Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1857-09-17

sTo-night, as I was returning t
1 the fort, | suddenly thought I hear
the sound ofseyerd voices, and creep
ing on my hands and knees toward
the spot, got near enough to see ant
hear that about a dozen Iroquof
were there and then arranging thei
plans to surprise the fort tonight, in
tending to steal ia upon it by tht
point which their cussed deviltry
had rendered so easy of access. :
l only stopped long enough TO learr
this, when-I hurried off to the Colo
mel, and asked him to place you al
my disposal, and here we are. | die
not say word to him about what
had learnt. being determined that il
possible the .rifles'' should have all
honor of exterlHinating the varlets
And now / ask you, are you willing
and ready to follow my orders?'
Every man cbeerfully answered in
the affirmative, and with quickened
pulse and sanguine hopes the little
company again moved forward.
The post consisted of a long mar
row space bounded on each side by
a rocky, shelving bank. while its ex-
treme end was closed in by the dark
and impenetrable looking Forest
The bank on each side of the pass
was thickly covered with brush and
underwood, and among,these Death
now carefully conce aledhis men, ia
king care to arrange them so that
their fire would cross each other, and
bidding them. not to fire until he had
given the signal, and after they had
fired, not to stop to reload, but, club
bing their rifles, to jump down and
finish the struggle in that manner.
With steady alacrity each man
took up the post assigned him, and
in another minute the spot presented
the same lone still and solemn ap-
pearance it had worn previously to
their arrival.
The little company had begun to,
grow very inpatient, and Death him
self to fear that the Indians had Ell
ther rued of making the attempt,
or else had changed their plan Of at
tack, when suddenly his quick eye
detected the form of one of his Graf
ty foes issue in a crouching position
from the deep shadow which the lofty
trees threw far up the pass.
Three six-nine-twelv -thlr-
teen,' counted Death, as one after
another they emerged in single file
from the wood, and with quick, cat
like stealthiness of movement, ad-
vanced up the pass, their rifles in
trail, and their faces and bodies rem
lered still more hideous and feroci-
ous looking by the grotesque mar
kings of their war paint. On they
came, swiftly and silently, and all un-
conscious OF the fate that was In store
Tor them.
xThe foremost Of the band, whose
commanding statue, wolf-teeth col
ar, and eagle tuft, at.once proclaimed
him as chief, had advanced until he
was directly opposite the bush in
which Death was hid, when the lat
ter, with starting distinctness, sud
denly initiated the cry of night owl,
and discharged his rifle.
Eight of the Indians fell by the
volley which the remaining riflemen
now poured in upon them; but strange
10 say, one of the five who did not
fall, was the chief whom Death had
aimed at. This unusual event was
owing to the following cause: the
branch of the bush Oh which he had
steadied in firing had suddenly yield
ID at the moment he discharged his
piece, thus rendering harmless his
otherwise unerring aim.
Uttering an imprecation at his i'll
uck, Death sprang down the bank
With the rest Of bis companions, and
With one bound reached the size Of
he Iroquois chief. They grappled
md both fell heavily to the ground,
,lasEed in fearful embrace, and dar-
ing glances Of savage hatred at each
,ther beneath their knitted and scowl-
ng brows. |
Keep Off shouted Death, as he|
Jaw one or two of bis companions in |
he act Of STOPPING doWn to assist !
lim, keep Of, and i be masters me
ct him CO..
Over and overihey rolled, nrith-I
ng and straining, but seemingl neisi |
hez aiming any adTantsge oSef'