Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1859-05-19
A Hunting Widow.

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tory of the circumstances from which had arisen
her present anomalous position. Smith himself
was an orphan, who had been reared by the
Simmons family, and informed Inc that, some
four years previously, they had resided in the
the neighborhood Of Austin, some two hundred
miles in the interior, expecting to end their
days in the wilds, unless, perchance, a settle
ment should form around them. One afternoon
Smith came running with the startling inteli-
gencs that party of Gamanche Indians were
advancing towards the house having killed
a negro, who had been busly engaged In
small inclosad field. !. Is. ding swset potatoes.
| The hut of the Simmonses was situated on
the extreme point of a kind of delta formed by
the conjunction of two small rivers which here,
in consequence first became navigable. The
front of the house opened upon small 90 barn.
skirted at the distance of some two hundred
yards, by fine wood while the rear was on
the edge of Il Blopng hank, which led down to
the water edge, where lay a moderate sized
piroque, PARTLY concealed by bushes, and utter
y out of view to any one approaching from the
timber above alluded to. Defence appearing
out OF the question, immediate preparations
were made for escape but this hope was frus-
trated by the sudden appearance, from forest
path, of some dozen well armed and we'll mount
cd Canmnchos. The crack, the flash of the
western rifle followed, and the foremost Of the
Indians, who had evidently expected to gain ad-
mission under the guse of seeking hospitality,
fell 10 the ground to rise no more The lndi-
ans, as was their wont, rctreated, and halted
at somewhat more respectable distance. BY
this timo the children had been removed to the
canoe, where they were for moment told to
remain quiet. The Cainanches now commenced
rapid fire on the house from three different d.
rections which were scycrally answered by
loud reports from the rifles of the mother and
father, us well as of my young friend Smith.
Mrs. Simmons had, by long acquaintance with
tho American rife, become as sure marksman
as any L"ather-socking of them all. Animated
by the combined feelings Of love for her Of
spring and her husband, she, with steady aim
and unbending frmness, pointed the terrible
weapon, which dealt death around.
The patience oi the Indians is a matter of no
toricty, aud tho inhabitants Of the log hut SAW
that determined siege was about to be kept
up, the result Of which, when night came to
aid their designs, Gould not remain doubtful
With infinite raih and sorrow the young hus-
band and wife, who for seven years had been
one another only hope and joy, agreed to part
the mother to escape with her children to some
safe retreat, wLil9 the husband kept the ind-
ans at bay, resolved, il necessary, to perish for
those who were so dear to him The scene, as
artlcssly and simply described to me by Smith,
must have been Of terrible interest the young
wife and mother was now dealing death around
her in defence Of her home, the next minute
weeping in her husband arms.
Presently Esther would be recalled to Il sense
ol her position by the crack of rifles, the whist
ling of arrows, which fell, however, harmless
in the centre Of massive logs, amid the treble
shingles which formed the roof Of the hut. In
fact, at this moment there was littl danger :
but soon day began to give signs Of it's dcpar-
tarc. and in desperate agony the father and
mother separated Heart breaking, no doubt,
were Esthep sobs, as, followed in sullen silence
by young Smith, shc stealthily, still holding
fast tfe American rifle, crert u the waters
edge, and the young father remained alone.
That night, and part of the next day, the fugi
tives travelled without intcrmission, Esther and
Smith propelling the piroQuc iu turns The
journey about midday closed, by their reach
ing small settlement on the mouth of the river
which fell into tie Colorado Then commend
ing anxiously her children in the care of friends
Esther remarked to Smith, that, her maternal
duties having hecn performed, she would now
only remember she was ii wife Borrowing a
smaller canoe than she had come in, and taking
n supply of provisions, at the earnest request of
the women WHO surrounded her, the men being
out in search of the very Indians sho had fed
from, she started back alone to ascertain the
fate of her husband. AS afterwards learned
from her own mouth, she had no idea of fatigue,
no thought of want or rest, but continued pad.
ding her canoe, until the next morning brought
her once more to her home What her sensations
we're, as, on arriving near a blackened burning
mass Of ruins met her eye. untenanted Of aught
living, it is easier for the reader to imagine than
for rue to attempt tn describe. The huge logs,
of which Texan hut is usually made, had
been all cast down, and still resisted the force of
the destructive element.
Esther landed, and rought--slie expected to
find naught else-the body of her husband Her
expectations were doomed to be verified for she
discovered the corrse. transfixcd with arrows
scaIped, and stripped of every article Of cloth.
ing, the wolves busIly engaged in dcvourng it,
Wit, steady and unainehing aim she raised the
ria.,. and laid tho foremost Of the group low.
The v,ry action brought up tunultunus feel
ings, and vengeance took possession ot her soul.
"My first thought, said she afterwards, .was
revenge. could have set out on foot, and fol-
lowed the mGrlerers to the end Of the earth.
and never have rested until had taken every
life but, thank God, the thought Of my child
ren, came iuto my mind, and yearned to be
near them" She could not, however, bear the
idea Of leaving her husbands body to be dcvour-
ed by the wolves but, taking off the coarse
cloak of deer-skin which euyelopad her form,
she wrapped it around him, and with Il despcr.
ato determination, which we'll suited her cner.
gctic and noble character, dragged the corpse to
the eauoe placed it IN it, cntrred it herscIf, aul