Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1858-12-01
THE HUNTERS REWARD.

In the spring of 1870, two young men,
George Dill and Peter Brown, both carpen-
tiers, launched small boat on the Mononga-
hela, and having supplied themselves with
an ample stock of provisions and ammunition
dropped down the river on an exploring and
hunting expedition. They proceeded unmo-
Tested down the OHIO several hundred miles
below Wheeling, where they landed, on the
Kentucky side, and erected cabin of poles,
which they covered with small branches and
moss. 1t was situated short distance from
the rivers bank, near good spring, among
| tall and heavy timber. After storing their
etectss consisting of cooking utensils, a few
mesSe fical iTnlements, several blankets, and
sonie wearing apparel, into the cabin, they
shouldered their rifles, and, accompanied by
two trusty dogs, botook themselves to the
woods.
| Being aware that this section of country
was sometimes visited by bands of hostile In
dians. either to kill game or attack boats de-
scending the river, the young hunters kept
sharp lookout lest they should be surprised
! by a superior force. Game was abundant,
and they had the good fortune to kill several
deer during their first excursion. After
three or four days absence they returned,
laden with skins and meat, to their hut, and
! found their premises undisturbed. By as
cending small knoll in the vicinity of their
oss-coyered cabin, they had clear view of
the river, and could see any boats that might
be passing, whilst the high grass and under
brush afforded them hiding place, where
they could conceal themselves completely
from observation.
A month had passed, and neither friend or
foe had appeared, and the hunters continued
their excursions and penetrated farther into
the interior, where they found beautiful
| country, with rich soil and fine streams
On one occasion they had been absent ten
days, and on returning to their cabin again
found everything in the condition in WHICH
they had left it. They now began to con-
gratulate themselves upon their peaceful and
undisturbed occupancy of the country. Their
dogs, however, appeared much excited, and
kept moving about for some time, as if they
were scentng something unusual, but they
at length entered the cabin and composed
themselves. Dill supposed that some wild
animal had recently passed along, but Brown
was strongly impressed with the belief that
their habitation was discovered Before
starting on their next trip, Brown arran-
ged some of the articles in the cabin, without
mentioning it to Dill, that the slightest touch
enable him to detect it. The weather had
now BECOME warm, and after being out seq
eral days, Brown proposed they wonld re-
turn to the cabin; Dill demonstrated for some
time, but eventually assonted, and they
agreed to start on their return trip early the
next morning, as to avoid the heat of the
day. having some eight or ten miles to travel.
About quarter Of pile inland from their
cabin, N a small open space, our adventu-
rers had planted few hills of squashcs and
corp, WHICH soon came up, but received 10
further attention. In returning that morn
ing they digressed little from their direct
course for the purpose of looking little at
their "truck patch" Immediately after
arriving there their dogs exhibited unmis-
takeable signs Of alarm Brown observed it,
and Immediately communicated his suspi,
cions that all was not right to his conrade
After some consultation, it was agreed that
Dill should conceal himself in the under
brush, and keep one of the dogs with him
whilst Brown would take the other and adj
vance toward the cabin. When within abou
thirty rods from the cabin, and after recon
motoring the vicinity. he motioned to Dill
to come on, and the two, with their rifles a
traill, and the dogs at their heels, ap
preached the cabin together. In glancin9
over The effects in the cabin, Bro8n discov
cred that somebody had been there during
their absence, which yindicated his s1spi
clous, and his opinion, accounted for The
strange conduct of the dogs, on the former
| as well as on the present occasion. The
ground around the hut was examined fo
footsteps. but none could be discovered; Dill
then went to examine their boat, which they
had ran into the mouth Of creek shor
distance below, and secured tbere-it wa
safe, and had rot been disturbed.
/ In the evening, measures were taken fol
defense, should an attack be made in The
, course of the night-but the hunters were
not molested. At the dawn,'of day they seizet
their rifles and repaired to the knoll in tht
rear of the cabin, and there concealed them
selves, intending to remain there during tbs
f day, unless circumstances should arise ma
? king it necessary for them to alter their res
. olution. They lay quiet until the aftern oon
ami began to think they hal been unneces
sarily alarmed, when they espied femal
, With DO other clothing than calico skirt
reaching from her middle to little below th
y knees, approaching the cabin with caution
t steps. A single glance suficed to convinc
: them that, whoever CIR whatever she Nigh
: be, she was not an Indian squaw; and as 500
as she had entered the cabin, Brown ar
I preached it alone and unarmed, SO as not t
e alarm her or frighten her away. He wake
leisurely forward, with his hands crossed o
!, his back-and when the female saw him, sh
: threw up both arms and uttered wild screaI
o but did not attempt to run. Brown addres
d sed her kindly, and she awaited his approac
e without speaking a word until he was With
b several yards of her, when she told him, in
) few words, that she had been captive anon
the Indians, from whom she had just escape
and with tears in her eyes asked his al
d and protection.
g Dill then left his place of concealment an
$, took both the rifles on his shoulder, and wei