Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-04-21

door, proceeding, as JuuBSu1 hOh
large fire, and illumined some portion of
the hut, while the remainder was left in
total darkness. From my dark corner, 1
observed some person lying down at
distance, and the light suddenly flashing
with more than usual brightness revealed
poor White, bound with strong twigs, and
looking as disconsolate as possible.
Seeing him so firmly secured, exam
ined my own limbs, fully expecting to
find myself in the same condition. How
ever, not withe was upon me, and felt
assured that my caPtors believed me to
be dead
was aware from what had heard of
their character that they would not allow
us TO live, it being their custom to murder
their prisoners in cold blood and thus
my ideas were Immediately directed to the
means of escaping from present custody.
took thorough mental survey of the
aspect of things in my prison, as sup.
pose l may term it, and set about concoc-
| ting a scheme.
Besides White, myself, and the native,
there was evidently no living being in the
place. The native was armed only with
rifle, which had little difficulty in re-
cognizing as my property, and was stan
ding with his back to me, looking at White,
and occasionally addressing soothing re-
mark to him.
1t was apparent to me that, could 1
prevent this man from rushing from the
hut, he possessed but two means of alar-
ming his COMPLEMENTARY, his voice
and his gun. had not the least doubt
of my ability to overcome him if he were
deprived ofthe powers of rousing his fell
lows and as L was conscious nothing
could be done without first putting him
out of the way, resolved at once to make
an attempt upon him.
Rising slowly and with great care from
my rccumbent posture, stood on my
feet, and made sure had but one to cope
with. Satisfied of this, l moved forward
with the same caution, till got within.a
yard of my foe,
He was standing leaning upon his rifle
upon the verge of the dark portion of the
place, his back being towards me. Thus
my shadow would protect me from obser-
uation until l had crept so near as to
touch him, l went as close as l dared
venture, and calculated on the means of
preventing an alarm.
A thought suddenly flashed across me
as stood thus celebrating. l acted up
on it immediately. AS the fellow was
leaning on the gun, the stock placed upon
the ground behind his foot, l crouched on
my knees, reached forward my hand,
gently opened the pan, and wiped out
the printing with my finger. This accom-
plished,. l once more rose to my feet.
A minute was spent in elaboration, and
then l sprang to his side, placed my right
hand upon his throat, which l grasped
with all my strength, and clasped him
round the waist with my left arm, at the
same time pulling his opposite elbow to
his back with my disengaged hand. Half
strsngled, and unable to articula.e. he
raised the rifle, and as forced him back
into tho darkness, heard the Intellectual
click of the lock. Exerting all my science
in wrestling. L threw him heavily upon
his back, falling with him, and keeping
my hold upon his windpipe. Iplaced my
knee upon his chest, and in a few minutes
after Il useless struggle on his part, |
knew that he would never speak more.
l then left him and stole up to White,
who had been an amazed spectator of my
feat, and asked him a few questions
about the best manner of proceeding, at
the same time releasing him from bondage. |
He told me that our two friends had made
good their escape from their assailants,
but that he being cntanglcd in the bush,
was unable to follow them, and conse-
qucnty had been taken prisoner; and that
the natives were sleeping outside, while
the man [ had killed, whose brother and
father had persisted in the affray, had re
NAMED in the hut to taunt him. He ad-
vlsed that we should proceed quietly
through the midst of our sleeping enc
mics, and if we were discovered he said
the best we could do was to make rush
for it, rs our lives depended on our sue
cess.
These hurried words having passed be-
tween us, l secured my rifle and Joined |
my companion at the entrance. AS we
cautiously emerged into the open air. |
perceived that the natives had kindIed a f!
fire to protect them from tho attacks of
wild beasts, and were sleeping around it. |
We passed them in the full glare of the |
flame without disturbing them, and began
to feel assured of our safety.
My friend was pointing out the path
which led to our settlement, when l sud |
uehly struck my loot against dark OBJ !
ject that lay before me. A yell broke I
from it, and 1 felt my leg in the grasp of
a pair of hands. commenced striking
with desperate fury in the direction of my
unseen foe, who redoublcd his cries,
which soon aroused the circle of natives
sleeping around the fire. One of them
threw blazing brand in our direction,
the light from which exposed the whole
affair. Clutching my leg with all his
strength, lay the fellow who had caused
the mischief, while White and myself
were endeavoring to disengage him.
The light enabled me to direct my blows
with cnrtaintu md n crnsh;no. LII a.. IL