Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-08-05


hunger woke him the next day, when
the sun was high again in the heavens.
He cut notch in the pole Of his tent
to mark that one day Was passed. Il
was then the sixteenth or eighteenth of
November; and by Christmas be verify
believed that he would be safe at the
Mission The second day was very
weary; and his strength was failing him
already. When be dragged up the wood
and water to bis tent, his feet were lame
and he staggered ike a drunken man.
Hopeless and hungry, he sat down on
his bed, filed his pipe with willow leaves,
the best substitute for tobacco he possess
ed, and smoked in the warmth of the
fire, with his eyes on the boiling kettle
into which he had thrown a little maize.
He was still thus occupied, when the
dreary view through the opening of his
tent was su ddenly changed by the ap-
pearance of living beings. Some horse
men were approaching him, driving lad
en- horses before them. His weapons
were at hand and, with these ready, he
awaited their advance. As they came
nearer, he saw that they were Indians of
friendly tribe, returning from beaver
hunt. Within gun shot they stopped;
and one of them addressed him in En-
glish. They accepted his invitation to
enter the tent; and sitting there by his
side, they entreated him, long and earn
estly, to give up the vain hope of help
from the Mission, and to save his life By
casting his lots with theirs.
The wolves said the man who had
frst-spOken in English Delaware
Indian-'the wolves viii give you no
rest day or night; and if the men of the
Pawnee tribe find you out, you win be
robbed and murdered and scalped.-
You have no hope of rescue. Bad horses
would not live to get you; and the whites
of the Mission will not risk good horses
and their own lives to save one man
whom they will give up for lost. Come
with u.s.
But hfr. MoIhausen, unfortunately for
himself, put faith in the Mission. He
was, moreover, brayely and honorably
anxious to preserve the goods, only the
smaller share of which happened to be
bis own property. Firmly persuaded
that his follow white men would not de-
sert him, and that they would bring him
easier means of travelling, in his disabled
condition, than those which the Delawares
could offer, he still held to his first reso-
luton, and still said, No
The Indians rose to leave him.
The word of white said the saw
age, is more to you than the viii and
the deed of Red Skin. You have had
your choice may you not deceive your.
selfP
With these words he shook Mr.. Mol
-hausen by the hand, and he and his com.
, panions departed. They never ones
, looked back at the traveller or his tent
. but kept on their way rapidly toward
the south, and left him doomed man.
For the next eight days snow storm
= ragged necessarily, and threatened to bur-
him alive in his tent. Although be wa
2 as yet, spared the pangs of hunger 9TH
{ friendly Indians having increased hi
. small stock of provisions by the leg of al
: antelope.) his suffering Of other kind
4 were indescribable. He was so lam
q that be had TO crawl on his hands an
!, knees when he fetched his supply of wa
) ter; his head swan; his memory faile
n him; and be dared not close his eyes b
4 night for fear of the wolves. AIaddene
n by hunger, they came nearer and neare
:. to him. Howiing and yelling they eli
I, cled round and round the tent, closer an
r closer, at the close of every day. On
e night he heard the snow outside cracklin
under their feet; the next he saw tt
. teeth Of one of them appear through th
;, leather side Of bis tent He could onl
p scare them away By firing at them in th
;, darkness; bat they returned to the a
!. tack in q few hours and they left hi
r no chance to sleep till the broad dayligE
drove them back to their lair.
ri He was just strong enough on the 81
n day TO make the ninth notch in the pol
n On the tenth he was powerless. II
IN courage gave way; and be despaired e
,e the first time, Of rescue. He had me-
J. icine chest with him, which he bad a
b. ready used, containinga small bottle
laudanum and case Of quinine. Wit
st out forming any distinct resolution, wit
"a out well knowing what be did, be p
d the laHdanum TO bis lips and almost EN-
d tied IL A deep sEoon followed Il