Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1835-11-26
NJ xscELEAMY.
THE HUNTERS PERlLs.

iHslans, VINO na0 passed here The day be
fore, and were going up The river. twas
mol a war party, as the tracks of women
and children were mingled with those oil
grown men. We followed four or five
milcs, when, al a soft piece of ground. |
caught sight of a foot mark ! knew light
well Twas the broad fat foot Of the In
dian, whom we called BrosdIvot. | show
ed It 10 Johnson, who agreed that ehere
could be no doubt as 10 whom il belonged.
We traced it along till at The top Of a
ridge the parties separated, Broadfoot and
-four others taking a course directly out
from the river; and the others, principal
~ cid men, women, aud children, sill
following up the stream. Here, johnson
and ! called a halt, and consulted whether
we should follow Broadfoot and his gang,
or the larger party. johnson was for Tue
latter plan, saying, that where there were
80 many women and children, they must
needs move slowly, and we should easily
orertake them. and Ike enough take a scalp
or two. wanted 10 track Broadfoot still,
both because | loBged 10 take the scoun
drel's scalp, aud because | could not but
think we stood the best chance Of finding
the hoy. by keeping on the trail of the
enemy Of whom we were in search john
son gave in, and we followed the smaller,
or war party
Poor Jim grumblcd a good deal at what
he called my wrong headedness. There
were twenty or thirty tracks" he said /;
they were going slow. and hy night we
could overtake them, and take a scalp or
two, at least. Even a sqlaw's scalp would
have been some satisfaction; nay, a child's
would have been better than nothing"
What on earth do you want with a
sqnaw's scalp. much more with a poor po-
posses, Jim ?p said
"Ahy, Bait, | don't want a sqpaw's
scalp. nor a proposes, if can get a war
TORS but, surely, half a loaf is better
than no bread. Here we have been on a
range four days, and have not shot at a
/ red skin, man, woman, or child, though
we all know The woods are full OF them.-
It's too bad | vow i. is q disgrace 10 the
settlement; there has not a single scalp
been brought into Harmer in a month";
Johnson went on grunbling and complain
Ing, but | did not mind him, but kept a
sharp look out fer the trail. We followed
il steadily and pretty rapidly, till nightfalI
we then camped, lighted our fire. cook
cd a bit Of beefsieak, and went quietly 10
sleep. Next morning we were early on
the ttail, and followed il steadily ill near
noon; and then a new lootmark joined it,
] gave but one glsnce-'twas Ham Cas-.
The sight of the new footmaiks warmed
my heart; ! gave a glad shout, and fol-
luwed the trail with renewed energy. /
did not loose the chance Of Dragging over
| jim See jim, wasn't | right after alp
knew tlle hey was true breed, the genuine
old hunter blood is in him, and Go- all his
book learning. it will show itself. You
see be is on the right scent now, and my
word for it, he win tree the game" Just
as Johnson began some light and joking
reply, ! heard the sharp crack, crack. crack
three IIles johnson, who was a step
or two in front Of me, gave one bound
right up into the air, and fell dead at my
feet. At the same time felt a n~umbness
in my right leg I, too, was hit. ! look
up the hill side /; five Indians were bound
ing down at a great rate. There was no
time TO lose, | ran for life. Luckily the
ball had not touched the hone. In a mo-.
meut they were all after me at full speed.
] gave one glance over my shoulder, 10 see
how they were coming only one was
very near me, and If ! could but escape
him, | had no fears for the rest; for, on
level ground, even with my hurt leg,
could leave any Indian far behind me on a
short foot race Ia a minute more ] heard
another rifle; / glanced behind. The In
dian who was nearest me-and he was
fearfully near-stood still, cropping in the
air with bis hands for a moment, and then
fell. One Of his companions had bit the
wrong mark. The Indians saw the fatal
error, and filled the air with their yells.-
| ran on, making for a creek we had pas.
sed in the early part of the day. ! soon
found that no one was near me, but there
was little safety in that ; the savages could
not look at my trail without finding that
was wounded. and this would encourage
them TO hunt me down. My wound, too
began to be very painful, and | felt that i
would be impossible for ME TO reach iht
creek without a rest yet | scarce darel
stop, till at last | came 10 a sycamore tree
which was followed out by rot. Here
determined TO make my resting place. Il
the upper part Of this hollow | could pro
badly remain concealed, or, If discovered
sell my life dearly. The only opening L
this tree was about four feet from thu
ground. scarce large enough TO permit
man 10 crawl 10 once in, the space woul,
easily permit a dozen men TO stand at ease
l crept in and began to take a regular sur
? vey of my little fortress. found ther,
were several small holes, The size ola dol
/, lar, and one near twenty feet from III
ground. where a limb had broken off. an
, which was larger than that at which ! hal
i entered. Here | rested for some time
and having piucked some leaves as ! wen
through the woods, | now chewed, an
applied them to my wound with great re
lief. You may well suppose ] kept a goo,
look out all the while, lest the savage
should come on me unawares. hai
e watched there for more than an hour, whel
caught sight Of them following my trai