One Chance for Life.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 6, 15 December 1869, Page 7

One Chance for Life.

jj an AMERCAN OHOVER 8 STORY. ‘ Iy friends, you Imvo staked me for a story,, ■ id I niiiiJ " point never to refuse' so Will a favour/ I think that this is the \ \ie now ; and so, without further words, LV kill tell you of an adventure that befel W. Y; some fifteen years ago, while I was my avocation in a neighbouring 1 For several years, I had a partner, by iStA me, Frank Brown 3 and so much were Illy h. : together that I came to' regard him ?j?'--|ino3t as a brother. He had become enj yttjarod to me through long association, also from the fact that in the short .’pace of three weeks fi’oni the time the .dveiVture I am about to relate befel me, ic was to marry my only sister ; and I new of no one in tlie whole circle of my J *cquaintanees that .1 would sooner trust her happiness with than with him. Many times when we were buying up that last Irove that we bought together, we talked «|-ver his plans for the future, which, of ourse, could not fail to interest me, conf -idering the relation he was soon to assume towards me. We were very fortunate with that drove. Wo bought at low prices ; and ’happening to reach the market when it -I was nearly empty, we realised a large proi ft. It was with feelings that a man can ( experience only wliea he is satisfied with himself and all the world that Frank and 't mounted our horsets the next morning , after our last ad vent Eire had been disposed of, and with our pockets well filled, started 1 foi home, which we should not be able to 1 teach before lato in the second night. We had ridden for about two hours when we met a man with whom we had had considerable dealings, and with whom I was very anxious to come to a settlenent, as he was owing us a large sum, .nd we had been fearful that we should lose it. The man declared his inability to pay it then, and that he had not that sura of money aboxxt him, but that if one of us Slid return with him to the town we left that morning he would obtain it us. This was much better than I ex;sd, and I proposed to Frank that we xld go hack with him. I saw at a xce that Frank wj.s opposed to this—- : he wanted to roich homo as soon as able ; and T did not wonder at it, unthe circumstances. I knew that my yr would look for his coining with im:ence, so I told him to go, while I ild return to ! town, and make a new t next day. As. but one of us was led, this was agreed to, and we sspa>d. I telling Frank that if nothing haped, he-might expect me the next day iFSis arrival at home. Our debtor was as good as his word, ajju- Vough the settlement was not accomplished nightfall. I was thus prevented ■om getting over a portion of the road sat night, as I had hoped to have done, ut the next morning I was on my way 3. seasonable hour ; aird long befox'e nightfall 1 had retched a tavern, where Frank and I had purposed passing the r night when we had set out the day before. Upon enquiries, I found that Frank had reached here the preceding day at about the same hour, that he had appeared in a I great hurry to get on, and that he had announced his intention of riding some niles further, where, a year or two before, ■1 man had come and opened a small house of entertainment, in the midst of a desolate portion of the country, which, on account of the soil was very sparsely popuj lafced. Indeed, the nearest house on either side was upwards of a mile distant ; and | the most custom that the man obtained r whs from those whom night overtook befox’e they could get out of “ the woods,” as the road, for some ten miles was commonly , cajled. Neither the landlord nor the inn was held in the best repute, and there were stories that would deter a timid man fi’om b taking up his abode there for the night I were they known to him. Frank and I I stopped there once, and had been well Kg ca-ed for ; although ve, in common with B others, had never fancied the landlord. 9 I nd now, finding that he had gone on K Tui the intention of passing the previous ight there, I determined to do the same, ( . 5 I should have plenty of time to reach \ lere by dark. With this determination, | my horse to rest a few moments, y id then resumed my way ; and just as | ty last ray of sunlight died out of the I list, I drew rein in front of the tavern, ; id was greeted by the landlord, who came I > it with the ostler, who led my horse iind to the stable. | •Slipper was not long in being placed 01 ] ie table ; and while I was doing amph \v istice to it, I made enquiries of the land f r •d ) who lingered in the room, abou > \ ! r ink, and I found that he had passed th 1 1 Fit there, and had left for home earl; ; inilie morning. He said that I should b j tli) re in the course of the day, and had Iff / the landlord say to mo that he was a! and in good spirits. I " ««m.i Per over » I lighted my pipe, an j ...tig y chair, went out and leaned bac K (gainst the side of the house to indulge i LJh k good smoke, as I usually did before r H| Ting. I had not been there many minute ifefore I found myself reflecting upon ' 1 (irge Sum I bad about me, and the tem]

tatiou it would bo to my boat, were the fact known to him; and-in a moment all the atorioa that I had heard to his disadvantage came fresh to my mind, and 1 almost wished I had’ resolved to pass the night at the tavern I had left. But there was no help for it now; and these thoughts were soon dissipated by the appearance of the landlord and the ostler equipped for fishing. .In answer to my inquiries, the landlord said there was a deep creek, some half a mile away through the forest, that abounded with eels, and they wore going to catch some. Perhaps, he said, I would like to go with them ; if so, ho could provide me with fishing-tackle and bait. I am a great hand for fishing ; and, forgetful of my fatigue, and the fears I had just entertained, I at once accepted his invitation. A few moments after, wo were picking our way through the forest by the light of the moon that was just rising above the tree-tops, promising a splendid night. In a short time, we reached the bank of the creek, which I found to be of considerable size, its sides being covered with large trees, that threw their branches far out over the water that lay so black and sluggish underneath. In many places, the moonbeams could not penetrate the thick foliage, and in others it seemed to turn the torpid water into sheets of flashing silver, which only had the effect of making everything around look more dismal than it otherwise would. The croaking of numerous frogs, and the solemn hooting of an o,vl, served to depress my feelings ; and I thought then, as now, that I never was ■ in a more dismal locality. We adjusted our fishing rods, and threw our lines into the water. Hardly had my hook sank beneath the surface, when I felt a bite. A moment later, a noble fish was floundering on the bank ; and very soon the landlord had one to keep it company. The sport once begun, all other thoughts left my mind ; and I wont into it with a will. Half a dozen fish were squirming in the basket, when I, from accident or design on the part of my companions, chanced to be ahead, and came to a quantity of drift-wood that reached entirely across the creek, left there by some heavy freshet, which, the bank, of the creek bore evidence, was of frequent occurrence. Hera, I thought, would be an extra chance for fishing ; as, without doubt, the water beneath the drift-wood was deeper, and better suited to them. Stepping carefully upon the logs, I walked out a short distance, and threw my line into the water, and allowed it to sink for quite a distance below the surface, while I stood still, watching for a bite, and wondering why it was that the landlord did not join me; as 1 was very sure he must be standing but a little way off, in the dark shadow of the trees. And the ostler, too, was close at hand ; as I had heard the underbrush crackling beneath his feet but, a short distance behind. I felt a fish nibbling at my hook ; and, giving a sudden pull, I attempted to swing him above my head. But he was ofi ; while I found that my hook had become entangled in something near the bottom. Fearful of losing the hook, I palled slowly, and found that I had hooked into something that was not immovable, but that I was slowly bringing it to the surface. The moon was shining brightly where I stood ; and, kneeling down upon the log on wliich I had obtained a foothold, I pulled slowly and steadily, until the object was near the surface. Then I placed one hand in the water, and followed down the linn, until I came to the hook, fast in something that felt, to ray touch, like soft leather. Another movement, and it appeared above the surface; and. to ray horror, I saw that I was grasping a man’s hand. A cry of horror trembled upon my lips; but it seemed frozen there, for the blackwater parted, as if by an invisible power, and there, in the bright moonlight, I saw a human face, all black and hideous, but one that I could never mistake—that of myfriend and companion, whom I imagined safe at homo, Frank Brown! Never, to my dying day, shall I forget that face, framed as it was in those dark, sluggish waters. Even now, I know not how long I looked upon it; but I was roused by the sharp click of a pistol-lock, ; and glanced about to see, almost beside me, i tbe gleam of a barrel in the moonbeams, held in the hand of the landlord, and s pointed towards my breast. There was a i look like that of a fiend upon his face, and an oath trembled upon his lips, when the i pistol missed fire i There is nothing swifter than thought; - and I saw but one chance for my life then, t To think and act was one; and I plunged 3 into the dark water, striking the body of r my friend as I went down, while a bullet e cut tbe water close to my head. In those :l days I was a famous swimmer ; and to thal 1 I owe my life. There were but few mor who could remain under water longer tluir d myself; and, as soon as I touched the hot k tom, I made the best of my way up th( n stream, keeping towards the side where tin > shadows were the darkest, and where s, hoped, in the gloom, tlxey would not notic a the bubbles that would rise to the surface > As long os it was possible for me to n

main without breathing, I made my way up the crock ; and thou i slowly rose to the surface, and found myself neat to the bank, and in the deep shadow of the overh raging trees. Grasping a br.in di that was dipping into the water, I remained station iry, and listened. In a moment I heard the voice of the landlord but a short distance from me. “ Look sharp, Jim. Wo must got our clutches on that chap, or this part of the country will be too hob to hold us.” “ Yes; and there is the money he has in his pocket. But what do you suppose sent that dead m m from the bottom of the creek to face him] Had it not been for that, we should have had him, sure. How that dead man looked as he went down again !” “ Never mind the dead man, Jim ; it’s the live one wa are looking for now ; though I am not sure but what my bullet went through him. Do you go up as far as that big branch dips that in the wate", and if you see no signs, we’ll then go down the stream.” The branch lie mentioned I had no doubt was the one to which I was clinging ; and no sooner did the words fall on my ears than I let go my hold, and sank again to the. bottom of the creek, there to remain, as long as it was possible for me to exist without air. When next I came to the surface, I could hear the sound of voices further down the stream ; and I knew they were searching for me below the drift-wood. Now was mv chance for escape, and I at once took advantage of it. Cautiously I drew myself upon the bank, and then noiselessly took mv way through the forest towards the tavern, which I reached in a short time. Making my way to the stable, I soon had rny horse saddled and bridled ; and, scringing upon its back, I dashed down the road. But I was not a moment too soon, as a bullet abundantly testified as it whi tied past my head. Glancing round, I saw both the villains phinly in the moonlight: they had followed, but were a moment too late. I was not long in reaching the nearest town, some five miles distant, where I aroused the people and told them my story: and soon a large party was collected to return with mo to the scene of my adventures. In the early dawn we reached the house, and took the women we found there into custody. The men were missing ; but before nightfall they were arrested some ten miles distant, and in a few moments paid the penalty of their crimes on the gallows. The bo ’y of Frank was recovered from the creak, and given a Christian burial; but to this day I seem to see his face as it looked out to me through the waters..