The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1863-11-13


bonds strain. crack, and snap, and sudden
ly found himself free and his arm. At lib.
erty. He looked quickly and wildly around,
almost disposed to doubt his seuses--to dis
credit his good fortune-for any fortune
seemed good which gave him even . bare
chance for his life where be expected only
sudden death. The Indian was at least
one hundred and fifty yards from him, and
his rife unloded. and with a start in a race
for life--in . race that involved not only his
own life, but that Of bis wife and children
who SO swift OF foot as to overtake him?
With a loud yell Of mingled joy and de-
fance, away he went over the hill, aud
with a louder yell at his unexr rected escape,
the fierce savage came bounding after him.
Bowditch knew every inch of ground in
that vicinity, and he had already regained
sufficient presence Of mind to shape his
course SO as to take advantage Of all chances
in his favor. The hill about the summit
was q succession Of rocks and bushes, with
caves. chasms. and precipices. and over.
through, and along these natural obstruc-
tions the fugitive believed be could make
his way with most any man living, either
white or red. and SO took the mos, trouble
some route for his lar, er and more unwieldy
pursuer, resolved. should he by any chance
find the latter gaining on him. to double on
him at q certain cave not more than a half
mile distant, where he could eutcr. by
one Of the labarynlhian passages within,
and come ou, on the same side into thicket
not more than fifty feet from the main open
ing.
Looking back occasonly. as he fed along
his rocky way with the ease of a mountain
goat. Bowditch soon discovered that how
ever superior to him his adversary might
be in mere physical strength, he was no
match for him in that particular locality;
and this not only Inspired him with the
hope Of escape. but with such confidence
in his own resources that he began to cal
culste in turn how best he might compass
The destruction of his foe.
"Why not lure him in the cave" he NUT
tered, "and let hin fool his time round thar.
whilst | start back arter my rifle, and follow
up the sudaciou. whelp? I'll do it, and if
| don't ge, even with him, then it's a clear
case foriin's against me-"
Having come TO this deterrnin alton, Bow
ditch slsckened his chase till his pursuer,was
in full view. when he pretended to stumble
and fall, and then got up and ran in almp.
which caused the savage TO yell with fierce
delight and redouble his exertions to over
take him. This was exactly what he infen
ded to bring about, and he now managed
his pace with SO much deception, that. though
seeming to exert himself to the utmost. he
permitted the painting savage to gain little
every minute, till the mouth of the cave
was reached, at which time not more than
hundred PAGES divided them. The Indian
saw the fugitive disappear in the dark OPEN
ing, and, believing that he now had him se-
cure once more, he came bounding up and
plunged in after him with yell Of Triumph.
The settler. who knew every twist and turn
of every passage in the cave-aad there
were many-now uttered sort of wailng
groau from the centre. to urge The Indian
on. and then quietly slipped off in differ
ent direction, and reached the bright open
air about the same time the other did the
middle Of the interior.
.Now then for it," muttered Bowditch.
as he slipped over the brow of the hill and
ran toward his dwelling, which. owing to
ridge bending round the valley, in the shape
Of q magnet or horse shoe, was scarcely as
far distant as when he called to his wife.
His family saw him, and with cry of
Joy his wife threw open the door.
"Quick. Estherl" he exclaimed. as he
came up painting; "t'othsr powder horn and
some bullets-quick!'
saint you coming in Samuel?" enluired
the wife, in surprise and alarm.
''Just long enough to get myself them
things, since you won t!' be answered, as
he bounded in aud hurried TO rude shelf on
one side Of the room. ave sort o played
The coward once to-day" he added. "and
now am going to wipe it out. Shut the
door. Esther. and keep yourself and the
children out of danger. Ill be back short
Iy. Good -byep' and, without waiting for
4 reply, he ran out in the direction of his
rifle, his wife vainly calling for him, and
him to come back, and not risk
his life SO foolshy.
As soon as he once more got hold of his
rife, he FASTENED to load it. and felt. as he
sfterw ards expressed it. like new man."
Then, keeping himself as much under cover
As possible, he hurried up to point where
he could secrete himself and command a
fair view of the mouth of the cave, within
easy rifle range.
eff old Pant-face hain't mizzled," he
muttered with an ominious frowu. ''its my
opinion he never will!' aud, like a cat watch
ing for game. he kept his eyes riveted upon
the spot where he expected to see him ap-
pear.
For ten minutes all was still-nothing
moved and then to his bitter satisfaction. he
beheld the Indisn comins Z out with a s,esthy
step. looking cautiously and suspicious'y
around The ride Of the settler was already
l.velled, and Tor moment or two he sight
ed directly at his heart. and then fired.
The savage threw up his hands convulsive-
", uttered noise between grosn and
veil, and ,ell quivering on the earth. Bow
dhcb took time 20 re load. and then ap.
proacLed him cautiously. He found him
quite dead.
DoueIAs, SPHEcHEs.-The Copperhesd