Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1836-05-13


| iore' and We're going up river It was not
} war party, as the tracks of women and
children were mingled with those of grown
men We followed four or five miles. when.
at a sblt piece of ground, caught sight of n
iooi.mark | knew right we'll Twas the
broad lin, foot ofthe Indian, whom we called
Broadioot. showed it 10 Johnson who
agreed that there could be no doubt ns IN
whoh II belonged. We traced il aleng ill
al The top OF a ridge the party separated
broadiooi and four others taking a course
4 directly out from the fiver; and the othere
principally old men, women, and children
still following up the stream. Here John.
son aud called halt, and consulted wheth.
er we should follow Broadfoot aud his gang,
or the larger party. Johnson mas for the
latter plan, saying, that where there were so
many women and children, they must needs
move slowly, aud we should cusily overtnke
them, and like enough take scalp or two
| wanted TO track Broadfoot still, both be.
cause longed 10 take the scoundrers SCALP
and because | could not but think we stood
the hes, chance of finding the boy, by keep.
ing on the trail of the enemy of whom he
was IN search Finally, Johnson gave in,
and we followed the smaller, or war party.
Poor Jim grumbed good deal at what
he called my wrong-headednes "There
were twenty or thirty tracks" he said 'they
were going slow. and BY night we could
have overtaken them, and taken n scalp or
two at least. Even a squaw's scalp would
have been some satisfaction nay, n childis
would have been better than nothing"
what on earth do you want with a
sqnaw's scalp. much more with poor
papooses. Jim Johnson p said |.
why, Bali, don't want squaw's scalp,
nor papooses. If can get warriors but
surely half "A loaf is better than no bread.
Here we have been on range four days,
and have not had shot at red skin-man
woman, or cbild-though we all know the
woods are full Of them. Ii is too bad
vow II is disgrace TO the settlement there
has not single scalp been brought into
tiarmer in month johnson wen, on
grumbling and complaining, but did no,
mind him, but kept sharp eye on the trail
We followed it steadily and pretty rapidly
I'll nighi-fall we then camped. lighted our
fire, cooked a BIZ of beat steak aud went qui
cflv Ia sl.a..,. 49,
on the trail, and followed il steadily ill neni
noon then new fooi-nark joined it; ]
gave but one glance. twas Ham Cass. The
sight of the ioot-marks warmed my heart
gave a glad shout, and followed the trail
with renewed energy. did not lose the
chance Of Dragging over jim See, Jim,
wasn't right alter all II knew the boy
was true breed, the genuine old hunter blood
is in him, and for all his book learning ii
will show itself; you see he is on the right
scent now, and my word for it, he will tree
the game" Just as Johnson began some
light and joking reply, heard the sharp
crack, crack, crack-three rifles. Johnson,
who was d 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
numbness in my right leg; too was hit
| looked up the hill side, five Indians were
bounding down nj a great rate. There was
no time to lose, | ran for lie. Luckily the
ball had not touched the bone; in moment
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 race. In a minute
more heard another rife | glanced be-
hind The Indian who was nearest me
and he was fearfuly near-stood STILL crop
inc in the air with his hands for a moment,
and then fell One of his companions had
hit the wrong mark the Indians saw the
fatal error and filled the air with their yells.
( ran on making for creek we had passed
! in the early part Of the day. ] soon found
That no one was after me- but there was lit
tie safety in that; the savages could not look
at my trail without finding that was woun'
J ded and this would encourage them 10 hunt
me down NV wound, too began to be We
nv painful, and felt that it would be impos'
7 sible for me to reach the creek without a
rest vet | scarce dared STOP till at last
came TO a sycamore tree, which was hol
e lowed out by rot Here | determined tc
r make my resting place in the upper par
: of this hollow can probably remain con
S cealed, or if discovered sell my life dearly
+ The only opening TO this tree was abou
four feet from the ground, scarce large en-
$ ou9h to permit a man to crawl in; once IN
$ the space would easily permit dozen mer
to stand at ease crept in and began t.
/, take a regular survey of my little fortress
found there were several small holes, ih'
S, size Of dollar, aud one, near twenty fee
from the ground, where limb had broker
J. off, which was larger than that at which
/, had entered Here rested for some time
e. and having plucked some leaves as wen
through the woods, | now chewed and ap
d piled them to my wound with great relief
4. You may well suppose kept good lool
4 L IL. - .al.s. NIL