The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1859-11-17
PEAB0DYS LEAP.-A LEGEND OF LAKE
CHAMPLAIN

and picturesque scenery is worthy of the
painters pencil or the poets pen. Some
OF them, which were once celebrated for
their rich stores of legendary lore are
now only sought 10 view their natural
scenery, while the traditions which for.
merly gave them celebrity are buried in
oblivion. Such is the scene Of the EcI
loving advcn,urc,-a romantic glen, bound
ed Oh the north side hy II h,yh and
rocky hill, which stretches itself some dis
lance into the lake, terminating in =
prccirice, some thirty feet in height, and
once known by the name of 'Peabodv'a
leap.
at the time of this adventure, Timothy
Peabody was the only white man that
lived within fifty miles Of this place, and
his was tie daing spirit that achieved
1t. In All attack on one Of the frontier
settlements, his family had all been mas
sacred by the mcrciless savagcs, and he had
sworn that their death should he rcvcnr.J
The better to accomplish this dread pur
pose, he had removed TO this solitary place,
aud constructed the rude shelter IN which
he dwelt, ill tho blasts of winter drove
INN, to the homes of his fellow-mcn, again
TO renew the contest when spring had
awakened nature into life and beauty. lie
WAS man who Possessed much rude Gun.
nlng, combined with thorough knowl >
edge OF Indian habits, Ivy Which he had
always been enabled to avoid the snares
of his subtle enemies. Often when they
had come with party to take him, he
escaped their lures, and after DESTROYING
h's hut, on their return homeward, some
OF Their b"h!est warriors were picked or
10y his unerring aim,-or. on arriving at
their town, they Learned that one Of their
switcSt hunters had been anlluslcd by
hlm' and fallen a victim to his deadly ri
tle. He had lived in this way for several
years. and had Sc often batil,d them. tl,a,
they had at last hec"me weary Of the pur-
sat, and, for some time, had left him un-
mulest.3.
About This time, party of Indians
made descent on one of the small Sci
,lc,neats, and had taken three men pri,-
oners. whom they were carrying home to
sacrifice, for the same number of their
men that had been shot hy lealndy. Ii
WAS towards the close Of day when they
PASSED his abode; most of the ,,ar,y il,
advance OF the prisoners, WAC, with ,!:eir
hands lied, AID escorted ly five or six III
dHns, were almost wea,ed OH, ly their
long march, and but nst able to crawl
along. lie had observed this advance
guard, aud suS!'ecling there were PRISONERS
iii tie rear. had let them pass uulnol.st:.l,
Intending to try some Yankee trick to
effect their rcscue. lie accordingly follow
ell Oh i'll the IaiI Of the party, Keeping
among the thick trees Which Oh either side
skirled the path. lie had procec,r,l hut :.
short distaEcc, before lie heard The sharp
report Of rifle, apparently very near him
and which he knew must he one of the
Indians, VIII" had slroIled from the nniu
body, to procure some game for Their eve
n'"g meal. From his acquaintanc. with
their s'ali's aud language, he only need. d
Disguise, to enable him to join with the
party if ne';essary. and aided by the dark
ness, which was last approaching, with bu,
little danger OF detection. The resolution
was quickly formed anil as quickly pu,
mo operation, to kill this Indian and pro
cure his dress.
lie had got Lu. few PAGES before he
discovered his intended victim, who ha,
just finished loading his rife. To stand
forth and boldly confront him, would give
the savage an equal chance, and if Tim
proved the best shot, the party on hearing
the report Of two rifles at once, would be
alarmed and commence a pursuit. The
chance was, therefore, two to one agains,
him, and he was obliged to contrive q way
to make the Indian fire first. Planting
himself. then, behind large trce he took
off bis fox skin cap; and placing it Oh the
end of his life, began to move it to and
fro. The Indian quickly discovered it, and
was not at a loss to recollect the owner hy
the cap. knowing how often the white
warrior had eluded them, he determined to
despatch him at once, and withou. giving
Inn notice OF his dangerous proximity, he
Instantly raised his rife, and its contents
went wi'izzing through the air. The ball
just touched the bark of the tree, and
pierced tire cap, which rose suddenly, like
the death-spfing Of tho beaver, and then
fell amid the bushes The Indian, like n
true, sportsman. thinking himself sure OF
his victim, did not 60 to pick up his game
till he lrad reloaded his piece, and drop.
ping 1t 10 the ground, he was calmly pro-
| ceediES in the operation: when Tmothv AZ