The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-03-16

listened for a moment. and then quickly
raising up, he made rapid sign to the
soldiers 10 betake themselves TO neigh.
boring lhicke, which bordered small
creek flowing into the river. The men
concealed themselves among the bushes
as quick as possible, while the Indian
crawIed stealthily to a position somewhat
more advanced, concealng himself be.
hind the trunk Of fallen tree. He then
enjoned upon them not to fire or make
any noise until they should receive from
him certain signal For some distance
forward of the place where he lay the
woods were ,olerably clear Of undorbrush,
and kind OF path which skiried the
bank of the river crossed the creek near
its mouth. about ten rods from where the
soldiers were concealed. From the posi-.
ton the Indian occupied this pass was in
full view. In order to cross the stream
any one going along that path had to de-
scend about ten feet. almost perpendicu-
larlv; so that while he was in the bed 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 In
dian coming at rapid but silent pace
along toward the crossing, He had but
Just got clearly in view. when nj a distance
OF about two rods behind appeared ano,h-
er. 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 movements Of their
guide. expecting every moment to receive
the signal to fire. TO their surprise, how
ever. they saw him lay down his gun and
draw from beneath the log long and pow
erful bow, and body of llutheaded,
sharp. pointed arrows. lie then turned
himself about under the log until he faced
the pass in the creek.
The strange Indians appeared to move
forward without the leas, hesitation or sus.
picon. The foremost OF them on coming
to the creek. dropped atonce down to cross
1t At this moment the guide was observ.
ed to draw in his bow with quick and
powerful effort; and so rapidly as almost to
elude 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 Mohican adjusted An ar.
row in his bow. so that as soon as the Sec
ond 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 miraculous silence and
rapidilv, tina, neither Of them had observ.
ed the fate of his comrades until he met
his own. The sixth Indian, however. he.
inu a little more behind than the others.
seemed to be somewhat surprised that he
did not see them in view on the opposite
pauk. For this reason he descended into
the gully with little hesitation. He was
Immediately aware OF the horrible tate that
had arrested their steps and silenced their
tongues. lie endeavored to recoil, bot it
was already too late. A fatal missive was
also on the wing for him-he was struck
with the rest. but not with immediate death,
and he had time to raise into the depths OF
the forest one Of those appalling yells Of
warning and Of rage which announces
among the people of his race the presence
of mortal danger.
Tho soldiers looked upon this fearful
scene in astonisheJ silence, entranced by
the murderous magic which took place be.
fore them. When the stiffness and the
spell we're broken by that warning cry.
they expected to see the woods swarming
with hostile savages. None. however. ap.
peared: and when the echo had died away.
they looked in vain for the seventh and
last OF the Hurons. He had vanished AS
il swallowed up in the earth. No trace
Of him was visible-no sound Of retreat.
ing footsteps were audible. The Mohican,
however, still KEEP, his position behind the
log itself. but with his fiery eyes bent in
quick and searching & lances in almost
every direction at once. lie was obvious
ly at fault as well as the rest No one
dared 10 move or speak above his breath.
There was something awful in the myste.
rious and sudden Disappearance.
The silence continued for some ten min
utes. when the sharp crack Of rifle was
heard. and the Mohcau sprang to his feet
with the blood streaming down one side
of his face. His only exclamation was
an emphatic "ugh!" In an instant the
fatal bow and arrow were again in requi-
sition. and, his face toward the Indian. he
sent another arrow on its mortal mission.
The soldiers heard slight scrabbling over
head. and on looking up they saw the
Huron falling through the limbs Of q neigh
boring tree. Into this he had had the adj
dress to swing himself up, unseen by his
enemies. during the momentary confusion
occasioned by the warning cry OF his com.