Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-10-06

powder and put it into my musket and
then waited for the approach of night, feel
ing confident of an attack. Night came
at last A beautiful moonlight night it
was too, and this favored me greatly, as I
would thereby be able to observe the
movements of the enemy astheY approach
ed my cabin. 1t was some two hours after
nightfall, and as yet had neither heard
nor seen a sign of the Indians, when sud-
denly | was startled by the baying of my
dog at the stable. knew that the Indians
were coming. The stable stood a little to
the west of the cabin, and between the two
was patch of clear ground, upon which
the light of the full moon fell unobstrue-
ted Judging from the noise at the stable
that they would advance from that direc-
ton, posted myself at the portfolio on
that side of the cabin
L had previously placed my wife on the
cross-pole in the chimney, so that, in case
our enemies effected an entrance into the
cabin, she might climb out through the
low chimney and effect her escape. For
myself, entertained no hope; but, deter
mined not to be taken alive, | resolved to
sell my life-dearly.
with breathless anxiety | watched at
the portfolio. At length saw them emerge
from the shadow of the stable and advance
across the vacant ground towards my cab
in. One-two-three-great Heaven =
six stalwart Indians, armed to the teeth,
and urged on by the hope of revenge,
and ] alone to ooppose them, with one charge
of powder. Ny case was desperate, indeed.
With quick yet stealthy step, in close sin
gle file, they approached, and were already
in few yards of the house, when slight
change in the movement Of the forward
Indiazs changed the position Of the entire
six, so that portion of the left side Of
each was uncovered. They were in a range
-one aim would cover all. Quick as
thought | aimed and fred. As the smoke
cleared away, I could hardly credit what
my senses showed me as 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 upor
the ground, and the sixth had disappeared
Although no enemy was now in sight
| did not venture forth until morning.
There lay the bodies of FIVE Indians undis
turbed, together with the rifle of the 9th
er. Securing the arms and ammunition o
the fallen Indians followed up the trai
of the missing one until it reached the riy
er, beyond which point [ could discove
no trace whatever. From the amount c
blood which marked the trail, togethe
with the unmstakeable evidence that h
had picked his way with difficulty, wa
led to believe that he was mortally wounC
ed, and in order to prevent his body fror
falling into the hands of his white foe, b
had groped his way to the river and throw
himself into the current, which had born
him away.
The Indians had killed my COW, an
that, you may he assured, was no triain
loss, yet, in my gratitude for my escar
from the merciless sagages, l would hay
been utterly willing to have made create
sacrifices. was we'll provided-by meal
of arm and ammunition taken from the S
Indians-in case Of second attack; bl
this, fortunately, proved to be my last a
venture with the savages. Not one of tt
band had escaped to tell the tale and incl
his brethren to avenge the death of his OF
er comrades.
sAh ? exclaimed the old man, while Il
tears gushed from his eyes at the memol
of that eventful night, that was a glorio
shot-the best ever made
The hero of this adventure lived to s.
the rude wilderness, where he had pitch'
his lonely cabin, transformed into smilil
fields and peopled by hardy and ente
prising pale faces, among whom his la
days were passed in peace and plenty, U
disturbed by the presence of his old tin
r foes.