Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1859-04-30
WAR0gT /.
NIGHT OF TERROR.

Night came slowly down over the
rude hut of James Moreland the settler.
The wild, mountainous region round about,
and the gathering gloom of the near dark
ncSs, combined to chill the heart of the lone,
ly woman in the Wilderness cot, with a
strange dread fear.
Two years before had the sun of June
morning shonc upon Ellen lIarper's mar
riage with the man of her choice; and the
lamps in festive hall in the fine old city
of Portsmouth had cleaned upon the eve
ning'S rcvclry.
spirit Of adventure, and life in that calm
quiet city i'll fitted his adventurous nature
and so it came about that before the moons
OF the first year had waxed and waned up
ON their bridal sky, the happy couple found
themselves established in "a log hut, far lp
among the White Mountains
Ellen was very peaceful and contcntcd
there, Tor she, possessed the individual love
of her husband; and by-aud-by a little
bluc-eycd babe came to cheer the forest
home. But on this night. a vague, unde-
fined sense of evil seemed to be about her,
and she arose frequently to gaze out into
the thlckcning gloom. james was abroad
upon the mountains in search Of vcnison,
and she had not heard the report OF his ri
fic fUr many an hour--it was singular that
he should remain from her until after nioht-
fall
Her child, the four months old little Ra-
chel, slept peacefully in her rough cradle
not a ripple of doubt or apprehension
disturbing the calm pulsation OF her heart,
Or troubling the smiling dimplcs about her
rosy mouth
[" God bless the darlingp' calculated
Ellen Morcland, pressing light kiss upon
the forehead of her child; and then taking
up her knitting she sat down in the light
of the pitch torch in the wide stone fire
place, and tried to work, 1t was in vain.
She could not employ her hands while her
mind was in such a state of perturbation,
and rising impatiently, she again opened
the door and looked forth. What If her
husband had wandered. far in pursuit of
game, and night had ovcrtakcn him at 30
grcat.a distance from home that tic narrow
track thithcrward had become invisible and
unknown What if he was destined to
return to her never more?
nervous tFemor now shook her frame,
and she went back pale and trembling to
the side of her infant
Afar off she heard the terrible war cry
Of Indians, and she needed no other proof
that her. husband was the victim of their
savage cruelty.
She offered one wild prayer for aid, and
then turning to the room she had left, she
took her infant, still ;n quiet sleep, and
wrapping it warmly, in a blanket, carried it
outinto the dense thicket in the rear of
the hut. sF7
Commenting her child to God she lefs
it there, and went back toward the cabin,
hoping--shc could not UNDERSTAND why
that she might able to doSsomething for
lier husband
She concealed herself in a bunch of
whortcbcrry bushes. aud had hardly dcnc
so, when she heard the tread of moecasin-
ed feet upon the thick leaves, and alulost
felt the painting of savage brcaths on the
air. In the faint light which shone from
She open door of her home, size saw her
husband stricken down by blow from
skiilfully aimed tomahawk, and heard the
deep groan which burst from Ills lips as lie
fell
The leader Of the gang raised his scalp
ihS hpiiO oSel bilc UNCONSCIOUS Elctll, put
another Indian detained the blow. Mrs.
DIorchnd plainly heard his words
Stay brother; let us kill the sq,law,
and She yoang papoose, and then have the
light of the wigwam toSscalp him fYp'
This speech met with favor, and with
one simultaneous rush, they made for the
house, leaving one of theirnumbcr to guard
the captive.
Instantly, with the speed of lightning,
Ellen Moreland few from her covert, and
springing to the entrance of the hut, she
closed noisclcssly the heavy oakcn slab
which served, as adoor and thrust a stout
club of wood, through tte groatiron staple,
which held it firm. The saYages were as
safe as though the walls of bastilo shut
them in, for the hut was built of ponderous
unhewn- logs, pinned together by strong
bolts, the only break in the walls being the
doors for i'll those days in that savage .ro-
gion windows We're aspccics of comfort ln
known. 80
Bilt the fndian that had been left with
out to guard the captive, saw.thc deed,
and with fierce cry of rage he hurled his
tomahlwk at the brave hearted w,,,n,o -.