Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1847-02-03
!. NJ RpFEsDAr FEBRUARY 5, 4s47


caution, lest some srascally ambush war
laid for-hi,as fer he conceivedA no wisaEil
fthe; disposition Of the Tory party to psillni
hhimis 10 leRyeatheshouse uhmolested. B,
none peafed; and he mounted his aI6fse
which was at the door, and sped awa1 ;iis
tminedshss seasIs sos Ion, Z
But now the bridge over Foxen creel
was tobe passed, which admitted ofno,hins
less than daylight and strong heart to ac
comPlish. He relaxed not his speed as
the measured tramp Of the sentinel broke
upon bis ears, as he swayed back and forth
upon the further end of the bridge. The
house where the Tories held possession, land
the form Of the guard appeared through the
heavy mist of the morning, yet he moved
on with swift and fearless trot. The
northern edge of the bridge was underJhe
horses hoofs, and the time for action had
arrived. > ..' 8, '
II was easy to discover the sentinel mis-
took him for a friend, for he could scarce
suppose an enemy would thus carelessly
throw himself into the vortex of ruin
The sentinel, therefore, seemed to hail our
hero out of mere form, rather than from
any apprehensions as to his real character,
and did not present his piece to the stranger,
continuing in posture of order. -a
"Stand!" said the sentinel;-but the
word had scarcely dropped from his lips
when the cooked rifle of Harper was plac-
cd at his breast -y= & - sa,-z.. s -
IN ot'a word from your mouth, nor n
motion OF your gun,or you're dead man!''
said Harper in determined voice, and he
continued to pass on in a walk, still level.
ing his weapon at the speechless guard
The man stood still, not daring to. move
while the courageous man moved steadily
away.
'You look petriied," said Harper, in q
hectoring voice; "if you don't think my
PASS is genuine, examine 1t closely.
shall return shortly, and mayhap have
the means of better satisfying YOU"
The poor sentinel moved not, nor replied,
keeping his eye riveted upon the muzzle
of that deadly-aimed rifle, until it reached
the opposite side ofthe knoll, when its own
er put spurs 10 his horse, and was out ol
his reach. l@aay a2"5 ..o> >'l'
Happy was our hero, when he measured
the distance from this, as he considered it,
his safe escape beyond the power Of his
enemies. Several miles more were trav.
elled over, and in a feeling of security, the
strict guard which he had placed over eve
ry startling object, gradually relaxed, and
he allowed his fancy to picture the scenes
he had just passed through, we'll nigh laugh.
ing outright at the sentinel's amazement,
on his presenting, what the woodsman chose
to call, "HIs PASS, The sun beamed
down its rays. in warm effulgence-the
birds cheered him on with their warblings
and the distant hum Of the rapids seemed
to confde to him that all was yet well
with those he left in almost peril. s'' i'-o
IL In the midst of this, the sound Of horses
hoo?s beating along the road at no great
distance behind our hero, awakened again
that sense Of danger. Striking spurs into
the side Of his horse intentively, with rapid
strides he was hurried forward past a curve
in the road, which would give decided
advantage over his pursuing foe. As he
turned his beast, he saw through the dis.
tance the figure Of noted Indian murderer
named Sethen Henry, driving along the
road at full speed, lashing his horse at eve
ry step. ,''-yt" Y. 1'''".s : 2Hi
In an instant Harper drew his rifle to
his shoulder, cooked, and leveled at the ap.
proaching savage. Quick as dart the
Indian whirled around the bend, and as
suddenly found himself face to face with
his intended victim, totally in his power.
- ''Stand, you vilfain!" cried Harper, in a
voice Of thunder "Face about, and ride
away with yourself, or the ball Of my rifle
shall whistle through your heart!"
So impetuous and sudden was this unex.
pected attack, that the savage was com.
pletely unnerved. A firm, unerring eye
was directing a murderous rifle within few
yards ofhis bosom, while; his own irelock
was pressed to his side in the position of o
trail, and not cooked. He had only fore.
thought enough to suppose the slightes,
change in his weapon would be signal o.
death. With a single gutteral ejaculation
he wheeled his horse, and rode for life, to-
wards the flats. q. a=i" ".'''eo = H.. '.a
s'Never did buck stand lairer," said Har
per to himself. ashe resumed his journey;
shut 70 have let my rifle speak in this spo
would have broughta dozen savages to the
burial Of one poor scamp" - m -,aa
We can easily follow our hero to the
borough Of Schenectady, as no farther die
his enemies pursue him. He quickly re
turned with detachment Of armed men
but tho sentinel's tramp was not heard upor
/ the bridge at Foxen creek, and the oldhous,
was deserted by the rroyalists. Athorougl
securing Of the peighboring woods, put tn
tory naurauders to flight, and The dweller
| on the Schoharja vera ielieved eof tbe dos