Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1838-08-08


boat having stopped a, the Yellow.
Banks, on the Indian side, some dis.
lance below, Mr.. Rowan, borrowing a
rife Of one ofthe company, stepped ON
shore and strolled into the bottom, pro-
badly rother in pursui: of amuscm.n,
than game for, from having always
been OF a feeble constitution and nd
verse to action, he knew not how to
use rifle, and besides had with him
but the single charge of ammunition
which was in the gun. He uuconsci.
ously protracted his stay beyond what
he intended and returning TO the spot
where he had landed, saw nothing of
the boat nor the company he had left.
II being a time Of hostility with the In
dams. and suspicious Of their approach
having alarmed the party. they had put
oil, and made down the stream with all
possible haste, not daring TO lnger for
their companion on shore.
Mr.. Il. now found himself alone on
the banks of the Ohio, vast and track
less forest stretching around him, with
but one charge ofpowd.r. and himself
too unskilled in tho use Of the rifle to
prof, even by that, and liable at any
moment to fall into the hands Of the ca.
wages. The nearest settlement of the
whites was vincenncs, (now in Indian.
n, distant probably about one hundred
miles. Shaping his course US nearly
~ he could calculate for this, he COM
menced his perilous and hopeless jour
ney. Unaccustomed TO travelling in
the forest he soon lost all reckoning Of
his way, and wandered about at yen-
,ure. lmpelled by the gnawings Of
hunger. he discharged his lie ut deer
that happened to pass near him, but
missed il. The third day found him
still wandering, whether towards VIM
ccnncs or from il, he knew not, Eek
haus,ed, furnished aud despairing. Sc.
veral times had he laid down, as he
thought, TO die. Reused by the sound
of "a gun not Ear distant, betokening, as
ne well knew, the presence OF tho In
dams, he proceeded towards the spot
whence the report had proceeded, re-
solved. as last hope Of life, 10 surren.
der himself TO these whose tender mer-
cies he knew to be cruel. Advancing
shor, distance, he saw an Indian APP
proaching. who. on discovering him.
Gas the first impulse was on any ulaIm
with both the whites aud Indians on the
frontiers in time Of hos,,li,i,s, drew up
his rifle TO his shoulder in readiness To
fire. Mr.. X. turned the butt oil his, and
the Indian, with French pol,teness, iur-
ned the butt of his also. They APP
preached each other. The Indian see
ing his pale and emaciated appearance.
and understanding the cause, took him
to his wigwam, few miles distant,
where he cooked for hum for several
days and troaled him with the greatest
hospitality. Then learning from him
by signs that he wished to go to VIM
cennes, the Indian Immediately left his
hunting. took his rifle and "a small stock
OF provisions. and conducted him in
safety TO That settlement, distance of
about eighty miles from his cabin.
Having arrived there, and wishing
to reward well the generous Indian TO
whom he owed his life, Mr.. X. made
arrangements with merchant Of ihe
settlement, 10 whom he made hmself
known, 10 give him three hundred doll
lars. But the Indian would not receive
"a farlhing. When made TO understand
by Mr.. r. through an interpreter. that
he could not be happy unless he would
accept something, he replied, pointing
TO new blanket near him, that he
would take that; and add, d, wrapping
his own blanket around his shoulders,
"when | wrap myselfin it, | will think
Of yon."
Where was there ever white man,
that even in time OF peace, would have
so befriended an Indian?