The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1855-10-18

|
held most dear. At first I discredite'
the rumor. Chance, however, threw in M
way an opportunity of ascertaining tn
reality of the descent, and l became con
vlnced that not moment was to be lost
if would save the lives of those l lovet
at home. My determination was at onc'
, taken. I solicited leave of absence; it wa
refused: and l resigned my commission
and set off for Wyoming.
l shall never forget my emotions wher
1 drew near that ill-fated place. 1t was
on the very day of the massacre; and tht
first intimation I had of the calamity wa.
the mangled body of one of the inhabi-
tants, whom had known, floating dowr
the stream. A cold shiver ran through
every vein as I gazed on the terrible
sight, and thousand fears agitated my
bosom; but my worst surmises fell short
of the truth. When ,hours after l met
some of the fugitives, and they rehearsed
to me the tale of horror, I stood for a
moment thunderstruck, refusing to be-
lieve that beings in human forms could
coolly perpetrate such deeds; but it was
all too true.
Almost my first inquiry was for Kate
No one knew, alas! what had become of
her. One of those who had escaped the
fight, told me, that her father had been
killed in the conflict, and that deprived
of a protector, she had probably fallen a
victim to the infuriated savages, while
the other inhabitants were severally en-
gagged in protecting themselves. How I
cursed them for this selfshness; and yet,
how could expect aught else of human
nature than that each one should protect
those dearest to them even to the deser-
ton of others
But my mind was soon made up. l
resolved, come what mi ght, to ascertain
clearly the fate of Kate; so that if dead
I might avenge her, and if living might
rescue her. Bidding farewell to my fy-
ing group, I shouldered my rife and
struck boldly into the forest, trusting in
the guidance of that God who never de-
serts US in our extremities.
l will not tire you with protracted
narrative; l will only say that after nu-
merous enquiries from the fugitives I met,
| learned that Kate had been seen last
in the hands of party ofsavages. This
was sufficient for clue; l once more be-
gan to hope. | waited until nightfall,
when l sought the spot which had been
Jo,,n;boJ ~ n,o &c tbo ooo ,rboro Ko4o
had been last seen; and never shall 1 for
get my feelings of almost rapturous pleas.
ure, when | found in the neighboring
forest a part of her dress sticking to a
bush, by which it had doubtless been torn
in passing. I now was satisfied that Kate
had been carried off captive. Fortunate
ly, [ had met in the group of fugitives
hunter, who had been under some obliga-
tions to her family, and he was easily
persuaded to join me in my search. To-
gether we now began search for the saw
ages. He was an adept in forest warfare;
could follow a trail as a hound in the
chase: knew the course which would be
nc ost likely to be chosen by flying party
of Indians; and withal was one of the
keenest shots who had carried a gun on
the border.
"It's my opinion" said he, "that these
varments did not belong to the regular
body of Indians who followed Butler,
though even they were bad enough. /
think, however, he would not suffer deed
like this. These villains seem to have
acted on their own behalf; and if SO, they
will fly to the back country as soon as
possible. You may depend upon it we
shall overtake them if We pursue that
way"
felt the truth of these remarks, and
assented to them at once. In less than
a quarter of an hour after first discover
ing the trail, we were threading the for
est in pursuit of the savages.
Let me hasten to the close Hour af-
ter hour, all through the live long day,
we pursued the flying Indians; crossing
swamps, clambering over rocks, fording
streams, and picking our way through
the labyrinthine woods, until toward
night we reached the edge of an opensp
or, as it were, a meadow, shut in by
gently sloping hills.
"Hist," said my companion, 1--WE are
upon them. Do you not see that thin thread
of smoke curling upward over the top of
yonder aged hemlock!"
"Aye it must be them; come let us on"
"Softly, or we loose all. We know not
certainly that this is the party we seek;
let us reconoitre."
Slowly and stealthily, trembling least
even twig should crackle under our feet,
we crept up towards the edge of the mead
ow, and peeping cautiously through the
underwood, beheld the object ofour search,
and six tall swarthy savagcs, sitting smok
ing around the remains of fire. At a
little distance, with her hands bound and
her eyes upraised to Heaven, knelt my
own Kate. OH how my heart leaped at
the sight. raised my rife convulsive-
ly, and was about to fire, when my COM
panion caught my hand, and said:
"Softly, or you will spoil all. Let US
get the varments in range, and then we
shall fire with some effect. Hist!"
This last exclam alton was occasioned