Plymouth banner. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1852-1855, 1854-04-13
PLYMOUTH. INDIANA, THURSDAY, April. 49, 1854

and constant as he, and his energy was
met with success-such that several fam
lilies of warriors that had fallen in battle,
feasted of his prodigal bounty.
The idea of flying from the village did
not originate III a day but came on grad-
ually, and almost before he was aware of
having thought of matter of so much
moment. he was plotting for its consum
ma tion; and his action was FASTENED by
the determination to hold a council. the
decision of which would inevitably be
at war with mis- wishes, * destruction to
hopes which were dear. though but fsdg-
ing.
His proposition to leave the village.
made in hasty moment 10 the girls, and
not intended for Sallie. startled and still
farther enlarged and awakened her. i
will go with you she said i will guide
you beyond pursuit, and we will live.
will live again. and a gleam of he old
wild fire flashed in her eye. and she arose
again in the ecstacy of physical energy,
which had carried her so often through
such hardships and distances.
! The Indians looked with distrust upon the
! family of whites in their midst. The thought
was kindled amongst them that there was dam
ger to them in that household oil whites kept
$50 strictly apart; and the idea was foster d.,
and growing, bred misgiying and something
/ like jealousy, and hale of the White Panther
and those around HIM. Though Richard was a
good hunter, and was the companion OF their
! braves in war and in sport, and had IN no way
specially offended he fell into diScredit, and
was treated with shyneSs.
The propitious dark night waited for
came, and it was the last but one before
the hated and dreaded council was to be
held. The sky was full Of clouds, so that
no stars were visible. And the moon was
hidden, but in spite of the prevailing va
pors. it shed ghas,ly, dim light that seem
ed but to make more shadows and gloom.
A few fine drops of rain were sifted like
spray by the brisk wind, which hurried
eastward the cloudy hosts.
Richard and Sallie, Patsy and Mary.
left the hut, and moving noiselesSy through
the town, passed the wall by means of an
Indian ladder, and without any token Of
alarm, reached the woods. The insane
strength and ardor of Sallie revived. and
she led the way. The direction taken was
not toward the white settlements exact
ly, but oblique to that course, and led deep
into the western woods. The woods hag
knew precisely how to move, and
without losinga step by doublings md
turnings, or hesitant zig zags.kept straight
on. Where they fled was just then a
secondary matter to getting away. Dis
lance between them and the village by
the Saltwater, was the object-ihe cur
rency was miles. Their hegira eonmen-
ced some hours before midnight, and by
that time they had made several milos, ami
the rain began to fall fast and the wind TO
freshen. The girls grew weary, but were
animated to great efforts bv the hope of
seeing friends once moro, and kept on val
iantly. Whom steep place was to bo as
cended. Richard or Salie, or both, helped
them. and they kept unwaveringly on.--
Sometimes bu! slow progress could be made
owing to the darkness and the underbrush,
and ihckly planted trees, but they kept
constantly pushing ahead, and were gain
ing all the time. If tho rain had fallen on
purpose 10 aid them, ii would not have
been more felcitous. 1t, oblilereted at
once every trace oftheir progress When
their departure would be discovered, there
would be nothing to guide pursuit, and
their chances of easy success were greatly
augmented.
Morning dawned, but TO bring them no
rest. Patsy and Mary were supported by
hope, and when tho first feeling Of weari-
hess was over they seemed insensible 10
fatigue. and displayed by their persever-
ing movements amazing powers OF endu.
rance.
Their course was SO far and coniinu-
ously wide of the line Of flight which was
certainly to be expected they would lake,
that on the second day out, they began 10
feel some sense of present security. The
girls, in spite Of their (ortitude and best
efforts to be heroines. were nearly inca
pable Of further exerton. They had been
hurried along almost without food or rest
for two days and nights, and now when
they moved, they were as persons walk
ing in sleep. Sallie, too. by slow de-
grees. was rolapsing into that stupor which
had sometime previous fallen upon her,
and ;he necessity of immediate rest and
refreshment at whatever cost, was impe-
raiive.
The While Hag remembered, beyond
river and little further along. an enormous
hollaw tree that stood in o shell like val
ley, whore they nigh, rest until sufficient
strength was regained 10 carry them to
their hoped for destination. The river
was reached. A raft was constructed by
binding three logs together with the skin
of buck which was brought down by
the rifle Of Richard, and upon this frail,
uncertain, totiering structure the broad
CLASSY stream was passed in safety, and
little alter dark the tree was found, and
on the dry leaves that had accumulated
in the shelter and been preserved through
winter. The worn fugitives gave their har-
rassed limbs repose.
The tree was q gigantic specimen Of
Elm. Its height was not specially con-
spcuous, as many as tall or nearly so
lowered around; nor was It's top immense,
but about the roots il was spacious. Some
fifteen feet from tho root il began TO ex
pand. and at the level of the ground was
more than O rod in diameter. Its proper