Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-07-11

that bound her; then stepping lightly to the {
other prisoners and cutting their bonds, she
beckoned them to follow her. Trembling
with apprehension they obeyed; and were
soon hid in rayine several miles from the
Indians. They were yet wholly ignorant of
the motives of their conductress, but hope
told them that she was their deliverer.
Now, said she, | must leave you l
am known as yellow Sal, the wife of Simon
Girty. | am the daughter of Galphin, and
I narsed little Mary. My master educated
me, was kind to me, and thought 10 raise
me above my low condition, but | ran away
l left his hospitable home, and have been
since that time, an outcast and vagabond.
Joining rowing gang of Indians, I'became
the wife Of Simon Girty-and savage
Go now: say not word and before Mary,
who that instant recognized her nurse, could
express her feelings. she had disappeared in
the woods.
With one impulse they fell on their knees,
and thanked the Almighty for this unlocked
for preservation, when they cautiously pro-
eeeded on their journey. Just at the break
Of day, the Indians were heard behind them
in full pursuit. Turning abruptly from the
path, William and Mary stumbled into a I
deep pit filed with leaves which completely
covered them from the view of the savages
They heard the Indians pass them, who soon
overlook Galphin, who, terrified and bewil-
dered, had not observed the disappearance
of his companions, until overtaken by the
pursuers, who shortly returned with the ne
} gro, swearing vengeance upon him unless
: be would reveal the place where his COM
2 panions were concealed.
: Cor mighty bress you. massa, said
/ Galphin, dey went past me jis like streak
a o'lightnen.'
:, You lie, you black rascal, said Girty,
n well give you lightnen and thunder too
n After the Indians had disappeared, and
e all was again still, they quietly thinned the
It leaves around their heads, so that they could
y breathe more freely; when, after several
/ hours painful anxiety. they lay down to-
y gether in the bottom of the pit, and sank in
Is to restless and disturbed sleep. Fortu-
d nately for them, the Indians having contin-
y ued the pursuit in another direction, had
r not passed them during the day, and when
e they awoke they saw the shadows of the trees
: stretched along the ground in the faint rays
,el of the setting sun. After dark they renew.
= ed their journey; and after another night
t; of weary travelling, and when almost ready
isl to despair, and nearly exhausted by fatigue
i'll and hunger, they arrived at the-tavern
Is, just on the border of the white settlements
Here, after relating their suferings, they
ne were kindly entertained by their host. Blu
I'd what were they now to do? They had es
- capped from the Indians, but they were il
rt danger of again falling into the hands 0
ad justice. William had written to his friend
10 at Weschester, for money: what they ha'
ng had with them being seized by the law
y While writing for the desired remittance
of they were discovered by lawyer Snipcs, an
he returned to the jail, from which they ha
nj been SO lately rescued.
M As to the final denoueneent by Girty and hi
er, followers, it may be said that in the chara,
use ter of the most hardened villains there
nd sometimes found strange combination
es, virtue and vice, of cruelty and humanity,
perfdy and generosity and in which th
ne good snirit seems, at times called into actio
RS, by some occurrence operating upon parti
ON ular point, and to predominant over the pr
W. dominant passions of the soul This strane
ere feature in the character of Girty, was VIII;
or saved the prisoners in the last extremity ;,
it may have been, as many believed, sp
un- cial interposition of Divine Providence
of their behalf. Girty's ruling passion was
vic hatred of law and civilization, and love
ar romantic adventure, which before his pr
and scription by his country, were combine
ed, with keen sense of justice, and a love
ohn honor. He, by means of his spies, havil
ter. learned that his late eaptives were again
ew- prison, determined in the spirit of despera
Vii to again possess them. For this purpos
the he, with dozen Indians, disguised as ira
east ellers, proceeded to Newtown, where t
,on- court was engaged in trying them for t
.iso- murder of himself. Hardened and wick
led, as be was, he could feel the injustice of Il
ect- charge and he burned with anger towar
nee, that law which he SO bitterly hated Frt
lilor hatred to the law, the transition was easy
tect sympathy for its victims; and in nome
ain of excitement, its impulse led him to t
ldu- courtroom.
lian Concealing their rifles, they entered
heir court house separately, SO as to prevent S
liam pieion, and seated themselves with appart
Mrs. unconcern. As he listened to the progr
nsa- of the trial, the nobler feelings Of his 81
a. we're aroused against the injustice he tn
for saw and while under their influence,
'ath, rescued the prisoners from its grasp, and
} In parted with the pleasing reflection of havi
own done good act. Nor would he at that I
'und ment, wicked as he was, have exchan.
this feeling for the possession Of the captiv
wife ; The good spirit implanted in the heart
some man by his Creator, is not often wholly
irty, tinguished and that hatred of oppress
rem and injustice which had driven Girty to