The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-09-23
Vol. 12. No, 10. Whole No. $50

handkerchief marked 90. H. evidently drop
ped TO attract notice. Nothing wOs found 10
indicate that Adelia was fellow captive, nj
though the young men doubted not such wns
the cuse.
CHAPTER ~.
Vain, however, would have been the at
tempt of the young men 10 Overtake the party
whose trail they were following had il rot
been for an accident tint befcl one ofthc two
snvages who held George MS prisoner. For
the purpose ofayodingN trail aud thus throw
ing their pursuers, should pursuit be made,
of their thruck, about noon on the second
day they deviated from tie dense forest Il lit
lie crossed n small stream, taking care TO OBJ
liternte even the slightest mark IlIut should
designate their coursc,und pissed over pre-
cipitous rocky hill, the descent of which was
very difficult, aud in some places even dan
gerous. His arms bound behind him which
sorely laccralcd his wrists, wearied with his
long aud hurried march, and completely
prostratcd IN spirits, George wns dragged
over the rough pathway more dead Than IL
live. Forced TO keep up with his iron limb
cd conductors, who strobe on with tireless
step, hc came near once or twice being
precipitnted down the rough and narrow
steep. His limbs were fast FILLING him, and
he was about giving himself up TO certain
death, which refusal or an inability 10 pro-
coed would have brought upon him, when
the savage who preceded him accidentally
caught lis foot in II crevice, while in the net
of leHping from one point to another, and be-
fore he recovered himself plunged lendloug
down the broken pathway. A number Of
severe commissions were received in cOnse-
Quence, aud what was better for George, tho
cords Of one of his feet were badly sprained.
Though George was not one TO delight III the
sufGrings of another, yet it must be confess
cd he was heartily reiocedas they continued
their Journey To behold the slow and painful
limpngs of his leader-well assured that an
clicctual check was for the present, given 20
their rapid march.
To avoid the rough travelling. which OK
lored many bitter groan from the wounded
Indian. they suon struck into The forest again,
and rs the pain fine sprained ancle became
more intense, they came 10 halt in the
middle of the afternoon, much 10 the relief
oi'the bruised and faigued prisoner, who ST
Ienty blessed the accident which was The
cause Of loud lamentations and deep curses
from the party afflicted.
The afternoon wore away, and seated on
the messy roots Of tail oak, George watch
ed the last Pickering rays Of the sun that
ci.dcd the tree tops fade away, with sad and
trCCry feelings. They were moments full Of
bitterness 10 him. Since his capture lie had
scarcely found time amidst his eXcitemeut,te
dwell miuulCIy on tue events Of the night OF
his seizure. But now lie whole scene camo
before lin in all its horrors. lie hardly anr-
ed dwell on the probable fate Of hdcla and
the rest ofihe family lie could not admit
hope OF their safely. II they escaped tho
mcrcIcss ,Omahawk, they We're doomed TO
captiviiy-an alternative lie felt scarcely less
dreadful than immediate death. His own
situation troubled him not, so absorbed was
he IN iie thoughts of one whose safety lc
would gladly purchase at the socri6ce Of his
own li!A
Twilight gathered fast around him. Tie
din aisIes Of Tie forest wore The gloom OF
coming night, and his spiri,s purtooli of lilo
hue of The scene around. Some few feet in
advance ofhim sat his captors, tho wounded
one binding up his bruised limbs with leaves
and herbs which his companion prepared for
him. Thoughts Of escape for a Rloalept
thrilled the bosom of George. Could he but
clear Himself from his bonds, desperate as
was the chance, lie would make the attempt.
Hope gave him strength; but he siroge in
vain, and after u severe, though secret strug-
Gle, for suspicious eyes were glahcing upon
him, he gave up in dispair.
II was AT this moment when he had resign,
ed himself 10 bear the worst, with only fuiut
hope-amost too faint to he chershed--ihat
possibly his friends might be in pursuit of
him il was NJ this moment he was startled
by the report Ola gun discharged from Il
dense lhickct behind him. A ball whisiled
by his car, and the lame Indian rolled over
and over in the ngonies Of death. The, sur
viving savage sprung 10 his feet, and seeing
10 one but George, who had also started up
he brandished his tonahawk, and rushed
towards him with n countenance feRrfuily
distorted with passion, as if determined thoi
lie at leust should not escape. But at this
moment, ust rs the uplifed weapon flew
from his hand. another discharge burst from
the thckct,n and bullet went crashing through
his brain, willie his deadly missile whiricd
within an inch of Georges skull, and was
buried to the socket in The tree behind him.
Bewildered by The suddenness of the even,s
that had transpired, George stood .nlo,onlcss
gnzing with hHed stare upon the writings
ofthe dying savages, until the we'll known
voices Of his friends Greedy mud Blanchard
recalled his scattered thoughts. Nor was IL
until his bonds were cut and he had again
and again embraced his delverers, that Ito
fully realized the joyful fact ofhis escape
Brief were !hcir congratulations when tho
Simultaneous inquiry was on each Zip
'Adela! what of her? where is she@
The answers ofthesc questions dashed tho
hopes and darnpened the joy that sprung up
in the bosoms of the young men. Humph-
rey listened with melancholy interest to tho
rnournful details with which the reader is al
ready acquainted 1t was moment of in
tense feeling to both, and we must leave 10
the Imagination ofthe reader the CONVERSE
ton that eusued. H. .-.
Twilight had settled into dnrkness, while
the three young men conversed together and
consulted on their future course I: nor was il
till deep in the night when young BlanchHrd
advised them to seek some rest in order to
recruit their strength for whatever task might
he before them, that hey thought Of sleeps
Yet when they had disposed themselves for