The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1858-08-28

preserved me, could slill save me from
even more horrible doom than had CO.
capped,
A. thus lay on my back Ia position
which had scarcely been changed for more
than twenty hours, looked up through
the leaves, and 90 my surprise, / might al
most say JOS, behod raccoon IN the act Of
descending the trunk Of large tree, some Oi
whose branches even eanopied the spot
where / lay, Was this poor animal mes
senger Of hopep Had Providence directed
u hither iOF my PFeseTgHtionP ] faHeied 80
lhen--i almost fancy 30 still, A. all events,
| cautiously raised my only remaining friend,
my rifle, took quick but certain aim, and
fred, The ball sped 70 its mark, and the an
imal dropped dead within a few feet Of me
aud "a ! raised ulgself among the limbs, with
the intention Of dragging myself 10 IL, was
startled by hearing human cry.
Fearing the lndi rns had not all gone, !
hastily reloaded my ride, aud then remained
perfectly still, trembling az the thought Of
what | might next behold, but determined 10
sell my life dearly, aud shoot the frat human
figure should see approaching me. Pres
entity heard the same loud, startling cry re-
pealed, hut this time much nearer than be-
fore Still | kept silent, my rifle firmly
grasped for ! could recognize nothing like
the voice Of one of my race. Again ! heard
the same singular sound, but atill nearer yet,
aud o Tustling among the undcr-bush, ap-
pnrently at q distance Of twenty yards.
cooked my rllc aud poised II resolved To
shoot the first object that should appear,
But fortunately nothing did appear, I'LL my
heart had been made 10 leap for joy, by the
uttrunCo Of words IN my native tongue, Shich
fell clearly and distinctly upon my ear and
assured me Il was countryman, perhaps d
companion.
"Who are you whore are you For Gods
sake, speak" cried the voice.
now gave an answcring shout and soon
was gratided by the sight pfa human figure,
pushing rapidly through the bushes, whom,
at once recognized us Peter Brent On get.
ting sight Of me, he stopped, and exclaimed,
My God Captain Benham, il this you
How did you escape ?-l thought | was the
only being len alive 10y the butcherng wretch
cs"
Alas" ! returned, II am as good ~ dead
for am badly wounded in my hips, and can.
not walk a step"
"Scc'" he rcjoincd, I'm, no ncter of
both my arms are broken! and I've no power
To use a weapon, and could not iced myself
IL had anything "a eat. ! think, OF the two,
Captain, your the best oil, after all for YOU
at least, can shoot the game, and No wont
sturyc"
aye" said "but how am to get II,
when have shot it?'
81 see hc replied, with a sort Of laugh,
"thc two of ms only make decent man.
You've got arms, and I've got legs and il
We ever get out Of this Internal scrnpc at ALL,
! reckon we'll have Ia work out together
And il Heaven is willing, and the red devils
will let Us alone, ven bc able TO do il vet,
and cheat the bowling imps Of two seulps
anyhow. .".,...,
1t was a very singular and remarkable oc.
clrreLcc. that only uHn mon should haYc es.
capped from that scene or slaughter, aud Of
these the one with his hips broken, and the
other with his arms, Brent, like myself had
had Eathing Ito eat for more than twenty
four hours. And, like myfclf he had cs-
capped, after being shot, by crawling into q
thicket, and laying Hat upon the earth, at a
point where the Indians had passed within
few feet OF him. Here he had remained con-
SJaiyti J;iTsgFs ~ t,e
sayagcs had departed, when the pangs of
hunger had brought him forward in search
Of food, which he had little hope Of finding
and hc knew not by what means he might
get il into his mouth, il obtained. On hear
ing the report Of my rtfte faint hope had
sprung up in his breast that companion
to be u friend or an enemy, hc determined 10
make himself known, and risk captivity, or
even death, rather than remain in his hope
less condition.
We now began our singular mode Of living
which probably has never been parullcled in
the worlds history. The first thing Brent
did was TO search for the raccoon had shot,
and push it along to me with his feet
then dressed it and kindling a fire with my
sticks, which he also pushed up to me in the
same manner, broiled il and on this We
made our supper-as hearty and as pala-
table meal as ever ate in my life--I feed
ing him as he sat beside me. Our hunger
appeaScd, We Felt more scnsibly the pnngs of
thirst and at first we could devise no means
of obtaining the water so near MS. Necessity,
however is the mother of inventions and
luckily bethinkng me Of my hat, placed the
rim in my companions mouth, and told him
TO wade into the river until he should be Rble
to dip the hat under and then by returning
quickly, | fancicd good portion of the wa
ter might be retained, after allowing for the
leakage. The plan suoceeded and taking
the halfilled Int from his teeth | held il for
him to drink,an then drank myself the most
and nyigoraling draught that ever
passed my lips.
The immediate wants of nature being now
fully supplied, we began to be more cheerful
and hopeful, though still suffering extreme
pain from our shattered limbs, which next
proceeded to dress ns well as our circumstan-
ccs would permit. Making some rude spluts
with my knife, took off my shirt and tore
il into strips, and then putting the bones of
Brcnts arms together as well as | could, !
bound the spints around them. This done,
| proceeded to dress my own wounds in the
same incomplete way.
Another night now set in, which we passed
together lying close in the thickct and suf
fering great deal of pain We slept little,
but spent the tedious hours in talking over
The dire events which had happened, and
the loss Of our-braye companions.
The second day, bSsinning early in tho
and keeping sharp lookout for
game, | was fortunate enough to shoot two
squirrels and n wild turkey, the latter being
anita nnn,prnua in tbnt This aprvaI