Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-05-18

comprehended his perllous situation. Ii th'
alarm should reach the camp or town, he ant
his companion must inevitably perish. Sell
preservation compelled him to inhict noiselesF
death on the squaws, and in such a manner as
if possible, to leave no trace behind Ever rap
i'd In thought, and prompt in action, he sprang
upon his victims with the rapidity of a lion, and
grasping the throat of each sprang into the riv-
er. He thrust the head of the eldest under the
water. While making strong efforts to sub
merge the younger, who, however, powerfully
resisted him, and during the short struggle
with this young athletic, to his astonishment
she addressed him in his own language, though
in almost inarticulate sounds.
Releasing his hold, she informed him that she
had been prisoner for ten years, and was taken
from below Wheeling, and that the Indians had
killed all the family, and that her brother and
herself were taken prisoners, but he succeeded,
on the second night, in making his escape. Du-
ring his narrative, White had drowned the ell
der squaw and had let her float off with the
current, where it would not probably be found
out soon. He now directed the girl to follow
him, and with his usual speed and energy push
ed for the Mount. They had scarcely gone half
way, when they heard the alarm cry some quar-
ter of mile down the stream. 1t was supposed
some party of Indians, returning from hunting,
struck the river just as the body of the squaw
foated past. White and the girl succeeded in
reaching the Mount where McCleland had been
no Indifferent spectator to the sudden commotion
among the Indians.
The prairie parties of warriors were seen i'm
mcdiately to strike off in every direction, and
White and the girl had scarcely arrived before
party of some twenty warriors had reached
the eastern activity of the Mount, and were
cautiously and carefully keeping under cover
Soon the spies saw the swarthy foes as they gil
ded from tree to tree and rock to rock, till their
position was surrounded, exception the west per-
pendicular side, and all hope of escape was cut
off. In this perilous conditan, nothing was left
but to sell their lives as dearly as possible, and
this they resolved to do, and advised the girl to
flee to the Indians and tell them she was taken
prisoner. She said, "No! death---death to me-
in the presence of my own people, is thousand
times preferable to captivity and slavery. Fur
nish me with gun, and l will show you how
can fight as well as die. This place leave not
Here my bones shall lie bleaching with yours,
and should either Of you escape you will carry
the tidings of my death to my few relations"
Remonstrances proved fruitless The two spies
quickly matured their plan of defence, and Wig
orously commenced the attack upon the front,
where, from the very small backbone of the
Mount, the savages had to advance in single file,
and without any covert Beyond this neck the
warriors availed themselves Of rocks and trees
in advancing, but in passing from One to the
other they must be exposed for short time,
and moments exposure of their swarthy forms
was enough for the unerring rifles of the spies.
The Indians being entirely ignorant of how many
were in ambuscade, were more cautious how
they advanced.
After bravely maintaining the fight in front
and keeping the enemy in check, they discovered
new danger threatening them. The arch foe
now made evident preparations to attack them
on the flank, which could be more successfully
done by reaching an isolated rock lying in one
of the rayines on the southern side. This rock,
once gained by the Indians, they could bring the
spies under point blank shot of the rifle, with
out the possibility of escape. Our brave spies
saw the utter hopelessness of their situation,
which nothing could avert but brave compan-
ion and an unerring shot These they had not
but the brave never despair. With this impend-
ing fate resting upon them, they continued calm
and calculating, and as unwearied as the strong
est desire of life and the resistance of a numer-
Gus foe could produce.
Soon McCleland saw tall and swarthy figure
preparing to spring from covert so near the
fatal rock that bound Or two would reach it,
and all hope of life was then gone. He felt
that all depended on one single advantageous
shot although but an inch OF two of the war
rior's body was exposed, and that at distance
of eighty or a hundred yards, he resolved to
risk all; he coolly raised his rifle to his face,
and shading the sight with his hand, drew a
bead 80 sure that he felt conscious it would do
the work. He touched the trigger with his fin
ger, the hammer came down, but in place Of
striking fire, it broke lis flint into many pieces
and although he felt that the Indian must reach
the rock before he could adjust another flint, he
proceeded to the task with the utmost careful.
ness and composurc.
Casting his eye toward the fearful point, sud-
denly he saw the warrior stretching every nerve
for the leap; and with the agility of panther
he made the spring, but instead of reaching the
rock, he gave yell, and his dark body fell ant
rolled down the steep into the valley below. Hi
had evidently received death wound from somt
unknown hand. A hundred voices re-echoed from
below the terrible shout. 1t was evident thai
they had lost favorite warrior, ,as well as being
disappointed for time of the most importan
movement. A very few moments proved tina
the advantage gained would be of short dura
tion for already the spies saw glimpse of {
tall swarthy warrior cautiously advancing t
the covert so recently occupied by his fellow
companion. Now the attack in front was re
newed with increased fury, so as to require tn
incessant fire Of both spies to prevent the Indian
from gaining the eminence, and in short tim
McCleland saw warrior making preparation
to leap to the fatal rock. The leap was made
and the Indian turning somerset, his corps
rolled down the hill towards his former compan
inn A0ain n unkpown a0ent had ;ntar,,oaa