The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1860-04-06


brought three salwart Savages into The cabir
al bound, and so suddenly, that neither VIII
hsim or Madeline could offer the least possible
resistance. They were seized and bound Sc
curely almost in a moment. With their arm:
tied behind them with thongs deer skin, they
were led out OF the cabin which was, 10 few
moments, enveloped in flames. This was done
with view 10 conceal the fact that its former
inmates were alive as it would, most likely,
Ss'-snpposed that they had been murdered and
theit bodies burned with their residence. Such
was the usual result OF an Indian attack. As
soon as the cabin was reduced to pile OF Goals
and ashes, Mukundwa aad his companions with
their capives, took up their line Of march to
Join their tribe West of the mountains, where
they had removed the year before.
On this night, the bright glare from the burn
ing OF Wlhem's cabin, had ilumined the sky
aorthwar.! Of Fort, where ii was distinctly seen.
Edward Shppen saw it, and judged correctly,
that il was in The direction Of the home of his
brtTolhed, be that home, and herself and
father prisoners in the hands OF the revengefuI
savages, perhaps murdered by them. The ag-
onY OF suspense which he endured during that
long night cannot be described. Brave even to
rashnrSs, he entrrated TO be permitted Togo a.
lone 10 their rescue, or at least TO learn the
cause of the con1agraion. The discipline OF
the Fort forbade that any one should leave af-
ter it had been closed for the plight, until the
regular hour in the morning. As soon as the
5olts were drawn, armed with his rife and an
abundance of ammunition for any emergency,
and his keen hunting knife in his belt, he, " tn
-2pid strides hurried around TO The Gap, As
he stood momrnt among the pine trees which
darkenpd the woods on the hill above, he
strained his eyes to catch glimpse of the cab
in. He saw only KS smoking em5ers. Had
Mukundwa been near at that moment, be might
have easily made another prisoner, for that
strong man, overcome by the thought OF what
he bad lost, grew weak as a Child. fastening
down as we'll as he could he seal ched for the
tokens which were to assure him that Madeline
~'1 : her father We're alive.
She and iIet -.
kunIwa would return, and from their experience
of Indian character, Judging what would be the
result OF that return, they had endearnured TO
prevail on Wilhelm 10 remove TO the Fort ; as
we have seen, they failed TO alter bis determl-
nation to remain in the forest, aud Madeline
loved her father, her only nurse and companion
from the years OF her ChlIdnooG, TOO we'll to
leave hum ia such ar emergency besides, 1t she
were absent and her father alone, he ght be
from pure revenge. All that could
be done was to provide for the worst. She and
e lward prepared two little sticks, around The
one end of each of which, they tied small
piece OF brown cloth. If their home should De
attacked and burned, and both father and daugh-
Ter were alive and in the hands OF Mukundwa,
then. the two sticks were to be dropped as near
10 the cabin as possible, so that be might lind
them. II the father was murdered, one OF the
sticks was TO be stripped OF lis ciott. For m1rr
than an hour, did L iward hunt for the tokens
agreed upon, OF the safety Of her in whose litr
his was Bound np and, while disappointed, he
circled round, looking beneath every chip and
leaf. MANY diretu threat OF vengeance against
every red-skin who might come within the
range OF hls rife, escaped his lips. Worn down
with anxiety, almost desPairing, the far that
Madeline had been murdered and burned, crePt
around his heart closer and closer colder and
colder: amid the agony Of his grief, his dImEed
eyes wondered TO the ruins OF the home in which
he had spent many happy hour witt Made
;na nv his side. her loved hand resting conf
dinghy in his would he ever see her face again!
As hus eyes wandered back again TO the ground
at his feet, they rested upon something between
two maple saplings few yards from where he
stood. With a bound he sPrang forward and
there were the two sticks with the cloth wrap
ped around both, Just as he had last seen them.
Madeline and her father were alive-now Tor
the trail and death TO Mukundwa, for Edward
was determined alone to rescue the dear ones or
perish in The a,teInpt. Could you have seen
him. as he strobe forward to hunt that trail, you
would not think that mans sinewy limbs could
be weak as they were few moments ago.
Madeline had provided many small pieces
of the same brown cloth, which, from their
colour aud size, would attract no eye but Ed
ward's,t TO be dropped along the trail as chance
offered These were intended 10 guide him
Alright, and without loss of lime. Tie Indians,
when they desired 10 battle pursuit, were in the
habit of making several trails, also OF covering
the main trall with leaves or grass, or OF trav-
cling as long as possible beds of small streams;