Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1851-11-01
AN INDAIN STORY.

~ WanN sAlttl rftNiAA tNHAtoe wv tA7t V
June, i72a. thai Captain Harmon anl his eas.
leru rangers urged sheir canoes upon The hens
nebec River. il pursni. ofiheiF savage enemies.
Far hours they toled diligently ii The uar,-
the last truce Of civilization was leli behind. and
the long sadnws Of the skftinE forest met and
blensed in sha middle aud broad stream that
wound dAtkly through them.
Ateyefy sound from the hillacen shores -lhe
rusllIng wing of some night inl, OF The quick
l00tslep of some wild heast--lhe dash II ihe
oar WIS suspended, and the rangers grasp tight
eucd Oh his ride.
Allknew the peril of tho enterprise and that
silence, which Is natutallo men who feel them
selves In the extreme Of moral jeopardy. settled
like cloud upon tho midnight advensiregs.
sIlush-- soilly, men said The wutehIul llaF.
mon, Ia voice which scarcely rose above q
hoarsa whisper, ID bis canoes swept around 4
rugged promuntofy. "ihere Is light ahead II
An eyes were bent towards The shores A
tall Indian fire CLEANED up amidst the great oAls,
casting red and strong light npoe the DARK
waiafs.
For single and hreathess moment the oper
ration Of The oar was suspended, aud every one
listened with painful earnestness q catch the
we'll known sounds which seldom fail TO indicate
tho prcpinquiiy 81 tho sayages. But now al
was silent.
with slow aud faint movements Of the oar,
the canoes gradually approached the suspected
spot. The landng was effected in silence.
Aier moving cautiously In the dark shadow,
the party at length seniured within the broad
circle of the light which u fret attracted their
attention.
Harmon was al their head, with an eye and q
hand as quick al those Of the savage enemy
whom he sought.
The body ot 4 fallen tree lay across The path.
As the rangers were on tho point Of leaping over
il, tho hoarse whisper Of Harmon again broke
The silence.
God oC ITcavenl"h be exclaimed. pointing to
the Tree, "see here lis the work Of the cursed
rid skins"
A smoihered curse growled on the lips of the
rangers al they bent grimly forward in The d..
rection pointed out by their commander.
Blood was sprintled on the long grassland
human hand 1.-The hand Of white Inan--lay
on The bloody log.
There was moi word spoken, but every coun
tepance worked with terrible emotion.
Had The rangers followed their own desperate
inclination, they would have hurried reckessly
on TO The work oC vengeance; but the example
of their leader, who had regained bis usual
calmness and self command, prepared them for
less speedy. but more certain triumph.
Cautiously passing over The fearful obstacle IN
the pathway, and closely ioI1wed BY his com
panions. he advanced slealihily with his party as
much as possible, behind the thick trees.
Ina fsw moments they obtained iull view
Of he objects Of their search. stretched Al their
length around huge fire, bit n convenient dis
lance from Il, lay the painted and half naked saw
ages.
Il was evident, from their appearance, Thai
they had passed the day in ono Of their horrid
revels and they were now suffering under the
effects of intoxicalion.
Occasionally grim warrior among them
started bali upright, grasping his iornahewk, as
II 10 combat some vision of bis disofedred brain,
but unable 10 shake off the stupor from his SEN
SEES, uniformly fell back into his former position.
The rangers crepl nearer. Az they bent their
keen eyes along their well.lre rifles, each felt
perfectly sure 81 bis aim. They waited iDr The
signal of Harmon who was endeayoring 70 bring
bis long musket 10 bear upon the head d lhe
sayagcs.
"Firc ~ he At length exclaimed, as ,he sight
Of his piece in:erposcd foil on The wild scalp
lock ufthe Indian; "fire, and rush on
|. The sharp crack ofihiny rifles thrilled through
the heart Of The forest.
There was groan--a smo-hered cry--a
wild and c0nyulsire movement among The sleep
Ing Indians. and III again was silent
The rangers sprang forward with their club
He'd mu.kets and hunting knives but ihrirwofk
was done. The red men bad gone 70 their last
audit before ihe Great Spirit, and 10 sound was
heard among them save The gurging q the hO1
blood from their Ileless boson,s