The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1844-05-20

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rapid in thought,nnd prompt in action, he sprang upon
his victims with the rapidty and power of panther,
and graspng the throat of each, with one bound he
sprang into the Hockhocking and rapidly thrust the
head of the elder woman under the water, and ma
king strong efforts to submerge the younger who how
ever powerfully resisted
During the short struggle. the youngest female i'd
dressed him in his language, though in almost
narticunte sounds. Releasing his hold she informed
him, that ten years before, she had been made ps-
oner, Grave Creek flats, and that the Indians, in
her presence, buchercd her mother and two sisters
and that only remaining brother had been captured
with her, who succeeded the second night, in
making his escape but what had become Of him she
knew not. During this narrative, White, unobseved
by the girl had let go his grasp on the elder squaw,
whose body fonted where it would not, proba-
bly,, be found. lie directed the girl hastily
to follow him, and with his usual energy and speed,
pushed for the Mount. They had scarcely gone two
hundred yards from the spring, before the alarm cry
was heard some quarter Of mile down the stream
1t was supposed that warriors returning from
hunt, struck the llockhocng just the body Of the
drowned squaw loaied past. White and the girl
cccded in reaching the Mount, where MCeland had
been no Indifferent spectator TO the sudden commo-
ton among the Indians, the prairie parties of
riors to strike off in every direction and
before White and the girl arrived a party of some
twenty warriors had already gained the eastern ac-
civity of the Mount, and were cautiously ascending,
carefully keeping under cover Soon the two scouts
the swarthy faces of the E,e, they glided Gon
TO tree, and rock to rock until the whole base Of
the Mount was surrounded, and all hopes of escape
cut Off
In this peril oIiug left, other than to sell
their lives dearly they coud this they resolved
TO do, and advised the girl 10 escape to the Indians
and tell them she had been n captive TO The scouts
She said, no death, and that in presence Of my
people, is TO me thousand times sweeter than cap
tivy-furnsh me with rife, and will show you
that can fight well as die. This spot leave not
here my bones shall lie bleaching with yours and
should either Of you escape, you will carry the IL
dngs of my death TO my remaining relatives. Re-
mons.rance proved fuiiless, The scouts matured
their plans for vigorous defence opposing craft to
craft, eXpedient to expedicnt and uncrng fire of
the deadly rife. The att acl commenced in front,
where, from the hack bone Of the Mount the
savages had advance single file, but where they
could avail themselves of the rocks and trees. In
advancing the warrior must, however, be momenta-
ry exposed and two bare inches of his swarhy form
target enough for the unerng rife of the scouts
After bravey maintaining the fgh; in 'front.' and keep
ing the enemy in check, they discovered dan
ger threatening them. The wary foe now made
cry preparation TO attack them in flank, which could
be most successfully and fatally done by reaching
isolated rock lying in of the ravines on the south
ern hill side. This rock gained by the Indians,
they could bring the scouts under point blank shot Of
the rifle, without the possibility Of escape. Our
brave scouts tie hopeessness of their situation,
which nothing could avert but brave companion
and an unerring shot-them they had not. But the
brave despair With this certain fate resting
upon them, they continued calm, and as calculating,
and unwcarcd ms the stongcst desire of vengeance
trencherous foe could produce
Soon M'Colland saw tall and swarthy figure pre-
pairing to spring from n the fatal rock,
that a single bound must reach it, and all hope be
destroyed. He felt that all depended on advan-
tageous shot, although but inch of the warriors
body exposed, and that distance of 100
ynrds-he resolved to risk all--cooly he raised his
rifle to his eye, carefully shading the sight with his
hand he drew a bead sure that he felt conscious
ii pouM do-he touched the hair trigger with his finger
the hammer down, but in place of striking fire.
II crushed ms flint INTO hundred fragments AL
though he felt that the savage must reach the fatal
rock before ne could lust another flint he proceed
ed to the task with the utmost composure, casting
many furtivo glance towards the fearful point
Suddenly he the warrior stretching every muscle
for the leap-and with the agility Of deer he made
the spring-instead of reaching tho rock he sprung
ten feet in the air. and giving terrific yell he fell
upon the earth, and his dark corpse rolled fifty feet
down the hill He had evidently received death
shot from some unknown hand. A hundred voices
from below re-echoed the terrible shout and it was
evident that they had lost favore warrior, well
being foiled for time in the most important
ment. A very few moments proved that the advnn-
tage mysteriousy gained would be of short sdura
ton; for already the scouts caught momentary Gimp
of swarthy warrior, cautiously advancing to-
ward the recently occupied by a fellow
companion. Now, too, the attack in front re-
sumed with increased fury so to require the inces
SAINT fire of both scouts prevent the Indians from
gaining the emnence-and in a short time M'Celland
the wary warrior behind the cover preparing for