The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1856-03-22

| night the crack OF his rife aWakCnen every
sleeper. In an instant every man was on his
feet rifle in band. ready to rcpel any lurking
foe: but low whisper from Frank announ.
ced that there was no danger. Morning came
and as the party crowded around the scnti-
mel to learn the cause of the alarm, he mere
| ly pointed to what appeared to he huge
bear. nearer approach to the object discov-
cred to their establishment the grim visage OF
a dead Dacotah, envcloped in the skin of a
gigantic br,lin, who thus disguised had at
tempted to reconnoitre the position of the
| frontiermen.
Frank felt assured that they were nea-
their enemy and followed their trail in silence
on the alert for their foe. On reaching the
summit Of a kncll they saw the village be-
fore them-a collection Of high conical tents,
male of dressed buffalo skins sewcd together
and ornamentcd with rude representations of
! the battle or the chase. On the outskirts
were the squaws, engaged in the laborious
| occupations which fall to their lot. Their
infants, tightly bound to straight strips Of
bark, were tied to small bent over birches.
which gently dance them to sleep: and the
boys Of the village, with bow and arrow.
were shooting at the representation Of Kan
Sas hunter. In the centre of the village, be-
fore the towering tent of the chief, sat the
braves, smoking their tomahawk pipes with
stoical gravity.
| The white men looked at the printing of
their ntles: put their sharp hunting knives
between their teeth. and with deafcning yell
rushed down through the frish tened squaws,
ere the Dacotahs could comprehend what
caused the alarm. DaShing into the startled
group of warriors with fierce war-hoopS, they
dealt destruction around them. The chief
was the first slain, bravcly defending himself
and encouraging his warriors, who nobly
struggled to avcngc his death, but all in vain
Frank Bates fought like demon, but at
ono time was nearly victim to a stalwart
warrior. BIT glancimg at his opponent
Frank recognized in gay red handkerchief
around his head, his marriage gift to his lost
wife. This added renewed strength to his
fury, as he seized his asSailant with his left
arm, lifted him from the ground. and at the
same time with nervous force thrust his knife
into his heart. This decided the battle, for
the surviving Dacotahs, panic struck at the
horses were tcthcred and escaped into the
forrest. Upwards of fifty dead warriors re-
maincd on the bloody field, and others gre
viou;ly wounded, but not a single white man
was seriously injured
and the whites found an abundance of plum
Ger. comprising blankets, rich furs. horses,
dried meats and tents. But Frank Bates
felt sad at heart, for the sight of this mcmcn-
to Of his wife made him fear she had been
tortured before pcrshng in the flames. Night
came on. and feeling positive that he could
not sleep, he volunteered to keep watch. 1t
was bright moonlight and as he was pac-
ing his solitary round planning new schemes
of vengeance, heshcard light step approach
from the thickct.
Frank at first raised his rife to shoot down
the intruder, but a secret influence led him
to call ont: WHO comes thcrc!"
care you white nan!" was the reply, in
tones that produced Undesirable effect upon
the stout hearted pioneer.
"Yts, and vou!'
IL am Frank Bates wife who was taken
prisoner over on the Mississippi" and as she
spoke she advanced.
The rife fell to the ground, and Frank
stood as if under the influence of magic
spell. His hands were convnsivcly clcnclicd,
his hair stood erect on his head, shivcr ran
through his frame and he tottcr,d back sew.
cral PAGES. But not SO the female, who had
recognized her husband as she drew near and
now exclaimed as she threw herself into his
arms.
Frank! my own Frank! Do you not know
your wifcE'
Yes, it was his long mourncd bride. her
features stamped with sorrow, but still retain.
ing her early beauty. Mutual explanations
followed. and when the delighted wife learn
cd the safety Of her boy. all her harlShips
vanished. 1t now appeared that when the
Indians had entered Bates house, they found
a kcg of whisky, of which they drank freely,
and then plundercd everything. removing the
chest in their researches. Soon two Of them
quarrclcd for the handkerchief Bates had
seen the day previous, and drawing their
sea p knives, one speedily received a mortal
stab, and fell directly upon the trap door,
through which his blood ran upon the hidden
wife. She believing that it came from the
veins of her husband, shrieked aloud, thus
bctraylng her place Of conccalment. Drag.
ging her forth. her captors bound her; then
rfing the cabin, applied the torch. The
body of the slain Dacotah was consumed: and
over his bones Bates had mourncd as for
those Of his wife.
That day they ''packcd' the plumber upon
what horses the Dacotahs had left, and STAR
ted for their homes, which they rcgained in
safety. The proceeds of Frank Bates share
|
1 but this time close to that of his father, and
enclosed with a high stockade. The Daco-
tabs, however never returned. and in course
of time were driven to the far West. Frank
Bates is now one of the wealthiest land hold
crs in Iowa, member of the State Senate
Judge of the county court, and Major General
of Militia. Time has dealt leniently with
him and his wife. but neither forgets her cap
tivity. Their son never passes the scene of
his fathers flight on that mcmore bic night
without feeling a renewed sense of his flll
obligations, and deeper love for his boy
hood home.
| How TO USE Frozen AppLEs.-IIaving re-
Gently seen quantity Of frozen apples con-
veittd into apple butter" the thought oc-
cured to me that the mode might bc novel
and practicable to yourself or some of your
readers. and therefore proceed to give the
manner Of making.
Into large brass kettle item gallon) put
eight pounds of sugar and half pail of wa
| tnr H,pp II ovor n cIou, f,ro fill tho cnror