Year: 1871

| hlm TO be.


The woman, who was a dirty, slovenly
creature, was engaged in preparing sup
per. Ar oven was upon the fire, and she
divided her attention between this and a
huge slice of venison ham that was broil-
ing on some Goals drawn out from the
hearth.


IL have been belated," l said. "and
am very tired and hungry, and would
crave nights lodging with you"


" | reckon you can stay stranger" he
replied, casting sidelong glance at his
wife.


Have you come far to-day?" he asked,
after a moments silence.


Yes" And / acquainted him with
whom l had staid over night.


Twas a good long ride, he said
Bat come, your horse must be tired
and hungry too, and / will show you
where to feed him


At this solicitation of my host who
gave his name as Dallis Dawton, | fol-
lowed him out into the yard, and taking
my horse by the bride, led him to the
rear of the hut, where / found stable
or rather shed, to secure him in. After
feeding him plentifully with shelled corn,
which the man Dawton had brought out,
we returned to the cabin.


Supper was Immediately served, and /
partook heartily of their rude fare, which
| relished keenly. Then, after chatting
couple of hours or more with mine
host, he, at my request, taking flaming
torch from the fire, conducted me to my
place of retirement, which was the rude
loft of the cabin, accessible freq. the
lower floor by rough ladder, no doubt
of his own manufacture.


My bed was only heap of bear skins,
piled up in one corner of the place, but
which, when / had composed myself
within them, served admirably well;
seeming as soft and comfortable as bed
of down, after my fatiguing ride.


And soon the Pickering freight that
stole up from below, through the crevices
of the floor, and which grotesquely
streaked and Illuminated the walls and
roof of the cabin, slowly softly faded
from my vision; then the low, humming
voices of the man and woman, as they
coRversed in half inaudible tones, died
outupon my ear; and then, entirely over





repose that only the truly tired man can
know.


How long | slept know not-though
it must have been some hours-when |
suddenly awoke with start For "A mo-
ment / could not comprehend where |
was at, and lay quite still till had
satisfied myself ON this point by recalling
the events of the day. | was about to
compose myself to sleep again, when
voice below attracted my attention. 1t
was that of Dallis Dawton. / knew well
his harsh, surly tones.


Hes sound asleep, boys; | even
touched him, and it did not in the least
bit disturb him." he said.


"Then, Dawton, blast yer ugly pictur,"
came another rough voice, evidently
mans too; why didn't you do the work
for him2'


"Plenty O timeyet," returned the first,
with growl.


"D'ye suppose he has anything of any
consequence about him, DawtonY asked
third.


81 rather think he has" was the re-
jonder.


Worth all cur trouble, whether we
get anything else or not.


Hush not so loud, men," said the
second, cautiously. He might happen
to wake up and hesS you.


This injunction was quickly observed,
for they began to converse in tones that
were inaudible to my ear, save low,
murmuring sound. But / had heard
enough to acquaint me with their inten-
tions, and l sat bolt upright in the bed.


| had unluckily fallen into a nest of
thieves, and it was plainly evident, from
what little of their conversation heard
over head, that they intended to murder
and rob me.


For a minute or longer | sat there
without moving, nay, scarcely breathing.
This truth had burst upon me SO sud
denly that was more like man in a
dream than one that was awake.


A faint light was yet burning below,
for it was still creeping up through the
crevceS of the loft floor and painting
strange shadows on the wall. Thus, when
! had become thoroughly awakened, it
suggested to me the idea of making an
examination of things in general, and
leaning softly over my rude bed, peered
through narrow crevice into the room
below.


At one glance took in the whole |
scene. Instead of Dawton aud his wife |
alone, as had been when retired, |
could now see two others besides-two |
as yillainous looking men as mine host |
himself and who were no doubt his part
ners in crime. sc |


| drew back from the aperture and sat |
thinking. The helplessness of my con-
dition at once presented itself to me. |
There | was, penned up, as it we're, with |
no means of egress, while there stood 1
ruffians, who cared no more for the |
shedding of human blood than they
would have a viper's, bided their time
to come and knock me on the head.
And when they came there was no doubt |
but that they would come and shortly, |
what could do2 ! was totally unarmed
save with a small pocket knife, and this
knew would be entirely useless to me.
had nothing at all to defend myself
with. Truly was my situation perilous


But / must needs do something, and
arising as noiselessly as could, i hastily
donned my clothes l was determined
to make all the resistance in my power
to sell my life as dearly as possible if it
came to the test


My first act was to make a close sur
vey of the room in which / was, think
ing perhaps, ] might find some weapon
or something to assist me. But there
was nothing Of the kind about.
What should / do, / again and again
asked Of myself To remain there was
certain death, yet there was no means /
Of egress as saw.


It has been said, and with much truth
fulness, that necessity is the mother Of


L - L