Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-06-16

CaptaiH you re the Oest OH, AFTER all LOT you,
at least, can shoot game, and so won't starve!''
ssAye,'' said ssbut how am to get it
when have shot it,
sI see,'' he replied, with sort of laugh,
ssthe 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. And
if Heaven is willing, and the red devils will
let us alone, we'll be able to do it yet, and
cheat the bowling imps of two scalps, anyhow!'
1t was 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
nothing to eat for more than twenty-four hours.
And like myself, too, he had escaped, after
being shot, by crawling into thicket, and ly
ing fiat upon the earth, at point where the
Indians had passed within few feet of him.
Here he had remained concealed through the
night and day, till the savages 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 report of my rifle, faint hope
had sprung up in his breast that companion
might be near but whether it should prove
to be friend or 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 living,
which probably has never been paralleled 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 sticks
which he also pushed up to me in the same
| manner, broiled it, and on this we made our
supper-as hearty and as palatable meal as
ever ate in my lfe-I feeding him as he sat
| beside me. Our hunger appeased, we felt
more sensibly the pangs of thirst; and at first
we could devise no means for obtaining the
| water near Necessity, however, is the
mother Of invention; and luckily bethinking
me of my hat, placed the rim IN my compan-
ions mouth, and told him to wade into the
river, until he should be able to dip the hat
| under, and then, by returning quickly, fam
| cied good portion of the water might be re-
| tanned, after allowing for the leakage. The
| plan succeeded /; and taking the half-flled hat
| from his teeth held it for him to drink, and
| then drank myself, the most refreshing and
invigorating 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 we'll our circumstan-
ces would permit. Making some rude splints
with my knife, 1 took of my shirt and tore it
into strips, and then putting the bones of
| Brent's arms together we'll as could, l
bound the splints 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 thicket, and suf-
fering geat deal of pain. We slept little,
but spent the tedious hours in talking over the
dire events which had happened, and mourn
ing 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
quite numerous in that region. This served
us for food through the day, and on the third
L 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 and brush in the same man.
ncr, and dressing and cooking the animals,
and feeding him.
So matters went on for several days, the
| game gradually becoming scarcer, and requr-
ing a great deal more labor on Brent's part to
drive it within reach of my rifle. Days thus
passed on, and even weeks, before my wounds
were so far healed to permit me to hobble
about on crutches, and during all this time we
saw net human soul, though anxiously watch
ing for some chance boat to pass down the
river and take US off.
Our garments being thin, and our shirts torn
up for bandages, and the weather setting in
cold, our future prospects looked cheerless IT,
deed, and We were much concerned lest we
should be obliged to winter where we were.
To be prepared for any emergency, we, with
much labor, put up a kind of rude shanty,
which served in some measure to protect us
from the almost wintry blasts which now began
to sweep over the desolate scene.
As the season grew colder and more incle-
ment, the game became SO scarce that my
companion with difficulty drove enough within
rife-shot to give us single meal day and
with all the rest, our powder was so low in the
| horn that could count the charges, and dared
not fire except when certain of my mark: then
it was we began to feel the horrors of despair,
and sometimes to regret that we had outlived
l q