The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1857-05-28


approached it and in examining the ruins -
Not word was spoken upon the route by
any one. Their leader kept steadily in ad-
vance. The Captains intimate knowledge
of the topography OF the country. enabled
him to anticipste what points they would
make. Thus he gained rapidly upon them
by proceeding more nearly in a straight line
towards the point at which they aimed to
cross Beaver river. a ..s a.. ..... -,
At last, convinced from the general direc-
tion in which the trail led. that he could di.
vine with absolute certainty the spot where
they would ford the stream, he abandoned
it and struck boldly across the county,
The accuracy Of his judgment was vindica-
ted by the fact, that from an elevated crest
Of q long line Of hills, he saw the Indians
with their victims just disappearing up a
ruyme on the opposite side OF the Beaver
He counted them as they slowly fled away
under the rays Of the declining sun. There
were thirteen warriors. eight Of whom were
mounted--another woman, besides Gray's
wife. n the cnyafcaae, and two children Be.
sides his--in all, FIVE children.
The odds seemed fearful to Biggs and Bev.
ington, although Brady made no comment
The momen. they Fad passed oct Of sight,
Brady again pushed forward with uhfagged
energy, nor did his followers hesitste.--
There was not man among them whose
muscles were not as tense and rigid as whip
cord, from exercise and training, from hard.
ship and exposure. Gray's whole form
seemed to dIate into twice it's natural size al
the sight of hs wife aud children. Terrible
was the veDgance he swore. ".'
Just as the sun set, the spies .forded the
stream and began TO Oscend the ravine. 1t
was evident that the Indians intended to
camp for the night some distance up the
ere elk or run, which debouches into Beaver
River about three miles from the location OF
Fort Mcintosh. and two below the ravine.--
The spot owing to the peninsular form oftse
tongue Of land lying west OF the Beaver, a,
whicb-they expected to encamP, was full ten
miles from that fort. Here there was d fa-
nous spring 30 dettly and cunningly enclos-
ed with thick mountain pines, that there was
little d1pger Of discovery. Even they nigh.
light Ere and it could not be seen one hun.
dred yatds. ~ ."nN. s-'r. ,@f u.. T..v
The proceedings Of their leader, which
would have been totally ihexPlcable to oil
others, were partially, fnpt fully understood
by his follow ers. At least they did not hesi-
tute or question him. When dark came
Brady pushed forward with as much upPa.
rent certainty os he he'd done during the day.
So ropid was his progress, that the Indians
had but just kudlcd their fire and cooked
their meal, when their mortal foe, whose
prcsence they dreaded as much as the small
rox, stood upon huge rock looking down
upon them. so'a ''3s '"ans"'. s''
His party had been but short distance
IN the rear, at convenient spot, whilst he
went forward TO reconaoitre. There they
remained impatientIy for three mortal hours.
They discussed in low tones the extreme
disparity of the force the propriety Of going
TO Fort Mcintosh to get assistahce. Bit
all q greed that if Brady ordered them to at.
tack. success was certain. However impa-
tient they were, he returned ut last.
| He described to them how the women lay
within the centre Of u crescent formed by
the savages as they slept. The guns stack
ed upon the right, and most of their toma.
hawks. The arms were not tnore than fif.
teen feet from them. He had crawled with
in fifty feet Of them, when the snorting ol
the horses occasioned by the approach of a
Wild beast had aroused number Of the say.
ages from their light slumbers, and he had
been compelled to lie quiet for more than
an hour until they slept again.
| He then told them that he wotld attack
them. TWAS impossible to use fire'arms.--
They must depend solely upon the Knife ane
Tomaha,ok. The knife must BE placed in
the LETT hand and the tomahawk in the right
Biggs he assigned the duty Of securing thei
farms. He was 10 begin the work Of slaugh
ter upon Tie right, Gray upon The lett, ant
evinetoh in the centre.
After each fully understood the duty as
signed him. the slow, difficult, hazardous op
nroacb began. Tbev continued 1pon ,hei