The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1854-03-09

ming and strategem we're of no avail to Sc
cure her, his most artfully laid plans had
been thwarted, and his tasked ingenuity
had signally failed of placing her in his
hands. This night be had resolved to
use force before she should become the
willing possession of another, from be-
meath whose watchful eye nothing bat the
hand of death could remove her.
/ The details Of his plans [ could not
bear, as he spoke in an under tone, but
soon I saw them stealthily approach the
stream, and crossing over were quickly
lost to sight. was about to rise from
my concealment to return to the tent, and
with my companions come to the rescue
of the fair maiden, when the sound or
voices warned me that still some of the
party remained, and that such a step
aye, even the least intimation of my pres
ence, would be the signal for one OF the
savage's arrows to have sought a hiding
place from its poisoned top about the re-
gion of the heart.
| could not have escaped from the fly
ing foot of the Indians, nor eluded their
swift tomahawks and yet had l avoided
all, their fast flying arrows would probo-
bly had reached me and | would not
have lived eitherto assist in rescuing the
maiden or tell this tale. So [ was forced
to resort to the fertility Of my magma
ton while waiting for the time to come
when I would act. | gazed eargerly
forth 10 the direction the Indians had ia
ken, watching the least thing that aroused
my attention, but all was still, and there
were no indications of the tragedy soon
to be enacted.
The sun had sank far down in the West,
and Illuminated the horizon with his de-
parting rays; the pale new moon was fol-
lowing closely in his brilliant pathway,
the scarcely stirring breeze moved not a
leaf, the silent waters gave not forth a
ripping sound, but reflected in solemn
stiffness the moons pale rays; the harsh
howl of the wolf upon the distant hills,
and the wild cats shrill cry were un-
heard, and all things seemed raped in
the stiffness of death. [ contemplated
tie heavens above and beheld with mo-
mentary rapture the myriads Of constel-
lations sparkling far and near amid the
vast space Of the etherial regions. [
gazed upon the moon, pale and wan, and
then looked upon the silent waters and
saw mirrored in mimic glory the images
Of bright realities on their high position
on earth, they would not be there if it
were not for the bright originals in heav-
en-. Thus musing, l sought objects to a
muse me, ever watching with an eager
eye in the direction to which | anticipa
ted an exciting scene. Ny anticipations
were too true, for I had not long re-
mained in suspense when [ distinctly
heard wild cry of horror rise from far
off in the distance. gazed more earn
estly in the direction and saw between
the boughs, and trunks of the trees the
red flames of FIRE rising up towards the
skies
/ The sounds grew louder, and near, and
the Indians shrill warhoop rang out clear
upon the still night air. Soon the dull
obscure flames had grown into fierce
and lurid FIRE and shot up above the for
est trees, winding upon itself in fierce
fury like an enraged demon. Louder
and louder rose the cries and the still
ness of the night soon enabled me to hear
the sound of approaching steps hurrying
along the opposite bank, as the cracking
bough broke beneath the football, | start
ed from my place Of concealment, but re-
.membering the Indians, [ again sank
back, while every nerve within me thrill
led with the most intense excitement
The sound Of persons, flying in almost
every direction, now came towards me;
the war-hoop rose louder and nearer, and
the flames spreading from the lodges OF
the Indians into the forest and catching
the dry leaves and bushes ran rapidly in
every direction and rose higher and high
er, till they seemed to lap with their fiery
tongues the few feeting clouds that hur
ry over the scene.
A moment only | gazed upon theil
fury, and casting my eyes upon the op.
posite bank [ saw approaching what
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the frightened, and nearly unconscious
maiden Instantly | sprang forth, anc
grasping my pistols, | stood resolved t
fire upon him ere he crossed the stream
Twice he assayed to gain footing upor
the log which served as bridge, bu
failed from sheer exhaustion. He thel
called to his assistance the Indian beneath
me, one who had already sprang upoI
the long, and was fast crossing when
raised my arm to fire, but scarcely had
done so, when he fell with heavy groal
upon the log and rolled off into the wa
ter, pierced by an arrow from an lndlai
rapidly advancing from below. Hardl,
had the first Indian fallen, when anothe
sprung upon the log to follow him, an'
again before | could raise my pistol, b
too fell with heavy sound into the wa
ter. The third and last was now rapidl.
passing across when an arrow went whiz
zing past me and struck in tree owe
T,e+o,,tl-, my e nrar pullnd tu