The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1857-01-22


be furried. Her boys were out of sight
playing in the corn6eld or gathering nuts
out on the prairie from the hazel bushes:
and she was afraid that, if the Indians
saw them, they would steal them, for even
the friendly tribes seemed to have an un-
controllable propensity for stealing white
children. She went out and gave a eau.
fIous lock, but, seeing nothing of them,
she concluded that they were safely hid
den in the recesses of the cornfeld. and
there she concluded to let them remain
until her visitors departed. Finding they
could obtain no fire water from her. tbev
took drink from the spring and went on
their way. The moment they were
out of hearing, she went out into the field
and called her boys. They did not re-
ply; and, after thorough search, she set
out for the the hazel bushes, Alice ac-
companying her. The boys were no.
where to be seen, anil it was now about
their usual time for returning home
Impressed with the idea that the Indians
bad stolen them, Mrs. Potter, who was
not a very powerful woman physically,
set cuton run in the direction in which
they had gone, to demand the return OF
her children. But they were entirely
vanished from sight, and their long Indi.
an tramp was quite too much for her less
experienced feet; and she returned, after
an hour or two, quite discouraged.
"Have you seen anything of them?"
she asked of Mrs. Lancaster.
"Nothing," replied she, hugging her
own child close to her bosom.
"Ef had a horse, I'd come up with
them," said the mother.
''Would they not kill you?'' asked
Alice.
"No, they dursen't for fear of the Gov
eminent. They d give up the children
eff demanded 'em. Oh, eff Peter would
only come"
In vain they looked, through the sun
setlight, either for the return of the chill
dren, or their husbands. Alice cooked
some supper SO that, if the men returned,
they could refresh themselves, and start
Immediately after the lost ones; but nei
ther Of the women touched it. They
were absorbed in suspense. Mrs. Potter
was nearly distracted. She did not fear
any sudden harm or cruelty to her child
rem but she knew they must be suffer
ing, as only children can from fright or
home sickness, and she feared that the
Indians might deny the theft, and succeed
IN keeping them concealed for weeks OF
months, or until Government compelled
them to restore them.
The COW came home, and with her the
last faint hope that the boys might have
been off after sukey, expired. Night
deepened around. The sleeping babe
was put in bed. and the two women sat
in the door, straining their eyes and ears
in the darkness and silence, until mid
night.
''Had you not better try to sleep? Il
fear you will be ILL.," spoke Alice, at last.
"No. no! Hark! don't you hear the
Of horses? I do.,' She put
her ear down to the ground. .tI hear
them plain-two of 'em. Our husbands
are comm How slow they do come!-
Let S go to meet them"
Alice now. heard distinctly the ap-
proach of horses, and, although afraid
that they might not, after all. belong TO
those they were looking for, she would
not say so. but started with her eager
to meet them.
"Peter! Peter! is that you?" shouted
Mrs. Potter, as they ran down the hin
and approached close enough to hear vol
ces.
"Meissy! what on airth-what's up?"
the sturdy voice of the squatter.
"My wife-is she ill?' exclaimed Mr..
Lancaster.
No; but the boys?"
..What of then?"
The sturdy voice trembled with sud-
len apprehension.
"They re stolen by the Injins, and you
must go after 'em. Oh, thought you
ever would get backp' sobbed Mrs.
'otter 9
All was now inquiry and explanation.
he heavily laden horses were very tired,
ut there were none to take their place
'heir packs were removed, and some feed
nd water given them, while the hungry
nd weary men also took lunch and put
une provisions in tEeir pockets.
After an hours rest they started on
heir way, leaving their wives to anxious
Tatching for their return. Peter knew
be direction in which the Indians trav-
led to their reserved grounds, and had
trong hopes of overtaking them soon.--
T l. i a..