Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1853-01-27
OTTUMWA, IOWA, THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 1853,


strained 10 the utmost; and many time
he shrank down amid the brushwood.
only soon enough to avoid alarming the
keen senses of some stealthy. footed say-
age. He knew that foes were scattered
all around him, yet he still pressed on
Norman Reed was not one to turn back
from the danger of any enterprise on
which he once had entered; and, besides.
he said TO himself, IL would loose a
thousand lives to win the smile from
Villa Thorncastle.
Allength he caught the glimps Of tall,
painted warrior. Norman shrank invol-
UNFAIRLY behind tree; bat The next in
slant he saw that he had himself been
observed, though the Indian feigned un-
conciousness, and pretended TO be look.
ing at something on the ground. For a
moment the young man wondered why
he hesi,ated; bu, he then perceived sec.
ond Indian some distance behind, for
whom evidently the first was waiting
Norman saw there was but one chance,
with his nearest foe. Il was brief but
terrible struggle for life and death, and in
II both fell, and rolled over and over to-
gather on the grass. At length there
was groan and gasp, the Indians
hold relaxed. and Norman rose breath
less TO his feet. ust in time to see the
second warrior whirling his ,omahawk K
full at him.
Norman sprang aside. and the brigh,
weapon merely grazed his shoulder. -
Then quick AS lightning the Indian raised
his rifle. Norman had dropped his at
The beginning of the struggle; but the dead
warriors was at his feet, and he snatch
ed il up. There were few better marks
men then Norman Reed east ofthe Miss
issippi; and scarce waiting to take aim
he fred before the Indians finger had
touched the trigger. The sharp crack
of The rifle rang through the woods, fol-
lowed quickly by . shrill deash-cry, and
Norman was alone.
ii had preferred silence; but since it
must be, better an Indian rifle than my
own," said he, as taking his loaded gun,
he FASTENED once more on his way; for
he knew well that the voice of strange
rifle is easily recognisible by Indian ears,
and would at once have betrayed his
own presence in the woods.
On he went. The day was feetiDg,
but, though his course was still winding,
each hour brought him nearer to the fort.
Many time he seemed within the very
grasp of death, bu, his courage and cool.
ness never wavered, and he passed on,
and felt himself safe.
At length it was night. The moon
shone on the glancing leaves, and told
him there was little time TO loose. But
already he could hear the bngle calls from
Moore's For,, and hope whispered that
he should very soon be there.
Suddenly Norman though. he heard a
sound. lie listened; there were voices,
and they came nearer. There were nc
brushwood al hand, and he had only time
10 climb up into the branches of tai!
cedar, when three Indians appeared, who
sauntering on, seated themselves at the
foot of the very tree in which Norman
was concealed. They seemed in nc
haste, and from their con versation he
gathered that this was to be one of the
points of assembling for the proposed at
tack.
From his high postamong the branch,
es, he could see the lights of the fort and
the village; while, below, there they were,
talking cody OF the coming massacre,
and his blood boiled as he heard them
speak of the fair haired scalps which
they should carry home to deligh, their
women's eyes. Must he stay there, and
watch them gather and depart on their
merciless errand he who had come so far
to defeat the treachery on which they
counted! Yet the slightest movemen,
might prove his own death-signal. Blu,
what was his own life to the many that
he had sworn in his own heart to save, OF
perish also?
Ii was waxing later, and every momen,
might increase the number of his ene-
mics. Suddenly bright thought fash
ed upon hinl, and cautiously unfastering
his powder horn from its cord, he flung
it up into the air with all his force. La
another instant i,tell heavily into a tree a
few yards distant. The ,h-ee warriors
sprang 10 their feet and rushed out TO the
spot; while, at the same moment, Nor
man dropped silently TO the ground. and
sped away through The forest like deer
before its hunter.
The moon had already set when he
reached The broad clearing. ss
"Willa, your hand is mine!" was the
proud thought, as he looked on the quiel
scene. 'but, perhaps, another has been
before me. Well then shall see those
beautiful eyes beam on me for once with
kindness and appreciation" But his
deep sigh, as he hurried yet swifter up
the hill TO the fort proved how feble was
this attempt at self-consolation.
The seniinei's challenge was answered
by a demand TO be led to the commander.
There had been none before Norman
Reed, and his lidings were new and start.
hing. The spy was Instantly secured.
and preparations made TO receive the
threatened visilan,s. But. fearing for the
safety of the village, all its inhabitants