Western courier. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1837-1838, 1837-05-04

cral Tune lu!llcd 10 IRE, Dut Inc lndlai
would halt and dance about 10 prevent
him from taking aim; aud Tom knew
that he could not afford to fire at random.
The other two were now close on him and
he found that unless he could dispose OF
the first one he must ba ovcrpowercd.-
He therefore halted determi;scd 10 receive
fire; and the Indian, at few PAGES dis
tant raised his rife. Higgins watched
his adversaries eye, and jrst as he tho't
his finger pressed the trigger, suddenly
threw his sid, to him. 1t is probabIc that
this n, m,tion saved his life, for the ball en-
tered his thigh, which would pierced his
body. Tom fell but rose again and ran,
and the largest indian certain Of his prey,
loaded ag lin, and then with the two 9TH
crs, pursued. They soon camc ncar.--
Higgins had fallen, and as he rose, they
all three fired, and he received all their
balls. He now fell and rose several
times, and the Indians throwing away
their guns, advanced on him with spears
and knives. They frequently charg a up
on him, but upon his presenting his gun
at one or the other they fell back. At
last, the largest one thinking probably
from Toms rescrving his fire so long,
that his gun was empty, charged boldly
upon him; ana Higgins, with a stoady
aim shot him dead.
With four bullets in his body with al
empty gun, two Indians before him, and
a whole tribe but few rods off, almost
any other man would have d..spaired.-
But Tom Higgins had no such notion
The Indian whom he had last slain was
the mos, dangerous of the three; and he
lclt little fear OF the others. lie had been
near enough To sec thnir eyes and he
knew human nature Sufficiently Ia dis
cover that he was superior in courage. -
II therefore faced them. AM began to
load his rifle. They raj ed u whoop and
rushed on him. They keptth il distance
as long us my rife was Ioadod, said he.
but now when they knew it wls empty
they were better soldiers. A ficr:e and
bloody contest cnsued. The Indians
rushing upon Tom, sta5had him IN IN my
paces;-but it happened, fortunately,
that the shafts OF toir spears We're
thin poles, ristcd hastily for this occa-
si,n, which bent whenever the point
struck rib, or encouhtcred the opposi
ton of one OF Higg.u's tough muscles. =
From this cause, aud tiic conlintili ex-
ertion OF his hand and rifle in w lriing OF
their thrusts, the wounds ihas m ,do wore
not deep but his whole front WAS covered
with gashes OF which the scars yet remain
in honorable prof Of his vaIor. At last
one OF tn IN threw his tomahawk; the
edge sunk deep in Higgins cheek, passed
through his ear which it severed, laid
bare his skull to the back OF his he I'd.
and stretched him on the plain. The In
dams rushed on: but Tom inSt,nty re-
covered his sell possession and kept them
off with his feet and hands, until he sue.
ccaded in grasping one of their spears.
which, as the Indians attempted to pull it
from him aided him to risc; and clubbing
his rife, he rushed upon the nearest OF
his foes, and dashed his brains out; in do
retaining only the barrel ia his hand.
The other Indian, however warilv he
had fought before, now came manfuIIy in
TO butte. 1t is probable that he felt his
character as II warrior at stake. To
have fled from a man desperately wou4d-
ed, and almost disarmad, or to have suf-
tered his victim to escape, would have
tarnishcd his manhood. Utlcring a ter
rife yell, he rushed OH, att mpting to stab
the exhausted ranger. while the latter
wardcd olfthe blow with one hand, bran
dishcd his rifle barrel in the other. The
Indian unwoundod, was now by far the
most powerful man; but the moral cour-
ag, OF our hero prevailed, and the savage,
unable to bear the fierce glance OF his
untamed eye, began to retreat slowl Y TO-
ward the place VIII he had dropped his
rifle. Tom knew that if the Indian re-
covered his gun, his own case was hope
less; and throwing away his rife b rrrl,
he drew his hunting knife, and rushed
in upon him. a d sperato st'ite ensued,
and several deep gashes were inflicted
but the Indian succeeded in casiing Hig-
gins from him, and ran to the spot where
he had thrown down his gun. while Tom
searched for the gan of the other Indian.
Thus the two, bleeding and out Of breath.
We're both searching for arms to renew
the conflict.
By this tima tho sm,kc which Iay be-
tween the con'nlants and the main body
OF the Indians had passed away, and
number of the latter having passed ha-
zle ihicket were in full view. Itseemad,
therefore, as if nothing could save our
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