Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1853-03-22

"Take four, seven, ten soldier" re-.
piled the sewage, holding up both hands
and spreading his fingers. "Me take
'em and wait for Mingocs in the woods" "
"He's right, by Jove" exclaimed the
officer. "1'he men arc too few to have
an ambush laid for them, and VIC need
piquet that kind. The rsdskin must
be friendly after all. Let nine picked
men, headed by corporal, 60 with him;
but let them be watchful and keep on
their guard, and let me be Informed Of
the first approach Of any enemy in that
direction.
"Thc officer turned away. The men
were quickly detailed, and guidel by the
Indian, they took their silent way in
the woods, up the south bank Of the
Saranac, down which the new hostile
force was reported to be coming TLey
moved forward rapidly for about half an
hour, when the Indian began TO proceed
with more caution, and to. listen for every
unusual sound that disturbed .hc forest.
At last, putting his ear close 10 the
ground, he listened for a moment, and
then quickly raising up, he made rap.
id sign to the soldiers to bctake them.
selves to ncishboring thcket, which
bordcrcd small creek flowing into the
river. The men concealed themselves
among the bushes as quick us possible,
while the Indian crawled stea:hly to a
position some what more advanced, con.
cealing himself behind the trunk of a
fallen tree. He then en- njoncd upon them
not to fire or make any noise until they
should receive from him certain sig.
| nal. For some distance forward of the
place where he lay, the woods were tolcr.
ably clear Of underbrush, and kind Of
path which skirtcd the bank Of the
rivef crossed the creek near its mouth,
about ten rods from where the soldiers
were concealed. From the position the
Indian occupied, this pass was in full
view. In order to cross the stream any
one going along that path hal to dc>ccn |
about ten feet, almost pcrpcndic ularIy:
so that while he was in the bel of the
brook, he could not be seen by those
who should happen to be any distance
behind.
The soldiers had not remained in am.
bush long, when by quick sign the
scout gave them to understand that some
one was approaching. They soon saw
an Indian coming at rapid but silent
pace along toward the crossing. Hc had
but just got clearly in view, when at
distance of about two rods behind ap.
pearcd another, and so on to the number
of seven. They were all in war paint,
armed with rifles and tomahawks. The
soldiers were all attention to the move.
ments Of their guide, expecting every mo.
ment to receive the signal to fire. TO
their surprise, however, they saw him
lay down his gun, and draw from be.
meath the log long and powerful bow,
and a body Of flint. headed, sharp. point.
ed arrows. He then turned himself a.
bout under the log until he faced the
pass in the creek.
The strange Indians appeared to move
forward without the least hesitation or
suspicion. The foremost of them on com.
ing to the creek, dropped at once down
to cross it. At this moment the guide
was observed TO draw in his bow with
quick and powerful effort; and so rapid.
ly as almost to elLd: the sight, an arrow
was sped on its mission of death. The
stranger was seen to drop in the middle
of the brook, and not cry issued from
his mouth. Quick as lightning the Nc.
hican adjusted an arrow in his bow, so
that as soon as the second Huron had
dropped down to cross the stream, he too
was observed to reel and fall without
groan.
In the same manner was the third and
the fourth, and the fifth Huron pierced
as he leaped into the fatal ditch. They
were SO close to each other, and the
whole scene passed with such miracul-
Gus silence and rapidity, that neither Of
them had observed the fate Of his com.
rades until he met his own. The sixth
Indian, however, being little more be.
hind than the others, seemed to be some.
what surprised that he did not see them
in view on the opposite bank. For this
reason he descended into the gully with
q little hesitation. He was immediate.
ly aware Of the horrible fate that had ar.
rested their steps and silenccd their
tongues. He endeavored to recoil, but
it was already too la:e. A fatal missivc
was also on the wing for him-he was