Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1854-04-13
OTTUMWA, IOWA. THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 1854

dlans and tell them she had been taken
prisoner. She said: mo! death to me,
in the presence of my own people. is a
thousand times sweeier than captivity
and slavery. Furnish me with a gun.
and | will show vou how can figh, 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
10 my few relations.
Remors,rances proved fruiless. The
two spies quickly ma.ured their plan Of
defence. and vigorously commenced the
attack from the front. where, from the
very small backbone of the mount, the
sasages had to advance in single file, and
without any covert. Beyond ihls neck
the warriors availed themselves of rocks
and trees in advancing. but in passing
from one to the othc, they mus, be ex
posed for short time, and moments
exposure of their swar,liy forms was
enough tor the unerring rifles of the
spies. The Indians being entirely ie-
norant of how many were in ambus-
cade, were more cautious how they ad-
vanced.
Alter bravely maintaining the fight in
front and keeping the enemy in check,
they discovered a new danger threaten.
inc them. The arch foe now made evi-
dent preparations to attack them on the
flank, which could be more successfully
done By reaching an isolated rock lying
in one Of the ravines on the southern
hillside. This rock once gained by the
Indians, they could bring the spies un-
ner point blank shot Of the rifle wi,hou,
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
despair. With .his pending fate resting
upon them, they continued calm and cal
culating, and as unwearied as the strong
est desire OF life and the resistance of a
numerous foe could produce.
Soon M'ClelIand saw tall, swar,hy
figure preparing to spring from covert
SD near to the fatal rock tina, bound or
two would reach it, and all hope Of life
then was gone. He felt that all depend
ed on one single advantageous shot; al.
though but an inch or two Of the war
rior's body was exposed. and ,ha. at
distance Of eighty or hundred yards,
he resolved to risk all. Coolly raising
his rifle TO his face, and shading the sight
with his hand, he drew bead so sure
that he felt conscious it would do The
work. He touched the trigger with his
finger, the hammer came down, but in
place of striking fire, it broke his flint
into many pieces; and although he felt
that the Indian must reach the rock be.
fore he could adjust another flint, he pro.
ceeded to the task with the utmost com
posure.
Casting his eye towards the fearful
point. he saw the warrior s,rainihg every
muscle for the leap; and with The agility
of apanther he made the spring, but in.
stead of reaching the rock. he gave a
yell, and his dark BODY fell md rolled
down the steep into the valley below
lie had evidently received death wound
from some unknown hand. hundred
voices re-echoed from below the terrible
shout. Ii was evident that they had los,
a favorite warrior. as well as being dis
appointed for time. of the most impor.
.ant movement. A very few minutes
proved thai the advantage gained would
be Of short duration; tor already the
spies saw glimpse of tail. swarthy
warrior cautiously advancing to the COW
ert SO recently occupied by his compan-
ion. Now, too, the attack in iron. was
renewed with increased violence, so as
10 require the incessant fire OF both spies
and enable the Indians to gain the emi
nence, and in short time M'Clelland
saw warrior making preparations To
leap to the fatal rock. The leap was
made, and the Indian turning somerset,
his corpse rolled down the hill towards
his former companion. Again an un
known agent had interposed in their be-
halt. This second sacrifice cas-, dlsmay
into the ranks OF the assallants, and just
as the sun was disappearing behind the
western hills, The foe Withdrew short
distance, to devise come new mode of
attack. his respite came most season
ably 10 our spies, who had kept their
ground. aud bravely maintained The un-
equal fight from nearly the middle Of
the day.
Now, for the frs, time, was the girl
missing, and the spies thought ,ha, ,hro'
terror she had escaped 10 her former
csptors, or tha, she had been killed dur.
ing the fight. but they were no. long let,
to conjecture. The girl was seen emerg-
ing from behind a rock aud coming to
them with q rille in her hand. During
the fight she saw warrior fall, who had
advanced some distance before the rest,
and while some of them changed their
position, she resolved al once, live or die,
10 possess herself OF his gun and am
muni,ion; and crouching down beneath
the underbrush, she crawled TO the place
and succeeded in her enterprise. Her
keen and walchful eye had early noticed
The fatal rock, ond hers was the mys,e-
rious hand by which the two warriors
fell, the last being the most intrepid and
blood thirsty of the Shawnee tribe, and