The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1848-11-16

'Lainbert now discovered. rs the night he.
gan TO sci in. that the courage and resolution
Of his companion were fast ebbing, and they
would soon be brought to dead stand still
and he called halt for further consultation.
The resul, of this deliberation was that each
individual found or framed an excuse for
returning home, and Lambc was left
alone TO pursue his dangerous and lonely
enicrprised.
'lie WINS. however, doubly armed; frs,
with the Justice Of his cause and conscious.
ness Of rcc,itude; and second with good
rifle, tomahawk, and hunters knife, and
with these he pursued his prccarious jour
ncy--not regardless Of consequences, but
prepared to meet all events that might &C.
cur. With the assistance Of starlight, re-
llected from bright surface Of snow, he
was enabled to trace the footsteps Of the
murdcrcrs, and when the moon arose in full
splendor, a little before midnight, be found
no further difficulty or uncertai MY in pur-
suing his way.
AFTER travelling in northwest direction
twelve or fourteen miles, he came TO mn
old and acnrly disnsed road running pnral.
lei with The ono he had left this wns called
the Old Pennsylvania Trace, between Phil
adcphin aud Red Stone Old Fort, situated
on the waters Of the Monongahela river; it
was the first road opened between Eastern
PENNSYLVANIA md the head waters of the
Ohio river. md the ancient land marks,
three chips and blaze wcro still visible
by daylight on the old trees. These nm
dent roads nnd land marks | hive been
Informed, were adopted by the old survey.
ors and openers Of roads in the west, To
propi,iaie Heaven in favor Of the first set
tiers Of The great western wilderness; and
hence tho first chop was for the Father
the second for the Son. and the third Tor
the Holy Ghost; and the blaze wns merely
designed to attract the eye Of the obser-
yer.
When Lambert struck the old trace
roads, he discovered m ancient and ruin.
Gus hut, or log cabin, nearly opposite 70
him, on the north side If this dilnpidated
and solitary rond The NOON had now
nearly gained her meridian md beamcd
with full and nnclouded splondor on tho
snowy peaks Of the distant mountains, and
on the cold and solitary landscape just be.
fore him.
There stood in solemn silence and seem.
ing dcsertion the hut which contained. prob
ably the objects Of his long and laborious
pursuit; and to satisfy the anxiety If his
mind, respecting the actual presence Of
the murderers. who would he on tho alert
and prepared for defence Of the most desper-
ute character, he had to make silent and
cautious circuit round the hut st some lit.
tie distance from il, out Of distinct view
Pursuant TO thi. plan, he found foot tracks
Of the two vilnins up 10 the door Of the
house. and that there were no foot prints
from tho cabin in any direction. These
circumstnn noes put ut rest all donbts and un-
certainties, and Lambert had nothing now
to do but to act in the Inst sanguinary dra.
nm, TO capture the murdercrs or 10 lose his
life.
He had just sccn, through the shattered
clnpbonrds Of which the door wns mndc, n
feeble light in the only fire place the house
could boast. The house consisted of hut
two apartments. which were without any
partition between only distinguished
from each other by step or two down
from tho ives, to tho cast room. The poor
old woman. who had resided for years on
this deserted road, md lived by selling
cakes and beer to casual wayfarcrs, slept
in the west room into which the only door
in the house opened from the rond, and the
east room contained one bed, which NJ il nf-
forwards appeared. was occupied BY tho two
villains Of whom Lambert was in pursuit.
"Aficr stepping few PAGES hack from
the door, Lambert give a loud cough or
two, to awaken the old woman--nnd boldly
advancing 10 the step, and stamping the
snow from his feet. desired ndmiltance in a
legned voice-nnd telling her At tho same
time that he wns n stranger who had lost
his way--ihat he xas nearly frozen to
death in wandering ahout--snd that he
wished her 10 re-light the FIRE to warm him
SELF
she immediately obeyed, and soon re-
lighted the fire, whilst he remained outside
the door, under the prctencc Of disrobing
his feet Of the snow-his real object being
to await the light o. the FIRE, That he nigh,
fairly encounter the villains. whom he Ind
jus. heard talking in m alarmed and star.
tied tone Of voice. in the lower ROOM
When he stepped over the door sill into the
bright light Of the FIRE. his first salutation
was the loud report of musket from the
lower room, the two halls from which
struck the door.post, an inch or two from
his head. No time was now to be lost
Reserviug his fire, no sprang down to the
lower room, yet rocking with the smoke Of
the burned powder, and using his iomahawk
With dexterity and effect. knocked the viii
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