The Xenia sentinel. [volume] (Xenia [Ohio]) 1863-186?, 1864-12-23

Earnestly diG I pray forit then; I though
Of my friends; would they assist me s0ol
enough? ? thought Of home and tbr
dear ones there; but I murmured not
was only dying for my county, anC
what better death could 1 die j?
Finally the Indians seized me, drag
ged me toward the tree, and bound N,
there. I thought that a signal tony
friends Would hurry them up little 81
elevating my head and opening my moutl
to its fullest capacity I yelled forth be-
fore my enemies could prevent. =
'Helpl HelpP
Here a rough hand was placed upOr
my mouth, and knife tiekied my RIBS,
while a rough voice ejaeulated.-
Stop noise or get killed shut head ol
die; ughp
I complied by maintaining strict
silence; but I was satisfied 1 knew
that if my friends we're within. call, they
Gould not fail to hear,
But hasten to my succor.
As soon as I was tightly bound to a
tree, pile of fagots were placed around
me, and several torches lit Retiring
several PAGES, the savages amused them
selves by throwing their knives and
tomahawks at my unprotected head, each
time coming so close as to cause me to
start and to start made me almost yell
With pain, the cords cut my flesh so deep.
This was fun for the guerrillas, as they
testified by deriding shouts of laughter,
and numerous singing taunts.
My patience began to give way why
did not my friends come to my release ?
Had they deserted me in my hour of
trouble?
While was thus ruminating, a hand
was pladed upon my arm, from behind,
and the voice of faithful Cox whispered
hurriedly in my eager ear
4 will cut your bonds, (suiting the ac-
ton to the word) and then you must run
to the edge of the of the rock with a yell,
and jump good ways, and Pete will re-
ceive you in a canoe; be very careful,
now ? and be was gone before I fully
comprehended it.
I kept my hands in the same position
for some time but at last I thought the
proper moment for action had come, and
with a laundering yell 1 sprang toward
the edge The Indians Immediately ran
il front of me to intercept my progress; but,
bestowing a hearty kick on one, in the
abdomen, and graphing the other; I leap
ed far out into the darkness.
Down, down, struggling and kicking
We went, until, with heavy plunge, we
struck the river; and down to the very
bottom We sank, each struggling for the
mastery. had my hands upon the sava-
ges' throat, and there I hung with all the
tenacity Of tiger.
When we arose to the top my antagonist
was nearly dead, and finging him from
me looked anziously about for Pete. In
the struggle we had hardly left the spot
where we had fallen, and in a few mo
ments 1 heard his voice calling
'Martingale MartiugaleP
Here, Pete, here I am, returned I,
into the canoe, which came close
to me. How are you, old felloW?'
olive and kicking, Max was the
reply. But who in creation did you
have with you when you jumped p
'One Of the Indians; but, he is paid for
trying to stop me-
Tried to stop you, did
Further utterance was silenced by the
long, mournful cry of wolf on the oppo-
site side Of the river, upon which Pete
to paddle in that direction.
That's Cox, said he, 'and he's waitin'
for u.s.
So it proved; he Joined US on the
other side and with renewed vigor we com
menced to paddle up the stream.
Meanwhile the gnerrillas, just rousing
from their stupor, if such it could be
called, came rushing down the bank in
time to hear defiant shout from their
escaped prey, and the faint dip Of their
oars.
An hours hard padding brought US
within twenty miles of our army's encamp-
ment, and, after coneealing the canoe in
some bushes, we commenced our journey,
arriving safe and sound at the headquar-
ters.
Since then, I have often pondered
over, and fervently thanked the an-wise
Providence, and the brave scout who SO
magnanimously assisted me, for that mar
row escape.