, 1864-08-08

it was so situated as to command view Of
the broad plain in the direction Of his ap-
proach-belieying also that the Indians had
gone directly thither, and might be there
now, which would make it talmost impossible
for him to advance in daylight without be-
ing discovered-he resolved, weary as he
was, to push on in the dark, and gain safe
position among the hills before morning,
even should he not succeed in surprising
his enemies while resting in supposed secur-
ity.
We will not remain with him on that
toilsomc night journey, which, connecting
as it did, with all the fatigue he had pre-
viously undergone, required almost super
human exertiOns to accomplish. It was
life or death to him, he felt, however, and
he strained every nerve and muscle to the
last tension, and succeeded in reaching the
base of the hills in such an exhausted con-
dition, that he was obliged to throw him
self down on the earth and rest for an hour,
to recover strength enough to go through
with what was yet before him. He had
two miles yet to go to reach the spring !;
and when at last he slowly dragged his ach-
ing frame in sight of it, the late moon was
already silvering the tops Of the trees, and
he knew that day was about breaking.
But now there came a thrill Of JOY to his
heart, that sent new life throughout his
dropping framc-for now it was he heard
the whinny Of horse, only few rods dis
tant, and felt assured he had not made a
fatal mistake in his calculations. Guided
by the sound, and moving with the stealthy
caution of a panther, he soon reached a
grassy and beautiful plateau, where he saw
the three animals he had so long followed,
picketed within half pistol shot of him.
The horses showed some fear at his advance,
and more than once snuffed and snorted SO
loud that he fairly trembled lest their mas
ters should come to learn the cause. He
reached them, however, without discovery,
and, in less than minute, had cut every
throat. As they AOundercd, groaned, fell
and kicked, they made a noise that reused
up the sleeping savages, and brought them
upon the ground in frightened haste-but
forthis the old hunterwas prepared. Throw
ing himself down behind one of the gasp
ing animals, with bis long rife brought to
bear upon the point from which the Indians
were rapidly approaching, he waited till he
saw moving shadow between himself and
the background Of the sky, and then, tax
ing as good aim at this as the circumstances
would permit, he pulled the trigger. With
the sharp report the savage dropped, and
his companions, close behind, uttered ycils
Of dismay and terror. Buttheir yells were
not as loud and terrible as those Of the old
hunter, as he sprang to his feet, knife in
hand, and bounded towards them; and
probably supposing themselves assailcd by
numbers, they turned, with wild shricks,
and fed fast and far down the steep hills,
and escaped in the darkness.
Having thus gained complete victory,
in less time than il has taken us to record
the facts, the old hunter now began to shout
the name Of his wife; and at the third call
he received an answer that sent the blood
bounding with the widest rapture through
every vein. In another minute he had
reached the side Of his darling wife, and
cut the cords that bound her; and as she
sprung into his rough but manly arms, and
clung wildly around his neck, he became SO
overpowcred with his emotions, that he
reeled to and fro, holding her in his en-
brace, and finally sunk down on the earth,
and alternately wcpt, laughed, and shouted
like madman.
1t is not necessary for us to dwell upon
their long, wcarisOmc, perilous journey
homcward. Suffice it to say, that Jack
Hawksworth put forth all his experience,
sagacity and manly qualities, and brought
his pretty little wife safely back among her
friends, to their great wonder and delight,
he himself becoming quite lion among
her cOuntrymen for his brave exploit.
"Ye see,n Jack used to say, in winding
up the narration of his adventures---which
he told so often, over bottle Of whiskey,
that he occasionally repeated it in his
dreams" Ye see, when big mob gifts
spliced, as I've hearn tell, they has what
they calls thar wedding tOwr; and so, to be
in fashion, me and Katy TUX ours amongst
the Camanches, and I'm jest one old scalp
the richer fort WhOOpr'