The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1858-09-25


lessness Of resistance than II fear a. the i'm
minency Of biz peril, was expressed, was all
that he could do,
SIN, the warriors delayed 10 Gre, Know
ing the delight Of the Indian in the torture
Of hi, r c tim, Mr., S felt the pause before his
execution was but the respite, an briofn time
and as certain 10 issue, which the cat gives 10
the captive mouse, when she fondles il with
! her paw before she strikes It with her fang.
And yet 30 sustaining IL true courage, tho
fearless man stood, calm aud unmoyud, look
Ing into the muzzlos Of the guns leyelled 10
destroy him.
From some signs and gutterul sounds eE-
changed between tho warriors, which long
residence among the Sominoles enabled Mr.,
Smiley TO comprehend, ho learned that il wns
their purpose 10 capture and cxtort from him,
doubtless by torture, 20 bo followed 10y lingcr-
ing death, such information as he might pos
scss in relation 10 the numbers and move
mcnts Of the American forces, then beginning
TO concentrate, with q view 10 % combined at
tack upon the Indians concealed in the eyer
II idc from which the warriors had just en-
crgcd,
lie was not, then, 20 be murdered, IN cold
blood, upon the spot whore he stood, This
respite. however Il might expose him to pain
aud death in the end, was at least momcn-
tary rcpricve, and might enable him, ulti-
malcly, 70 accomplish an escape. At all
+ events, it was preferable to instant death, aud
whether the captors we're 10 profit by il in
the way they proposed, was matter yet TO
be- determined, The rcsoluto man felt, in
decd that he had strength Of nerve and f.
dclily Of soul sufficient TO save his honor from
any dctrimcnt, by unwarrantablc disclosures
Of the affairs Of his friends, even II they should
bc solicited 10y al the houid barbaritics Of
Indian torture.
Pcrcci,iug that Mr., S. understood their
dialcc, enough 10 comprehend their meaning
when expressed in rs rude guiturals, thcwar-
rors sguiied to him, that It was their intcn-
ticn 10 take him with them To- a council TO be
hcll that night, IN the cvcrgladc, to dclibcr-
ate upon the now almost desperate state Of
ricir affairs. lie had no alternative but death
or submission, for the present, to their wish
cs, apd so, following the direction to which
they pointed, he started, with a slow and re-
mc,aut step, toward, the swamp. Tho still
lyvcllcd gurs were tutncd and held in the
hand, Of the warriors, so as to Keep the per-
son Of thc captive within point.blank range
rot tho muzz'rg.
At This moment, the warriors caught, ST.
multancously, a sight Of the gittering wedge
which had been driven two-ihrds of its
length into thr tough and urihrsivr timber. 49,
Attracted either by the novelty Of the instru-
mcnt itself, or, which is, perhaps the more
probable sppposirion, dccming Il useful for
warlikc purposes, they determined to secure
and carry it with them Recalling Mr.. s.,
and oFJiHg 10 the wedge, rtIvy yHyE nm II
understand that they wished him 10 draw it
out and be the bearer OF it to their retreat IN
the cycrgl ylc.
The FIoridian, as quick-vittcd a, he was
stouthcarled, comprchcnding the wish oCth
warriors, devised, at once a plan to turn the
tables upon them. Going to the end Of the
log in which the wedge was driven he made
repeated failures TO draw it out with his
hand. Each Of the warriors CRIME up in turn
while the other stood sentinel with his still
ieycllcd gun, and struggled to withdraw it
The smooth surface, polished by long use, to
brightness and regularity, slipped almost un-
rcsistingly through the tightest grasp. The
maui lay upon the ground, near the end of
the log, where NI-. S. had dropped it when
first surprised by the Indians, but they did
not understand the mode or the necessity of
using it to accomplish their purpose.
lrritnted at the protractcd failure to cxtri.
, cate the wedge but losing none of their de
; sire to possess it, the warriors grew rcstivo
and menancing in their words and gestures
towards their prisoner. He saw that THEN
, patience was Well.nigh exhausted, and well
knew that, maddcned by delay and failure
they would avenge themselves by taking his
life. 1t was full time, therefore, to carry into
, execution tho plan which he had DEVISED
| Fortunately, the position of the parties was
favorable 10 immediate action. Mr.. Smiley
, stood at the end of the severed portion oil
the PROSTATE tree, close to the maui and
t wedge; the Indians occupied position near
5 the middle of it--onr on each side of the log
= and still kept vigil, with levelled guns, ov
or their captive,
, With signs and such words Of their Ian
! guagc he could command for the purpose
: he Ifindo the warriors understand that by
; thrusting their hands~into the gaping timbo
e and pulling with all their might, each tow
ards himself, it could be opened sufficient,
> TO permit the withdrawal Of the wedge. The!
3 comprehcnded and acted upon the suggestion
\ at once, relaxing their vigil under the power
n erful solicitation of the temptation to possess
j. the wedge. Leaving their guns beside then
IL l. -