Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1853-03-02


,, gloomy ideas from his mind, and contemplate o
ly the bright side of the picture. He was unha
y py, however in spite of his efforts to restore
spirits to their wonted buoyancy. In the mid
t of his meditations, he felt somebody strike hi
t upon the shoulder, from behind. He sprang
! his feet and discovered Wetzel standing ne,
, him.
t "It's well aint an Indian!" said the latter.
Elliot was much mortified to think that he ha
allowed himself to be surprised so easily.
"Lewis, you have learned me another lessor
and shall profit by it, .
F "See that you do, Elliot" replied Wetzel in
low voice. ''You must be quiet now," he adde
in whisper.
"Did you see anything!" asked Elliot.
"Yes, they are coming!"
"Who!"
cold Cross-fre and three Others"
"And Rose!''
"She's safe enough; riding the white pony; an
Old Cross-Fire leading it along.''
"Lewis I will shoot the impudent scoundrel il
die for it.' muttered the youth; and he clenchet
his teeth with rage.
ssHush, Elliot hush! Do as tell you and al
will be WELL Crouch down as low as you can
and be quiet"
"The old red-skinned wretch.' growled the
hunter.
shot, tell you. I'll attend to him. Elliot, you
are getting feverish; I see it on you ready
Keep cool-or you can never shoot to kill.''
The eye of Wetzel was quick to perceive that
his youthful conrad was laboring under some
nervous excitement occasioned by the novelty of
the situation in which he was placed.
ri will be cool, presently" he replied.
"Only do as tell you Elliot. Lay down and
draw your breath easy; and don't you whisper
another word, as you value your life.''
Some time elapsed before either made the slight
est motion. At length, the trampling of the pony
approaching the creek was distinctly heard and
Elliot made motion towards raising his head to
obtain sight of Rose; but his purpose was
promptly thwarted by the brawny arm ofhis COM
panion who breathed, rather than whispered in
his ear, the favorite injunction "be quiet.'
Wetzels head was placed behind a cluster of
green leaves, through the interstices of which he
was enable to obtain view of the shore of the
creek, opposite the place at which the canoe
was sunk. He observed Old Cross-Fire conduct
the pony to the margin of the bank, at which
place he lifted his captive to the ground. The
sobbing of Rose, at. this time, audible. As the
sounds fell upon Elliot's ear, he trembled with
emotion and might have infringed Wetzers order
had not the latter anticipating something Of the
kind turned his face towards him, and frowned
him into silence.
Old Cross-Fire, setting no store upon Roses
saddle, merely stripped the pony of his bundle,
which slapped across the animals back, and with
a second swing, threw it upon the beach below
him. The pony cantered into the bushes, where
it soon commenced feeding on the wild grass at
its feet. In another moment the Indians had
lifted Rose down the declivity, and their whole
party appeared on the beach. Two of them wad-
ed into the creek as far as the. twig which had
been observed by Wetzel, where they plunged
their arms into the water und drew forth wood
en- fork. Their canoe Immediately arose to the
surface Dexteriously throwing out the water
it contained, they pushed it to the shore where
ed to stand guard over Rose. The fair captive
was then placed in the bow of the canoe, one of
the Indians seated himself about its center whilst
another drew forth the paddle, and stood erect in
the stern, and pushed off. The old chief and one
Indian remained ON the beach, probably to await
the return of the canoe.
"Aim,' said Wetzel, in scarcely audible
whisper, sat the fellow in the middle of the canoe.
Pint directly at his body, and don't pull till give
the word.''
Elliot directed the muzzel of his gun towards
the water and just then had his first sight of the
enemy. The sight of Rose slightly disconnected
him. but summoning all his manly energies into
action, he cooked his rifle, and took accurate aim
at the designated object. Wetzel, mean while
graduated his piece in nearly the same line OF
sight, and, at the instant the canoe reached the
mouth of the creek he gave the word in clear
whisper-"Pullp'
Both rifles firing at pricisely the same moment
blended their reports so admirably that the ear
could not have distinguished two separate dis
charges. Both Indians fell; the one in the CEN
ter of the craft dropped on its bottom; but the
other, who had been standing upright in the stern
capsized the canoe in falling over; This was a
contingency which Wetzel had, perhaps, not con-
templated. He was prompt, however, in meet
ing it.
sPlunge in!'' he whispered to Elliot, who had
already made up his mind to do SO, regardless of
consequence. The youth dropped his rifle, and
and at cne bound was over the bank, and at anoth-
in the water He piled his limbs with super-
human strength A shot was fired on the shore,
but he scarcely heard it, SO eargerly was he bent
on saving Rose from the frightful death by which
she was threatened. For short period after
Rose had been thrown into the water, her dress