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r.lcPlKE, editor and Publisher
HE IS A FTIEEMAN WITOM TITE TRUTH MAKES FREE, A5D ALL ARE 6LAVES BESIDE."
Terms, S2 per year, In advance.
h.i'Mi: ix.
EBENSBURG, PA., FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1875.
, UJlDIiM .30.
is fin
' ' - : ' ' ...... , . . , . . ; - ' ' " 1 11 - -
1 1
tu- .t1.T'- r ate.
xjti":rhs,-r..,..c:i hite.
I T.. '.. stv.sV.1 ,ri'"r
.- In art l.pfall?
nf.t r t i.ii.ti .it atL
I."-'
V , tu"
,! iff
X )-'-'' r I'' ""':r' " 'Tn.
V .. ,. ,. f-.r itln-iv 1 flower:
Mr.-, am- we iuivp known,
;lu i .-is. i.-ln"l lmur
-. ,!1 a y !.-.- r t Scfail ?
,1 . r L ... 1 1, ut. tr to Lave kmnvu liiem
Tmlrr- ir n""if .m met,
Xv . :t tl :" 11,1 :" '''" '"';ir'
!), v :t -! i .(I ;- -.!,
,rf :r,.,-. !:!! miy lii'ST-t hpfitt?
,.,r .!.::. in-'iT t.j It..ve I.'VlJ at all.
. sil .
v.-
'1 T,
"! ill..
n:i:iuvs (o.ui'ACT.
y t. STMI.II S Til T COT MIXED IX
nr. i '"AN 1 x1 MlNTn-
,.,-, C:.i;iiti .I.K'ksiMi, that you
i L,:.;i uii'UII llitllK'ti'll.S from
! t!io List ni:iil '.'
c: i-:n t ii-n I:ir ami spveific
:i4 ii.r. i' tbo cargo wanted for the
i -i.I.-i -r.ricl yon aright, t!ie liost
i,f ami t lie finest graclo of teas
Iv. Mi', r.u'i". t"t why do yiti
ic v 'u imai !i- to I";t! tfif shi with
: t i .jiiahlv aii'l gradi' of r(iols '?'
1! m-c in .""xl time, .I.ickson. lint,
l r.c V' !i a:i oliji-ction to my jlaiic
l win .v.iiffii i'i-tini;ti.ns?''
aiiiiy r. "t : airl if you are to furnish
1 t ! ; i i Tic it a'lvh.al.le IVjr yo;j to
;;- nu lrr-f i!il what is wanted
a I :."'.. v . 1 1 t. rt c.-i i ve."
;;r.- ycs of Mv. Failing were
i 1 1 1 1 . 1 1 the w ea t hei heat en
r,n of ;!i? M anr.ui for a moment,
ii i:i a fi. ii. Miniating tone, he
i
.i '.',:!! i'-- in' a boat, J si cU son, I
' iriv ( I. iii i l'"V ainre for a case
The weather is warm.
1 1 .i!i.,'.i;:'.e will not be di.-agitea-
r
"!:'.-: hit it H a luxury we
- ! i in La; e the oj-poi-tuuity of
';' i!.''eai't.iin, with a sinfi,
. 1 iii.i l.ir utl wife and two
.. ; ''il' wum soon siaiklii)g in
it : . -i'-, arid the lnei chant
y.;i i' and his noble t-h in a
. ! a fine c'Snj.ier cn.jaged
i. :.i u -I'll . owned by an opr.U-iit
!' ' 1 i'h ir dolliirs by millions,
i' i- 'luimaiHled by Captain
in i ; i i i iicvd phipmastcr, but
i i; a i '.i t ll(d to accept the
,'ii:niMii tin? p.n sinionious ov ncia
, "i Vi .
i -- had been unfoi tunate,
' i...-a; j iu il to the lirm for
' ia1 '.i,b in debt, w'uh a wifo
) i k i ; : to him for support. .
' t.ditioii to dictate terms,
:-1 late fceb'.y at the
'.t-!fd f n the amount of
1 1 ' i . :.'.i:ty lie w as expected
a . I 1. after. ;
' I'lvniy "f shipmasters for
Pil ii. '!;. li,'' w;i ihe cohl, '
; "'At- do imt a.-ik you t ae-
' '- 'ii.e to us; if you demur,
'- '' y ii piaee."
:i l.r.iiy l.i ait the p(Kr fellow
' .n;i:r.-. wl.il" the pule, sutler- ,
! ..'n w.i c i,.M- u, Ijfforo him. i
'-'i i lying olf shanghai
! i..u i.iiiiahle ainl special cargo
1 Vi u I.;,;, u d by mail.
n'' '' ' Mi. Failing, was on
La alieady been narrated,
i .a tia Hie w iih, spacious
" ' 1 - "f champagne had been
li.iiait j.eifiune of choice
'' il" ''aliin, and poor Jackson
.'"'' ' v iiiar.; mounted to his
1 ' ": f...t l,,s troubles.
'"" ''' tl.e tahle lieloie Fil-
tt ,;' U p-n-hed on a project-
'!":!,. cal'iu, smoked in silence,
"! 1 a volubility entiiely
! ' p-lined into 4hc ears
l eiitiiv st, y f wrongs..
' lie ' 't haif p;lllli Ul.lt is celliall
1 1 'Luc U hut little chance to
" "''! "f the main hatch. To
""" ' iiki n ji u
r'- "inii handier. .ifi..r
" "Mi. .imt t.,y I eame out
' f,"ii.e, Jackson ; honestly
' ' "u- Lave no i,,., m,i.
situated Iilh'iently.
' ''11' 'it .mities, jour life is ;
'o-a-er portion of it is
' ""''A tin; el' im-iits at eighty '
u --'-tor what? that your ,
, "'!' L iiidreds or thousands of ;
.al(;ts. Uat honest, !
y J:Nl'' N,. And how will it I
i.,,..1'' 1 lM '"eiidiaii of lifo, I
, ' )-'i a,.: 'astern or the lighter.' i
I:o l---'"n, too plain
1,11 :',ur K-S mau it has
-:y .l"'.!" l"Ur" A 1 said Le
, '' ' 'ing you neater to
f i,'ar of your life
K.J,, "" :'''!'r fu"ily whom you
u,,!1"" U'-lt ""Hcci.leutCH-
,., '5 "'! n:al1' of the fum that
' .. ,, ' ioil, in UU(, coursd
1 he win out, feeble and
Incapacitated by old age from retaining
command. What will the merchant witn
bw bags of gold, which j on have made for
him. care for yon thn f Will he take into
consideration the fact that you have braved
dangers and ransacked every clime for the
articles of merchandise he required t No,
he will never give it a thought, and the old
shipmaster, the faithful but worn out ser
vant will totter to the door of the sailor's
mug hurbor, and e.j for charity and a
roof over bit? grey head, unless indeed your
wife aud two girl babies can support
you."
The merchant blew a long cloud of
smoke from his lips as he ceased speaking,
and eyed Jackron with a very peculiar
look as tfcat individual wipe 1 the perspira
tion from his brow, which had been in
voked by the artful picture prolrayed by
the eloquence of the shaxp, shrewd mer
chant. "Good God ! Mr. Fa'lmg, I never looked
npon it in that light; but I dure say you
aie right. I!ut what uan I do f The eigh
ty dollar I get keeps my wife from starving-"
"Exactly, and no more. T.ke another
gla9 that's right. Your good health.
The Exporter is insured, itn't she V
"Yes. to her full value."
"And you are to iti-ure the cargo also."
"Cert .inly; my owners are always very
particular about that."
"Humph ! How would you like to
pocket fif .y thousand d.?!a'.j, Jackson, and
weather on your owners and the poor
house, eh V
"What a question to ask a m.in in my
position !" and Jack.on's head b gan to
spin about as he ik-tned to ;he ariiully
worded sophis.i-y of the tempter.
"We can ir. ke a gt.o.l thing of it, and
row ia your oj poit unity. Your owners
grind you l wn, now let th;in take the
cot. J'.,p:ice?, although they will not lose
much, but the anticipated profit. I will
furnish you the silk and tea, but instead of
the best I'll give you the poorest. Don't
jump, man; there's no harm done yet.
The highest market price will be charge.l,
and you shall have twenty-five thousand
dollars to-night, or when you sign the
regular articles of agreement ns having
received the stipulafeJ quality and quanti
ty. The other tweniy-iive thousand shall
be j.id when the Expoi ter g.vis to the
bottom, and yon return to Shanghai from
the wre-:k. Not a word, man. Tint
come ashore. We'll talk it all over at my
OiV.ce."
And linking his a"m through Jackson's
he R-si.bsl the rh'pmasfer to leave the
cabin and descend the si.l;.
The next da y the fii-st lighter load of ca'-go
for the Exporter arrived and loth bale and
box was 1 attle.i rapidly into hT capacious
ho!d. In l.'ss than two weeks time the
ship whs ready for sea, and Jackson, who
hud spent the greater portion of his time on
shore repaired on boai d.
N.t ur-'il too late did the entangled sea
rr: n rivmk from the delusive diam into
which he 1: 1 been beui!e.l by the fckil'ful
Failing. The ship was loaded, the first
half of the fifty thousand dollars had been
paid, and Jackson, by the advice of the
merchant, did not bank the amount, but
negotiated for the vslue in diamonds, which
he woi-e around his body.
It wn too late to retreat; he had gone
too far; ard although his conscience
troubled him sadly, still be m:tde np bis
m:nd to carry out the fi and that had been
commenced.
Hie Exporter sailed down the mighty
Yangtze with a fair w: k1, which freshened
as the good ship pas- d Woo Sting, Every
body on board wa 3 in high spirits at the
idea of bein? homeward bound, with the
exception of joor Jackson, who paced the
deck in moody silence. He had solemnly
sworn never to tasta champagne agin, and
had firmly made tip his mind not to re
visit Shanghai, for he had learned to fear
the influence which Failing exercised over
him.
He kept to Wmself, avoided the society
of his first mate, and sjent most of his time
in the seclusion of his cabin, brooding over
the terrible st ..ret w hich be canied in his
bosom.
The character of the cargo preyed con
tinually on his mind, and waking or sleep
ing, he was continup.Ily haunted by a
nightmare, II.? grew nervous and impa
tient; so much eo, that both officers and
crew wondered at the sudden change that
had come over the "old man."
When alone in the dead hour, of the
night, he would pour over his charts, and
etiive in vain to fix definitely ujion some
shoal or reef where he could safely carry
out his intentions, and an involuntary curse
would esenpe his lips as he felt the pressure
"f the belt he wore atout his lody, or the
features of Failing, which would occasion
ally rise up before him.
Favored by fair weather, the fleet ship
rapidly plowed her way down the China
sea, and all hands congratulated them
selves on a speedy termination of the voyage-No
opportunity had ocr UTed to aacri-
fice the ship, for Jackson was determined
not to hazard the life of any one on board,
and, keeping well to the eastward, the
high mountainous island of Borneo loomed
up blue and picturesque above the
horizon.
For two days the Exporter skirted alon
in sight of the island, and then a furi
ous sqall of mibt and rain swept over the
ship.
The black, lowering dcuds arr.eai-ed to
envelop the mast-heads, and the zigzag
sheets of vivid lightumg darted through
the heavens, only excelled in fury by the
appalling peals of thunder which crashed
unceasingly above them. The sea, lasher
to fury, was enveloped in a feathery foam,
and flew over the ship in blinding showers.
Groaning and creaking in every timber,
the ship bowed before the gale, and, as all
hands had leen called to shorlen sail, Of
cut away the tattered remnants of what
had lieen blown away. Captain Jackson
himself took the wheel, that the helmsman
might lend a hand in aiding his struggling
shipmates. .
No human being can ever conceive the
feelings which raged in the unfortu
nate shipmaster's brea3t that memorable
night.
The roarmg of the waves, the rush of
the pelting rain, the howl of the gale as it
swept through the cordage of the ship, and
the beating of the surf on the beach and
reefs in the distance, mingled with the
clear word of command of the mates, and
the cheery cry of the nimbi sailors aloft
as they roared out, "haul out U leeward '"
or "light over to windward !"
The last man had laid down from aloft,
the men were clustei ing aft to "splice the
main brace," when a sudden grumble and
grating ran through the ship. A shock, a
bump followed fy a second shock, which
threw the men off their feet violently, and
then the good ship Exporter struck iieavily
on a coral reef, and was forced high up on
the dangerous shoal.
With a succession of crashes the talk
waveiing masts went over the side, the
affrighted cries of the men, the shouts of
the officers, and the terrible ominous grind
ing on the ship's keel rang out on the mid
night ?ir.
But the calm, steady voice of the cap
tain was heard above all, calling on them
to obey his orders, and Jackson's coolness
had the desired effect.
Wati hing for the next vivid flash, Jackson
scanned the scene and saw that it wa
comparatively easy to reach the main land
by the coral reef.
Carefully and cautiously the men were
directed to scramble for the land, and Jack
son was the last man to leave the doomed
ship. A sharp cry of anguish escaped
from hirn as he leaped over tha rail, but it
was swallowed up in the force of the
gale, which now set in with redoubled
fury.
All night I.-'Tilt if rag'd, and as daylight
dawned the furious waves were running
high, while the breakers roared like so
muTiy angry and hungry wolves.
Not a vestige of ship or cargo remained
save a few remnants of shattered spars
and singular enough the medicine chest
was found compai atively uninjured. Ky
some means it had escaped the undertow,
and was half buried in tha sand, a ead
relic of the once noble ship. . I
Jackson had performed his difficult task
well, not a hrea'h of suspicion could attach
itself to him, and all hands endeavored to
speak a word of comfort to their pale, de
jected sujierior.
But other matters soon engrossed the at
tention of lioth oflicer3 and men. With
the first rays of the morning sun which
pierced the disersing storm clouds, a
numerous and well armed body of natives
suddenly made their appearance, and with
loud and menacing cries rushed upon the
defenseless, shipwrecked seamen.
By the advice of the captain, no attempt
was made to resist the half-naked, swarthy
natives, who bore the entire ship's company
in their midst to their reigning prince,
who was at tiied in more than barbaric
splendor.
A Malay stepped forward to act as in
terpreter, having served on board a. coun
try wall at as seaman, where he had learn
ed a smattering of the English language.
He informed Capt. Jackson that the ship
had struck a reef making out from Sara
wak, on the island of Borneo, and that they
were now the prisoners and slaves
of the prince bearing the name, of the
tow-n. '
In a low, confidential tone, he added that
he wished them no harm, but advised them
to strain every effort to escape, aa the
rajah was a bloodthirsty fellow, who de
lighted in putting his prisoners to death by
the mosi cruel tortures, that could be de
vised. The Malay added that the poten
tate was greatly depressed at present on
account of the severe illness of the young
princess, his favorite daughter; and as all
the ja-ju men on the island had failed - to
relieve her, their heads had paid the forfeit
She was hourly growing worse, and the
father was almost frantic at the thought of
losing his idol. ' . . ...
Captain Jackson listened in deep silence,
and a ray of hoie darted across his really
fine features as he reflected for a moment
In his many leisure hours at sea he had
made the science of medicine a study so
much bo that he felt perfectly confi
dent to grapple with any ordinary disease.
The men were standing between the
well-armed natives, who were only await
ing the well-known signal of their ruler to
dash their brains out or reserve thero for a
worse fate. But the dusky potentate had
relapeed into a reverie, and had appa
rently forgotten the presence of the white
men. t
The guards stirred impatiently, whila
their dark eyes shot forth glances which
Mded no good to the trembling men whom
they had in their power.
Nerved on by desperation, and a prey to ,
the most terrible Bpirehensions at the
awful predicament and danger the ship's
company were in tbrotigh his instrumen
tality, Jackson whispered a few words in the
ear of the Malay, who ventured to approach
his royal master.
Jackson had bethought him of the fortu
nate discovery of the medicine chest, and
determined to assume the risk of asserting
his power to save the princess' life, which
he accordingly did, and the Malay quickly
conveyed the intelligence to the despondent
father.
In an instant the high-born native was
on his feet. His eyes glistened with an un
natural lustre; his deep, sonorous voice
echoed through the room, while the jewels
flashed and scintillated on his clothing as he
gesticulated wildly.
The Malay translated the will of hla
chief lain, and Jackson was infoimd that
he should have an opportunity to try his
skill that, if successful, he would be
loaded with wealth such as he never
di earned of - that his comrades should
share in his good fortune, and liberty as
well aa jewels should be the share of the
white strangers. But, on the other hand,
after exciting false hopes and making an
assertion he could not make good, if the
princess should die, then death with the
most exquisite torments would be the por
tion of all.
It was not without a nervous chill that the
ehipmaster listened to the alternative, and
although his face was pale, s-till he never
faltered in his step as he followed a guide
to the presence of the princess.
He could scarcely repress his embarrass
ment as he bent over the slight form of the
princess, who was little more than a child
in years, and stature. She was reclining in
a silken hammock, partially covered by a
slight gauze covering. She moved her
head from side to side, moaning with pain,
and quietly submitted to Jackson as he
examined her pul.e, tong ., etc
He soon discovered thut her trouble was
nothing more serious tuan a slow fever,
which the contents of the medicine chest
would easily e.lteviate, aa i he breathed a
silent but fervent prayer of gratitude for
tha means of escapo oii j.cJ to his comrades
and himself.
' The precious collection of drugs was
soon under his watchful care, the proper
remedied given, and for the first time jr
rur.ny days the princess sank into an easy
and refreshing slumber that night,
Jackson Wi.tche j by her hammock, while
the stern old .-hk-f occupied a pile of cush
ions close besidu him. ,
The recovery of th i pa'ient was rapid,
thanks to a good coir "tution; and captain
Jackson in th-3 course of ten days had the
Siktisfae'iion of see' .g her sitting up
laughing and talking with her overjoyed
father.
The safety of the shipwrecked crew was
assured, the raj:.h more than kept his
word, heaping geiud and gold dudt upon
them all.
To Jackfon be made the most munifi
cent ufTcrs, prcssiig upon hLm the oflice of
chief j.-ju of the island. But the ship
master wisely declined the oiliee in cau
tious language, and at parting his belt re
ceived an addition that more than exceeded
his wilde.-t ideas of wealth.
The eiliira par; y wore conveyed to Sin
g;Iore, wbeie Jnckson bade adieu to his
old comrades, taking the first mail steamer
that left- ." . ,
Beaching Live-cpnol, he soon arrived at
his destination, and was warmly welcomed
by his wife and li tie ones, to whom he re
lated his strange adventures.
Without loss f time he called on the
owners of the Exporter, who had mean
while, secured their full insurance of vessel
and cargo coolly informing Jackson that
he need never expect to command one of
their ships again; for widen rebuff he cared
but little. '
Removing to a smal. out grow-ing West
ern town, he became identified 'with its
prosperity, and to-day is one of its wealth
iest and most influential citizens.
He has conscientiously striven to re
pair the error into which he w-as drawn,
but never thinks of Shanghai and the tea
trade without a visible shudder.
STKOXO IKINkC.
I have heard the wail of children crying
for bread, and their mother had none to
give them. I have seen the babe pulling
the breasts as dry as if the starved mother
had been -dead. I have known a father
.urn a stepdaughter into the street at night,
bidding the sobbing girl who bloomed in
to womanhood, seek her living there as
others did. I have lent over the foul pal
let of a dying lad, to hear him whisper,
and his father and mother, who were sit
ting half drunk by the fireside, had pulled
the blankets off his body to sell ' them for
drink. I have seen the children blanched
like plants in a cellar for weeks they
never breathed a mouthtul of fresh air for
want of rags to cover their nakedness; and
they lived in continual terror of a drunken
father or mother coming hone to beat
them. I do not recollect ever seeing a
mother in these wretched dwellings band
ling her infant, or of hearing the little ones
crow or laugh. These are some of drink's
doings; but nobody can know the misery
suffered amid these scenes of wretchedness,
woe, want and sin. ...
A landlady, in Jersey City, lately bought
a piano at auction for four dollars and sixty
three cents. It is for the benefit of my
boarders," she remarked.
THE LOSE CAlilX.
A WILD RIDE FOR LIFE.
I had ridden hard and fast, and was as
tonished to fiud myself coming into a strag
gling settlement. On the course which I
should have taken there was nothing of the
sort. Somewhere I had crossed the right
trail and taken the wrong one. Almost
any traveler in the border sections would
have been glad to thus stumble upon a
place for food -and refreshment. Not so
with myself. In the breast pocket of my
coat 1 carried five thousand four hundred
and ninety odd dollars, United States mon
ey.. I had received this amount from Maj.
Gen. T. M. Eacey, and it was to be carried
through to Fort L , and placed in the
hands of Col. Asa F. Southard, to defray
necessary army expenses.
"Get through at your best gait, Carnes,"
said the Major, "the money is long since
overdue, aud Southard's rather irascible
temper must have been tried to the utmost.
You know how the soldiers get to growling
if uncle is at all delinquent iu pajing up.
Rido in a careless manner, but be careful.
I don't think -that any one dreams of the
arrival of this money save, of course, the
mail agent and the clerk who delivered me
the packages."
I was directed over an unfamiliar section,
hence my losing of the right route. I con
sidered it my safest plan, so long as I had
blundered upon the verge of the settlement,
to boldly enter and rest as an ordinary
traveler would do. Should I push hurried
ly on, I miht, by that very act, excite sus
picion. There were only two men in the barroom
when I entered the landlord and the
hostler. Under his familiar cordiality the
landlord furtively eyed me in a manner
that made me wish that I was done with
my job, but I reassured myself with the
thought that it was the. cansciousness of
the responsibility reposing upon me. Be
fore I bad finished my supper two mote
travelers rode up, called out for the host
ler, and ordered drinks, or rather one of
them came iu with the orders, aud the
other threw himself dowu on a bench out
side and began loading a huge pipe. Stroll
ing carelessly about the room, I managed
to glance out of the window. My heart
leaped into my throat, for iu the man out-.
sido I recognized from a description of
l.im Bill Wolf, one of the most desper
ate characters that, ever figured in the an
nals of border ruffianism. There was the
huge red moustache, the thick, hairy throat,
and the shoulders hunched up around his
bead, suggesting the shape of a mammoth
clam and lha voice with a deep down intonation-
like the plop, plop, plop of the
water hurriedly leaving a jug. If the de
scription of the notorious renegade is incle
gan, it has the merit of truthfulness, and
must, therefore, be excused.
I went through w itij my supper in form,
but whatever appetite I miht have felt
on my entrance into the inn, had vanished
w ith my discovery. After a time the other
fellow came in, having been out, be said,
to look after the animals, aud they also or
dered supper. Now was my time to leave,
which I did in a careless manner, passing
s mie commonplace remarks with the two
men as I crossed tin- dim, smoky bar-room.
As they seemed to take no notice of me what
ever, I felt my spiiitsri.se with hopes that
I should make a safe transit. It was quite
duskish outside, but the hostler w as Hilling
about the stables wth his lantern, which
emitted but a little more effulgent light
than a white beam would have done, but
ho graciously brought out my steed at the
order, and mounting, I thankfully trotted
away. The moon a little passed full
would make her debut iu something more
thau an hoiir after sunset, and I pushed
along at a smart tiotso as to get well out
upon the plains and into the right trail be
fore that time. The animal went along at
an assuring gait, and I was feeling infinite
ly relieved at my providential escape from
contact with the desperate characters
whom I had left at the settlement, when
my acute, trained, ever alert ears detected
the sound of swift riding. In w hich direc
tion.? From behind me, as the mildly float
ing breeze blow from that quarter. The
face of the prairie iu this section was h lit
tle rolling, but not so as to aiioid and shel
ter, and not a shrub or bush dotted, the ex
panse for miles. . .
I drew up my horse one moment to lis-.
ten. No chauco travelers ever rode like
that. It meant purxuit.
I gave my steed a galling lash, and she
broke into a convulsive gait, hove her body
up with one or two plunges, stumbled,
going down from her knees to her nose,
and pitched aie literally heels over head.
For an instant I was paralyzed with as
tonishment, the next I seized the bit to
fetch up the fallen animal, which had in
the meantime undergone a strange meta
morphosis. She had lost her white face
on or in the grass, and, passing my hand
between her eyes, I found t he hair was wet.
In an instant I was examining, the white
tegea ; my horse had been peculiarly
marked with white legs and face, and I
found these sticky with whitewash. What
then ? Simply, my trappings had been
transfered to another animal gotten up to
exactly represent mine in theevenig. This
discovery brouuht an appalling interpreta
tion of the on-coming horsemen. I gave
the horse the whip as soon as his unstable
legs were well under him, and sent him a
scouring h ahead w hile I ran off to the
right, making for a little hollow, dry ravine.
Here, to my piofound astonishment, I dis
covered a lone cabin, or but, about the
dimensions , of an oidinary couutry log
Ix-use, and, impulsively dashing up to
this, I gave a rapid succession of knocks.
A shrinking, pale aud cowering woman
opened it.
. "What is it ?" was her first question,
noticing my breathless haste.
Had I stopjed for a moment's reflection
upon the strangely isolated position of the
cabin, I should not have passed in by her
with the explanation : , .
"Is there any 'chance to hide here my
liorso lias thrown me, and I believe a par
ty of desperadoes are close up with me."
I noticed that the moon was coming up
drv and red in the east, when she meelmii.
i - . -
i ically closed I ho door behind me before I
: bad finished my explanation.
"No, no; there is noplace," she gapped,
. her quick ear now catchintr the sound of
the coming Iiorsrtn; n.. ' This is all the
room there is aud there is neither cellar
n attic."
" "But this?" I exclaimed, rushing for a
dark object in the eoi ner.
"It's a coffin," was her quick response ;
"but there's no other chance they are
turning up to the door get iu."
I bad barely time to place myself iuthis
receptacle for the dead, when a hoarse
voice one that I knew by the description
which I had of it called out : j
"Here you, Dick," !
The woman threw her apron over her
head and opened the door. 1
"Where's Dick."
"He hasn't come back yet," returned
the woman.
"Oh, he ain't Jen, Lev yer hurd ahorse
go by to-night?"
"Yes, only a little while ago a small
man ?"
"Yes driving like the devil."
"I guess," she 6aid, then paused, "you
can bear the horse now," feigning to listen.
But Bill Wolf must have been of a sus
picions nature. I heard him leap from hi3
horSe and strike with a jarring plunk upon
the sod. A smouldering fire was burning
on tire stone hearth. I could imagine
Bill's attitude he had a hand ou each
door casing, his brutal head was thrust in
side the room ; he was peering about the
apartment.
"What in h is that?" he questioned;
and my heart stood still, for I knew he
spoke of my retreat.
"It's StaufTer's coffin. Dick is going to
carry it over to-night." ,
"Stuff!" ejaculated the desperado, "as
he made his bed, so let him lay buzzards
arc the sextons for the likes o' him."
The woman sort a groaned, and then I
heard Wolf go up and joggle the rain bar
rel at the corner of tho cabin, and fiually go
away with the remark :
"He ain't far off; be couldn't stick to
that blind critter when he began to hurry."
"What shall I do? What shall 1 do?"
gasped the woman ; "they will be back in
twenty minutes, for I believe that your
horse is in sight, not more than three quar
ters of a mile off, and my husband is liable
to come at aoy moment."
"But with him inside the house we
might"
"With him !" she emphasized it in des
pairing tones "he's Bill Wolfs brother."
1 was one of the coflin in a trice, then,
you may well believe.
"It is death for you any w ay," she moan
ed, "for I heard the rattle of Dick's axles
already."
"Stay, there's the rain barrel," said I, in
desperation, "they've tried that once, they
may not arjain."
And before you would bo able to speak
a sentence, the water was dahed out of
the cask and stealing down into the arid
soil, and I was in the barrel, and the wo
man dropping a tub half filled with water
in at the top as a cover.
She had barely time to enter the house,
the door of which, fortunately, opened on
the side away from the moon, when a rat
tling vehicle drew up at the door and I
beard a hoarse voice raving and swearing
at the woman for something done, or un
done, and then from the bung-hole, the
plug having been dish dged In the upsetting
of the cask, I saw the furious return of the
three renoerades.
There was a good deal of loud talking,
and explanations, and oaths, aud stirring
up of hot nectar and rough remarks about
the cistern in the corner ; but both Dick
and the woman seemed sore about that
matter, and the mau peremptorily refused
to join that hunt because of the coffin.
'Well, you're going our way a piece,"
said WTolf, "likely enough you'il have the
fun of seeing us wing the turkey."
1 be conversation was distressingly per-' '
sonal, made acutely so by Dick asking : t
"Is there water enough out there, Jon, to .
drink my horse?
The driver mumbled something, but the
whisky had thickened his speech so that it
was unintelligible to me.
If be did attempt to move the coffin I
was lost.
They kept within bailing distance for
the length of some three or four miles,
Dick smashing the heavy wagon along at
a stunning gait ; and I exacted evermo
ment that my shell would be jostled out.
By and by there was a hout oflf to the
right of a "tally ho" as if the buntsmau
had sighted the quarry. Nothing but an
unwarrantable amount of liquor could have
! influenced them to conduct themselves as
they did, for no sooner had they called out
from the right than Dick came to a sudden
halt, leaped from the seat, and ran off
toward those who were hallooin".
! For one instant my heart stoped beat
ing at the thought of the next hazard
which I was about to run. The uext mo
ment I sprang from the cofliu to the ground.
A few lightning-like strokes, and I bad
severed the traces and tho holdbacks of
the harness.
The whole scene is vividly pictured in
my mind. The moon-lighted prairie, the
little ravine towards which the renegades
were dashing, the wagon standing iu the
. trail then the rattling or the falling thills
reached the ears of the party, and with a
. wild shout they turned toward me. I was
! on the horse's back, but boldly defined by
the moonlight. There was the sharp le
' port of two rifles. I felt a sting in my
( foot, another in my shoulder, but the horse
was unharmed, and the race for life began.
; There was a disheartening disadvantage
( for me, for I had no saddle, but I was rid
i ing for my life, and I held my steed be
j twecn my knees, and took the broad trail
! with the fury or a tornado. But the issue
j would lest mostly with the horse. I knew
nothing or those that, were pursuing mo,
excepting my own white-raced mare. She
could run like an autelope and out-wind a
hurricane.
On and on my steed, desperately spurred
with the ioint or my knifo, bore ahead,
actually causing me to gasp for breath ;
and not two hundred yards in the rear
rode my would-be murderers.
On the rolling prairie now, and my ani
mal took the declivities with a plunge,
and tho elevations with a sure, tierce
stride across the brawling ford but crack
came another rifle echo, and again a stream
of 5re seemed to strike my shoulder. 1 hey
were closing in closing up. I could uow
make out only two hoi semen following me.
One of them had discharged his rifle at me,
the other I knew was held iu rest for them
to come just a few yards nearer.
A momentary dizziness lopped me over
upon my horse's neck. The rufliaus yelled
triumphantly behind, but a distant echo
brought me up, and giving my jmor beast
a slinging blow, I emitted the wild, long,
fierce yell of the border rangers, and sped
on agaiu ; but toy horse had that jveculiar
squhiu now and then iu his gait that told
me be was faltering.
Again that echo reached me, swelling
out on the rising wind it was the shrill
squeal of the fiTe and tb rnm-diddle-nm,
did-e-um dura-dum, duin of infantry re
turning from some vxjicdition u Fort
Again I sent out that long, w ild
border yell, and I knew by the quicker
breathing of the fife, and the rapid pulsing '
or the dium, that the soldiers had broken
into the "double quick" in heed of my cry.
A parting shot tired at random, ami the
two desperadoes turned ; but one or them,
at least, I was not done with. I called my
horse with a peculiar whistle ; I repeated
and rci'eated it, and then I heard liim
"I'll see," she returned, moving slowly ! crashing again in pursuit, while his driver
over the door-still, and then, leaping to , shouted and lashed him, and tried to pull
the cask, she lifted out the tub, and tipped . him round the other wav. For a brief
t tune the desperado wrestled with the ani
j mal, lashed, ga!e1, and roared at her,
I but my incessant, jerky whistle-call kept
i her mind and head toward me. He only
j. kuvc up me i run less struggle ana leaped
my prison over a little so that I could
spring out. I was behind the cask when
Dick came to the door and chirruped his
beast up to the tub to Hliuk.
"I'll go with you as far as the forks,"
he said, as two of them came out with the
coffin and slid it into the body of the
wagon. They then stepped back, proba
bly to call the others.
At that moment a wild and desperate
plan entered my brain, but feeling for my
knife, I found that it was missing, nlong
with the belt to which it was attached. In
the sudden jostle which tho falling sterd
had given me, the girdle had been snap
ped and lost without my knowledge. The
horses of the three renegades my own,
which had been retained by tho hostk-r at
the inu, among them were hitched on the
from her back when a squad of infantry
dashed over a billowy swell of prairie, and
rushed dowu toward us at that steady,
measured run wbich is so effective in con-
. trast with a disorderly gait.
I "It's well, boys," 1 exclaimed, as they
came up with nie for I knew his voice. I
bad no need to tell them that there was a
1 rrieeset on his head, as it has been clearly
1 proved that be.had stiried up the savages
to commit more than onemassacre or the
t settles-s ; and a down or them, uttering a
; yell or fury, started in pursuit, while the
others, noticing my swaying atout ou the
farther side of the door, where the moon- ' animal which i rod a, began to think that t
light, striking by the end 'of the cabin,
rested fully upon them. It was suicide to
attempt seizing one of them but as tho
woman, with some purpose in her mind,
sang out to the men to come back aud get
the last diper-full of liquor which she had
mixed, I seized the only alternative. I
sprang lightly into the wagon, lifted the
coffin lid, ami agaiu crawled into the long
narrow prison.
There was no choice. The flood of
moonlight had swept so far toward my
biding place that only a part of my body
was concealed by the bairel, and I knew
that discovery was inevitable, for the man's
horse 6tood in such a position that in older
to recover the reins he must have trodden
upon me, aud there was no earthly thing,
as far as the eye could reach over the plain,
behind which a man could hide." Ah, but '
what if be should read just his freight?
Can you think how my heart pnmperl away
at the thought? You wonder, what my
plan could be ? I had none, other than the
hope of having only one man to deal with
if he went on his way as he calculated.
The three ruffians were mounted, ami sdl
were about to start, when the woman ran
out with some sort of a blanket, aud mut
tered something about covering the coiuu.
The man jelled out to her to mind her
own business and let the Thing alone. ')
She retreated with the cloth, but she
bad accomplished her purjosc. In its
folds she had concealed a bowie-kuife .
under its cover she had raised the lid aud
dropped the weapon inside, it giving uio a
cut as it foil upon me ; but in the momen
tary noise and conTusion I had got the
weapon in my band, and with its point
raised the heavy lid tu" the rough box the
fraction of au inch, so that breathing was
easy if my position w as ciamped.
The three horsemen spread out, remark
ing to each other : "Beat up the game uow ,
speedily, before, by any miracle, he gets i
into the wooden belt by Bufoid's Springs."
They continued to halloa at each otler
for some time; their liberal potations sur
mounting their discretion. '
"Dick," they called back, as they were
driving off, "a cool twelve hundred apiece ;
throw out your old shell and join the
buuu"
bad found something serious in mv race for .
life. In fact, the plain was rising aud fall
ing and shuffling about so that it took a
great amount of nerve and equipoise to sit
as I ought. They cot mo into Fori Lara- .
mie, however, with uncle's promissory
notes all safe in my vest ocket ; w hile my
boot full of blood, ami. the galling flesh '
wonnds In my shoulder, accounted for the -odd
maneuvering of the plain while I was
on horseback.
After a brief but desperate conflict Bill
"Wolf was brought in, aud passed over t.-
the proper tuiicers '"to have and to hold,"
until there shonld be meted out to him the
measure he bad given others.
A latelt appointed postmaster of a
Massachusetts town went to Boston the .
other day to "qualify" aud have Lis bond
for G')0 approved. The bond wasall light '
and the regul ir question was put to tire P.' '
M.: i "How much are you whrtli,- sir?".
"Wral," he replied, "I don't tell how much ;
I'm worth. Bradsireet sets meat $10, ('DO.
I guess you'd better put it down at that
figger" "How much do Hie assrssoi-s 't
you at?" "WaL the assessors don't set me
at so high a figger ; but (in a confidential :
whisper) 'tween you'n' me I'm oueof the
asscs-sors."
The Modern Geouoe W.vSHi?rrTox.
George Washington couldn't tell a lie, and
that's what ails the average Vicksborg
boy. The other day, wbeu one of them
accidentally broke a pane of glass in a
store-window, it was touching to see him
walk bravely into the store nod up to the
merchant, and say : ' "Mr. Binnk, I broke a
pane of glass iu tho window there, and you
can chaige it to the old man's account.
Put it down as a ound of salaratus, and
he'll never know tho difference."
She used to meet him at the cate with
a kiss, and a smile like morning light, but
now 6hc comes to the door in adingy calico
wrapper, and shoes down at the heels,
shades her eyes with her Irand, looks ear
nestly to make sure it's him, as he walks
un to the bouse tired and care-worn, in
quires w ith a voice that seems to need
ng, "Diu you bung that mackerel?"
oil