Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1851-05-24


most rapturouS pleasure, when found in
the most neighborng forest a fragment OF
her dress sticking on bush, by which it
had doubtless been torn from her in pass
ing. | was now satisfied that Kate had
been carried off captive. Fortunately, |
had met in the groupe OF fugitives, hun
ter who had been under some obligations
to her family, and he was easily persuaded
to Join me in the search. Together we
now began pursuit of the savages. He
was an adept IN the forest @arfare--could
follow the trail as a hound the chase
knew the course which would most likely
be chosen by flying party of Indians, and
wlihal was one Of the keenest shots that
carried a rifle on the border.
"lts my opinion" said he, "that these
varmints did not belong to the regular body
Of Indians who followed Butler, though
even they were bad enough. | think,
| however, he wouldn't suffer a deed like
this. These williams seemed TO have acted
on their own bchali-and if SO they would
! fly 10 the back country as quick as posi-
bic. You may depend upon it we shall
ovcrtake them if we pursue that way"
81 felt the truth of these remarks, aud
! assened TO them at Ace. In less than
| quarter OF an hour after we first discover
ed the trail, we were in pursuit of the
savages. Htg
''Let me hasten to the close. Hour af-
ter hour all through the Hvelong day,
we pursued the flying savages-crossng
swamps, csmbering over rocks, afordng
streams, and picking our way, until night
fall, we reached the edge of an open space,
or, as, it were, a meadow, shut in by gently
sloping bills,
"Hst," said my companion, owe are
upon them. Do you not see that thin
thread of smoke curling upward over the
\ top of ycnder hemlock o.
cay, it must be them--let us on"
"Soltly, or we lose all. We know not
certainly, that this is the party we seek
let us reconnotre."
"Slowly and stcallhily, trembling lest a
twig should crack under our feet, we crept
up towards the edge OF the meadow, and
peeping cautiously through The Under
wood, beheld the objects of our search, in
six tall swarthy savages, sitting smoking
round the remains of fire. At little
| distance, with her hands bound and her
eyes appraised TO heaven, sat my own Kate.
Oh, how my heart leaped at the sight. ]
raised my rifle convulsively and was about
to fire, when my companion caught my
/ hand and said
"So0ly Or you spoil all. Let us get the
varmints in range, and we shall fire with
some taste. Hist"
"ThiS last exclamation was occasioned
/ by the sudden rising of one of the savages.
! He gazed a moment cautiously around,
and then advanced towards the thicket
where we lay concealed. I drew my
breath in and trembled at the beating of
my own heart. The savage still approach
ed. My companion laid his hand upon
my arm, and pointing from my rife to one
Of the Indians. ] understood him. At
this iuncture, the advancing savage warned
Of our presence by the cracking Of an un-
lucky twig between my companions feet,
sprang back with a loud yell towards the
! fire.
"Now," said my companion sternly.
"Quick as lightning l raised my piece
and fired. My companion did the same.
! The retreaiing savage fell dead upon the
ground. Each OF Us then sprang 10 tree,
/ loading as we ran. 1t was well we did,
for in an instant the enemy was upon us.
Shall | describe that dreadful fight Ny
/ emotion forbids it. A few minutes decided
/ it. Fighting from tree to tree-dodging,
loading and endeavoring 10 get a sight on
foe, we kept up fight for nearly five
minutes-at the end of which time found
myself wounded, while four or five savages
lay PROSTATE OH the ground. The other
two, finding their companions dead, and
desparing of being able 10 carry off their
prisoner, suddenly rushed on her, end be-
fore we could interpoSe, had seized the
hapless victim. ] had only been prevent
/ ed, hitherto, from reScuing Kate, by the
/ knowledge that an attempt OF the kind,
while the savages were still numerically
1 superior TO us, would end in the certain
death OF us both; but worlds could not re-
strain me, and, clubbing my rife, for the
piece was unloaded, l dashed out from my
covert, shouting to my companion
"On Oh In Gods name, on !"
"Take care of the taller varmint :" thun-
/ dered my companion.
"rhe warning came too late. Tn The
tumult Of my feelings, ] had not observed
that the savage iarthcrest from me had his
piece loaded, and before ] could avail my
self Of my companions cooler observation,
| received the ball in my right arm, and
my rifle dropped Poweress by my side
had not sprang involuntary aside at my
comPanion's cry, ! should have beeu slIot
through the heart. ....... ......
son! on :" roared in agony, as seiz-
ed my tomahawk in my useless left hand.
"Sloop" said my companion, ''sloop low
cr." And as I did 50, his rifle cracked on
the still air and the Indian fell dead.
All this did not occupy an instant. l
was now within few feet of her | loved,
who was struggling in the grasp of the
other Indian. He had already entwined
his hand in her long hair--his tomahawk
was already cleaning in the setting sun.
Never shall / forget the demoniac fury
with which the wretch glared on his VIC