Year: 1866

81 could not we'll watch them, for they
fell behind, aud began to jabber with each
other. So put Charlie to his steps about
rs lively as he could 60, and they had to
use themselves to keep up with him. 1t
was very much such . night A. tonight
starlight and quite tolerable, while You
were in the open field, but As dark ss you
please after one got into the woods


ga little way, from where l had sncoun.
tered them we came to sort of prairie, or
desert, 1 should call it, whore nothing but
,tunted crop of grass ever grow. This was
several miles across, and by the time We
were half way it became =. dark n it would
be during the night.


81 kept hand on my pistol now, for If
there was to be any fouisPlsyssl lsoxPected. il
would como soon. My worst fears were
now confirmed in every respect; except, per.
haps, in the result. We had already al.
most reached the edge of the forest, and I
had gently drawn one Of my pistols, and
held it cooked, in readiness for any emer.
genoy. I had heard my companions, if I
may use the name, whispering behind me,
and my fears were getting to be pretty we'll
excited.


"Just as We were entering tho shadows,
one of the horsemen spurred up, and was be-
side me before I had really any suspicion Of
his movements. If he had struck the mo-
ment be came near enough, it would have
been all iu his hands. I was at his mercy.
But ., he was trying to urge his horse
alongside mine, close enough to exactly
suit his purpose, 4 fallen log caused his
horse to deviate triAe, and saw long
knife in his right hand Then knew his
purpose.


"Quick as thought I turned IN my sad
die, and presented the pistol full at bis
head He saw the movement, and pulled
mp bis animal with jerk. My brain WAS
in great whirl, and 1 hardly knew what
I was going to do. At least I had no pur-
pose in view. I only realized that those
three men meant to kill me, away there in
that gloomy forest, and I started up my old
horse upon the impulse of the moment.


"No sooner had I started than l heard
the snap of a rife just behind me, and one
of the gang sang out-'Shoot the Gus My


gun won't 90 off? Of course, by
the time they were ready to shoot again, l
had gained upon them considerable. They
had rather stopped to see the fun 60 on, and,
sure enough, it wa, going on at pretty good
rate. I bent low, and when the ball came
for i: did come in good earuest-it pass.
ed just over my head.


"By this time bad something Of plan |
in my mind, for it was getting evident to
ma that T cond never get away from than
BY the speed Of my horse. seized my mail
bag, and rolled to the ground, ho'0 I never
know. My horse was little frightened,
and liked that all the better. / let him
20, and got out of tho way with my mail as
soon As possible It was % dark then that
had no trouble in hiding, and soon I heard
them pass me by, looking upon the ground
as they went, for the Williams faucisd that
they had heard mo drop.


"Then I began to think what l should
do. 1t Was fully eight miles, H Oslculs'
ted, TO B, and most Of the way
through woods. If l could get through,
should be safe. To turn back would be
moro dangerous, for l could not GROSS she
plain behind me without being seen, if any
one was looking for me Perhaps could
dodge them through the woods to B.
I would try it,


81 had scarcely made the attempt when
tho fellows came upon Charlie. 1t seemed
be had stopped soon after I had loft bis
back. In . moment they were divided,
and were securing the woods for me.
cannot tell what my thoughts were at that
The idea of being murdered in
a forest at night, or of killing human be.
ing in self.defeuce, WAS far from pleasant
had no time for thoughts; had to act
just then.


"One of them had taken the road, or path,
and one of the others came upon each side
Of it, The ono upon the side where was,
was coming directly toward me. moved
away very cautiously, for | had no idea of
forming his acquaintance. But fate was
against me. l held on securely to my bag,
which was over my left arm, and carried
my pistol in the right hand. By some un-
lucky chance I ran afoul of bush, which
stopped my progress, and created such q
commotion that the fellow heard me


"sThis way' he sung out, and c.me
along, with his rife ready for instant use.
knew there was no escape, for he would
fire at any movement on my part, and be
was so near me preferred not to run the
risk of his bullet. So, crouching behind
the shrub, waited for him to como up. l
held my pistol at full cock, and [ had no in.
tention of sparing the rascals life.


"'The old cuss is crawliu' somewhere
here, he sung out; 'I'll fix him.


"My mind was l.ade up then, more than
ever. He would shoot wounded man for
the sake of hundred dollars, to be divided
between the three of them But there are
many men just as low as that and even
lower. He came right along, though it
seemed an age to me, and when he bent
over the bush I fired, for l dared wait no
longer


"Fortunately my aim was good, and he
fell where he stood I could hear the rest