Year: 1866

Z
3 my capture sure, ,as had no more ammuni


ton. had one great advantage and that
t was, if the robbers were bold enough to at
, tack me in the room, they must climb over
f the bed, doing which they would place their
lives in imminent if not in certain danger
: This the robbers seemed to understand, for
: they hesitated long time before proceed.
ing further


At last they moved away, and seemed to
have wisely concluded to let me alone for
: the time, for, after whispered conversa


ton, they went slowly down the stairs, and


in little while all was still | waited pa


tiently to see if the attack would be resum-


ed. An hour passed-then two, three: and


at last the gray streaks of dawn appeared,


and the warm sun soon arose in all its


bright glory, finding me pale, haggard, and


worn from my terrible vigil.


Two hours dragged on. | waited, every


minute expecting the appearance Of the


robbers. They came not, and | began to


wonder what were their intentions regard


ing me- 1t was nooD still no one came ; it


was past the noon hour and still it was ST.
lent as before. At times | could hear a low


talking, which came to my ears from the


yard What in the name Of Heaven. did


they intend doing Ha The thought
passed through my brain like a bullet of fire


they 'cere gong to std7ce me OM The


fearful thought nearly unnerved me. lean


ed for moment against the wall as the


idea came upon me. Now for the first time


L experienced the pangs of hunger / had
eaten but little the previous day it was


now verging into night, and | had tasted


nothing, and another night of terror was


approaching. | stood looking from the win
dow, thus thinking, and noticed the grow
! ing darkness. great storm was rising,


Tor the sky was growing very dark, and


masses on masses of great clouds began
gathering IN the northwest, and a strong


wind was blowing. Soon the rain began
falling it made my heart beat heavy and


slow for | was alone and nearly helpless
My room was very dark, for | had no moon
to cleer me as on the last night. All was
darkness and apprehension. At times the
lightning would flash in the window, illu-
minating for time around then again all
would be dark and still. | stood at the
window listening, straining my sense of
hearing to catch above the din of the storm
the sound of approaching footsteps--for |
thought that, at times, could discern amid
the thickness, the forms of my enemies,
crouched beneath the bed stead or climbing
over it upon me.


1t was night of horror. Certain death
stared me to the face-a dreadful death, for !
| knew they would fearfully avenge their
slaughtered comrade who fell before my re-
volver at the second attack upon the door. |
And | stood trembling and thinking upon
the fate in store for me.


At last, overcome by my loneliness, ex-
hausted and hungry, | determined to sell |
my life as dearly as possible, and rather
than be starved out would meet them bold !
ly--die fighting or make my escape. In |
turtherence OF this idea, | slowly raised my !
windoy and looked out upon the storm and |
darkness. One look convinced me that by /
the window escape was hopeless, for on the .
Threshold of the stable were seated two
men, with lantern before them, carefully
shielded from the storm. From the small
red fire that would brightly glimmer every
second, knew they were smoking. The
other two, then, must be sleeping while
these two remained on watch


was fast growing reckless and despe-
rate, knew that by another day should
be so exhausted that | would be all easy
captive | therefore looked down on the
men for a moment, raised my revolver,
took deliberate aim at one of the robbers,
and fired. He bounded from his seat
and fell down corpse. Then the
door of the tavern opened, and the land
lord and two other robbers rushed confus-
edly out | could hardly see them in the
darkness, but | had still four shots in my
revolver, not counting my pocket pistol
and bowiekniie, and ! determined to try
another. Straining my eyes and pointing
my revolver, | tireda low cry loud cur
ses and execrations, and all was still
would now have dropped from the window,
but | well knew they stood i'll the doorway
of the tavern, and if did so | would be
killed. paused The night passed slow
ly away the storm began to subside. l
stood at the window, my face burning hot,
my limbs cold and shivering The morn
ing peeped in to cheer me, and again |
thanked God. Bang the window glass
fell in my face with crash-a bullet whis-
tied past me. My shadow had been seen,
but was unharmed | retreated to anoth-
er corner of the apartment and crouched
down, for | was weak and sinking fast /
waited the approach of morning


Morning "a last dragged itself in the
sun uOSc anu pOlnGtu iIS pcdulS thiOuSu
my broken window. | crept forward to
warm myself in its reflections, still crouch
ing down with my hands elapsed about my
knees. My lips were now parched and dry,
and | shook as though with an ague fit
my revolver dropped from my hands for
they were hot and trembling | crawled
to the window. Raising myself looked
out and saw some thimblesful of water in
the worn creases of the window ledge
sucked it in and once more crawled to my
sunny reflection" had that day pre-
sentiment that night would end my suffer
ing-whether by death or escape | could
not tell-but | felt it was So


Did before have any doubt as to the
intentions of the robbers, it was no longer
questionable That they had determined
to starve me out was now certain. Nearly
the whole day heard nothing, except now
aud then the closing of door, or the loud
tones of parties in conversation but even
this Incidental noise soon ceased, and all
was still as the grave. All this time felt
myself growing weaker Hunger gnawed
increasingly at my bowels, and my thirst
unsacked for nearly three days, became
so intense that my tongue ratified against
M taafb ap1 tho rCpf nf