Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-06-13
WHOLE NO. 1877.

view, Roland and the old hunter raised
their rifles, those rifles that never failed
in an emergencys and fired Simultaneous
ly. As the report reverberated along the
mountains, two of the savages bounded
up in the air like wounded deer, and fell
to the earth with heavy leaden sound.
Life ebbed away in the crimson tide that
bubbled up from the ghastly wounds, the
eyes became fired in their sockets, and
the cheek clammy with the moisture of
death. Uttering one fierce, wild yell OF
revenge and disappointment, the remain
ing savages, according to their custom,
glided behind trees. Roland and David
bethought themselves OF the same expe-
dient, and quickly reloaded their pieces.
IL now become necessary TO resort 10
stratagem, for the least exposure of the
person was certain death! Each party
manifested no small degree of skill in
their manGuvres, but without succeeding
in their object. At length the old Indian
Fighter hit upon an expedient TO draw
their fire. Suspending their hunting caps
on their ramrods, they cautiously moved
them around the trees, behind which
:hey were concealed. The savages, sup
posing them TO be the heads Of their en-
emies, fired, and the caps fell to the
earth; and to deceive the poor deluded
wretches still more. howls of distress
burst from the lips of Roland and the In
dian Fighter. The savages rushed up
with scalping- knife and tomahawk CLEAN
ing above their heads, ready for their
bloody offices. Fatal delusion! 1t was
their last effort for revenge. Their earth
ly war-pa!h was ended, and they enter
ed on new pilgrimage along the trail
that leads to the presence Of the Grea,
Spirit.
After they had again reloaded their
guns, Roland said
"These are victims of their own ten
Gritty. l should gladly have avoided
taking their lives, but ours were in i'm
mincnt hazard, and the only resource
was the destruction of theirs. Under
such circumstances, the laws of man will
justify US. But these, | strongly sus-
pect. are the advanced scouts of the
main body"
"You ar right thar" responded Da-
vid, "and we mus. keep watchful eye
on the tarnal varlcts, or they'll sarcum-
went us yit. Well have timely warnin'
howsomever. Old Trailer, the good dog,
never sleeps when the redskins are
skulkin' about, Hark! hark! Trailer,
hark!"
The intelligent brute, comprehending
his old masters words, began to snuff
The air and listen with all the keenness
of the canine species. Turning his head
towards the west, he commenced low
significant growl.
IL thought so, Trailer" continued
David, ''the warmints are on the war
path.'
Just then the prolonged howl of a
wolf swelled upon their ears. Directly
il was answered by one away to the
southwest of them, and re-echoed from
the west.
"Them's 'em, them's 'em, boy" ex-
claimed David, ..and we mus. be on the
home path Immediately, or they'll be
thar afore Us. All tarna,ion on thar
sneakin' red skins! They're jist for all
the world like pack of wolves. They
must be surcumwented. But come, let's
us be movin'."
proceed! follow" exclaimed Ro,
land.
And may God strengthen them in
their noble exertions! The lives Of the
happy, the young. the inoocent and the
aged, are dependent upon their exertions
They bounded forward with feet ant
impetuous strides. Each felt the import
ance Of the intelligence he bore, and j
served to impart renewed energy to hi
footsteps.