The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-01-02
I have not replied Conrad

rifle prepared until return
Conrad eyed the speaker, but found an air Of
command which he felt he ought to obey. and he
did obey. Lewis then left their camp with a
tread that gave no noise from the early fallen
leaf His course was northwardly and towards
Shepherd Fort. Hour followed hour until af:
ter midday, as the impatient Conrad watched
.ne return OF his companion in the direction OF
his departure. He was intently looking at a wa.
vering bush on a distant hill, doubtful whether
1t was man or not, when he felt his shoulder
struck, and 'lngens not deer came frop,
Wetzel, who had thus given lesson of vigi-
lance.
'freparc, Conrad, seven or eight of those black
rascals are gone in the direction of your father S
house
Good God!' exclaimed Conrad, spoor Susan,
why did not 60 home with you? My sister,
my father and mother
standing there, making speeches, Will do no
good to either your sister, you father or mother
Then pausng moment, and with his compress
ed mouth and expression of features which no
man, however firm might be his nerves, ever be-
held without feeling something saying, Let
that man never be my cncmy'-mut.cred with
appalling emphasis, IF the whole of these cut
throats ever again cross the Ohio-why, they'll
conclude that the ID and Lewis Wetzei have
had quarrel lately; but Ill try to show them
that myself and old friend are not separated vet
Little more was said; 4 few slices of half
roasted vcnson was cut from the residue of the
deer slain the day before, and the two hunters
were, with careful but rather rapid steps, meas
uring their way to the north eastward, with
view, as Lewis whispered, to fall in the rear of
the Ingens. With all their untring speed it
low ov"rsprcad with the rank growth of the past
summer, that Lewis stopped suddenly, and point
ing with his ramrod to marks which Conrad
could scarcely perceive, observed in an under tone
Here, here are their trail!' They had been sew
eral hours far within the range where every
stream and rid &c was known to Conrad, whose
inward agony Of mind increased at every mo-
ment, as following the steps of his wary leader,
he saw hun advancing in the direct course to-
wards the home Of his parent and sister He
was almost provoked at the cold and undisturbed
behavior of Lewis, but the dreadful appearances
made him completely submissive to the orders
winch were given, with a confidence which in
splred hope in the very face of despair
have already told you my children, that the
evening was heavy, and the night unusually
dark. That darkness closed upon the-I might
say, angels OF delivcrance, some miles short of
mayer S cabin. 1t was on the closing of light
that any expression of inlpatience was show By
Lewis.
Must these villains cscape:'. The expression
was lofty, and calculated to alarm Conrad; but
the long-tried warrior repaired his mistake with
quickncss, by adding, till tomorrow
morning., whispering at the same time, that sit
is the custom Of the Ingens only to attack at
break Of day.
Still they advanced slow, silent, and listening
ut every few steps. For some hours the wind
enabled Lewis to keep his course, but when that
guide tailed, and the black and covered sky hid
every star, the bark of the trees were felt
in any common case, again whispered Lewis,
maybe | could find my way; we must be near
your fathers and may pass tive must stop
sigh and a shudder was all the answer Con-
rad could make, and they crouched down beside
two trees. need not say hours were weeks, as
both their faces were to what they thought the
east. 1t was an opening amongst the trees,
which at last began to widen, the trunks and
large branches began to appear. Lewis was Just
ready to say 'break of day. but was prevented
by Conrad spring ing to his feet, exclaiming by
heavens! His loud expression was promptly
and etfectually arrested by the powerful hand of
Wetzcl, who almost jerked him off his feet
Conrad, brought to himself, in a hurried but
tone, informed Lewis that they were
between two and three miles from his father 8
house, and that the opening they saw was an a
Dandoned settlement. They were on their way
before Conrad had finished Avoiding thc>opon
old field, they were soon a cattle path, and in
a few minutes, on rising hill, the long drawn
howl of the housc-dog en- the point of beino
by the two brute sharers oftheir march, |
but touch of the ramrod reduced to complete
silence the wcll-trained mastiffs. Their speed
was every moment increased, as the cry of the
watch dog became more and more distinct
Lewis suddenly stopped, and listening for a
second or two to the change of note of the dog,
then most earnestly observed to Conrad
'Now, my brave young man, follow my dircc-
tons. Your house is surrounded by these saw
ages; advance cautiously, and do not fire unless
sure ofyour mark. When you do fire, instant
y retreat and reload; but above all things do not,
for any cause, rush towards the house, unless
you me do So
scream of the dog, the equally terrible silence
which followed, and then the rapid firing, toge-
her with the screams of the females, put all fur
her delay out of the question, and yet the never
disturbed peace of mind of Wetzel, as Conrad
afterwrds told me, had more the appearance of
4 man advancing on a wounded bear, than on |
he knew not how many armed men. 1t was at
the moment when blow from tomahawk sunk
the brave old Mayer, that the voice of Lewis |
Wetzel was no longer heard in whispers, but
echoed through the surrounding forest.
revenge!' and he shouted his own name with a
force almost superhuman If an earthquake had
burst beneath their feet, the effect would not
have been more terrific on the minds of the In
gems, as he called them. They who yet survi-
ved rushed from the cabin, at the threshold of
which two fell to their sleep of death, and the
astonished Lewis saw only one flying savage.
You shall follow, as he gritted his teeth in rage,
and darted after his, to him certain, prey. For
once, even the consummatc skill of Wetzel was
within hairs breadth offailng. The Indian s
piece had not been discharged, and knowing that
both white men had discharged their rifles, and
finding himself pursued by only a single man,
who was every step gaining upon him, the saw
age sprung to tree Lewis saw his error, and
rs the piece was raised, he fell prostrrate, and
the same instant the ball passed through his
hunting shirt, just above his shoulder. The In
dian was now in his powcrr but without dis
charging his piece, he graspcd it in hisleft hand,
and in a few hundred yards the Indian was
corpse under his hatchet
The sun had not yet risen when Lewis re-
turned, with wary steps, towards the cabin. To
Che name Of sConrad, called in a voice louder
and louder, no answer was given, and he finally
reached the dredfnl spot, stained with the blood
Of six human beings. With his back to the fire.
place, stood Conrad, his eyes fixed with horror
- u -