Plymouth banner. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1852-1855, 1854-04-13
VOL. 3.-NO. 81
From the Cincinnati Commercial.
H0LLOW~TREE H01IE:
ROMANCE OF THE WEST
BY VI. HALsTEaD
CHAPTER VII.

ture. Patsy Milton anu Mary Grey. as
they sat upon some sticks at a little dis
tance from the camp fire. around which
for some yards the snow was removed,
were startled from the stupor INFO which
they were thrown, by the utter drearinesS
and horror of their situation. By voice
which was low and soft, and words III
the language OF home.
Ave you badly ,ired?' asked the voice.
which was strange for such spot and
time.
%. yes was the reply.
'Will you try TO sleep if will prepare
bed for you?
Yes, yes
The young warrior was gone for some
time, and a hacking aud tearing among
the underbrush was heard. When this
ceased, he bore near the fire several arm
fulls Of fine brush. which he arranged in
the form of bed. and trampled into
shape where the knots and sharp crooks
of the limbs were obstinate to his hands.
Finally he spread blanket upon the pile.
snd the girls laid down upon il, with
their feet TO the FIRE. a blanket was
thrown over them, and though their del
icate limbs were uneasy III their contact
with the brush bed they soon fell asleep.
The party had now crossed the Ohio.
and was safe for the time being from the
avengers who might follow. The grim
warriors were bitterly disappointed with
their expedition. Several braves had
been suddenly summoned to the happy
hunting grounds. True. they had dis
patched number Of pale faces in the
same direction. If no: TO the same elysi-
um, and had taken two handsome prison
ers-but there was not much glory in ta-
king girls in that way. and they had lost
more than they had killed; on nearing the
village there would be more mournlul
yells. signifying death. than seal" hal
loes. The expedition had been ,rly
managed. and the Warriors were T ly.
They might have done better than I. lay
In wait in a thicket. and pounce upon
and carry off a couple of white squaws.
and thea after fixing an ombuscadc for
the Long Knives. TO suffer hemselves to
be drawn into one, and shot down half d
dozen at tima.
The mex, day the girls were glad to
have ;hei' fIieud. who had been So soli
ci;ous that they migh. rest well, wall Il
most of ihe time near them.
His features were gloomy i'll express
ion beyond those of any other of the par
ty. H.. uttered but few words during ths
day. and they were cold and in svery way
CONTESTED with his manner OF speech the
night before. Yet Patsy and Mary re-
memhered that he had been kind, and
thought that they sof, syrnpa the tic
ray occasionally glimmering deep in bis
black eye. In places where the walking
was difficult he assisted them, and scve-
raj times conirived ingeniously to allie
viate some of the thousand discomforts
under which they were suffering. None
of the party were disposed to talk or hal
10, and as the snow muilled their foo'
steps. their march was silent as that of a
company of ghosts. or thieves. The only
disturbance made. was by the occasional
cracking of bush beneath the hurrying
feet.
Once, during the heavy march through
the snow sepulchered woods. Patsy turn
ed to Mary and said OF their friend. He
is whittier than the other Indians. and il
seems 70 me he looks like your brother
William Mary looked closely at him
on the next opportunity. but said moth
ing.
That night he constructed another bed
for the fair ca2tives. which was pleasan,
even soft-to their exhausted frames
When they awoke in the morning. they
saw by the light of the fire and of the
blush of coming day, woman of wild
appearance bending over them. and gsz-
ing into their faces with startling in
ten,ncss. Her eyes were large and black,
and glistened like those of wild beast,
and her dark hair spread over her person
In tangled masses. Her dress was OF
skins. and her face brown. but her neck
white as snow
The girls were alarmed BY the vivid
glare of her eyes. and feared TO look upon
her. A new thought was evidently pos
s~ssiig her. She writhed and her flesh
quivered with an inward struggle. Pres
emily her eyes ceased to emit ferocious
gleam. and gave vent to shower Of tears.
and with convulsive sobs and means. she
embraced the captives. and wept over
them.