The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-05-10

o'o'S". oP'ii lhctll tieIl the entire
force of the Indians. For drink, they
depended on some rain water which
still stood in the hollows Of some of
he rocks; but, in short time this
store was exhausted, and McCleland
and White must abandon their enter.
prise. or find a new supply. To &C,
comPllsh this most hazardous enter.
prise, McClelan1, being the oldest,
resolved to make the attempt; and,
with his trusty rifle in his hand, and
their two cantcens strung across his
shoulders, he descended bv a circuit
Gus route to the prairie. skirting the
hill on the North, and under the cover
ofthe hazel thickcts he reached the
river, and turning to q bold point OF
the hill, he fou::d n beautiful spring
within n few feet Of the river, now
known by the name of Cold Spring
on the iarm of d. Talmadge, ESQ.,
lie tiled his canteens, and returned in
safety t" his watchful companion. 1t
was now determined to have fresh
supply of water every day, and this
duty was performed alternately.
On one Of these occasions after
White had filled his can,een he sat a
few moments watching the limpid ele-
ments as it came gurgIing out Of the
bosom of the earth, when the light
sound of footsteps caught his practicpd
ear, and upon turning around he saw
two squaws few feet from him. Jp.
on turning round the foot of the hill.
tho eldest squaw CAV. one OF these
far-rcachns whoops peculiar to Indi.
ans. White at once comprehended
his perilous situation. If the alarm
snouid reach the camp or town, he and
his companion must inevitably perish.
Self preservation compelled him to in.
ftict noiseless death ON the squaws,
and in such a manner, if possible, to
leave no traces behind. Ever rapid
in thought, and prompt in action. he
sprang upon his victims with the RI.
P'dity and power Of a lion, and grasp.
'"S the throat OF each, sPrnng into The
river. He thrust the head Of the eld.
est under the water. While making
strong efforts to submcrge the young.
er, who, however,, powerfully resisten
resisted him, aud during the short
struggle with this young athletic wo.
nan, to his astoni hmcnt addressed
him in his own language, though in al
most inarticulate sounds.
Releasing his hold, she Informed
him that she had been prisoner for
ten years. and was taken from below
Wheeling, and that her brother ami
herself were taken prisoners, but hc
succeeded on the second night in max
ing his escape. During this arra,ive.
White had drowned Tho elder Suuaw.
and had let her float off with the cur.
rent, where it would not probably be
found ont soon. He now directed the
girl 10 follow him. and with his usual
speed and energy pushed for the mount.
They had scarcely gone half way.
when they heard the alarm cry some
quarter of r mile down the Stream.
1t was supposed some party Of lndi.
ans, returning from hunting, struck
the river just as the body Of the squaw
fioated' past. White and tho girl sue.
ceeded in reaching the mount where
McCleland had been no Indifferent
spectator to the sndden commo,ion
among the Indians.
The prairie parties Of warriors were
So n Immediately to strike off in every
direction, and White and the girls had
scarcely arrived before party of some
twenty warriors had reached the East
ern activity Of the mount, and wer.
cautiously and carefully keeping under
cover. Soon the spies saw the swar
thy foes as they glided from tree to
tree and from rock to rock, till their
position was surrounded, except on
the West perpendicular side, and all
hope of escapd was cut of. In this
perllous condition, nothing was left
but to sell their lives as dearly AS pos
sible, and this they resolved to do. and
advised tho girl to escape to the Indi.
ans, and tell taem she had been taken
prisoner. She said no, "No; death to
me, in the presence Of my own people
SousoHu tiIicS S"ceIeT tnan CAP
tivity and slavery. Furnish me with
gun, and will show you how | can
fight as we'll as die. This place | leave
not. Here my bones shall lie, bleach.
ing 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 vigorously com.
menced tho attack from the front
where, from the very small back bone
OF tho mount. the savnges had 10 ad.
vance in single file, and without any
covert. Beyond this neck the war.
riors availod themselves of the rocks
and trees in advancing, but in passing
from one to tho other they must be
exposed for short time, and mo.
mant's exposure Of their swarthy forms
was enough for the urcrring rifle of the
spies. The Indians being entirely ip.
norant Of how many we're in ambus.
cadc were more cautious how they ad.