Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-08-05
RAsBURGH, VERMONT, FRIDAY. AUGUST 5, 1859


over the brow of neighboring hill.--l
Their figures followed in another minute.
All doubts were ended now-the last
day in this world had dawned for him or
for them-the men were Pawnees.
After holding counsel together on the
bill, the savages threw back their buffalo
skin, drew their full quiyers before them
and strung their bows. They then sepa-
rated. One walked to the top of the bill
from which the deserted traveller had
first caught sight of them, to trace the
direction of his footsteps; the other ex-
amined the track between the water and
the tent. Both appeared to be satisfied
with their investigations; both met sgain
before them, and communicated with one
another by gestures, which expressed
their conviction that the victim was
asleep by his fire inside. In andher
moment they drew their bowstrings, plac-
ing themselves so that their double fire
of arrows should meet at right angles in
the tent.
The man whose life they were seeking
never felt that life SO dear to him as at
the moment when he saw them shoot
five arrows into the place where he slept.
Still he watched and waited; for his ex-
istence now depended on his cunning
and patience, on his not miscalculating,
by an instant, the time TO fire. He saw
the savages pause and listen before they
ventured into the tent. One of them
then dropped his bow, grasped his toma-
hawk, and knelt to creep under the cur
tanned opening; while the other stood
over him with his arrow in the string
ready to shoot. In this position, the
skull of the kneeling Indian was brought
within the white mans line of sight /;
and he cooked his rife. Faint as the
click was, he saw it had caught their
quick ears-for they both started and
turned round. Observing that this move
ment made the kneeling man less likely
to escape his eye in the tent, he shifted
bis aim, and fred at the naked breast of
the man with the bow. The sharp eye
OF the savage discovered his hidden enc
my at the same instant, and he sprane
aside. But it was too late-he was bit ;
and he fell with scream that went thro'
every nerve of Mr.. MoIhausen's body.
The other savage jumped to his feet; but
the white mans weapon was the quicker
of the two, and discharge of buckshot
struck him full in the face and neck
He dropped dead on the spot, by the side
of the other man who was still groaning.
Although he knew that be had justi6-
ably shot, in self-defence, two savages
whose murderous design on his own life
had been betrayed before his eyes-al.
though be was absolutely certain that il
either one of the Pawnees had been per-
mitted to escape, the whole tribe would
have been at the tent by the next day
the brave travellers nerve deserted hin
when he saw his two enemies on the
ground, and when be saw the necessity
of hiding what had been done. With 9
feeling of unutterable despair he mechan
ically reloaded his rife, and approached
: the place. The groans of the Tndiar
who had been shot in the breast moved
his pityso strongly that they seemed tc
recall him to himself. First turning th'
dead Indians face downwards, to escapt
the horrifying sight of the mangled fea
lures, he approached his wounded enem,
e and made signs that he would forgive him
help him, cover him with buffalo skins
: take him into the tent, and there do al
e that was IN the power Of man to gain hi
/; good viii by preserving bis life.
9 The savage lay writing and bleeding
g with his teeth clencbed, with his eye
p glaring in deadly hatred through the loni
" black hair that almost covered his facs
I, But, after a while, the merciful whit
: man saw that his gestures were under
1t stood. A sense of relief, even Of jol
g oyerhowed his heart at the prospect {
= saving the Indian, and Of securing a con
Is panion in his fearful solitude. Th
e wounded man signed him to come mare
n and pointed with bis left hand to his rigi
q arm, which lay twisted under him Witt
n out the slightest suspicion, Mr. Molbau
le co kuelt over him to place his arm in a
ts easier position. At the same momen
le the wretch's hand flashed out from b
W meath him, armed with knife, and strut
B. twice at the unprotected breast Of Il
rs man who was trying 70 save him. Af
st MolIhansen parried the blows with
is right arm, drew bis own knife with b
left hand, and inflicted On the vindicti'
s. savage the death that he had twice d
D. served. The rattle sounded in the thro