Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1857-10-14
The Hidden Cavern !:
Eg 7. D. wIEKINs.
Or
THE HUNTERS ESCAPE.


On the battlements of small fort that
had been built as frontier station on the
shores of Lake Erie. at the hour Of sun
set, might have been seen three persons,
who were silently gazing on the broad
expanse Of water that lay before them,
tinged by the mellow light of the setting
sun. The scene on which they gazed
was indeed beautiful; the dark woods be-
hind the fort were dressed 10 all the gaudy
livery of the earlier months of autumn, ere
yetth leaf had been touched bY the trans
forming hand which prepares the earth
for the approach Of winter, while the dan
cling waters, stretching away until they
undiscernably melted into tie congenial
blue Of the overhangif'g sky, offered a
rare picture IF 10y e!iness unto the eye Of
the beholder.
The group that we have mentioned,
consisted of two men, dressed in the com
mon habilineais Of The hunter and frontier
saan of that period (lSi3), the eldest of
whom held tie rank of captain of The
fort. while the other was his lieutenant,
and young girl Of apparently not more
than twenty summers, who was The daugh-
ter Of the commander. The silence that
had prevailed for some time was first
broken BY the youngest of ihe two FIRST
named individuals, who addressing the
other, said
sCaptain Highton, may ! inquire who
that person was who came TO the fort
yesterday, aud remained but til this
morning 7
lie represented himselfto be a stranger,
inurHeying alone to the next post
1t is unnusal for men to traverse these
forests alone, in these troublous times, and
there was something singular in his ap-
pearance that struck me when FIRST 1 saw
hirn-something suspicious, that warned
me to be on my guard against bin; but, by
the by, sir, they say that the Indians are
again beginning their deyastations 10 this |
part Of the country, and il might be well
for us to be on our guard against them
'Pshaw pshaw Stewart, you give too
much credit to idle rumors; in my opinion
we might as well return to our homes for
the war In reality is over, and no more
danger to be feared from the sayages.'
But, sir, n large body of Shawnees fully |
armed, were lately seen by one of our
scouts, and as long as they gather in large
numbers there il danger to be feared
well. well, have il your own way,
then, but for my part, | see no necessity
in shutting ourselves up in the fort, for
fear that there may be some few strollingt
Indians in the woods so saying he turned
away, and walked to another portion of
the fort.
And do you really think, Edward, that
there is any danger to be apprehended
from sayages7 = inquired Caroline High
ton, who had listened to The. conversation
between Stewart and her father.
II know not what to Think was the re.
ply. That there are Indians and British |.
i'm the surrounding woods. I have no
doubt, for the former have been repeatedly
seen BY our men, and | have my suspi-
cions III regard to the character of the
individual who paid as SO short a visit
yesferday-hut come what may, not one
hair Of your head shall be harmed while
there remains one droop of blood ia the
veins Of Edward Stewart
TIE period Of our tale was shortly after
the force Of British and Indians, under
Proctor and Tecumseh, had been defeated
at the battle of the Thames by General
Harrison, and peace for while restored
TO the western settlements. The fort was
III that time garrisoned BY small force of I
twelve men, composed of hunters and
settlers, who had taken Up arms @ defend