The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-05-10

cneek, they discovered a new danger
threatning them. The arch foe now
made evident preparations to attack
them on the flank, which could be
moro successfully done by reaching an
isolated rock lying in one OF the ra-
vines on the southern bill side. This
rock once gained ay the Indians, they
could bring the spies under point blank
shot of the rifle without the possibility
of escape. Our brave spies saw the
utter hopelessness Of their situation.
which nothing could avert but brave
companion and an unerring shot
These they had not, but the brave
never dispair. With this impending
fate resting upon them they continued
calm and calculating, and as unweari
ed as the strongest desire Of life and
the resistance ofa numerous foe could
produce.
Soon McClcland saw tall and
swarthy figure preparing to spring
from covert 30 near to the fatal rock
that bound or two would reach it,
and all hope OF life then was gane.
lie felt that oil depended on one single
advantageous shot although but an
inch or two Of the warriors body was
exposed, and that at distance of
eighty or hundred yards, he resolved
to risk all he coolly raised his rifle to
his face, and shading tile sight with his
hand, drew bead SO sure that he felt
conscious it would do the work. He
touched the triggle with his finger, the
hammer came down, but in place Of
striking fire, it broke his flint into many
pieces and although he telt that the
lndian must reach the rock before he
could adjust another flint, he proceed
ed to the task with the utmost com.
posure.
Casting his eye towards tho fearful
spot, suddenly he saw the warrior
stretching every muscle for the leap;
and with the agil!%of y panther ne
made the spring, but instead of reach.
ing She rock, he gavo yell, and his
dark body fell and rolled down tho
steep the valley below. He had evi.
IDENTIFY received dca II wound from
some unknown hand. A hundred
voices re echoed from below the ter.
rible shout 1t was evident that they
had lost favorite warrior, as, we'll as
being disappointed for time of the
most important movement. A very
few minutes proved that the advan.
'age gained would be of short dura
ion; Tor already the spies saw a
glimpse f a tall swarthy warrior eau
tl"usly advancing to the covert so re-
Gently occupied by his tellow.compan-
ion. Now, too, the attack in front
was renewed with increased fury. so as
70 require the incessant fire of both
:pics to prevent the Indians from gain.
ng the cminencc, and in short time
McCleland saw n warrior making pre-
'arations to leap to the fatal rock
The leap WAS made, and the Indian
;nrned somerset. his corpse rolled
down the hill towards his former com.
panion. Again an unknown agent ha
nterposed in their behalf. This sec
ond sacrifice cast dismay into the ranks
of their assailant, and ust as the sun
vas disappearing behind tho Western
hills, the foe Withdrew to shurt dis.
tance. to devise some new mode of at
tack. This respite came most season
ably to our spies, who had kept their
ground, and bravely maintained the
unequal fight from nearly the middle
of the day.
Now, for the first time, was the girl
missing, and the spies thought tina,
through terror she hid escaped to her
former caPtors, or that she had been
killed during the fight but they were
not long left to conjecture. The girl
was seen emerging from behind rock
and coming to them wi h rifle in her
hand: During the fight sho saw a
warrior fall. who had advalced some
distance before tho rest, and while
some Of them changed their position.
she resolved at once, live or die. 10
possess herself Of his gun and amuni
t'on and crouching down beneath the
undcrbush, she crawled to the place
and succeeded in her enterprise Her
ke' and watchful eye had early no
ticed the fatal rock, and hers was the
mysterious hand by which the two
warriors fell, the last being the most
intrepid and bloodlhirsty of the Shaw
nee tribe, and tho leader of the com
pany which killed her mother and her
sisters, and took her and her brother
prisoners.
Now, in the West, arose dark clouds
which soon oversprrad tho whole
heavens, and, the elements were rent
with peals Of thunder. Darkness.
deep and gloomy, shrouded the whole
heavens; this darkness greatly embar
rasscd the spies in their contemplated
night escape, supposing that they might
readily lose their way, and acoidently
fall on their enemy but short con.
aultation decided the plan. 1t was
agreed that the girl should 20 foremost
from her intimate knowledge of the
localities. and another advantage might
be gained in case they should fall in
with anu Of the Darfias or outno.,,