Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1859-04-25
THE SETTLER AND HIS SERVANT.
A TALE OF WESTERN VIRGINIA.
ny EMERSON BENNETT.
(coNoLUDED }

kNUNALtbhD.
You are brave fellow Tom, for alp said
his master, and if ! live will nos overlook
/ this affair
/ Well you sec, Mars Jonas, | is one oil
dim as goes in for prudence--for keeping
out oh de fight but when de fight does come
l's dar-l is-during dis niggors life.
Hist, whispered his master, ~ he cares
fully brought bis rifle forward. | think
see one Of the Indians peepiug around yon-
der tree Ali am too weak TO raise the
gun Get down here Tom and let nc rest Il
across your shoulder. There--that will do.
Quiet now,
/ Does you see him Mars Jonas 2 whisper.
ed Tom, after keeping silence half minute.
Scarcely were the words spoken, when crack
went the rifles Of both white man an Indian
at the same momct and then the latter ut
tering wild yell, was seen to run stagger-
| ing from tree to tree on his retreat, while his
companion, taking advantage Of the oppor,
tunity, bounded forward and secured his
person behind large oak near nt hand,
keeping his rifle ready to fire upon his foe.
Drop down Mars Jonas, whispered Tom
and let dis chile fix him.
Taking his masters hat as he spoke Tom
placed It on the end of gun, and pushed il
with some noise, through the bushes few
feet in advance ofhim. Scarcely was ityis-
ible to the savage, when, believing it to con-
tain the head Of his enemy, ho brought his
piece to his eye, and sent a ball whizzng
through the middle Of it
Fairly ohucklinga ut the success Of his ruse,
Tom instantly dropped the hat, and making
throshing among the bushes, uttered a few
groans, and then kept perfectly quiet and
MIR. Parker comprehending the design, kept
perfectly quiet also, though managing mean
while to reload his rifle
But though he believed his shot had been
effective, the wary warrior was resolved up
on prudence and caution. First reloading
his rifle, he next carefully reconnoitered the
thicket; and then, finding all still, he sud
denly darted from this tree to another, and
from that tree to another, and SO by sort of
semfcircular movement came up as it were
in the rear of his enemies.
Still finding all quiet, no advanced eaui
tiously to the bushes and began 20 part them
gently. In this direction the thioket extend
ed some twenty yards from where our friends
lay concealed and with the assistance of
Tom, Parker now got noiselessly into posi-
ton to cover the advance of the savage.-
Then waiting in breathless silence till the
Indian had so far advanced as to make his
aim sure, he fired again A sharp yell of
pain, and floundoring among the bushes
followed; Tom seized his axe, at once boun.
ded forward towards his fallen adversary.
The Indian was badly wounded, though
not sufficient to prevent him from making
use of his rifle, but fortunately for Tom it
only flashed in the pan with the mu2zle fair
ly pointed at his heart, and the next instant
the axe Of Tom descended with llercuean
force and ended the work.
With shout of triumph, Tom now rushed
from the thicket without needing the calls
of his master, in pursuit of the only remain
ing savage, whom he could easily follow by
his trail of blood, About hundred yards
from where he had been shot he found him
concealed behind log, and in dying con-
dition Too weak to make any defence, the
Indian looked up at his enemy and extending
his hand, said
How de do brudder.
Jus dis wayI cried Tom, dis is just de
way does to all such rascals as VOC, and
with the last word the bloody eSe descended
and was buriedin the brain of the Indian -
Tom now went back 20 his master and proud'
ly recounted his exploits.
THANK God we are savedf exclaimed Mr..
arheri "aTmly BrapinB the nand OF DIS
faithful servant, Il owe my life to you Tom
'Spect de Lord fit on your side wild dis
yere chopin axe, muttered Tom, rs ho
cody wiped the blood from his formidable
weapon.
He then carefully raised his wounded
master, and getting him upon his back car-
ried him safely to the house, where both
were received with tears ofjoy by the ter
riied family
Mr. Parker's wounds proved not 80 serh
GUS as was at first supposed aud the night
following he and his family were removed to
the nearest station by d suall party Of scouts,
who had been sent out to warn and protect
the more exposed settlers against the expecti
ed incursion Of the Indians, who, ms we have
already shown, had just began their work of
laying waste on the border
Mr. Parker finally recovered though not
in time to take any part in sanguinary
striies which ensued and Tom, for mis- bra,
very, was given his freedom. and lived many
years 10 boast of what he bad done during
his life merely jus wild chopin axe
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