reasonable sum, if he would only let us cross; but no, he knew the Scheimers better than he knew me, and their goodwill was worth more than mine.  Here was a block to the game, indeed.  I had sent my baggage forward in the morning to Belvidere; Sarah had nothing but the clothes she wore, for she was so carefully watched that she could carry or send nothing away; but she was ready to go if the obstinate ferryman had not prevented us.

While we were pressing the ferryman to favor us, down came one of Sarah’s brothers with a dozen neighbors, and told her she must return home or he would carry her back by force.  I interfered and said she should not go.  Whereupon one fellow took hold of me and I promptly knocked him down, and notified the crowd that the first who laid hands on me, or who attempted to take her home violently, would get a dose from my pistol which I then exhibited: 

“Sarah must go willingly or not at all,” said I.

The production of my pistol, the only weapon in the crowd, brought about a new state of affairs, and the brother and others tried persuasion; but Sarah stoutly insisted that she would not return.  “Now hold on,” boys, said I, “I am going to say something to her.”  I then took her aside and told her that there was no use in trying to run away then; that she had better go home quietly, and tell the folks that she was sorry for what she had done, that she had broken off with me, and would have nothing more to do with me; that I would surely see her to-morrow, and then we could make a new plan.  So she announced her willingness to go quietly home with her brother and she did so.  I went to a public house half a mile below the ferry.  That night the gang came down to this house with the intention of driving me away from the place, or, possibly, of doing something worse; but while they were howling outside, the landlord sent me to my room and then went out and told the crowd I had gone away.

The next morning I boldly walked up to Scheimer’s house to get a few books and other things I had left there, and I saw Sarah.  I told her to be ready on the following Thursday night and I would have a ladder against her window for her to escape by.  She promised to be ready.  Meantime, though I had been in the house but a few minutes, some one who had seen me go in gathered the crowd of the day before, and the first thing I knew the house was beseiged.  Mrs. Scheimer had gone up stairs for my things.  I went out and faced the little mob.  I was told to leave the place or they would kill me.  One of Sarah’s brothers ran into the house, brought out a musket and aimed it at me; but it missed fire.  I drew my pistol the crowd keeping well away then, and told him that if he did not instantly bring that musket to me I would shoot him.  He brought it, and I threw it over the fence, Sarah crying out from the window, “good! good!” The mob then turned and abused and blackguarded her.  Then the old lady came out, bringing a carpet bag containing my books and things, asking me to see if “it was all right.”  I had no disposition to stop and examine just then; I told the mob I had no other business there; that I was going away, and to my surprise, I confess, I was permitted to leave the place unmolested.