The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-09-04

IFAtcucyS' uS ne nau always Ooon C0lleO.
When Mrs. Maynard heard the story of
Little Patchey,' she felt that she was
well repaid for all she had suffered in child
hood.
AHAIR's BREADTH ESCAPE.
1t was about the year 1905 that settled
in Virginia, near the falls of Kanawha. The
country at that time was IN unbroken will
derness. But few settlements had been
made then by the whites; and they were so
far apart as to render vain all hopes of as
sistance in case Of an attack from hostile In
dians, numbers of whom still infested the
neighborhood. lived there alone with my
wife several months unmolested; and by.dint
of perseverance,, being young and hardy,
had succeeded in making large clearing
in the forest, which had planted with
corn, and which promised an abundant
yield.
One morning, after we had despatched
our humble meal, and l had Just prepared
to venture forth upon my regular routine OF
labor, my attention was arrested by the tink.
ling of a COW bell in the corn field.
'There,' said my wife, 'the COW is in the
cornfield.'
But the ear of the backwoodsman becomes
by education, very acute, especially SO from
the fact that his safety often depends upon
the nice cultivation Of that sense. was no,
so easily deceived. listened; the sound
was repeated.
'That,' said !, IN reply to the remark OF
my wife, 'twas not the tinkling of bell
upon the neck of a cow. 1t is decoy from
some Indian, who desires to draw me into
ambush
Believing this to be the case, took down
my old musket, had no rife,) and seeing
that it was properly loaded, stole cautious
ly around the field towards to point from
which the sound seemed to proceed. As |
had suspected, there, in a cluster of bushes,
crouched an Indian, waiting for me to ap-
pear in answer to the decoy bell, that he
might send the fatal bullet to my heart
approached without discovering myself to
him, until within shooting distance, then
raised my piece and fired. The bullet sped
true to its mark, and the Indian fell dead.
Not knowing but that he might be accom-
panied by others, | returned with all speed
to the cabin; and having firmly barricaded
the door, watched all day from the port
holes in anticipation of an attack from the
companions Of the Indian had killed. To
add to the danger, and seeing the hopeless
but one charge OF pemi sIo'Ti1u =. 'i,t' ''"o
make but one Shot; and then, if attacked by
numbers, l should be completely in their
power. Determined to do the best with what
had, poured out the last charge of pow
der and put it into my musket, and then
waited in almost breathless anxiety for the
approach of night, feeling confident Of an
attack.
Night came at last. A beautiful moon
light night it was too; and this favored me
greatly, us | would thereby be able to OBJ
serve tho movements of the enemy as they
approached my cabin. 1t was some two
hours after mig htfall, and as yet had neith-
er seen nor heard a sign of the Indians, when
suddenly was startled by the baying of my
dog at the stable. knew that the Indians
were coming.
The stable stood little to the west of the
cabin, and between 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 ad-
vance from that direction, posted myself
ut the PORTFOLIOS on that side of the cabin.
had previously placed my wife on the cross
pole in the chimney, SO that in case our ene-
mics effected an entrance into the cabin, she
might climb out through the low chimney
and effect an escape. For myself l enter
tanned no hope; but determined not to be
taken alive, resolved to sell my life dearly
With breathless anxiety watched at the
port-hole. At length l saw them emerge
from the shadow of the stable, and advance
across the vacant ground towards my cabin.
One, two, three-great heaven! six stalwart
Indians, armed to the teeth, and urged on
by the hope of revenge; and alone to op-
pose them, with but cne charge of powder
MY case was desperate indeed. With quick
but stealthy step, in close single file they
approached, and were already within few
yards of the house, when a slight change in
the movement of the forward Indian altered
the position of the whole six, SO that por-
ton of the left side of each was left uncov-
cred. They were in range-one aim would
cover all. Quick as thought, l aimed and
fired. As the smoke cleared away, could
hardly credit what my senses showed me as
the result of my shot. The fifteen slugs
with which | loaded my musket had done
their work well: five of the Indians lay dead
on the ground, and the sixth had disappear
ed!
Although no ono was now in my sight, l
did not venture forth until morning. There
Law the bodies of the five Indians undisturb-
ed, together with the rifle of the other. Sc
curing the arms and ammunition of the fallen
Indians, l followed up the trail of the miss
ing one, until reached the river, beyond
which point could discover no trace what
ever.
From the amount of blood which marked
the trail, together with the unmistakable
evidence that he had picked his way with
difficulty, was led to believe that he was
mortally wounded; and in order to prevent
his falling into hands Of his white foe, he
CROPPED his way to the river and thrown
himself into the current, which had borne
him away. - --
The Indians had killed my COW; and that,
you may be assured, was no trihIng loss; yet
in my gratitude for my escape from the mer-
CHESS savagcs, would have been entirely
willing to have made great sacrifices. Twas
well provided, by means of arms and ANU
nition takens from the Indians, in case of o
second attack; but this, fortunately, proved
to be my last adventure with the savages.-
Not one of the band had escaped to tell the
tale, and incite his brethren to avenge the
death of his comrades. ..,. = sr
[NorE.--The hero of this adventure lived
to see the rude wilderness where he had
pitched his lonely cabin transformed into
smiling fields, and peopled by hardy and
enterprising "pale- faces" among whom
his last days were spent in paace and plenty,
undisturbcd by the presence of old time
foes.] s.s.4. .-z1's.- r A-ss s*'5>
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