Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-07-03

started in the pursuit, and followed them til
they arrived in the glen, where their canoe
were secretcd. Here they stopped, and bcga
to make preparations for their expected supper
previous to their embarkation for the oppost
shore. The canoes were launched, and thei
baggage deposited in them. fire was bazin!
brightly and the party were walking around
impatiently awaiting the return of the hunter
The body of Timothy was safely deposited
behind a fallen tree, where he could see every
motion, and hear every word spoken in the cir
cle Here he had been about half an hour
Night had drawn her sable curtain around thu
scene" or in other words, it was dark. The
moon shone ftfully through the clouds which al
most covered the horizon, only serving occasion
ally to make the "darkness visible" The In
dians now began to evince manifest signs of i'm
patience for the return Of their comrade. They
feared that party of the whites had followed
them, and taken him prisoner; and at last re
solved to go in search of him. The plan, which
was overheard by Timothy, was to put the cap
tives into one of the canoes, under the care OF
five Of their number, who were to secrete them
selves, and IN case of an attack, massacre the
prisoners, and then go to the assistance of thei
brethren.
AS soon as the main body had started, Pea
body cautiously crept from his hiding-p place tt
the water, and sliding in feet foremost, moved
along on his back, his face just above the sur
face, to the canoe which contained the rifles Of
The guard. The printing was quickly removed
from these, and their powder horns emptied.-
He then went to the canoe in which the captives
were placed, and gave them notice of their in.
tended rescue; at the same time warning then
not to show themselves above the gunwale til
they were in safety. He next, with his Indian
knife, separated the thong which held the canoe
TO the shore, intending to swim off with it till he
had got far enough to avoid observation, then
get in, and paddle for the nearest place where
a landing could be effected. All this was but
the work of a moment, and he was slowly mov-
ing on from the shore, as yet unobserved by the
guard, who little expected an attack from this
side. But unfortunately his rifle had been left
behind and he was resolved not to part with
"Old Plumper," as he called it, without at least
one effort to recover it. He Immediately gave
the captves notice of his intention, and directed
them to paddle slowly and silently out, and in
going past the headand, to approach as near as
possible, and there await his coming.
The guard by this time had secreted them.
selves, and one of the number had chosen the
same place which Timothy himself had previ-
7asalys svoUlrrt7d, rsurwpi0h hegIlad lcft his old
friend He had almost got to the spot, when
the Indian discovered the rifle, grasped it, and
springing upon his feet, gave the alarm to his
companions. Quick as thought Tim was upon
him, seized the rifle and wrenched it from him
with such violence as to throw him breathless
on the ground The rest of the Indians we're
alarmed, and sounding the war whoop, rushed
upon him.
1t was standard maxim with Timothy, that
"a good soldier never runs till he is obliged to-
and he now found that he should be under the
necessity Of suitng his practice to his theory
There was no time for deliberation; he instant
ly knocked down the foremost with the butt of
his rife and bounded away like a startled deer.
The three remaining made for their canoe in
which their rifles were deposited, already rem
! 6prad harm hU tho praooufion oFT
This gave him good advantage, which was
not altogether unnecessary, as he was much en-.
cumbered with his wet clothes, and before he
reached the goal, he could hear them swapping
the dry twigs, close behind him. The mair
body had likewise got the alarm and were bu
short distance from him, when he reached the
headand. Those who were nearest he did no
fear, unless they came to close action, and ht
resolved to send one more of them to his long
home, before he leaped from the precipce.
It's burning shame to wet so much pow
der" exclaimed he. "I'll have one more Dol
at the 'tarnal red skins" Tins position was
quickly arranged to put his threat in execution
His rife was presented, his eye glanced along
its barrel, and the first one that showed his heaC
received its deadly contents.
In an instant Tim was in the water, making
for canoe, The whole party had by this time
come up, and commenced brisk fire upon the
fugtives Tim stood erect in the canoe, shout
ing in the voice of a Stentor-" Ye'd bette
take care, yen splle the sklF-Old Plumperl
safe, and you'll feel him yet, tell ye"
They were quickly lost i'll darkness, and talk
ing small circuit, effected landing in safety
Many mans life verified his last threat, ant
Peabody lived to good old age, having Otter
related to his old friends and neighbors the ad
venture which gave TO this place the name o
PEABoDY's LEAP.