, 1842-05-21

started with a hound and ran with the
utmost speed toward the ring O
savages, pursuing a line directly for
t ward, and to his surprise the Indian.
opened to the right and left before
! him, and for a moment seemed to be
bewlldered by this unexpected move.
t ment. He passed through their line.
without being cut down, as he had
anticipated, and kept on running with
. all his might. He had not gone over
) three rods from them before thew be.
gan 10 send after him their hatchets.
These flew about him for a few min.
utes in all directions-one just grazed
the tip OF his ear-another passed d.
rectly in front Of him and struck in a
tree just before him. He had a mind
to catch hold of it as i. stood CULVER
ing in the tree, yet he delayed not a
moment in his course, but kept on
running with all the energy he could
command. When about ten rods dis
tant from them, he looked around and
saw hat three of their number had
just started out in pursuit. He was
a very fast runner, and thought that
perhaps now he might make his es-
cape. But at no great distance be-
fore him was the swamp, and in this
he must certainly be overtaken and
tomahawked-he dared not turn to
the right or left, for in that case they
would flank him; he continued to run
therefore directly forward. Whenhe
had gone about ten rods farther he
looked around and observed that he
was gaining upon them, and he put to
with the greater energy. In a few
moments he descended into a little
hollow which took him out of their
sight, and seeing before him a large
pine tree which was partly surround
ed by bushes, he sprang in behind it
and stood with his back close up a.
gainst it, hoping thus to elude their
observation. The next moment the
Indians came bounding by him, one
on his left and two on his right; they
continued on without stopping, and
in Il few moments were out Of sight.
But they would soon come to the
swamp, and there they would find
that they had left him in the rear
They would in all probability return
in a short time, and would doubtless
see him in his place Of concealnent.
He had no weapon with which he
could make 4 defence, and would be
very likely TO fall at last a victim to
savage cruelty. He could no, con-
tent himself with his situation, but
looked around to see if he could not
find something upon which to lay his
hand that would give him the power
Of offering some resistance 10 a Sec
ond capture. He saw at a little dis
lance from him an old pine tree which
had lain upon the ground till it was
perfectly decayed, and out Of which
had rotted several knots. He stole
from his hiding place and took up one
which had quite a lengthy arm with
a knot at one end, and placing his
knee across it he found that it was ca
pable of sustaining a heavy blow
without breaking. This furnished
him with just what he desired, and
he returned, to his secret covert with
the heartfelt Joy that he could now
meet an Indian with his tomahawk
and feel himself upon an equal foot
ing in case Of a combat. He intend
ed TO watch his return, keep his eye
upon him if he should como near, and
whenever he felt conscious he was
seen, 10 rush out upon him and if
possible administer the first blow
He did not remain in his position
long, before he saw one Of the sava-
ges coming toward him looking out
as though he were IN search Of some
captive. He stood ready, therefore,
whenever he came up to give him
battle. But when the Indian was
within a few rods of the place where
he stood partly concealed by the
bushes, his eye caught the head of a
soldier which was raised up from be-
hind a log, which lay a few rods to
Mr.. Hammond's right. The Indian
Immediately proceeded in this direc-
ton, but had not gone far when the
settler, as he proved to be, arose and
with his rifle shot him through and
then fell back again behind the log.
What a fortunate circumstance was
this for Mr.. Hammond! He was thus
evidently spared from a contest which
might have been doubtful, yet he did
not know at first whether it would
turn to his advantage or not, for the
firing might bring other Indians TO
the spot. But there were guns con-
stantly discharging in every part Of
the forest, so that this particular spot
would not be distinguished from any