire for awhile end then the old couple
went to b d, leaving us alone with the big
negro. He had never a word to say to us, but
every time we looked at him We could see that
he was watching our every movement and he
had his foot on the rife which lay by the hearth.
George and Of course had revolvers, and after
whispered consultation we decided that the
only thing to do was to go to bed with these
weapons held in our hands under the bed
clothes, cooked and ready for use, and we
agreed that at the first sign of an attack we
at was about 10 o'clock when we Law down.
We had hoped that this fellow would 60 off to
bed himself. But he still sat by the fire and
showed no signs Of moving. We were in no
condition to sleep and didn't sleep. I'm not
often afraid Of man, but here the continued
suspense was fearful. felt that every indi-
vidunl hair on my head was standing straight
up and was very rapidly turning gray. 1
reached my hand softly over and touched the
fingers Of George. They were as cold as ice.
He responded to the touch with squeeze.
knew he was as bad off as l WAS
Half an hour passed. II seemed an age.
felt that l couldn't stand the thing much
longer. / was getting weak. Ny head was
partly buried in the pillow, but with one eve
half opened l could see the figure Of the saw
age watcher and caught his furtive glances
toward me. Finally decided to draw him on.
l thought, to get the thing over. l began
breathing heavily, as man does in a sound
sleep. One-two-three-five minutes passed.
All the while the eyes of that vilainous wretch
were glued upon me. l wanted to Jump up and
make run for it, but dared not. Six-seven
eight minutes, and then apparently the fell
low was satisfied there was no shamming
Slowly he reached down and got his rifle.
Nov, l thought, comes the end and I
clutched my pistol so hard that there was
danger that it would explode.
rifle in hand the fellow crept up to u.s.
The dull light of the fire threw CHASTITY glare
on his brutal face. Whether or not it was INV
imagination do not know. but his eyes looked
shining red. Stoop shouldered and almost
creeping as he was. he seemed to me like
great wild beast crouching for a spring
would have given all that possessed or all that
ever expected to possess had been out of
there. l was paralyzed. l could not have
moved the hand that held The revolver had
tried. l positively helpless 1 felt that
death was not minute away.
"Now he BY the bedside, leaning over
and listening. l broke out in a cold perspira-
ton. A moments inspection and he straight
ened up and began moving noiselessly toward
the door, near which there was another bed
- He is going to lock the door and then
shoot u.s. l thought.
You've heard tell of all the scenes of a man s
life passing before his eyes when he is drown
ing. Well, believe every sin ever committed,
ana some had never committed. passed be-
fore my eyes then. Just moment, / thought,
and he will Kill NE, and just the moment that
this thought was uppermost in my mind the
savage. the great brute with the coarse and
horrible features and the murderous manner,
dropped on his knees beside that Q Ter bed and
buried his face in his hands, and 1 heard the
words:
Now lay me down to sleep,
pray the Lord my soul to keep
But my partner and | had been scared
nearly out of our lives before they came"