The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1858-01-08
VOLUME XlV-NUMBER 9.

confident Of an attack. Night came at
last. A beautiful moonlight night Il was
too, and this favored me greatly, as l
would thereby DO. able to observe the
movements ofthe enemy As they approach.
ed my cabin. 1t was some two houn
after nightfall, and rs yet l had neither
heard or seen a sign ofthe Indians, when
suddenly ! Was started by the baying OF
my dog at the stable. l knew that the
Indians were coming. The stable stood
little to the west Of the cabin, and be-
tween the two was a patch Of cleared
ground, upon which the light Of the full
moon fell unobstructed. Judging from
the noise at the stable that they would
advance from that direction, posted my
self at the port hole on that side Of the
cabin. Z
had previously placed my wife on
the cross-polc in the chimney, SO that in
case our enemies effected an entrance in.
to the cabin, she might climb out through
the low chimney and effect her escape.
For myself, entertained no hope, but
determined not to be taken alive, re.
solved to sell my life dearly.
With breathless anxiety, I watched at
the port-holc. At length, ! saw them
emerge from the shadow ofthc stable and
advance across the vacant ground towards
my cabin. One two three great
heaven! SIX staiwart Indians, armed to
the teeth, and urged on by the hope Of
revenge, and | alone to oppose them,
with but one charge ofpowdcr. Ny case
was desperate indeed. With quick yet
stealthy step, in close single file, they ap.
preached, and were already within few
yards Of the house, when slight change
in the movement OF the forward Indian
changed the position Of the entire sex, SO
that portion Of the left side Of each was
left uncovered. They were in range
one aim would cover all. Quick as tho't
aimed and fired. As the smoke clear.
cd away, could hardly credit what my
my senses showed me rs the result Of my
shot. The fifteen slugs with which had
loaded my musket, had done their work
well; five Of the six Indians lay dead up.
on the ground, and the sixth had disap-
peared.
Although no enemy was in sight, l
did, not venture forth till morning. There
Law the bodies Of five Indians undislurb.
cd, together with the rifle Of the other.
Securing the arms and ammunition Of
the fallen Indians, l followed up the trail
of the missing one, until it reached tho
river, beyond which point could discov.
er no trace whatever.
From the amount of blood which mark.
cd the trail, together with the unmlstak.
able evidence that he had picked hi, way
with difficulty, was led 10 believe that
he was mor,ally wounded, and in order
to prevent his body from falling into the
hands Of his white foe, he had grouped
his way TO the river and had thrown him.
self into the current which had borne
him away.
The Indians had killed my COW, and
that, you may bc assured, was no trihing
loss, yet in my gratitude for my escape
from the mcrciless savages, l would have
been utterly willing to have made great.
cr sacrifices. l was well provided-by
means Of arms and ammunition taken
from the six Indians-in case Of a second
attack, but this, fortunately, proved to be
my last adventure with the savage. Not
one Of the bad had escaped to tell the
tale and inctc his brethren to avengc the
death Of their other comrades.
'Ah' exclaimed the old man, while the
tears gusl,ed from his eyes at the memo
ry Of that cvcntful night, that was glo-
rious shot-thc best | ever made
The hero OF this adventure lived to see
the rude wilderness where he had pitch.
cd his lonely cabin, transformed into
smiling fields and peoplcd by hardy aud
entcrprising pale faces, among whom his
last days were passed in peace and plen.
ty undisturbcd by the presence Of his old
time foes.