Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-06-13

pdFiaiy up anu EaZeu dHXlOusiy through
an aperture in the thick underbrush i'm
mediately in fon, OF them. After satis-
flying his curiosity. he dropped upon the
earth as before, and commenced con-
yersation with Roland in subduced
tone.
"We ar in for scrimmage," COM
! menced David, "with the red varmints;
but unless I'm nightly mistaken, we II
be able to sarcnmvent the imps o. black
ness. They have lost your trail now.
boy, but they'll soon be on it agin' like
SO many bloodhounds. But how have
you been. Roland! l haven't seen you
for a long time"
"Pret,y well, David, and very happy
to meet you."
.Well, I'm mighty glad 10 see you.
friend; but these ar troublesome times
to be away here in the wilderness alone,
with the tarnal redskins thick as bees a.
round you."
.'rhen they are bent upon some Of
their diabolical schemes of blood again,
presumed"
"Ay ar they, and that right soon.--
Them as live in the settlement should
keep sharp eye on the varmints, if the
don't want thar scalp-locks taken"
"The representations we have heard
then, in regard to their hostile move-
ments, are true, David!"
"True to sartanity, my boy. The
best waters of the Potomac and Yough-
inghany rivers ar swarming with the
| varle,s! | war thar and saw EN-
They war feastin'. and dancin' the war
dance, and shoutin' their wild war.cry.
They're bent on mischief. Thar faces
was besmeared with war-paint, ready for
scrimmage, but some OF the blood.thir-
sty varmin.s will not 60 on another war
path a',er tomorrow night, | warrant
you."
ado you mean to say, David, tha.
they will attack the settlement to-mor-
row night" exclaimed Roland, hurried
ly, and with some .repidation in his man.
ner.
We do not mean to imply tina. Roland
entertained any kind of apprehensions
for himself. His mind was fertile in ex-
pedieni, and he could easily devise
means to project himself; but he trembled
for the safety Of Alice Morley, the dear
idol of his souls worship. Once in the
grasp of the relentless savages, the stake
and the fagot, he knew, would be her
portion. Great God! what could he do,
already wearied and so far away, TO
shield her beautiful form from such ago.
NJ! To save her now would be mir
acle indeed. The thought almost suffo-
Gated him. But rousing himself, he APP
peared calm and collected. the imperson-
alton of natures nobleman--relyi ing i'm
] plicitly on bis own energies-hoping for
the best, yet afraid to hope for the trium-
/ phant realization of all his dearest wishes.
"lndeed do l." replied the old hunter;
81 was on my way to warn The settle
ment of thar danger, if SO be could git
thar afore them blood,hirsty injins; but,
as Providence ordered it, l fell in with
your trail about two hours since, which,
considerin' all things, war lucky sar-
cumstance. Iknow'd your track well,
aud concluded from the fresh print on the
grass you hadn't been long gone.
stood debatin' wether should follar you
when, hearing twig snap, | looked
back on your trail and beheld four Of the
skulkin' yarmin,s creepin' along like
catamounts on your track. So, slippen'
away in the thick brush, managed te
overtake you afore the tarnal redskins >
i "His.!'' exclaimed Roland, II hear
their s,ealthy tread approaching u.s."
j David, once more raising himself up
peered through the opening referred to
and saw them approaching very distinct
| ly. One of the savages, who seemed tc
be the leader of the party, ctepped war
| lily upon log, and after scrutinizing ev'
cry object in view with the prac,ised eye
of an Indian warrior, gobbled severa
times like turkey. He listened mo
ment but no sound greeted his ears, save
the rustic of the leaves and the gen,l.
murmurings of the mountain rivuleL--
Then turning TO his companions, he ex
claimed
i "The pale-face is a squaw. He can
uOt gaze INTO the Ieu-md ey6s ne u
coward. He runs like the startle,
deer when the arrow pierces his side
] | He defiles the red mans forest and kill
his game. But the Great Spirit will
give Us revenge. Blood is sweet to ou
appeti,es. Il is sweet as the smile OF tn
, Great Spirit. We love TO see the blu
blaze lick the quivering flesh from thei
bones."
i "Good," exclaimed his companions
; with characteristic gravity, and then a
! relapsed into silence. But ah, how 500
was that silence to be exchanged for III
noise and tumuit Of the conflict, and the
} for that solemn hush that hovers abou
] the consecrated chambers of the dead.-
! II seemed portentou Of death to some Z
those about to engage in that bloody con
flict. Exulling, however, in an cas-
} conquest, the sayages considered DANCE
! too remote to bes,ow passing though
upon il. But how unconscious wer
] they of The proximity Of their centempla
! ted victim, aud Of the numerical fore
. opposed to them! Even then the instru
: ments Of death were levelled for thei