Page:The Overland Monthly, Jan-June 1894.djvu/276

212 crawled as quickly and quietly as possible away from the spot where they last heard me.

A voice called out, " Say, you fellow in the bush,—that hit this chap here,—if you don't come out and give yourself up, we will fill them woods chock full of bullet holes! "

They got no reply, and again the voice rang out, " Come, now, show up quick, or it will be the worse for you! You can't get away from us! "

I dared not move again. They were listening closely, and the least sound would be the signal for a volley from their rifles. Behind a large fir tree I was safe for the moment. A groan from the man on the ground reached my ears, also the spitting which he made from an overdose of liquor which had been poured down his throat. I heard him swear, then followed a whispered consultation. He had soon informed his mates of all that had befallen him. They knew all about me, and would never allow me to get back over the line, if it was in their power to prevent it. I heard them scatter. Their aim was evidently to surround me and cut off all chance of escape. One was coming directly towards me; I should be nabbed if I stayed any longer. My only show was to steal off in the dark. I had proceeded about ten yards without making a sound, when I stepped on a slippery log and fell to the ground, creating quite a racket.

Instantly I heard all the men rush in my direction, and concluding that my time had come, I did not attempt to rise, but drew as close 'under a tree root as possible. A fair-sized hole in the ground where the roots had been torn up provided me with a snug hiding place so long as they were without lanterns; but a light in their hands would soon disclose my whereabouts. Drawing myself under a projecting root, I awaited the result breathlessly, with a revolver ready for instant use. I had determined not to yield without a fight, but I was loth to shed blood, and would do so only to save my own life.

The crashing continued in all directions, as the men plunged through the undergrowth in search of me: I could hear one of them not over a dozen paces distant. Would he discover my hiding place? It looked like it! He was not over ten feet away, and coming closer. He struck a match, and discovered my tracks on the ground leading to the fallen tree. As the match died out his eyes rested on the hole under the roots of the fallen tree. I heard him at the mouth of my place of refuge,—should I spring out and bear him to the ground? No! I would wait and see if he could find me; possibly he would fail to discover whether I was in the hole or not! Vain hope! he nosed around in front of me for a second, then he stepped back to one side and called his comrades.

I was trapped like a bear in its den! It would be madness to attempt to escape now. The entire gang were soon in front of the tree roots and whispered together a second. A voice requested me to lose no time in coming out; they promised not to injure me in any way if I should do so quickly and quietly, but if I did not act promptly in the matter, they swore that they would shoot me full of holes.

While being interviewed I had not been idle. Crawling still farther under and behind the roots and having discovered a piece of a heavy fir limb, I had dragged It in front of my face as I lay on my stomach along the ground, and I had made my position fairly safe from bullets. I began to feel quite impudent. They continued talking, but I did not reply, nor make the least sound. Again the voices clamored.

"Come out of that, or we'll shoot! If you are not out by the time we count ten—away she goes! "

They counted; no movement on my part; then bang! bang! bang! went