The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1852-05-13
Incident In the Life of Washington

AS the barge gained the opposite banks
one of the rowers leaped ashore, and made it
fast to the root of willow which hung its broad
branches over the river. The rest of the party
then landed, and uncovering, saluted their COM
mander, whc respectfully returned their courte-
sy. by ten o'clock you may expect me-" said
Washington. s'Be cautious-look well that YOU
are not surprised. These are no times for tri-
fling. depend upon u.s." replied one of the
party. 81 do" he responded, and then fare
well, he departed along the banks of the river.
That evening party was to be given at the
house of one of his old and valued friends, to
which he, with several other American officers,
had been invited. 1t was seldom that he par
ticipated in festivity, especially at that pc
riod, when every moment was fraught with dan
ger nevertheless, IN respect to an old acquan-
tance, backed by the solicitation of Rufus Rugs
dale, he consented to relax from the tolls of mil
itary duty, and honor the party for few hours,
with his presence. After continuing his path
for distance along the rivers side he struck
off into narrow road, boarded thickly with
brush-wood, tinged with thousand dyes of de-
parted summer-here and there a gray crag
peepeu out from the over winch the green
ivy aud scarlet woodbine hung in wreathy dalli-
ance at other places the arm of the chestnut
and mountain ash met in leafy fondness and
cast gloom, deep almost night. Suddenly
crashing among the branches was heard, and
like deer, young Indian girl bounded into
the path and stood full in his presence. He
| started back with surprise and laid his hand on
his syrnrd-hut Indian oulv on bar
knee, placed her finger on her lips, and by
sign with her hand, forbid him to proceed
What seek you, my pretty flower ?" said the
general. She started to her feet, drew a small
tomahawk from her belt of wampum and imta-
ted the act of scalping enemy-then again
waving her hand as forbidding him to advance,
she darted into the bushes, leaving him lost in
amazement.
There is danger" said he to himself, after
| short pause, and recovering from his surprise.
THAT Indians manner betokens me good,
but trust in God he has never yet deserted
me - and resuming his path, he shortly reach
ed the mansion of Rufus Rugsdale. In the
midst of the hilarity the sound of cannon
burst suddenly upon the ear, startling the guests
and suspending the dance. Washington and the
officers looked at each other with surprise, but
their fears were quickly dispelled by Rugsdale
informing them it only discharge of or
dinance in honor of his distinguished visitors.
The joy of the moment was resumed; but the
gloom of suspicion had fallen upon Washington,
who sat in moody silence, apart from the happy
throng. A slight tap his shoulder at length
reused him from his abstraction, and lookieg up,
he perceived the person of the Indian standing
| in the bosom of myrtal bush close to his side.
'Ha again here" he exclaimed with astonsh-
! ment, but she motioned him to be silent, and
kneeing at his feet, presented him with bo-
quet of flowers. Washington received it and
was about to place it in his breast, when she
grasped him firmly by the arm and pointing to
| it said ''snake, snake ~ and the next moment
mingled with the company, who appeared to
recognize and welcome her one well known
and esteemed
Washington regarded the boquet with wonder;
he saw nothing in it to excite suspicion; her
words and singular appearance had, however
sunk deeply into his heart, and looking closer
upon the nosegay to his surprise he saw a small
piece of paper in the midst of the flowers. Has
| tily he drew it forth, and confounded and bor-
ror-stricken read-"Beware, you are betray-
ed'''