Year: 1859

though some heavy force were being ap-
piled to the door. / said nothing, but
the idea struck me that the villain might
judge where ! sat, and shoot up through
the top of the cart at me, so l sat down
at the foot board.


+" Of course l knew now that my un-
expected passenger was villain, for he
must have been awake ever since start
ed, and nothing in the world but abso-
lutte villainy would have caused him to
start up in this peculiar place. The
humping and pushing grew louder, and
pretty soon l heard human voice


Z" Let me out of this" he cried, and
yelled pretty Loud


+" lifted up my head SO as to make
him think | was sitting in my usual
place, and then asked him what he was
doing there.


:" Let me out, and l will tell ycu," he
replied.


Tell me what you are in there for, :"
said /.


got in here to sleep on your rags"
he answered.


How did you get in ?" asked.


Let me out, or | will shoot you
through the head" he yelled





"Just at that moment my horses feet
struck the bard road, and | knew the
route to Jackson would be good going
The distance would be twelve miles.
slipped back upon the foot-board and
took the whip. had the same horse
have nova tall, stout powerful bay
mare, and you may believe there is some
go III her. At any rate, she struck a
gate that even astonished me- She had
received mess of oats, the night air
was cool and she felt like going In ff-
teen minutes she cleared the woods. and
away We went at keen jump. The
chap inside kept yelling to be let out,
and threatened to shoot if | didn't let
him out. Finally he stopped, and in
lew minutes came the report OF pistol
-one-lwo-three-four, one right af-
ter the other, and l heard the balls whiz
over my head. If l had been on nv
seat, one if not two of the balls must
have passed through me. l popped up
my head again, and gave yell and a
deep groan, and then said oh, God
save me I'm dead man p Then
made shutting off, and finally settled
down upon the foot-board again. l now
urged up the old mare by giving her an
occasional poke with the end of my whip
stock, and she heeled it faster than ever.


+" The mn called out to me twice more
pretty soon after this; but as he got no
reply, he made some tremendous endeav-
ors to break the door open, and as this
failed him, he made several attempts up
on the top. But l had no fears of his
doing anything there, for the top of my
cart is framed with dovetails, aud each
sleeper bolted to the posts with iron bolts.
| had it made so l could carry heavy
loads there. By-and-by, after all else
had failed, the scamp commenced holler-
ing whoa TO the horse All this time
kept perfectly quiet, holding the reins
firmly, and kept poking the beast with
the whip stock.


" We wasn't an hour going that dozen
miles--not bit of il. | hadn't much
fear, perhaps l might tell the truth and
say | had none,l for l had good pistol,
and more, my passenger was safe--yet l
did feel glad when came to the old
flour barrel factory that stands at the
edge of Jackson, and in ten minutes
more | hauled up in front of the tavern,
and found a couple of men in the barn,
cleaning down some stage horses.


Well, old feller," said L, as l got
down and went round back of the wagon,
you've had good ride. havn't you ?"


Who are you ?" he cried, and he
kind o. swore little, too, as he asked
the question.


al am the man you tried to shoot"
told him.


"Where am [? Let me out of here, -
he yelled.


Look here" said /, we've got to
safe stopping place, and mind ye. I've
got revolver ready for ye. the very mo
ment you show yourself. Now lay quiet


+" BY this time the two hostlers came
up to see what was the matter, and l ex
planned all TO them. After this | got one
of them to run and rouse the sheriff and
tell him what | believed I'd got for him
The first streak of daylight was just now
coming up, and in half an hour it would
be daylight. In less than that time tn,
Sheriff came and two other men will