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

AS he spoke he reached his hand to
grasp him by the shoulder. The fellow
alarmed at the action, eluded him and
sprang into thick bush close by, utter
ing loud cry. A sickening emotion OF
despair seized us when we perceived the
treachery which had been practised upon
us. With furious imprecation, White
raised his rifle in the direction of the tu-
gitive, stream of flame poured from its
muzzle into the bush, yell of mortal
anony mingled with the roar of the explo-
sion. and resounded with it among the
| hills,
Gone of emf muttered White be-
tween his teeth.
A chorus of cries burst from the am
pushed savages, and we heard the rust
ling of the long grass and the trampling
Of many feet in close proximity, We
commenced rapidly retracing our steps,
White loading and reloading by the way.
We were soon convinced by tho savage
noises which were heard in our rear that
we were discovered, and in a few moments
we became aware that the whole band oil
rretches were in full pursuit.
Favored by the darkness We contriyed
to ensconse ourselves in the midst of a
clump of trees before our foes could over
take us. They passed the place of our
conceaIment in hot pursuit, and in a few
minutes had put some distance between
us and them. But their fierce yells were
echoed with such fearful distinctness that
a foe seemed to be approaching from eve
ry side, and we knew not which way to
turn.
Cautiously emerging from our conceal
ment, we hurried to avail ourselves OF the
shelter of another clump of bushes, and
by thus changing our quarters several
timos, we contrived to get over some dis
lance Once, when wo were starting for
fresh ambush, we all distinctly heard a
rustling noise in the grass and shrank
back in dismay. We remained for some
time anxiously listening for a repetition OF
it; but in a few minutes we heard the re-
turn of the Kaffirs, who we're rushing
along the path at a furious rate.
White, who understood the purport OF
their EXPLANATIONS, informed us that they
believed we had evaded their pursuit.
Overjoyed at the prospect of escaping
their anticipated vengeance, we were
crouching still closer in conccalment
while they passed, when, to our unspea-
ksblc dismay, n figure started from the
long grass within three yards of us, and
leaped directly into the pathway.
All is up |" whispered White to us;
"what We wish to keep we must fight
for!"
When l consider that had never seen
shot fred in earnest before, and looked
at the odds which were against us, l am
surprised at the GOODNESS with which / ex-
amined my rifle and prepared my knife
for deadly work. My energies were all
collected to sustain the excitement of the
struggle, and even awaited the onset
of the savages with impotence.
They were not long in assembling in n
body directly in our front, where they
deliberated for few minutes. Our in
clinations prompted us to let fly among
them while they were thus crowded to-
gether, but Henry Percy urged the ne
cessity of reserving our fire, therefore we
waited.
Presently our enemies made a simulta.
neous movement, and shower of spears
fell upon the bush in front. They then
uttered their war cry and rushed on us,
keeping huddled together in large
mass.
They were within three yards of us
when taking steady aim at breast height,
VIC discharged our weapons among them.
y ticndish chorus of screams of agony
and imprecations of vengeance cnsued, by
which we were made aware that our fire
had not been without due effect.
Checked but for All instant, our Zero.
cious foes bowling with fury lcaped into
the bush behind which we lay concealed.
Now, we found that hand to hand strug-
gle must decide the question. We rose
to our feet and fell upon the bloodthirsty
wretches with the utmost fury. Grasp
ing my rifle by the barrel with both hands,
| dashed the stock down upon them with
a force that must have made a due i'm
preston on all who encountered the de-
sccnding weapon. The maddened wells
of the savagcs, the continual crashing of
bushes, the deep imprecatons and short
breathings of our party, and the heavy
sound of the rapidly intcrchangcd blows,
all mingling together, produced fright,
full effect. From the manner in which
they had attacked us, and the horrible
cries to which they continually gave vent,
could not look upon our aSsailants as
beings of my own species and in the
midst of the awful din l continued my
heavy blows as if l had troop of ghouls
to contend with, whp were fig citing only
for our blood.
During the first panic we contrivcd to
keep them at fair distance, but they soon
passed so close that our dubbed rifles be-
came unavailable. drew my knife and
sprang to graphic with huge fellow who
was preparing to dash his formidable
Ratchet upon the head of White, who was
already engaged.
Had we been on even ground l should
have been able to have struck him before
he could have been ready for me but
among the bushes lost nv