Demoine courier., 1854-09-28

4 o"t lie was OH 10 the WOODS, and soon
a fine deer or fat bear, or quarters of a
buffalo. was placed at their disposal
Their horses had s,rayed in the range,
with which the husband was not lamil
lar, and no ploughing could be done
! Hanod's lncessanl activity has made the
discovery in passing. ttat something was
wrong IN the new cleariug-his frank
and manly voice is heard shouting from
The fence, "Hilloa, Jones! What's tho
matter! No ploughing done yet, see!
Nothin' wrong. | hope!'
"Well, yes; the old horse has been
gone these i've Gays--can't find him
down thar in tina, cane.brake range
been lost myself already two whole
days in looking for him, and I've jis,
aboutgin it up"
-"Never mind, Jones, you'll git used
to that range some time before long-that
horse OF your'D is a blood bay. ain, he!"
"les--snip down The nose. aud left
hind foot white--colIar. marked bad on
the shoulders" .......
"Good morning, Jones'
A few hours afterwards. Jones' horse,
with bis snip on his nose. is quietly driv-
sn up to the fence and turned in James
Harrod walks on. .....
News comes into the station that the
Indians have attacked the house of set
tier five miles distant, and murdered all
the family but The two daughters, whom
| they are hnrrying Off TO "a brutal aud
perlIous caplivily-the war cry of Har-
rod is instantly heard.
"Come, boys! come, boys, we must
catch these racca!s; we can, spare our
girls!'
While bis dark complexion glows with
enthusiasm, and his black eye flames
again, the men know their leader, for he
| Is oil without them in a moment, and
| they are soon ready. The swif. and
'reless pursuit, the wary approach 10
The camp, the night attack, with its shor,
and fierce struggle, the rescue, the re-
| turn, were all not unusual incidents of
their wild life.
In the capacity of spy, guide, or ran
ger captain, his excursions into the La.
dian country were very daring and fire.
quens. There was no enterprise TOO au-
dacious for his enthusiasm-none reauir-
ing patience. dexterity, endurance of
hunger, ;hrst. and fatigue, too serious for
his cool selt'reilaace TO undertake, and
that most frequently alone. He avoid
ed, when possible, having other men
sI'h him, fol. he said, they always CON-
planned OF the hardships or the dangers
before the fun was fairly commenced
with him, and therefore il cost more trou
bic TO take care OF them than 10 do ali
there was to do himself, twice over.-
This extraordinary love of solitary ad-
venture was one of the marked charac-
| ieristlcs Of James HarrSd Indeed, the
Indians christened him the s.Lone Long
Knife" and dreaded his mysterious
prowess very greatly.
On several occasions he entered their
villages in the night to ascertain their
plans; and once, when discovered by a
young warrior, struck him 10 the earth
with his huge fist, and then threw him.
self into the nelghboring forest; not. how
ever, wilhou, being seen and pursued,
twenty or thirty warriors followed him,
and so close were they upon his heels a,
the start, that their rifle balls showered
like hail about him.
The swiflneSs OF Indian runners has
passed into proverb. bu. they had man
before them more swif. and tireless than
shsy. He gained SO much upon them,
that b,v the lime they reached the Miami,
which was ten miles distant. there were
only three warriors who seemed 10 be
continuing the chase. Harrod swan the
river without hesitation; as he reached
the opposite bank they came up. and fir
ed a, him as he climbed the bank; the
river was wide here and The balls fell
short. He now.took tree upon The edge
OF the forest, and removing the water.
proof covering OF deer's bladder from
The lock of his rifle, prepared for them,
should they attempt to cross The river
The Indians hesitated mon ent. for i.
had now been some time full daylight,
and they seemed to have some apprehen.
sion that he might make stand, but
hearing at this instant the coming wells
OF those who had fallen behind, they re.
piled. and plunged into the stream
Harrod walled until they were more thar
half across, when a, The crack of his
rifle the foremost sank; the other two
paused. then turned to 60 back, but. be-
lore they could get out of range, he Sc,
verely wounded another, who gave him.
self up TO the current aud was swept
down. the third, by a series of rapid
dives, like the maneuvres Of wounded
wild duck, succeeded in battling the aim
OF Harrod even, and 60, oui of range.
Harrod heard the furious howl of the
main body of his pursuers, who reached
the river as he was making off again
through the forest. The chase was no,
continued farther.
Wha, adds not little to the dramatic
interest OF his adventure is. tina, when,
TWO hours afterwards. Hatrod struck the
bank OF the Miami again, he saw upon
pile OF drift wood, which had been
collected al the mouth of one of the small
tributaries OF The stream, some living
object, which he took for a large turtle
| glistening in the sun, as he struggled to
| Asc IL L.