Year: 1878

this; there were many houses so con-
structed--I had seen one or two myself
and yet when drew back into the
room, and saw the look on Bosses dusky
face, felt that danger, quick and
and deadly was lowering in the air.


Without speaking went to my sad
dle-bags and got out my pistols--a su-
perb pair of long double rifles, that /
knew to be accurate anywhere under
half hundred yards.


" Oar denis what l likes to see )"
exclaimed Bose, rs he dived into his
own bag, and fished out the old horse
pistol that had belonged to my grand
father, and which / knew was loaded to
the muzzle with No. 1 buckshot. 1t
was terrible weapon at close quarters.


The stable in which our horses were
feeding could be watched, and by events
transpiring in that locality we would
shape our actions.


l found the door could be locked from
the inside, and, in addition to this, / i'm
provised bar by means of chair-leg
wrenched off, and thrust through
heavy iron staple that had been driven
in the wall. Its fellow on the opposite
was missing.


We then lifted the clothes-press be-
fore the window, leaving just room
enough on one side to clearly see, and if
necessary fire through dragged the
bureau against the door with as little
noise as possible, and felt that every
thing that was possible had been done.
A death-like stiffness reigned over the
place, broken only once by the voice of
the colored girl singing as she crossed
the stable yard.


had fallen into half doze, seated in
chair near the window facing the sta
BILE, where Bose was on watch, when
suddenly ], felt light touch upon my
arm, and the voice of the faithful senti-
mel in my ear.


"Wake up, Mars Ralph dey's foolin'
bout de stable doo' arter de horses,
shunah," brought me wide awake to my
feet.


Cautiously peeping out, l saw at a
glance that Bose was right in his conjec-
| ture. There were two of them = one,
standing out in the clear moonlight, ev-
identity watching my window, while the
other-and fancied it was the landlord
was in the shadow near the door,
which at that moment slowly swung
open.


| raI tx,ifl,fn ho
building, low, keen whistle cut the air
and at the same instant / heard the
knob of my door cautiously tried. The
thing was now plain.


While those below was securing our
horses, those above were either attempt
ing to gain access with murderous intent
or else on guard TO prevent my coming
to the rescue of my property.


A low hiss from Bose brought me to
his side from the door where / had been
listening


"Dey's got de horses out in de yard, y
he whispered, as he drew aside to let me
look out through the broken pane.


"Take the door," said, "and shoot
lnIOuSh IL bucJ ultdChs uIl SOlHB W
fire at that fellow holding the horse"
l. Lordy, Mars Ralph, it's de tavern
keeper. He amt no count. Drop de
big mani" was the sensible advice
which L determined to adopt.


Noiselessly drawing aside the curtain
rested the muzzle of my pistol upon
the sash where the lights had been
broken away, and drew bead upon the
tallest of the two men who stood, hold.
ing three horses, out in the bright moon.
light. The sharp crack of my weapon
was quickly followed by yell of pain
and 1 saw the ruffian reel backward and
measure his length upon the earth, and
then from the main building there rang
out:


Murder Murder! o, helpl"


Like lightning it flashed across my
mind There was three horses in the
open lot. There was, then, another
traveller besides ourselves. A heavy
blow descended upon the door, ana 9
voice roared


"Quick burst the Internal thing
open, and let me at him The scoundre
has killed Daveln


" Let them have it, Bose whisper
ed,rapidly reloading my pistol. "There
the second panel"


With steady hand the plucky fellow
leyeled the huge weapon and pulled tn