The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1849-09-22
Vol. 10. No.lO. Whole No. GA,


purity ruuhod To tho SPOT where lhey lefi trer
asleep, A single glHHCg revealed 10 Them
tho Irnil purposely leh by lbs Scout, aud
two Of them siurlnd ia pursuit, They had
not proceeded but q rod ~ Two when an GX-
preHsiye "llugh I" from the third savage
caused tlielR 30 look bhck lilo had been on
his knees, closely sorulihlziHg the Trail, and
With Anlnlnled gestures be now beckOhed his
companions towards him, pointing 10 tho
discovery hg Ind mHde. Wiih eoumenAnces
in whlob Hslouislment and lenr were equal.
ly blended, they bsnl their gaze on tho Trail,
particularly Oh The spots pointed out by lilo
one on Ills knees. A Unparalleled eye would
have detected nothing 10 attract his attention
not even the trail Itself hut the more Hculn
perceptions pflhe Indian revealed "a hin
that Tie footprints before him were larger
aud wider apart than their captive could
have made.
A hurried consultation Immediately 'snsu-
sued, after which ih6y ErHTIrred uruuud tito
spot, surveying inlenlly every inch OF the
limited since. Their inspection was Of no
avail apd lhoy once more huddlod together
10 low aud tafhort deUaIt TTry WtI6 Cyi'
donuy at.iaulL Tho ouly trnll they could
discover was this one before thgui. That
was uHde 10y nian--ihia they were perfect
" sure oI Which way then, had their zap
live HrdY They converted for Whil6 with
rapid tones, perpleXed with the mystery of
aiinrs,ti NJ last ole, who appeared 10 lao
chicfOf tlio party, seemed suddenly TO flh-
ON IL. Pointing with expressive gestures to
tic rocks along ihe northern nscent
Of the hill, lac Issued few commands,
wheu HE companions started again on tho
trail, while be- lrapcd along tho mAss oirocks
like panther in pursuit Of his prey.
The Scout had Ia tho meanwhile been
making the iirsi OF his way Ia a direction
leading from the hill. Chance led him lo spot
where there wns n nnrrnw flp bog which
Terminated Ia IA ridge, or.lodgo, which ran
oil To the north foe a long distance. Having
reached this ledge he made few steps NJ
on IL, 30 as To leave his foot marks, then care
fully stepping backward, placing his feet
liehily ln the uucks lao lad LETT, lao relTaclcd
he way ucros. thu hog until he reached
more solid groHnd. Stepping back 10 n spot
completely oyershAdoNed with trees, whose
branchep were inierl8ced, with the utmost
caution he swung himself into the nchraGl
trrr, Wfrr -rrr~t..tF Alos.s 4aiETally lran Limb
10 limb. with ihr agility uf n slurrel, until ho
had attained sone ruds from the trail, lac
dropped to tho ground, aud concealed him.
self behind The trunk Of an ancient oak,
Tie had not heen long there before he dis.
covered the twn sayAgrs gliding among tho
trees dogriuR his steps like slut bouuhs.--
he saw ihsm cross tho bog-hrsiinle n mo-
m.nt on the ledge, aud IlIsn dart along tho
ridge, as II sure of their track.
There so NO Oflhe uarminis,' said -ho
With "a low cLuckle. "likc blood hounds on
The sccEt, liuic thinking Eve played lhcm
uossum trick! have the ohGr reptile now
NJ my marcy. Twas we'll | found this bow,
lpt ibe report Of the gun would brUg tho
whole pack on me" Sosay,ng ho started
in the direction of tie hill, mud ere long was
stealing warily up its western slope.
. lie WRs not there n moment too sdon for
the Other savage on attaining the summit had
been proving around in search Of Annie
The deepeUsd gloom Of tho evening, render
od still more duuss 10y the heavy growth Of
trees thut crowned the hill, prevented dis.
covery Of the trail which led TO the cave.
but IN searching round, the Indian aceiden-
tally approached its negbborhood, and would
have probably passed Il unnolced had not
Brave, whose enr had cnught his step, and
who stood in brislling altitude Rt the foot
Of Anuic, given u low growl. The quick ear
of tho savage Immediately detected IL, aud
grnsping his tomRhpwk, with snake like
motion lac was approaching the mouth ofIhe
cave at the same moment, und with ihe.sutne
wary movement that the Scout was approach.
ing 1t in another direction.
From tree to trce--irom bush 10 bush, tho
willy savage cropl towards tho cave until no
had approached its entrance. Annie heard
not his approach, nor could the eharpcst ,enr
have detected h; but the noble Brave, now
silent M DEATH stood behind tho leuN enclos-
IRE gathered for a rpring--his hristling huir.
flaming cyes, aud formidable row of teeth,
in.elhcr With bis nttiludel Mprning her oflhp
impending danger.
The Scout, too, had approached near the
scene of action with the fatal arrow drawn to
its bead ready for distant fight. As the I'm.
suspecting Indian reached forth his hand to
remove The bushes that concehled The en-.
trance To the. cave, tho twang of the bow
broke thR SilgHee aud t!4G well directed Ghah
pierced the side oTIhe savage at the Same
moment tho 5io; EgEfs tuFS; ttaI4
his covert and buried his thugs in the throat
of the victim! There was n momcniary
struggle, mud The athletic sou Of tho forest lay
q rigid corpse.
..Nell done, Bruye Molly done, pupw
exclaimed the Scout encournRingly Ia tho
dog. 'Iiut leave the warmth. Here, sir!' ha
added more emphutcauy rs the dog seemed
more reluctant 10 quiz his hufd -'hu'it work
no more mischief, cons q"
CHAPTER VI. .-
Willie this bloody scene WAS tnking place
outside, Annie remained, pale aud terror
slriken, more dead thnn alive, inside the cuvp,
expecting every moment TO feel the rude
grasp ofthe savage, Her fear wns soon
10 joy 80 she beard +Hel low esll a,
Ihe Scout
seal. gal! come iorih-tis lime we should
ret clear OF this place"
Gludly did Annie obey the Scout, and free
her way from her hiding place, but started
back with alarm as the bleeding form of tho
,avnge met her eyes ol haavery entrance.
"Donr be skoer'd, Mics, the reptile can't
hort you now!" said tbe-Scout in n low, ex.
lIting tone--addiug,, Shut you look sick, gal.