Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-05-09

strip of his leather hunting frock, but too
plainly told him that his foes had gained
his rear, and were between him and his
friends. His eagle eye took the danger
with which he was surrounded at
glance. Poising his rifle in his bands, as
the puff of smoke gently moved away
from whence the shot had been fired, he
brought it to level, and the next moment
its clear report ran through the distant
hills, as an Indian sprang up from behind
q bush where he had been concealed,
but once forward and was dead!
There was no time for reloading.-
Ogle did not even wait to see the effect
of his--he knew full we'll what it would
be when he fired-but bounded away al
the top of his speed for cornfield lying
about three quarters Of mile Distant
The main body Of the Indians soon broke
cover and came yelling on his rear like a
pack of demons.
Full well he knew his doom was seal
ed if once in their clutches. Giving a
thought to his then helpless family, en-
tirely dependent on him 70: support, and
knowing they would be under the most
painful apprehensions as to his safety, did
he not return by nightfall, he sped on.
The cornfeld with its tall waving grain
was Just before him. Once in it with his
trusty rifle, and he would feel compare
tively secure, as he was sure none Of his
pursuers would venture singly into the
field to hunt him out. But how to cross
a fence { a stake and rider fence nine rails
Highly and retain his gun at the same time,
was the all-absorbing question to his
mind To Chamber over fence would
give his foes time to shoot, as they were
barely beyond long rifle range. Cross
the fence he must, if he wished to save
his scalp, and if he wished to retain an
equal chance for his rifle must surely 60
with him.
Straining his nerves to the utmost ten.
sion when about fifty yards from the fence
and measuring panel with his eye, he
approached it in short, quick, running
step, striking about four rails high with
one Of his feet, and catching at the top rail
with his left hand, he vaulted over, gun
in hand, SO easily that he afterwards said
it astonished himself. Casting farther
glance behind as his feet struck the
ground he saw his foes standing in mute
amazemen,. A simultaneous "wagh!"
from the entire party was the only excla.
nation Of wonderment from them.
OF course he didn't stop to explain the
philosophy of Jumping a. nine rail fence,
with a gun in his hand--it was new to
him-but he darled into the corn at an
angle towards the fort, to mslead his pur-
suers. He saw them scattering, before
he was out Of sight, for The purpose Of
surrounding the field. The ground with
in the field (thankx be TO the same Indians
for preventing its cul,ure) was covered
with thick mating Of cIab-grass, upon
which the foot Of one man would scarcely
leave an impression.
Retaining a STOPPING posture, tall
man could keep perfectly concealed in the
field to which Ogle had escaped. So
soon as he was far enough within the
corn TO be beyond the range OF rifle, he
re- loaded. and then commenceda a series Of
gyra,ory evolutions, for the purpose of
throwing his pursners off his trail, in the
even, OF their following him into the field.
! He soon satist fed himself that they had
not entered the field, and feeling assured
that they were still watching for him, he
struck out in the direction from the fort,
and soon had the good fortune to strike a
point on the edge Of the field, where an
enormous tree had blown down.
The rank weeds had grown 10 an un-
usual height around the fallen monarch Of
the forest. Without disturbing the almost
audible stiffness Ogle quietly slid into a
small open space at the root Of the tree,
+, where he could barely see beyond the
fence, which was not rod off, SO thick
were the weeds by which he was sur
rounded.
Quietly seating himself with his rifle
across his knee, he drew forth from side
pocket a siuglc morsel Of jerked venison
and uckler Of pure water, from which
he drank refreshing draught.
Hours rolled by twelve clock had
passed, and no sound of lurking ioe--and
Osle beganto hope all danger was passed,
when suddenly he heard the cat-like
tread Of approaching footsteps! Nearer,
and nearer, their stealthy tread came, un-
til he was enabled TO distinguish the ap.
proach Of two!
Bnt few steps more, and they stop
ped nearly opposite to where he lay.--
Quick as lightning his thumb was on the
cock and torefnger on the trigger; the
mex, moment revealed the features OF two
of his pursuers. A glance at their lead
EN- gaze told him more readily than
words, that they were not aware Of his
presence.
Leaning their guns against the fence,
they quietly clambered up, and seated
themselves onthe top rail, in doing which
they threw down one from the adjoining
pannel, which fell within yard Of where
Ogle lay, but their stolid features were
not even turned in that direction hy the
occurrence. ...~..
One drew forth pipe, which he soon
filled, and commenced smoking, passing
it to his companion, at the same time in
yoking their medicine to assist in exter-
mina,ing the whites. Their conversation
made up Of few cultural sounds, min
gled with signs plainly indicated that he
was the burden Of their theme.
Meanwhile the sun was wheeling rap.