Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-11-03

broiled upon its embers. he flung himsel
upon the turf. wearied with his march
The Indian was noble specimen of hi
race. His shapeless limps indicated tn,
presence of extraordinary strength ant
activity. He was clad in a buck k-skir
hunting -frock, handsomely ornamentet
with quilts and feathers. His deer-skir
leggins were fringed with the red-stainec
hair of some wild animal, and his nea
moccasins were adorned in the extreme O
savage fashion.
On his head was placed bunch of eagl,
feathers, which futtered gsily in the wind
A heavy rifle lay at his side, with its or
namented pouch and horn. In his bel
were thrust the fatal knife and hatch
ct. A huge wolf-hound, the only com
panion of his expedition, stretched its
limbs before the blaze, watching with
hungry eyes the progress of his evening
meal. But the night passed not away
without adventure. A thick darkness had
now fallen upon the woods, and the ruddy
flames of the FIRE but partially Illuminated
the rough black shafts of t.9S pines, whose
plumed branches sighed mournfully over
head Suddenly the hound sprang to his
feet, with fierce growl, at the same time
glancing upwards into the thick recesses
of a towering pine tree. For a moment
the sharp eve of the hunter could discern
nc. object of alarm but he soon heard
ments of some wild creature. He pres
emily heard growl among the tree-tops,
and discerned two flaming globes of fire.
which he knew to be the eye-balls of some
animal, Illuminated by the flashes of his
campfire. In an instant his rifle was
poised at his shoulder, and its glittering
sight brought in range with the shining
object of his alarm. For an instant the
heavy tube was held motionless at its aim,
and then the sharp crack of the weapon
sounded upon the air. Before the smoke
of the discharge had dissolved in the
breeze, dark object tumbled headlong
among the boughs. and at length plung-
ed headlong in the midst of the flames,
scattering the flashing sparks in all direc-
tions. With furious yell the hound fas-
tened upon the prey, and soon dragged
forth from the flames the lifeless body of
an immense panther, from one of whose
perforated eyes the life blood flowed in a
copious stream. The Indian was greatly
elated at his successful shot. and after re-
moving with his knife one of its sharp
claws as a trophy, and heaping fresh logs
on the flames. he spread out his blanket
and resigned himself to slumber.
The morning sun had not drank up the
dew drops that sparkled like gems on
herb and foliage before the young hunter
had agan resumed his march. He follow
ed with unerring precision the trail of the
fugitives through thorny thicket and qua
qing morass. and ere the evening sun had
dropped behind the hills, he came upon
the encampment Of his foe. The party
had flung themselves upon the soft turf,
beneath the dropping branches of a grove
of cedars, and were enjoying their even
ing pine, while huge side of venison
smoked upon the embers. The group
consisted of tall and stalwart warriors,
whose brawny limbs seemed we'll able to
triumph in any act of savage barbarity
they might be called upon to undertake.
Some of them wore frocks of buck-skin,
and leggins of bright-colored cloth, orna-
mented with strings of wampum, tin trink-
cts and glass beads. that jingled with eve
ry motion of the wearer. Some wore fea-
theirs from the eagles wing on their heads,
as marks of rank. 1t the side OF most of
them rested an ornamented gun, while
pouches and horns were suspended from
the branches around. Each warrior was
encirced with belt of hide, in which
glittered the usual implements ofthe chase
and war. Some of the inferior ones car
ried only stout bow, sheaf of feathered
arrows. and weighty club of bone,
adorned with quilts and colored feathers.
The cunning Wauchee crept cautiously
within short distance of the camp, trust
ing that during the drowsy hours of the
night he should be able to strike blow ;
but to his chagrin he perceived that the
party was on the alert, and that two wake
full sentinels constantly kept watch, while
the others slept. On the following morn
ing the party resumed their march, still
followed by their pursuer, who hoped to
cut off some straggler during the retreat ;
but no such victim fell in his way. In
the course of a day or two the roar of
waters, and the ascending mist OF the ca
teract, warned them of their approach to
the mighty Falls of Niagara; and soon
the Oneida party had encamped among
the gloomy pines and hemloeks opposite
the torrent.
On the following day the Oneidas re-
sumed their march. and at nightfall rea-
ched an American military post. then just
established at the entrance of the Nlaga-
ra river, on the shore of Lake Ontario
called Fort Niagara. The Oneidas en.er
ed within the barriers of the little sto.k'
ade fortress, and there established theil
camp, and were soon busi y engaged II
arranging a treaty with the commandan
of the place. Wauchee followed closely
after, like blood hound on the trail, anc
selected his camp in little grove jus
without the gates of the fortress. ID