Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-07-30

AS thus lay on my back in a position
which had scarcely been changed for more
than twenty hours. | looked up through the
leaves, and to my surprise. | might almost
say joy, beheld raccoon in the act Of de-
scending the trunk of large tree, some Of
whose branches even canopied the spot where
| lay. Was this poor animal messenger Of
hope Had Providence directed it hither for
my preservation ! fanced so them al
most fancy so still At all events, | cautious
ly raised my only remaining friend, my rife,
took quick but certioa aim and fired. The
ball sped to its mark. and the animal dropped
dead within few feet of me and as raised
myself among the limbs, with the intention
of dragging myself to it, was startled by
hearing a human cry.
Fearing the Indians had not all gone. !
hastily reloaded my rifle, and then remained
perfectly still, trembling at the thought of
what might next behold. but determined to
sell my life dearly, and shoot the first human
figure | should see approaching me. Pres
emily heard the same loud. startling cry re-
peated but this time much nearer than be-
fore. Still kept silent, my rife firmly grasp
ed. for | could recognize nothing like the
voice of ono of my race. Again heard the
same singular sound, but still nearer yet. and
rustling among the under brush. apparently
at a distance Of twenty yards. | now cooked
my rife, and poised it, resolved to shoot the
first object that should appear. But fortu-
nately nothing did appear, till my heart had
been made to leap for JOY, by the uttorance
OF words IN my native tongue, which fell
clearly and distinctly upon my ear, and assur-
ed me 1t was a countrymun, perhaps COM
panion
"Who are you; where are you; For God S
sake. speak - cried the voice.
now gave an answering shout and soon
] was gratiiod by the sight of human fig
ure, pushing rapidly through the bushes,
whom, his haggard and blood
stained features, ! at once recognized as Pc
ter Brent. On getting sight of me, he stop
ped, and exclaimed, My God Captain Ben
ham, is this you; How did you escape =
] thought was the only being left alive by
the butchering wretohes .'
"Alas!' | returned, 81 am as good as dead;
foi | am badly wounded in my hips, and can
not walk a step"
"See = he reioned, Tin no better off
both my arms are broken and I've no pow
er to use a weapon. and could not feed myself
if had anything to eat. ! think of the two,
Captain, you are the best off. after all for
You, at least can shoot the game, and so won t
starve :"
AYE" I said "but how am to get it
when | have shot it"
II see he replied with sort of laugh,
",hc two Of us only make one decent man
You've got arms, and I've got legs and if
we ever get out Of this Internal scrape at all,
reckon we'll have to work out together
Arl ff T1cor.,,, :, n.
will let us alone, we'll be able to do it yet,
and cheat the bowling imps of two scalps,
anyhow !"
1t was a very singular and remarkable oc-
currence that only two men should have es-
capped from that scene of slaughter, and of
these the one with his hips broken, and the
other with his arms. Brent, like myself, had
had nothing to cat for more than twenty-four
hours. And like myself he had escaped, af-
ter being shot, by crawling into thicket,
and laying fat upon the earth, at point
where the Indians had passed within few
feet Of him. Here he had remained conceal
cd through the night and day, till the savag-
cs had departed, when the pangs of hunger
had brought him forward in search of food,
which he had little hope of finding, and he
knew not by what means he might get it into
his mouth, if obtained. On hearing the re-
port of my rife, faint hope had sprung up
in his breast, that a companion might be near
but whether it should prove to be friend or
an enemy, he determined to make himself
known, and risk captivity, or even death,
rather than remain in his hopeless condition.
We now began our singular mode Of liv-
ing which probably has never been parallel
led 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 fire
with my sticks, which he also pushed up to
me in the same manner, l broilcd it, and on
this we made our supper-as hearty and
palatnble a meal as ever | ate in my life--I
feeding him as he sat beside me. Our hun
ger appeased, we felt more sensibly the pangs
of thirst and at first we could devise no
means Of obtaining the water so near us. Ne
cessty, however, is the mother of invention !;
and luckily bethinking me of my hat, | plac-
ed the rim in my companions mouth, and told
him TO wade into the river until he should be
able to dip tho hat under, and then, by re-
turning quickly, | fancied good portion Of
the water might be retained, after allowing
for the leakage The plan succeeded and
taking the halffllcd hat from his teeth, |
held it for him to drink, and then drank my
self the most refreshing and invigorating
draught that over passed my lips.
The immediate wants Of natore being now
fully supplied, we began to be more cheerful
aud hopeful, though still suffering extreme
pain from our shattered limbs, which | next
proceeded to dress as well as our circumstan-
ces would permit. Making some rude splints
with my knife, took off my shirt and tore
it into strips, and then putting the bones Of
Brents arms together as well as | could,
bound the splnts around thom. This done,
proceeded to dress my own wounds iu the
same incomplete way.
Nnother night now set in, which we pass
ed together lying close in the thicket and
suffering great deal Of pain. We slept lit
tie, bat spent tho tedious hours in talking
over the dire events which had happened, and
mourning the loss of our brave companions
The second day, beginning early in the
morning. and keeping sharp lookout for
game, | was fortunate enough to shoot two
squirrels and a wild turkey, the latter being
quito numerous in that region This served
us for food through the day, and on the third
! succeeded in shooting couple more squir-
rels and few birds, my companion always
kicking the game to me with his feet, and
pushing up sticks aud brush in the Same man
npr and | Iroaafuss and o,,lfu,, IA aninnalg