The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1862-03-19
Escape of an, Indian Spy.

l. y
On warm. pleasant day during the
summer of 1874, q small Indian canoe
containing couple Of white men, wa.
floating on the bosom of the Ohio, op.
tposite the mouth of the Scioto. Both
men were busy with their paddles, head
ing mp stream, but only as it would seen
with the design of overcoming the down.
ward motion ofthe current, 80 as to keen
their little vessel abou: stationary
Their eyes were fixed upon the north.
ern shore, which they scanned eagerly
up and down, and their features had an
anxious and troubled expression.
"Fhere! by heavensl there be comes:'
cried one of the men called Tom. jerking
up his paddle and strengthening up him.
self 80 suddenly as nearly to upset the
canoe. Bravo! Duncan u-bravo! you'll
live to be great man yet, in spite Of the
red devils who've more than once been 60
close upon your hair Now then for the
shore, Natl Give away. lad-give away!'
As he spoke. the little craft was headed
to the Ohio shore Of the river, aud both
men piled the paddles with so much vigor
as to almost lift the canoe from the water.
As itaneared the bank, young man. 10
the fresh vigor of healthy manhood, came
bounding through the bushes with rife
10 his hand. and stopped. heated and
painting. upon the edge of the stream,
glancing quickly, nervously aud suspi-
tciously in every direction, and then fixing
his eyes eagerly upon the approaching
boat. Scarcely was its brow to the shore,
when he leaped into it. aud with bis mo-
mentuu sent it rolling aud dancing back.
ward for several feet. ~
sAh thank God! thank God! he ex.
claimed. with long breath Of relief, as
he sunk down in the bottom, almost ex-
hsusted, while his compsnion made vigor-
ous use of the paddles in putting safe dis.
tance between them and the dangerous
shore. 81 a-1a s'aes
Scarcely word was spoken till they
bad. passed beyond the middle of the riv-
er, toward the Kentucky side, and left
themselves comparatively safe from saw
age marksmen. when the one called Tom,
laying down his paddle. dropped down
beside the new conner. aud seiziug both
his hands, said, with deep and earnest
feeling: ssses ssi
God bless you, Duncan! you don't
know how glad 1 am to have you safe
with us once morel' sflia.s5s
Its as good as q new lease of lifel'
said Nat, taking off his flexible hat and
beginning to fan his heated friend, who
still seeNd quite faint aud exhausted.
'Hs! what's this?' cried Tom. in alarm,
before Daucan could reply. Blood =
blood, as live-coming fresh from bis
sideI Are you badly wounded. my dear
fsllowl Why didn't you tell us a. first?'
sQiickl quick!' exclaimed Nat; here
is, . knife cut open bis dress and let us
get at it,,
The wound was not 80 serious az had
been feared. A well-aimed bullet had
shattered his POWDER horn, and sent some
OF the spliaters into the flesh, bruising
aud lacerating it, and causing it to bleed
freely; but there was no internal injury
done; and Tom soon announced, with q
right CLEAN of joy. that there was NOT
danger to be apprehended.
| He now proceeded to carefully cleanse
and dress the wound, while his compaa.
ion qaietIy padded the canoe near to th.
! Kentucky shore, and then sent it gliding
down the stream. ase salssi q
These three men, with one other, were
what was known in western parlanco al
Iadian spies They were employed, dur
? Ing the season Of navigation, to range uE
and down the Ohio river. from Limestone
(uow Aaysville,) Kentucky, to the BIZ
Sandy, the Western limit of Virginia, fo
the purpose of detecting any maraudinl
sayages. ard giving timely warning to th
! ascending and descending packet beats
some. Of which had been previously way
J laid and captured, and their passenger
aud crews either murdered or dragged in
> to terrible captivity. In fact, they wer
on their return from conveying an upwar
: boat. which had recently been fred upo
and one man killed and two wounded
On this upward trip they had taken sloD
1 their present canoe, in, order to Aoat dow
= with the tide, and had they kept to ~
water, probably no accident would hav
= Ihappe ed; but little below the Sciot
was well known deer.lick, which Ii
l. ne called Duncau wished to visit, in pu
. suit of game; and leaving his companion
IS IN charge of the boat, to await his retur
ne set OF alone. His return we have seel
. and what happened in the interval, "
y shall now learn from bis narration to b
h companions, as they all foated down tt
: lriyer together, 49,, s.+s,..z ,.,ss 49,
: Well said the wounded man, aft,
!. leaving you. l made the best of my wa
Z over to, the deer lick, keeping shsl
, lookou: for game. but scarcely thinking
II ,.diaus once. Having got to the lick,
is constructed capital blind and lay dow
/, behind it. with my rifle ready to take an,
!, hing that might come in my way. l
laid there about an hour, I reckon, al
vas brginning to think it wouldn's pa
~ | han oil nnon thoro wac IT,