Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1857-10-14

| the bands of Indians who formerly had
annoyed them by sudden attacks and
ambushes, Captain Highton and most Of
his men had fallen into degree of apathy
in regard TO the dangers that threatened
them, aud spent their time in hunting OF
fishing, or idly wishing to return TO their
homes. believing that the war was at an
end, leaving the gates of the fort open,
and the ennenchments ia an almost deS
fenceless condition.
Caroline Highton was the only daugh-
ter Of her father, and had joined him dur
ing the summer, and taken up her abode
with him in the fort, being the only wo-
man to be found for miles and miles of
/ pathless forests that lay between the irons
1 tier station and the nearest Settlements
| Thrown into constant connection with
each other, an affection which gradually
/ famed into love, had grown up between
her and Edward Stewart, and they were
generally considered by the other inmates
of the fort, as being IN that condition
which nowadays would be called 'en-
gagged
Edward Stewart knew we'll to what
dangers the fort was subjected, he knew
that the cessation Of hoistlities would on
ly be of short duration, and that before
they were aware of their presence, the dark
forests would pour forth again their bands
of painted savages, before whose sudden
attacks an unguarded situation would
easily fall trap. He had of.en before
earnestly expressed his sentiments to the
captain, and warned him to be on his
guard, but his words were always met with
an incrednlous smile, and his warnings
fell UNDECIDED on the ear Of the commau-
der.
Not more than week had elapsed, af
ter the conversation we have related had
taken place, than, one night when the in
mates Of the fort were reposing in un>
guarded slnmbers, sudden yell, uttered
as if it were by an hundred unearthly
voices, was heard ringing without and
within tile fort, and its defenders were
suddenly aroused to meet unarmed
savage foe led Oh by the very same stran-
ger who had been received as we have
mentioned, few days before. and who
had conducted his swarihy followers into
the fort while its inmates were wrapped
III sleep.
AT the first alarm, Edward Stewart
leaped from his bed, and seizing his rife
that he always had near him, rushed forth,
butto see his companions fighting in vain,
and overpowered by a force Of welI-armed
Indians. He first thought was TO join in
the fray and share the fate of his COM
rades; bat bethiskipg himself Of his
promise made TO Caroline, he rushed TO
her apartment just in time 10 save her
from the blow Of an Indian, whose tomas |
hawk was upraised to murder the insensi-
bic form lying before him. Killing with |
one blow of the hatches which he also
carried, the intruder, he grasped Caroline
in his arms, and bore her through the
crowd of fighting savages to the gate of
the fort, from whence he proceeded to the
beach, and laying the senseless form in
the bottom Of one of the many canoes
which were hauled up on the shore, he
pushed off into the lake. The Indians,
after they hid completed their work by /
Staying all the inmates Of the fort, dis
covered the loss of Stewart, who had pass
sed through them to the gate, and rushed
down to the beach in pursuit of him.
Three canoes were soon manned and
pushed off, while another band of Indians
skirted the shore, to prevent the fugitive
from making his escape. twas . bright,
moonlight night, and although Stewart
had a few minutes start, his pursners
gained on him, and fred seve-
raI shots at him. Bending low in this lit
lie craft, so as to hide his body from the
Indians, he padded with such sWiftness
put into the lake, that il kept bis pnrsuers
busy to keep in sight ofhiu. Suddenly,
he made turn in his course, and put di-
.ectiy for the shore, the high banks of
which were overhung by dense growth
IF bushes and small trees, which took root
n the soil. This movement was hailed by
he Indians WIN were following him by
oud shouts, for they thought he was az
bout to land on The shore, where they
could easily follow him up, and capture
him.
Swiftly the canoe which contained Ed
ward Stewart and his precious charge,
leared the shore, and it had already
oucied the oyerhanging branches, where
he rose and fred into the foremost canoe
behind him. The effect Of the shot was
old by the falling Of a heavy body into the
water, and IN another moment the cauoe
of Stewart disappeared among the bushes.
His pursuers approached the place
where he had so strangely vanished from
Z &