The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1859-02-03

had heard him first use.
| had never yet seen a night attack Of
an Indian camp, as performed byi tn
Western Ranger; and curiosity, with ex
element, was raised to the keenest sus
ceptibility. Our leader got down upo
his hands and knees, and crept thus up
| small knoll that rose before US, where b
remained for the space of several mo
ments--his great wolf-skin cap in bolt
relief against the sky. Then he came
back to US, and as we huddled about hin
he gave his orders.
Their fire is nearly out! be said, 'and
that indicates that their sentinel is prob
ably asleep. Travers, you direct tht
men; l will 60 first; follow on your knees
at distance of twenty PAGES. l viii
take care of the sentinel, whether ASLEEP
or awake, and then fall on them. BE
sure of your aims--not one must escape
-rememberp
We allowed him to get the required
distance ahead of US, when We slung ouI
rifles over our backs, and following the
example, descended to our hands and
knees and crawled after him.
Take care Of the leaves and twigs!
whispered Travers. BE as silent as
death!'
The caution was scarcely necessary,
for, like ourselves, the Indians had built
their camp only few miles from the pra-
irie, in the wood, which was done to pro-
tect them from the night dew, which, at
that season of the year, was very severe.
But the Camanches had taken the precau-
ton to erect a sort of barricade With logs
on the side of the prairie, SO as to almost
entirely screen their fire from the obser-
vation OF any one who might pass during
their sleep. The barricade was about
FIVE feet high; and as We got opposite,
the head of the sentinel could be seen just
above it moving sufficiently to indicate
that he was awake.
| could not now help wondering at the
silent celerity with which Montral ap-
preached the barricade. Lying fat u
pon bis breast, with only his head slight
ly raised, that be might watch the IndI-
an, be crawled stealtbily along, like a
serpent, turning bither and tbither to a
void some brush or clump of leaves-his
great long arms resembling the huge
claws of an alligator, as be crawls up on
the sand. Every breath was hushed as he
approached the logs. 1t was moment
of fearful suspensc-of terrible anxiety
Slowly be raised himself up-we could
see him stand his rife against the logs
while yet on his knees-at last he stood
erect, like the shadow of death, behind
the unconscious Indian. And such he
was, for in an instant, he dexterously
threw bis left arm around the Indians
mouth. and jerking his head quickly back
over the log, he she eatbed bis long knife
in his heart! There was no cry, no
groan, not even the gutteral sound OF
death, to give an alarm. He leaned over
the logs, and let him drop silently on the
ground.
As he was performing the last action,
We crept silently toward the spot; but my
heart sickened within me at the thought
of the deed which we were about to COM
init. There was something terrible iu
thus shooting men in their sleep; foes they
were, | knew-foes to the cause which [
had espoused-inhumau butchers of all
of my race who fell in their war-path. or
came within their power. But they were
savages. and I claimed to be civilized.
As these thoughts were passing through
my mind, VIC gradually drew near the
barricade, when suddenly there was a
crash, and looking up, | found that Mon.
trail, 10 lowering the Indian silently to
prevent alarm, had pushed too heavily "a
gainst the logs, and upset them. The
Indians sprang to their feet with a yelll
Your armsI' shouted Montral. 'Firel
In an instant we obeyed. And tbeu |
thanked Heaven for the accident which
had saved me from committing deliber-
ate murder. The outlines of ten dusky
bodies were deliberately drawn in the
light of the smoudering fre-thcre was a
loud report, and FIVE of them went down
Ito rise no more! l saw Montral leap
the logs, and seize another by the hair,
as he buried his long knife in bis side.-
Travers and Mclino sprang upon the
barricade, followed by the rest of US
There was rapid commingliug of shots
as our reyolvers spoke their fate-and
the four other braves fell, riddled with
twenty bulietsl The fight was over
The vengeance was complete!
Jules Montral fell upon his kness, sur
rounded by the slain, and raising bis
bloody knife toward heaven, exclaimed:
adele, thou art fearfully avenged
Thy blood is washed out in blood! Thy
father has kept his oath!'
Then, springing to his feet, and glanc-
ing around upon US with bis fiery eyes, be
cried:
Now, my friends, you have assisted
me; it is but just that | should return the
fayro. Jules Montral has DO longer Q
home or family, and heneeforth | devote
my soul, body aud energy to the Lone
Stay of Texas, and the life of Free
RangerP
We shook his hand there amid that
&c blaoS onI ~ conman solo m N