The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1858-08-28

indeed, and We were much concerned lest We
should be Obliged 10 winter where Ne we're,
10 be prepared for any emergency, We, with
much labor put up rude shnnty, which sery-
ed In some measure 10 protect us from the
almost winty blasts which now began 20
sweep over the desolate scene.
A. the season grew colder and more incle-
ment, the game became 80 scarce that my
companion with difiuity drove enough with
in riiie-shot 20 give rs single meal day
and with all tho rest, our powder was 90 low
that ! could count the ehnTgea, and dared not
ATe, except when certain 81 my mark thln
il was We began 10 feel the horrors Of des-
pair, and sometimes 10 regret that We had
outlyed the dead around ua. Almost naked,
with unshayen, haggArd faces, hollow checks
and sunken eyes, We nov indeed looked Pitia'
BILE, even 20 each other T every day, too, our
condition seemed to grow worse. instead 0f
better aud ht last, with a sinking heart, ]
informed Brent VIC had but four charges Of
powder In our horn.
"God help uA !" was his reply.
Matters were thus at their very worst,
when one day Peter burst suddenly into our
shanty, where / sat shiyerng over few em-
beTs, aud with tears in his eyes, exclaimed,
"Blessed be God Capt. Benham, we're saved!
there's fiat boat just turning the bend
above u.s."
Who shall describe nv feelings them 1
started up and hobhled down 10 the bank Of
the river, shouting wildly ~ | went, lest the
boat, scarcely yet within sight. should pass
us gro could reach the beach Oh how
painfully anxious we watched It's slow APP
proaoh, continually shouting To attract the
attention Of men too far distant to hear us
and making every kind Of signal We could
possibly think Of for the same purpose.
Gradually the boat neared Us, and We could
seo its crew gathered together, and pointing
towards US But, oh Heaven imagine, II
you can, our horror, when We saw them sud
denly betake 10 their oars, push over to the
Ohio shore, and then row past us with all
their might, amid our frantic gesticulations
and piteous prayer for help! On they swept
down the river, and then Brent and /, look.
ing at each other with silent horror. sunk
down together upon tho cold beach, and
mentally prayed for death to end our suffer
ings
Suddenly, oh, sight Of agonizng joy! We
saw n canoe put off from the larger boat and
approach US, and then We gotrup and fni'ly
screamed and begged for assistance. When
the rowcrS had come near enough 10 converse
with us, they stopped, and told us they fear
I'd We were decoys put there 20 draw them
to the shore, that the Indians might fall up.
on and murder them, and il took no small
time, and the Il earnest AsscyerationH and
ptcous appeals, TO convince them TO the con
trary. Al last after rowing past Us two or
three times, and closely inspecting the shore
and getting us To come out on the sandbar
they ycntured 10 take us aboard. We were
kindly treated by these men, when they came
TO hear our story aud being taken by then
70 the garrison at the Falls tnow Louisville,
ky.,l We we're placed under the care of a
Skilllul surgeon, aud soon restored To our
usual hcaithful strength
Header, is not this story remarkable Tor
the fact that two men should so sinlulnry
escape from the sNvagcs, and live six weeks
in the wilderncss-the one with useless arms
the other with useless legs-thc two together
making, as il were only one whole man
Whoever shall to-day stand upon the levce
Of the now large and hourshing city Of Gin.
cinnati. and glance his eyes across the beau
tilul Ohio, shall behold the very spot where
these remarkable events occurred, at a time
when al nrnun1 on either shore. wn, wide
howing wilderness.