Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1858-11-19
A Thrilling Adventure.

We question whether. In the history Of
" hairbreadth escapes, . parallel TO the
following can easily be found. The story
was told US by an old aud valued friend.
now residing IN the country, but whose ear
ly days were spent near the tragic adven.
turc here recorded.
We give tho story a, related to Us. in the
word. Of the hero.
"lt wa. abou, the year 1905 tha, I set
tied IN Virginia, near the fall Of the Kama.
va. Tho country a, this time was an un-
broken wilderness. But few settlements
had been made then by the whites, and they
wer - far arar, as TO render all hops Of
assistance To case Of an attack from the in.
dian.. vain, numbers Of whom s,ill infested
,hs neishbOrhood.
81 lived there alone with my vile Tor sew
eraI months unmoles,ed. and by dnt Of per.
scversnee, being then young and hardy, had
succeeded in making quite clearing n the
forest, which had planted with corn. and
which PROMISED an abundant yield.
Z" One morning alter we had despatched
our humble meal, and had just prepared
10 venture forth upon my regular routine
Of labor my attention was arrested bV the
tinklins ol cow.boll in the eornGeld.
There" said my wife " the COW Is in
tho corn.hsld.
But the eur OF the back.woodsman be.
comes, by education, very acute. especially
50 from the fact that bis safety often de-
pcnds upon the nice cultivation Of ,ha,
sense.
Twas not 50 easily deceived. ! listened
the sound was repeated. That" said
| in reply to the remark OF my wife. " was
not the linkle Of bell upon the neck Of n
COW. II is decoy from somO Indian To
draw me into ambush"
Believing this to be tho case, took
down my old musket, { | had no riae,) and
seeing that it was properly loaded. stole
cautiously forward around the field towards
the point from which the sound seemed to
proceed. As had suspected, there in n
cluster OF bushes, crouched an Indian wait.
ing Tor me to appear in answer to his de-
coy bell, that he might send a fatal bullet
to my heart. approached without dI'cOv.
eaing myself to him until within shooting
distance, then raised my piece and fired.
The bullet sped true to its mark, and tho
Indian fell dead.
Not knowing but he might be accom-.
pani,d by others, | returned with al speed
to the cabin, and having firmly barricided
the door, watched all day IRON the port.
holes in anticipation Of an attack from the
companions Of tho indian had killed. To
add to danger and seeming hopelessness OF
my situation, I discovered that had but
ono charge Of powder left. | could make
one sho, and then IL attacked by numbers,
should be entirely in their power. De-
termined TO do the best with what had.
poured on, the last charge Of powder and
pa, 1t into my musket and then waited for
the approach Of night, feeling confident Of
an attack. Night came at last. A beau
tiful moonlight, night l. was too, and this
favored me greatly, as would thereby be
enabled to observe the movements OF the
enemy as they approached my cabin. II
was some two bours after nightiall, and as
yet had neither heard nor seen sign Of
the Indians, when suddenly was startled
by the baying Of my dog at the stable. 1
know that the Indians werc 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 unobstructed. Judging from the
no,ss at the stable that they would advance
from tina. direction I posted myself on that
corner Of the cabin.
81 bse previously placed my wife on tho