Hillsdale Whig standard. (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1846-1851, 1851-07-22

Tears agitateS by bosom; but my worst sur
misses fell far short OF the truth. When
hours after, met some of the fugitves, and
they reheaIsed 10 me that tale of horror,
stood for a moment thunderstruck, refusing
10 believe that beings in human form could
peipe,rate such deeds--butit il was all too true
'Almost my first inquiry was for Kate-no
one knew, alas what had become of her. -
One of who had escaped the fight told me
that her father had been killed at the begin
ming OF the conflict-aud that deprived Of a
protector, she had probably fallen victim
TO the infuriated savages, while the other in-
habilants were severaly engaged in protect
/ ing themselves. How cursed them for this
selfshness! And yet could ] expect aught
OF human nature, than that each should pro-
tect those nearest TO them, even TO the de-
sefion of othersl
/ But my mind was soon made up. | re-
/ solved, come what might, to ascertain clear.
/ y the fate Of Kate--sO that If dead, | might
revenge her, and il living | might rescue her.
! Bidding farewell TO the dying group, | shout
dered my rife, aud stuck out boldly into the
forest, trusting to the guidance Of that God
! who never deserts us IN our extTemlties.
Il will not tire you by prOtracted nara-
tive; | will only say, after numerous inqui-
ries from the lugitiyes met, learned that
Kate had been last seen in the hands OF
party Of savages. This was Sufficient for a
clue-I once more began TO hope. | waited
until nighIlal, when sought the spot which
had been described to me, as the one where
Kate has been last scotland never shall |
forget the almost rapturous pleasure, when
found 10 the neighbOrlng forest fEagme ut
Of her dress sticking on a bush, by which it
had doubtless been torn from her in passing.
| was now satisfied that Kate bad been car
ried of captive. Fortunately, had met in
the group Of fugiliyes, hunter who had
been under some obligations TO her family,
and he was easily persuaded to join me in
the search. Together we now began pur-
suit OF the saWRes. lie was an adept in the
forest warfare-could follow the trail as a
hound the chase-knew the course which
would most likely be taken by flying party
OF Indians, and witha was one of the keenest
shots that carried rifle on the border.
IDS my opinion said he, that these var
minis did not belong to the regular body of
Indians who followed Butler though even
they were bad enough. | think, however,
he wouldn't suffer deed like this. These
villains seemed to have acted in their own
behal-and il So they would fly 10 the back
country as soon as possible. You may. de-
pend upon it we shall over,ake them if we
pursue that way
i felt the truth OF these remarks, and as
sented TO them at once. In less than a
quarter Of an hour after we first discovered
the trail. we were in pursuit Of the savages. |
hodhf hsi 4! m h5iiP lie e hs foag Gay a qlfE
sued the flying sava ges--crossing swamps. |
clamberng over rocks, fordng streams and
picking our way. until towards night(all, we
reached the edge of an open space, or as it !
were, a meadow, shut in by gently slopng
hills
Hist, said my companion, Eve are upon
them. Do you not see that thin thread of
smoke curling upward over the top ofyonder
hemnckr
'Ay, it must be them--let us on.
Softly, or we lose all. We know not, /!
certainly; that this is the party we seek; let
Ms recOunoitte.'
SLOWLY and stealthily, trembling lest
twig should crack under our feet, we crept |
up lowards the edge ofthe meadow, and peep !
ing cautiously through the underwood, be-
held the object Of our search in six tall
swarthy savages, sitting smoking around the
remains Of fire. AT a little distance with |
her hands bound and her eyes upraised TO
heaven, sat my own Kate. Oh. how my
heart Ieaped at the sight. raised my rifle |
convu! !sively. and was about to fire, when my
companion caught my hand and said
Softly. or you spoil all. Let us get the
varmints 10 a range, and we shall fire with
some taste. Hist
This last observation was occasioned by /
the sudden rising of one OF the sayages lie
gazed a moment cautiously around, and then
advanced towards the thicket whore we lay
concealed, drew my breath in, and rem-
bled at the beating Of my own heart. The /
savage still approached. My companion lad
his hand upon my arm, and pointed my ri !
fle To one Of the Indians. | understood him
At this iunctuIe, the advancing savage, war
ned Of our presence by the cracking Of an
unucky twig beneath my companions feet,
sprang back with loud yell towards the fire.
'Now said my companion sternly.
Quick as lightning ! raised my piece and
fired. NV companion did the same. Tho
retreating savage and one Of his companions
fell dead upon the ground. Each ofus then
sprang 20 a troo loading as wo run 1t was
we'll we did, for in an instant the enemy was
upon Us. Shall describe that dreadful
fightl My emotion forbids it. A few mo-
ments decided it. Fighting from tree TO
tree-dodgIng, loading, and endeayoring to
get sight OF q Zoe, we Kept up hght nearly
five minutos--at the end Of which time
found myself wounded, while four or FIVE
savages lay prostrated on the ground. The
other two, finding their companions dead,
and dospairing of being able to carry off their
prisoner, uddenly rushed on her, and before
we could intetpose, had seized the hapless
victim. had only been prevented, thither-
to, from rescuing Kato, by the knowledge
that an attempt of the hind, while the saya
ges were still numerically superior TO us,
would end in the certain ruin of us both; but
now worlds could not restrain me, and club
bing my rifle. for tho piece was unloaded,
dashed out from my cdvert, shouting to my
companion
On! on! In Gods name on
Take care ofthe taller varmintH thunder
cd my companion.
The warning oatno toe late. In the tu
multi OF my feelings, | had not observed that
the savage iarthest from me had his piece
loaded. and before | could avail myself of
my companions cooler observation, reooi-
cd tho ball in my right arm, and my rifle
dropped poweTless BY my side; had | not