The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1843-10-31
st. JOhnsbury, Vt October 81, 1S43

skins, made pallet Of them and calling my faithful
dog to my side, lay down, with my gun close to my
body and in few minutes was, to all appearance,
fast asleep.
A short time had elapsed, when some voices were
heard, and from the corner Of my eyes I saw two
athletic youths making their entrance, bearing deud
stag on pole. They disposed of their burden. and
asking for whskey. helped themselves freely to it.
Observing me and the wounded Indian, they asked
who was, and why tho devil that rascal (meaning
the Indian, who, they knew, understood not word
of English) was in the house. The mother-for so
she proved to be, bade them TO speak less loudly
made mention of my watch, and took them to cor
ner, where conversation took place, the purport of
which required little shrewdness in me TO guess.
tapped my dog gently He moved his tail, and with
ndescribahle pleasure saw his fine eye alternately
fixed on me and raised towards the trio in the corner
felt that he perceived danger in my situation The
Indian exchanged a last glance with me.
The lads had eaten and drunk themselves into such
condition, that already looked upon them as hors
de combat and the frequent visits of the whskey bot
tie to the ugly mouth oftheir dam, hoped would
soon reduce her to like state. Judge of my aston
ishment when saw this incarnate fiend take large
carving kne,and go to grind stone to whet its edge
/ saw her pour the water on tho turning machine.
and watched her working away with the dangerous
instrument, until the cold sweat covered every part of
my body, in spite of my determination to defend my
self to the last Ter task finished she walked to her
Keeling sons, and said, "There, that'lI settle HIM
Boys, kill yon-, and then for the watch''
turned cooked my gun-locks silently, touched
my faithful companion, and lay ready to start up and
shoot the first who might attempt my lRe The mo-
ment was fast approaching, and that nigh. might
have been my last in the world, had not Providence
made preparations for my rescue. Al! was ready-
The Internal bag was advancing slowly probably con
templatng the best means of despatchng me, whilst
her sons were engaged with the Indian. was sew
eral times on the Of rising and shooting her on
the spot: but she was not to be punished thus The
door was suddenly opened, rand there entered two
stout travellers, each with long rifle on his shoulder
l bounded up on my feet, and making them most
heartily welcome, told them how well it was for me
that they should have arrived at that moment The
tale was told in minute. The drunken sons were
secured, and the woman, in spite Of her defence and
voc'leratons, shared the snme fate. The Indian lair
iy danced with joy, and gave understand that as
he could not sleep for pain, he would watch over US
GU may suppose we slept much less than we talked
The strangers gave an account of their once having
been themselves in a somewhat similar suation.-
Day came, fair and rosy, and with it the punishment
Of our captives.
They were now qne sobered. Their feet were
but their hands were still securely ted
We marched them into the woods of the road, and
having used them as Regulators wero wont to use
such delinquens, set fire to the cabin gave all the
II ;ipoa and ir,,rlar a.
and proceeded, well pleased, towards the settle
ments.
During upwards Of twenty-fv years, when my
extended to all parts of country this
was the only time ut which my life was in danger
from my feow-creatures Indeed, so little risk do |
travellers run in the United States that no one born
there ever dreams Of any to be encountered on the
road: and can only for this occurrence by
that the inhabitants OF the cabin were not
Americans.
Will you beleye, good-natured reuder, that not
many miles from the place where this a venture hap
pened, and where, fifteen years ago. no habitatlon be-
ongingto civilized man was expected and very few
ever seen, large roads are now laid out cultivation |
mas converted the woods into fertile fields taverns
nave been erected, and much Of what we Americans |
,all comfort, is to be met with So fast does i'm |
'rovemen proceed in abundant and free country
ANECDOTE OF THE BATTLE OF CHIPPEWA
A correspondent has furnished us with the follow
n anecdote illustrative Of incident which took place
between Gen. Mcneil and his Adjutant during the
asst war:
On the keene muster field, while the troops were
'assing in review before Gen. Mcneil, a stranger
PRESSED through the crowd and saluted the General
Who instantly recognized him old companion in
rms. This stranger Col Crawford of Putney,
w., Cen McNes Adjutant at the battles of Chip
'ewa and Brdgewater. After Gen. Mcneil returned
o his quarters he told the following anecdote of
Crawford:
While the eleventh regiment ad vancing, stood
moment near to Crawford, giving him ORDERS when a
nusket ball from the enemy passed through his hat
nd tore up handkerchief which snugy slowed
the top,-Without mnding it at all or changing
in the least, Crawford cooly picked up
he shattered handkerchief and replaced it on his
cad, remarEng with smile, eve will save the
ieces, and darted away in the face of the foe car
his orders.
IL is well known that in one of Napoleon's cam