The Portland daily press., 1863-01-29
MISCELLANY.
THE LAST SHOT.

IL was about the year 100 tnat settleu III
Virginia, near the Falls of Canasho. The coun-
try at that time was an unbroken wilderness.
But few settlements had been made by the
whites and they were SO far apart as to render
vain all hope of assistance in case of an attack
from the hostile Indians, numbers Of whom still
infested the neighborhood.
lived here alone with my wife for several
months unmolested; and by dint of untiring
perseverance, being then young and hardy,
had succeeded in making quite clearing In
the forest, which had planted with corn, and
which promised an abundant yield.
One morning, after we dispatched our hum
BILE meal, and had just prepared to venture
forth upon my regular routine of labor, my at
IGNITION was attracted by the tinkle of cow
bell in the corn-fleld.
"Therel" said my wife, " the cow is in the
corn-fied"
But the ear of the backwoodsman becomes.
by education, very acute, especially so from the
fact that his safety often depends on the nice
cultivation of that sense. | was not easily de-
ceived; listened-the sound was repeated.
That" said |, in reply to the remark of
my wife, was not the tnkle of a bell upon
the neck of COW. 1t is decoy from some
Indian who desires to draw me into ambush"
Believing this to be the case, took down
my musket, II had no rifle, and seeing that it
was properly loaded, stole cautiously around
the field towards the point from which the
sound seemed to proceed. As had suspect
ed, there, in a cluster of bushes, crouched an
Indian, waiting Tor me to appear in answer to
his decoy bell, that he might send a bullet to
my heart. l approached without discovering
myself until within shooting distance, then
raised my piece and fired. The bullet sped
true to its mark, and the Indian fell dead.
Not knowing but that he might be accom-
panied by others, returned with all speed to
my cabin, and having firmly barricaded the
door, i watched all day from the port hole, In
anticipation of ali attack from the Indians /
had killed. To add to the danger and SEEM
ing hopelessness OF my situation, discovered
that had but one charge of powder left;
could make but one shot, and then, If attacked
by numbers, should be entirely in their pow
er. Determined to do the best with what |
had, poured in my last charge of powder
and put into my musket fifteen slugs, and then
waited for the approach of night feeling con-
fident of an attack.
Night came on at length. A beautiful
moonlight it was, too, and this favored me
greatly, as / would be able to observe the
movements of the enemy as they approached
my cabin. 1t was two hours after nightfal
and as yet had not seen nor heard sign Of
the Indians, when suddenly was startled by
the barking of my dog at the stable. The sta
Bile stood a little to the west of my cabin, and
between the two was patch of clearSyround,
upon which the moonlight fell unobstructed.
Judging from the noise at the stable that they
would advance from that direction, posted
myself at tie port hole on that side of the
cabin.
had previously placed my wife upon the
cross-pole In the chimney. SO that in case our
enemies effected an entrance into the cabin.
she might climb through the low chimney and
escape. For myself. determined not to be
taken alive and resolved to sell my life as dear
ly as possible.
With breathless anxiety watched at the
port hole. At length saw them emerge from
the shadow of the stable and advance across
the vacant ground toward the cabin. One,
two, three. Great heavens! six stawart Indi-
ans, armed to the teeth, and urged on by the
hope Of revenge. And alone TO oppose them
with but one charge of powder. My case
was desperate indeed. With quick but steady
step, in close single file, they approached, until
within few yards of the house, when slight
change or divergence In the movement of the
forward Indian, changed the position of the
entire six, so that portion OF the left side of
each was uncovered. They were all in range
one aim would cover AL Quick as thought
aimed and fired. As the smoke cleared away,
could hardly credit what my senses showed
me was the result of my shot. The fifteen
slugs with which had loaded my musket had
done the work well,-fve of the six Indians
lay dead upon the ground; the sixth had dis
appeared.
Although no enemy was in sight, did not
venture out until morning There lay the bod
les of the five Indians undisturbed. together
with the rifle OF the other. Securing the arms
and ammunition of the fallen Indians, fol-
lowed up the trail of the missing one until il
reached the river. beyond which point could
discover no traces whatever. From the amount
of blood which marked the trail. together
with the unmistakahle evidence that he had
picked his way with difficulty, was lead to
believe that he was MORALLY wounded and in
order to prevent his body from falling into the
hands of his foe, had CROPPED his way to the
river. and thrown himself into the current
which had borne him away
The Indians had killed my COW, ard that you
may be assured was no triflng loss /; yet in my
gratitude for my escape from the merciless saw
ages, | would have been entirely willing
make much greater sacrifices. was provided
(by means of ammunition taken from the slain
Indians lin case OF a second attack but this for
tuuately proved to be my last adventure with
the savages. Not one of the band had escaped
to tell the tale. and incite his brethren to re-
venge the death of his comrades
"Ahv exclaimed the old man, while the tears
gushed from his eyes at the memory of that
eventful night. that was glorious shot-the
best ever made.n
The hero of this adventure lived to see the
rude wilderness where he had pitched his lone
ly caDin, transformed into smiling fields and
peopled by hardy and enterprising pale faces,
among whom his last days were passed in peace
and plenty, undisturbed by his old time foes