as much as the
deacon lost, and never regretted it either.

NARROW ESCAPES.

There are a great many men who, whenever they lose any money, begin
to kick, and oftentimes they will resort to very desperate means
to recover back the money which they have honestly lost. Coming
out of Canton, Miss., one night on the Jackson Railroad, I won some
money in the smoking-car, and then retired to the sleeper and was
reading a paper, when the conductor coming along said, "Are you
the gentleman who won some money a short time ago in the smoker?"

"I am, sir."

"Well, you want to be on the lookout, as the parties are threatening
to have it back or there will be blood."

Just then the three entered the car, and as I raised up my eyes
the foremost one, a Pittsburger, said, "We are looking for you."
"Well, you have found me at home; what is your business?" "We want
our money back; and if we don't get it, you will never get off this
train alive."

That was enough for me, and in a second I had my big gun leveled
at the one nearest me, and I said, "If you move an inch I'll cook
your goose for you sure." He fell back in good order, and in the
next second the name behind him made a break at me, when I caught
him with my big three-pound pistol, splitting his head open; and
next I made a lunge for the third man, cutting him over the forehead
so that he fell through a rack of glass, and when he raised up I
struck him with my head. The conductor and brakeman interfered
and took the ruffians out. There was a quart of blood on the floor;
and at the first station they sent out and procured sticking-plaster.
I paid the porter $12 to sponge up the blood and get the glass
reset.

A man once pulled out his gun on me at Milan, whom I had beaten
out of $100. I let on as though I would return it, until he turned
his head away, when I hit him a stinging blow on the ear that
doubled him up like a jack-knife. I took his pistol, and was
arrested for winning his money and assaulting him; but when the
Judge heard the testimony, he fined us both $5 and costs, amounting
to $6.50. He gave the fellow a lecture for drawing a pistol, and
I paid my fine and was off.

Another time in New Orleans, I was crossing the levee late one
night with a valise full of money, when two men came from behind
a cotton bale and started toward me. I pulled out my big pistol
and told them an inch further and I would shoot. They weakened,
and after they started I t