The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1858-07-21

1
every sound! At length | could hear the In
danS astir; and after they began to traverse the
scene Of slaughter, and gather up the arms of
my companions, and strip their bodies of every
garment. They were hours at work-and to
me these hours weie ages. At times, when
some Of them drew near the spot where lay
| felt my heart in my throat, and it seemed as
| il should die of suiIocation. Twice a small
party Of them came so close that could see his
half naked hideously painted forms through the
/ laaves; and once single warrior stalked by me-
within reach of my rifle. Up and down, and
over the ground they passed and repassed many
times, till they were evidently satisfied that
none of the dead or wounded had escaped their
notice. They then drew off in body alorg
the bank Of the river, where they remained for
two hOurs--in fact till late in the day-when
being Joined by the rest of their companions,
who had probably made a long journey in pur-
suit Of the fugitiyes, they repaired to the boats
4 With feeling Of thankfulness which can,
not express, heard them put off from the
shore, and every sound gradually die away in
silence. And yet shortly afteI there come an
awful rcvulsion of feeling, for now felt that
was alone-aone in the wildernesS-afar from
friends--so crippled that l could not walk
could only move my body, In fact, by great
efort--suiferihg all the time the most excruc-
ating agonies and in danger Of perishing from
starvation. Had been able to move about;
though ever Slowly and leebly, l could have re-
joiced in my good fortune, but situated as was
felt that an overruling Providence such as had
so far preserved me, could still save me from a
still more horrible doom than had escaped.
AS thus lay on my back, in a position which
hnd scarcely been changed for more than twen-
ty hours, looked up through the leaves, and
( to my surprise, l might almost say, Joy, beheld
a raccoon in the act of descending the branches
of large tree some Of whose branches even
| canopied the spot where lay Was this poor
t animal messenger Of hope? Had Providence
directed it thither for my preservation? fan
, cicd so then--I almost fancy 50 still. At all
events | cautiously raised my old remaining
friend my rifle, took quick but certain aim
and fired. The ball sped to its mark, and the
Q animal dropped dend within few feet of me;
= and as | raised yselfalong the limbs, with the
intention of dragging myself to it, l was star
4 tied by hearing ahuman cry, s,.. .l
c Fearing the Indians had not gone, l hastily
r reloaded my rifle, and then remained perfectly
| still, fairly trembling at the thought of what
might Of what l might next behold, but deter
mined to sell my life dearly, and shoot the first
human figure that | should see approaching me-
s Presently heard the same loud, startling
e cry repeated. but this time much nearer
than before. Sill kept silent, my rifle firmly
/ grasped, for could recognize nothing like the
4 voice of one Of my race. Again l heard the
| same singular sound, but still nearer yet, and
s rushing among the underbrush, apparently at a
I distance of twenty yards l cooked my rife
: and poised it resolved to shoot the first object
i that should appear. But fortunately nothing
, did appear, till my heart had been made to leap
!; for joy by the utterance of words in my native
I tongue, which fell clearly and distinctly upon
/. my ear, and assured me it was countrymen
: perhaps a companion. r..as....
9 'Who are you? Where are you? For Gods
: sake speak" cried the voice.
g now gave an answering shout; and soon
: was grati6ed by the sight of a human figure
g pushing through the bushes, whom, notwlth
n standing his haggard and blood stained fea
e lures, at once recognized as Peter Brent
S On getting sight of me, he stopped and cxclaim
d ed, t. ....sf ..-r.a
= "My God! Captain Benham--is this your
IS How did you escape? l thought | was thu
: only being left alive by the butchering wretch
esq"
r, nnAlas! returned-"Im as good as dead =
d for Pm badly wounded in my hips and canuo
n walk step" .,,
g "See!" he rejoined, I'm no better olf-botl
e my arms are bIoken, and I've no power to us
Q weapon and couldn't feed myself i'll had any
Ie thing to eat. ! think Of the two, Captain
you're the best or after ALL for you ut least ca
10 shoot game, and so won't starye."
II see," he replied, with sort Of laugh 9TH
y two ofu only make one deceut man. You''v
20 got arms and I've got legsi and if we ever &c
to out of this Internal scrape at all, reckon We
ID have to work out together. And ifheayen
er willing, and the red devils will let US alone
" we'll be able to do it, and cheat the howlin
Id mps oftwo scalps any how" s .-;g
ir 1t was very singular and remarkable occul
Id renee. that only two men should have escape
sh from that scene Of slaughter; and Of these, til
one with his hips broken and the other wit
II his arms. Brent, like, myself, had nothing
at eat for more than twenty-four hours. And lii
u myself too, he had escaped after being shot, /
- crawling into thcket, and lying fat upon Il
" earth at point where the Indians had passe
- and repassed within few feet Of him. Hel
to he had remained concealed through the nigl
a. and the day, till the savages had departed whe
in, the plngs of hunger had brought him out
il search Of food; which he had little hope Of nt
er ing, and knew not by what means he might g
1t into his mouth if obtained.
at On hearing the report ofmy rife, faint hol
wv had sprung up in his breast that companit
SO might be near; but whether it should prove
at be friend or an enemy, he determined to NAL
he himself known and risk captivity, or even deaf
lat FATHER than remain in his helpless condition.
nd We now began our singular mode Of livin
On which probably has never been paralleled in Il
W, worlds history. The first thing Brent did W
rs 10 search for the raccoon had shot, and pui
n II alona tn ma with bis feat then dress,