Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1857-02-06

spy, turned away his lace, uuable 10 Gn
swer him. The settlers already excited
fears, were thus turned into realities. The
manly form shook like an aspen leaf,wiih
emotion-tears fell as large drops Of wnteI
over his bronzed face. Brady permitted
the indulgence for moment, whilst ho led
the horse into thicket close at hand and
tied him. When he returned, Gray had
sunk to the earth, and great tremulous
convuisions writhed over him. Brady
quietly touched him aud said, "Come.
He at once arose, and had gone but Il few
Yards until every trace Of emotion had ap.
parently vanished. He was no longer the
bsrcayed husband and fathcr-hc was tho
sturdy, welltrained hunter, whose ear and
eye were acutely alive to every sight or
sound, the waving Of a leaf or the csack-
ling of the smallest twig.
Ii desired to proceed directly towards
the house, but Brady objected to this, aud
they passed down toward the river bank.
AS they proceeded, they saw from the
tracks of horses and moccasin prints upon
the places where the earth was moist, that
the party was quite numerous one. After
thoroughly examining every cover and pos
sible place Of concealment, they passed Oh
to the southwark and came back in that
direction to the spot whore Bevington
stood sentry. When they reached him,
they found that Bisg, hnd not returned.
In few minutes, he came. He reported
that the trail was large and broad, the In
dians had taken no pains to conceal their
tracks-thoy simply had struck back into
the country, SO as to avoid coming in con-
tact with the spies whom they supposed to
be lingering along the river.
The whole four now went down to the
cabin, aud carefully examined the ruins.
After long and minute search, Brady de-
clared, in an authori,ive manner, that none
of the inmates had been consumed. This
announcement at once dispeled the most
narrowing fears of Gray. As soon as all
that could be discovered had been ascer,
tanned, each one of the party proposed some
course of action. Que desired to 60 to
P,i,shnrg and obtain assistance-anothsr
thought 1t bes, to return to u intosh aud
ge, some volunteers there-Brady listened
patiently to both these propositions, bu,
arose quickly, after talking moment apart
with Biggs, and said, "Come."
Gray and Bevington obeyed at once,nor
did Biggs object. Brady struck the trail
and began pursuit in that tremendous ra-
pid manner for which be was SO famous
1t was eviden, thatif the ssvsges were over
taken, it could only be done by the utmost
exertion. They we're some hours ahead p
and from the number of their horses must
be nearly all mounted. Brady felt that if
they were not overiaksn that night, pur-
SUIT would he utterly futile. 1t was evi- .
den, that this band had been south Of the
Onio, and plundered the homes of the set
tiers. They had pounced upon the family
of Gray upon their return.
When the pursuit began, it must have
been two O'clock at least two hours had
been consumed by the spies in making the
necessary exploration about the house, ere
they approached it, and in examining the
ruins. Not word was said upon the
route by any one. Their leader kept stead
lily in advance Occasionally he would
diverge from the track, but only to take it
up again q mile or so in advance. The
Captains intimate knowledge Of the topo-
grapby of the country, enabled him 10 an
ticipate what points they would make.
Thus he gained rapidly upon them BY pro-
ceeding more nearly in straight line to-
ward the point at which they aimed to
cross Beaver river.
At last, convinced from the general di.
rectiou in which the tail led that he could
divine with absolute certainty the spot
where they would ford that stream, he
abandoned it and struck boldly across the
The accuracy of bis judgment
was vindicated by the fact, that from an
elevated crest of a long line Of hills, he saw
The Indians with their victims just disap-
peariDg up a raviue on the opposite side Of
The Beaver. He counted them as they
slowly fled away under the rays Of the de-
,lining sun. There were thirteen rarriors,
,ight of whom were mouuted-another wo-
nan, besides Gray's wife, was in the cav
.lcade, and two children besides his-in
III, five children.
The odds seemed fearful to Biggs and
Bevingto although Brady made no COM
nents. The moment they had passed out
If sight, Brady again pushed forward With
energy, nor did his followers
,ssi,ate. There was not man among
hem whose muscles we're not tense and
igid as whip cord, from exercise and train.
ng, from hardship and exposure. Gray's
vLole form seemed to dilate into twice its