The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1860-05-24

man to look out Tor himself. by this
means he expected to divide the Indians
into small parties in their pursuit of sim
gle individuals and this might have been
the result had they not, unfortunately for
his own safety, discovered in him their
most vindictiye and troublesome foe, and
at once resolved upon his capture.
Captain Brady was we'll known to the
Indians in former times he had hunted
with them over these very grounds; but
he had subsequently became their most
implacable enemy, and had done them so
much injury as to create in them tiend-
ish desire to take him alive and put him
to the torture-they well knowing that the
accomplishment OF this purpose would not
only r:d them Of the men they both hated
and feared, but would deprive the whites
of their bravest and most daring leader,
and would thus strike a more effective
blow against the latter than would the de-
struction Of dozen or twenty men OF less
note. For this reason, therefore, the mo-
ment it was ascertained that he was one Of
the party, his capture was determined on
by all, and turning from the pursuit of the
others, the whole yelling crew set after
him.
Captain Brady had something of the
start, ard was one Of the feetest runners
on the border; that he could distance and
escape from few, he was sanguine enough
to believe; but when he found himself re-
cognized, and, looking behind him, saw
the whole body in chase Of himself, his
very heart seemed to die Within him
| What chance had he Of escape, indeed
single-handed and alone-atar from the
refuge OF even wilderness fort-and with
fifty inturiated Indians in hot pursuit,
urged on by a spirit of revenge, and re-
| solved, above every other earthly cOnsid
Grafton, upon taking him alive or dead?
| But the Captain was brave man, and
a brave man dies but once; he was Il SAN
! guine man, too, aud would not consider
| his case hopeless while the freedom Of his
/ limbs remained; and though, as he after
wards expressed it, ''it was hardly one
chance III fifty, yet he was determined to
DO his best, and have no fault to find with
himself from a lack Of effort"
Near the point where the race first
started, the Cuyahoga makes bend to the
south, SO rs to nearly enclose an area of
several miles in the form of peninsula ;
the direction taken by Blady soon brought
him within this enclosure and the In-
dians, by extending their line to the two
banks of the stream, at the point where
they most nearly approach each other,
considered him as III their net, and an
nounced their satisfaction by yells of tri-
umph. There was now, in fact, no chance
for him but to escape through their lines,
or across the Cuyahoga river and consid-
ering that the foremost pursuers were not
fifty yards behind him, either Of these
chances were regarded oy the savages as
an impossibility.
Still the hardy and gallant captain did
not despair; he had many time hunted
over this very ground, and knew every
inch of it, and all the windings, turnings,
and peculiarities of the river as we'll as
the Indians themselves he knew, too
there was one point where the river, com
pressed within few feet, rushed roaring
and foaming through d rocky gorge and
it at once occurred to him to shape his
course for this point, and make bold
desperate leap for the other shore. He
might fall short and be dashed to piece.
upon the rocks beneath, it was true !; bu
this would only be quick and sudden
death the awful tortures Of the STAKE
awaited him if taken alive; and to tax,
him alive was unquestionably the desigr
Of his pursuers, since they had neglected
to fire upon him from a distance whicl
, would have made their aim fatal
Casting away his rifle, as only an incum
brance which could not serve him in thi
strait, he bounded forward with renewed
energy; and with bare hope Of life be
, fore him, he fed with speed that fey
could equal-slightly gaining upon tn
feetest of his foes-but not sufficiently
f during the whole race, to take him be
yond the easy reach Of rifle ball.
: Nearer and nearer he came to the rush
, ing aud foaming stream and as he hear'
= the roar of the waters, and saw that bu
| few seconds could intervene between tn
! present and the awful leap which Nigh
save OF destroy him, his heart beat wildly
: and his whole frame seemed to trembl
, with the intense concentration of his min
r upon the fearful venture.
Y Nearer and nearer he came louder gre'
: the roar Of the waters the awful chasr
t erdually yawned before him, and the whit
r spray Of the fearful torrent rising to hi
a view; the Indians yelling behind, an
his only hope here /; and then contractln
: his muscles, as his feet lightly presse
E the precipitous rock, and throwing int
: them all the power Of his concentrate