Juliet signal., 1862-02-04

hazel bushes. They had as vet seen noth.
ing to warn them of the presence of dan
ger, and were beginning to feel that the
I evil was more ininagination than else
where. They rested ard partook of re
lreshments. and were preparing to emerge
from their little fort, when a noise ike the
rustliug Of leaves was heard, and little
Indian dog bounded in, loudly barking
west soon silenced the little intruder with
his hunting knife. Bat peril was at band.
the owners of the dog could not be far off,
and cooking their rifles, they proceeded
cautiously. Though the opposite side of
/ the copse from which the dog came, they
betook themselves. They had not gone far
! when the heavy tread OF human beings
was heard; it seemed to be coming nearer.
| and looking down they discovered a small
! path which the IndianS-for it was evi
/ IDENTIFY them-must be pursuing They
| stepped quickly and silently aside, secret
| ing themselves as best they could, aud
awaited the appro ach oe their fees. Soon
they came. cenveFsiug in Iheir own tongue,
which was well understood by the young
men.
'The dog went to the copse yonder and
barked; something is there. Two of you
I get around to the other side, and the rest
will approach from this" said One. They
passed on.
Martin and West, fearful of being track.
ed, again began their journey with double
caution and swiftness. The steps of the
savages had passed out of hearing, and
safety seemed certain, when the foot of
West caught in the roo of an old tree and
he was thrown headlopg. At the same in
stant, his gun caught in a limb, was dis
charged, and the contents lodged in Mar
tins arm. loud shout was instantly
heard from the Indians and scarcely had
West regained his footing and succeeded
in firmly grasping Martins own gun,
which had fallen from his now powerless
hand, than they crashed through the un>
| derblush and were upon them. Fleeing
was out OF the question, and resolving to
sell life as dearly as possible, West fired at
the foremost, who, leaping into the air,
fell dead at his feet. Clubbing his CUR, he
| raised 1t to strike the next one, but it was
caught by some one behind, and turning
he found Martin a prisoner, with his
wounded and bleeding arm bound back
Ia as trying position as it was possible
for hendish sarages 70 invent" Here a
| tear weiled up in nay uncle's eve He
sighed, looked down for minute, and then
went on.) West was instantly bound,
and together they were both set on the
march. For miles thus they went, taunted
and tortured in every conceivable way, nor
did they have rest until dusk, when nearly
faintng from hunger and fatigue they
were given the remnants Of piece of ven
sion, and thrown down to rest on the bare
damp ground.
a night passed in unspeakable agony,
gave place to lovely morn. The birds
carolled their sweetest songs of praise, the
flowers nodded lovingly in the breeze, and
all seemed happy except the wearied pris
opers.
They were again given some fragments
left by the Indians, who were busy in pill
ing up faggots which we're soon lighted,
and the Indians proceeded to move their
pris, nsrs, causing visions of a dreadful
death by burning to fit through their
minds. But they were not led in the di
rec'ion OF the fire, but taken nearly a
hundred yards thr ugh the woods to place
where another Indian seemed waiting.
Two sapllags were bert over and they
were tied on them by their bands and
knees, so that their whole weight was
straining on their limbs This was donblv
torturing IN the case of Martin, whose arm
had now swollen to a fearful extent
The wretches laughed as he closed his
eyes when the fearful pangs shot through
BIN. Ny great uncle then paused and
chnched his hands, and the tear that had
been standing in his eyes rolled heavily
and sadly down his turrOwed cheek.
Sopn the cleaning scalping knife was
brought forth, and in an instant the black
locks Of Martin was in possession Of say
age. lie then departed with it to the cam y,
aud III fifteen or twenty minutes returned
dearing it full of embers The prisoners
saw his coming and half OWNED his he'll
ish purpose. Martin guzed up at the blue
sky above him seemingly engaged in pray
er. Soon the savages came up and thrust
the scalp of req hot embers on mis- raw and
bleeding head. Martin closed his lips as
If to keep back all expression of agony he
wr;thed a moment, and groan wld and
thrilling, burst from him, seeming to let his
soul out of its narrow tenement. A slight
shiver. and the spirit of Martin took its
: fight to the invisable world"
The sound of the narrator's voice died
away. We looked up-his chin was upon
: his bosom, and great tear drops fell and
I glistened in the soft, sunny curls of our
darling Clara, who, with her head reposing
on his knee, now looked up wonderingly
and carressingly took his great hard palm
In her white dimpled hands, saying, ''un-
Gle don't cry, your little Clara loves you y
This recalled his wandering mind aud he
proceeded.
The dreadful sight West was obliged to
witness, two savages holding open his eve;
on the appalling spectacle.
Soon the scslping knife was again bro't
into use, aud this time West was the victim
As they were bearing away his scalp, he
oollaI to tha1n ap1 a1 F,r nv
smoke before he died. As this is some
thing that the Indian never refuses, even
to his worst enemy, it was favor readily
granted, and be received the yipe in bis
mouth from the hands of the chief.
As soon as they had got far enough
away, that the sound of their footsteps were
indistinct West drew himself up to the
string with which his right hand was tied
and burned it off With the free hand, he
obtained his knife from his pocket, and
severed the remaining strings which bound
his feet and other hand and felt him sell
free for the present, With the creates
difficulty he managed to progress a few
yards By action, his strength quick ly re
turned, and ere long he was bounding
through the forest, fear and love of life aid
ing him.
lie we'll knew if he continued running,
he would Immediately be pursued and
caught and therefore began casting about
for hiding place. His eyes rested on nr
old log, which was hollow, but which still
contained some Of the rottOn wood. Int
this, with some eyertion, he made his way
; and with the rotten wood completely closed
up both ends of it, giving the log the ap
Pearance of being completely sound.
Soon the woods became alive with the
howls of rage of the foiled savages Crash
ing bushes and barking dogs were seeming
to float in the air, so numerous were they
AT last the main part of the Indians were
making towards the log and walked around
it several times. The dogs ran repeatedly
over IL bowling and whining: the chief sal