Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1844-04-13


"Do you think so, Bill" asked Davis.
"Think so! know the dog, and why
should he be here if his master were not?
Tomb
"Sa."
"Hit the critter smart blow with the
stick, hard enough to scare him off, but not
to hurt him; and do you move to the edge
of the creek, Davis, soon as the dog runs
off. His master must he in that direction,
and we must see to him."
Thus ordering, he called two of the
men, and sent them on the path directly
opposite to that taken by Davis. He him.
self prepared TO strike the creek at
point equidiStant from the two. He then
gave the signal to Tom. who, with right
good will, struck the dog a heavy blow,
and with such force as sent HIM bowling
into the swamp, taking as had been expec-
ted, the vary path in which he came.
Blonay, however, was not to be caught
mapping. He left the advanced point
from which he had watched the camp, and
running in a straight line about fifty yards
above, turned suddenly about and kept a
forward course in the direction of the spot
at which he had first entered the swamp.
But he did not take these precautions with
out some doubts as TO their adequacy 10 his
concealment. He tered his appre-
hension, OF the keen scent Of the dog,
which he feared would too quickly find out
his track, and lead his pursuers upon it
He hurried on, taking the water at every
opportunity, and leaving as small trail
as possible. But he fled in vain from the
sagacious and true scent of the animal.
From place to place, true in every change,
the cur kept on after him, giving forth, as
he fled, occasional yeIp, as much proba-
bly, from the beating he had received as
from not finding his master.
"Aroint the pup there's no losing him.
Now if had my hand on him, | should
knife him, for that's my best caution," ex.
claimed the Halfbreed, as the bark of
the dog on the new trail he had made, at.
tested the success with which he pursued
him. Blonay rose upon a stump, and
distinctly boheld the head of llumPhrles,
who was still pressing on earnestly, led
by the cries of the dog.
81 can hit him now," muttercd Blonay.
ats not two hundred yards, and l'vc hit a
smaller mark than that at greater dis
lance before now"
He raied his rifle, and brought the
sight to his eye. He would have fired,
but in the next moment HUMPHREYS " as
covered by tree. The dog came on, and
Blonay could now hear the voices of his
pursuers. TO merely kill his victim, and
to run the risk ofpershing himselGwas no,
the desire of the Half. breed. His Indian
blood sought vengence by safer means
At this moment his dog reached him.
The faithful animal, unconscious of the
danger in which he had involved his mas.
ter, now leaped fondIy upon him, teslifying
his Joy by yelling at the highest pitch Of
his voice. His clamors would guide their
pursures upon the true path of The fugi.
tive. The moment was full of peril, and
everything depend ed on decision. The sa.
wage and ready mood of the Halt-breed
did not long delay in a time of such neces'
sty. He grasped the dog firm y by the
back OF the neck, and as the skin was
tightly drawn across the throat, with
quick movement of his hand he passed the
keen edge of his knife but once over it
and thrust the body from him. With a
single cry and brief stugg!e the ANNA
lay dead in the path Of the pursuers -
Sheathng his knife, and Selling his rifle
he again set forward. He pushed onward
till he gained a small but impenetrable un-
derbrush. His pursuers now reached the
spot where lay the body of the dog
which seeing, they considered further pur-
suit as almost hopeless.
At this moment the shriIl sounds of the
trumpet, fell upon their ears, being the
signal for them to return to camp. Hum
phries told his companions TO obey its
summons, but avowed his determination
OF still pursuing BIonay-that being upon
his track he would not give up the pursuit
until one or the other had fallen. After
parting from his companions, he again SCI
forward in search of his enemy. He
walked fast in the direction which he sup
posed Blonay had taken, and ere he hac
proceeded far he discovered his track in
the mud, which he followed for long way
till at length he lost it among the leaves
and darkness coming on, he gave up the
chase, until next morning That night
both slept in the swamp, not more thar
two hundred yards apart, but each uncon
scious of the others locality. In thu
morning, HUMPHREYS was the first to
wake. Descending from The tree wher
he had slept, he carefully surveyed tn
place, thinking what course he should Pur
sue. While he stood thus, sight noIs
4 reached his ears, like the friction OF bark
the noise was repeated little more dlstlnc
Iy--enough so to indicate the dlrec'lo
,vhepca il came His glance rested upO