Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1844-02-17


"llrothcrs--l have done Ny heart Isl
yours already. win you accept my hand
10 help you 20 unnihilato the white menp
This talk was received with loud shouts
Of appreciation, and Bran was accepted as
a chief Lydia vas given up TO his dis.
posal. While no was releasing her from
tho stake, no informed her who he was,
what was bis object, and how she must
conduct herself lilo told her no must APP.
pear to treat her with severity, in pres.
enco of the Indians, and that she must
quietly submit, the better to conceal their
intentions TO desert, Having unbound
her, he carried her Ianlng 10 n rcig 'capi,
which was appropriated TO his use, spread
his blanket on the ground, placed her
upon il and administered cordials and
other refreshments, which he had brought
with him, and which soon revived her.
lie now learned that the cause Of her
sentence TO the torture was her endeav-
orlng to escape from captivity, and that
the rest Of the prisoners were forced to
be spectators Of the sacrifice, TO deter
them from similar attempt.
Bran's next object was TO get Lydia's
uncle and aunt into his possession. For
the purpose he invited to his toigUam the
three Indians, who captured Lydia and
her relatives, and consequently claimed
them as their property. Here after tell.
ing them, in her hearing, how he meant
to torture her and her relations, if he
could gain possession Of them, he made a
handsome present in money TO her late
master, and the still more grateful dona
ton OF generous dram of occapee; Of
iering at the same time, to trade with the
other two on the same conditions. His
proposal was eagerly accepted, and the
captives delivered into his custody. lie
would gladly have purchased more OF
them, but feared that, by attempting too
much, he should meet with disastrous
disappointment.
The three Indians having retired
we'll satisfied with his treatment of them
selves and the prisoners, he gave the lat
ter brief directions how to behave, an
then invited the principle chiefs to
council OF var. He tolc them, that tn
White man Knew where tncy were, an
that on the next day hume rous an
powerful army would attack them. II
advised them, therefore, TO send off, to
wards Connecticut river, the old men
women, and children, and that the stou
and brave warriors should remain where
they now were, TO give the Englishmer
battle. His plan was approved, and
preparation Immediately made 10 carry
II it into execution.
1t was proposed tina small guards
should be placed on all sides Of the camp
and that the main body should sleep on
their arms. As Bran's wigwam was one
of the outermost, and barricaded with
logs, it was designated as one of the
guard houses, and his company was APP
i pointed as one OF the guards. At dark
Bran placed his sentinels, in line with
the the guard house, on each side OF 1t at
considerable distance from it and from
each other, promising TO relieve them al
midnight, by those, who were to sleep at
his quarters till that time. A death like
silence now prevailed throughout the
camp, when Bran drew forth his flask Of
occapee, having previously infused into il
strong decoction OF soporifc herbs, and
treated his Joyous soldiers TO dram,
which speadily laid them asleep FOR the
night. They might now have destroyed
the sleeping foeman; but knowing that
their death would be avenged by the des-
truction of at least an equal number OF
their captive countrymen, they permitted
them TO sleep unmolested.
i The desired hour Of escape had arrived,
4 No time was lost. Bran sung his pack
rcpenished with provisions, and seized
his trusty rifle. The uncle did the same
with the best supplied pack and the best ri
ie and Announcements, belonging to the
Indians. The aunt and niece took each
brace of pistols and suitable ammunition,
which the Indians had recently plunder-
ed from the English. Bran moved for
ward, Lydia and her aunt following next
and her uncle brought up the rear
Their homeward march was rapid, being
quickened by the most anmating hope
and most appalling fear.
Daylight found them among the ruins
OF Lancaster. Here they secreted them.
selves among the rubbish in the cellar
Of house, that had been demolished,
with most Of the building in that town,
but few weeks before. As it happened,
however, their fear Of being pursued was
groundless; for so soon as the Indians
discovered that Bran had deserted with
his white associates, ami that their COM
panions in arms were in sleep, from
which they could not rouse them, they
were struck with panic They con-
cluded that he was a sorcerer, and that
it would be in vain to pursue him.
Fearing also that an English army
might be nsthe way TO meet them, they
hastily decamned. leaving the sIeeplngli