Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1855-03-03

| II was near m0ngnL prODaOiy on Tue secOnO
night. Mcconnell began to feel easy in mind
and to have hopes of his reaching homo in
safety. With the quie ting of his fears be be.
gan to feel tired and hungry. The night was
very dark; and he was about laying down be.
side log, when he suddenly saw light at no
great distance ahead Of him. A cold, clammy
feeling went like chill through his frame
Were he again beset with the Indians, or were
bis friends in search Of him! The light must
have been just kindled, otherwise he must have
seen j, before he approached 20 near: 1t would
never do to 60 around and make his escape,
without knowing how the light originated. or
whether it was caused by his friends or his foes.
So he crept silently along towards it, while at
the same time the light grew larger and more
brilliant. All at once he felt sick at heart and
sank TO the earth. He had unmistakable evi-
dence of the light being caused by Indians, for
it had now become quite large and brilliant,
human beings lashing . fellow ereature-and
that fellow creature female!
Fully satisfied now that it was an Indian
camp ahead of him, and that they had white
and woman in bondage, Mcconnell lay his
length upon the sward, cogitating what it was
best for him to do.
He had made up his mind. He would at
| tempt rescue let what might be the conse.
quences. He had knife and two guns, his
! own and one belonging to ono of the Indians
he had killed. He examined the primings and
pecked the fnts. There was no time now to
lose, for it was important that he should know
their force exactly 10 determine how to act,
and this must be done before the Indians laid
down to rest. So Mcconnell rose and pro~
ceeded hastily but noselessly in the direction
Of the savages. A renewed blaze caused BY
more dryed fagots being thrown on the fire,
caused him 10 halt It afforded him sufficient
! light; and after observing very closely for a
long time, he could count no more than three
Indians, squattsd around the fire with their hi.
deously painted faces, roasting their venison.
Mcdonnell was in good gunshot had it been
daylight; but it was not only important that
his aim should be certain, but probably his
| own life and that of their captive depended up.
on two of the Indians falling BY the FIRST ire,
as when he made his own escape. He exam-
ined his guns again, and now proceeded 10 .
circuitous route, nearing them while at the
same time getting two Of the Indians in
range.
Just ~ Mcconnell had reached the position
he wished and had cooked his guns, dog rose
upon his launches before the FIRE, where he
had lain unseen, growled, snuffed the cir, and
barked. "God! have mercy" inwardly exclaim.
ed Mcconnell, II had not thought Of this!"-
The Indians at the same moment sprang to
their feet, grasping their guns, for they we'll
knew that the barking Of their faithful brute
denoted an enemy was near. Fortunately, in
the surprise of the moment, the Indians forgot
their usual TACT and in rising got huddled close
together. Just as the dog made second bark
and sprang in the direction Of Mcconnell, 10
fred, and two Indians fell to the earth, strup-
Cling in the agonies Of death. The dog had
now reached Mcconnell, and for an instant
his work of rescue was deferred; 40 the ami.
NAL sprang to his throat, he made a sweep Of
his broad knife and cut him nearly in two.
All this Was the work of few moments.
When Mcconnell raised bis second gun to his
shoulder, the remaining savage (thnking pro.
baby that he was surrounded, that there were
no hopes for bis own life, and that he would
have oil the revenge in bic power) had bis 70.
mahawk raised over the head of the upfortu.
nate woman whom the savages had tied to q
tree. But at that instant, Mcconnell again
fred, with bad sim for want Of lioht: but the
uplihed arm fell shattered TO the body,
Before the Indian had time to recover from
the shock and draw his knife with bis left hand,
Mcdonnell had reached tAe spot and dealing
blow with the butt end 6f his gun, laid The
Indian ut his feet-then the knife, and The
work Of death was ended!
Mcconnell needed not the scream that greet
ed his ears when the captive saw her dslverer;
but now when the danger WAS past, hs turned
to behold her.
"Mercifal God!" exclaimed Mcconnell. 4,
the features of the fair sufferer met his gaze.
The next moment, his knife had ripped The
cords that bound her, and bic iainting wife was
encircled in his arms and drawn to his seitatsd
bosom!
Yes, It was indeed McConuell's wife, ana
our story 10 now soon ended. Her temples
were bathed BY the watsr her husband had in
bis gourd. and che soon became conscious that
she was really in bis arms. Her story was
soon told. She had wandered of into The
woods too hr in search Of her husband, when
sbe was captured by the Indians, which proved
70 have belonged to the party which espsursd
Mcconnell. r., b, 80
The husband and wife were too oysrjoyed
to think Of anything else than proceeding forth.
with on their journey home. So after giving
thanks to God for their dsliverance, and Nc.
ConneIl had tied up with pawpaw bark the
guns. hatchets, &C. Of the enemy, the better
to take them home and to preserve them az
mementos for bis chiIdren-tbe two started on
their way with light hearts, and reached their
homestead the following night.
The story is often related BY the descendants
of the old couple, who few years since went
down At almost the same time to their peaceful
and christian graves. A son who still occu.
pies the old home. often takes pleasure in
pointing TO those relics his father had captured
from the savagea. and telling the stranger the
thrilling story that was connected with them.
The Know Nothings seem to have become
terror to Others than politicians. "A poor do
mented gentleman in New York, IN English