The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1856-04-09

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quiries from fugitives met, I learned tha
Kate had been seen lastin the hands of a pa1
ty of sayages; this was sufficient for clue:
waited till night-fall, when sought the spo
which had been described as the one wher
Kate had been last seen; and never shall for
get my feelings Of almost rapturous pleasure
when found in the neighboring forest, par
of her dress sticking to a bush, by which it ha,
doubtless been tore in passing. was satisfe,
that she had been carried off captive. For
tunately had met in the group of fugitiyes
hunter who had been under some obligation
to her family, and be was easily persuaded t,
join me in my search. Together we now be
gan search for the sayages. Hewas an adep
in forest warfare; could follow a trail as hount
in the chase; knew the course which would b.
the most likely to be chosen by flying part,
of Indians, and withal was one of the keenes
shots who had carried gun on the border
"It's my opinion said he, ..that those var
mints did not belong to the regular body of In
dians who followed Butler, though even they
were bad enough. I think, however, he woule
not suffer deeds like this. These Williams seen
to have acted on their own behalf; and if so
| they will fly to the back country SO soon a:
possible. You may depend upon it, we shal
oyertake them if we pursue the way
| I felt the truth Of these remarks, and assent
ed to them at once. In less than quarter O
an hour after the first discovering the trail VIZ
were treading the forest in pursuit of the saw
ages.
Let us hasten to the close Hour after hour
all through the lifelong day we pursued the
flying Indians; crossing swamps, clamberine
over rocks, fording streams and picking oul
way through the labyrinthine woods, until to.
wards night we reached the edge of an open
space, or, as it were, meadow, shut in BY
gently sloping hills
Hist, said my companion, 1--WE are upon
them. Do you not see that thin thread oil
smoke curling upward over the top Of yonde,
aged hemlock?''
Aye, it must be them; come, let us on
"Softly, or we lose all. We know not GER
tainly that this is the party we seek:-let us
.reconnoitre'
Slowly aud stealthily, trembling lest even a
twig should crackle under our feet, we crept
up towards the edge ofthe meadow; and peep
ing cautiously through the underwood, beheld
the object of our search and six tall swarthy
Indians, sitting smoking around the remains Of
a fire. At little distance knelt. with her
hands bound but her eyes appraised to heaven,
my own Kate. Oh, how my heart leaped at
the sight. | raised my rifle convulsiyely, and
was about to fire, when my companion caught
my hand, and said:
'.softly, or you will spoila all. Let US get the
yarmints in range, and then we shall fire with
some effect"
This last exclamation was occasioned by
the sudden rising of one of the savages. He
gazed moment cautiously around, and then
advanced towards the thicket where we lay con-
cealed. | drew my breath in, and trembled
at the beating Of my own heart. The savage
still approached. My companion laid his hand
on my arm, and pointed from my rifle to one of
the off Indians. | understood him. At this
juncture the advancing savage, warned Of our
presence by the cracking of an unlucky twig
beneath my companions foot, sprang back
with a loud yell, towards the fire.
"Now," said my companion.
Quick as lightning | raised my piece and
fred My ompanon did the same. The re
treating savage and one of his companions fell
dead on the ground. Each of us then sprang
to tree, loading as we ran. It was well that
we did it, for in an instant the enemy were
upon US. Shall I describe that dreadful fight?
Ny emotion forbids it. A few minutes decid-
ed it. Fighting from tree to tree, lodging, load
ing and eAdeavoring to get sight of the foe, we
kept up the conflict for nearly FIVE minutes, at
the end Of whie lime | found myself wound
ed, while four oGtsof the six saYages lay pro-
strate on the ground. The other two, finding
their companions dead, and despairing Of be-
ing able to carry off their prisoner, suddenly
rushed on her, and before we could interpose,
had seized their hapless victim. | had only
been prevented hitherto from rescuing Kate by
the knowledge that an attempt Of this kind,
while the sayages were still numerically superb
or to us, would end in the certain ruin of us
both; but now worlds could not have restrain
ed me, and clubbing my rifle, for the piece was
Idsshed out from my covert, shout
ng to my companion:
'sOn! on! In God name on!''
''Take care of the taller varmint," thunder
ed my companion.
The warning was too late. In the tumult
If my feelings had not observed that the saw
age farthest from me had his piece loaded, and
before / could avail myself of my companion S
,ooler observation, received the ball in my
light arm, and my rifle dropped powerless BY
ny side; had | not sprang involuntarily aside at
ny companions cry, should have been shot
hroughthe head.
"On, orr I groaned in agony, as seized
ny tomahaWk in my almost useless left hand.
! "stoop," said my companion, .sstoop low
r, and as did so, his rifle cracked on the
till air, and the Indian fell dead. All this had
ot occupied an instant. / was now within
ew feet oft the one loved who was struggling
4 the grasp Of the other Indian. He had al
eady entwined his hands in her hair, his toma-
awk was already cleaning in the setting sun.
lever shall forget the look Of demoniac fury
18th which the wretch glared on his victim. A
econd only was left forhope. Ny companion
'as far behind with his rifle unloaded. ] made
desperate spring forward and hurled my toma
aWk at the sayage's head God Of my faith
rs! the weapon whizzed harmlessly BY the
reich and buried itself quiveringly in the
unk Of neighboring tree. ] groaned alond 1
agony. There was yel! Of triumph in the
II, a sudden flashing in the sun like CLAN {
ng knife, and-but cannot go on j
.Ehe who T loved as NV oHn life. she who El