Spirit of the age., 1865-02-04


then you will return with assistance and
rescue me Oh, then, act upon that hope,
Mr. Barker, and, with my little ones under
your care, make your escape as speedily as
possble'
Nay, / dare not trust myself with your |
children under the circumstances, replied
Barker ! for bnrdennd- sr:aIn@1en. nv
chances of reaching Gallipolis would be much
lessened ard on my getting there quickly
depends mainly your own hope of being
saved
After Some further discussion of the nat
ter in which the little boy failed not to
take the part of Mr.. Barker-Decause of
his deep and pure affection for his mother,
and his natural dread of being separated
from the only being whose love would give
her life for his in this great cold world-it
was decided that Mrs. Kelly and her two
children should be secreted in dense paw
paw thicket not far from the Ohio, and with
IN sight of where the party then was, and
there remain trusting themselves solely to
TIE care of Providence, while Mr.. Barker
should push forward to Gallipolis and OBJ
| tain succor in the shortest possible time.
| AS Mrs. Kelly was by this time unable
to walk-the poisoned limb having swollen
rapidly, turned coppery, hue and become
intensely painful-Mr. Barker lifted her
in his arms and bore her to the spot agreed
upon and then, with many kindly and
hopeful word spoken. a quivering lip and
fearful eye, he bade her farewell, and has
tened away upon his own rious journey.
With the thoughfulness ola experienced
woodsman, which he was not--and the dar-
ing of brave and noble man, which in
truth he Was-Mr Barker, believing the In
dams to be already in pursuit, hastened
back to the creek; and thence to the point
had been broken by the water. Here he
ljcinedzsthe original trail; ran up the creek
few PAGES and back again, as if uncertain
what course to Lakeland then crossing the
strea n sat off through ths--t,s1eas as fast
as his limbs could carry him.
This whole proceeding, however was a
ruse, and arese from calculation and not
indecision. Should the sayases follow. on
argued hat they would continue the search
Iup aDd down the creek till it should be found
and then the capture of Mrs. Kelly would
be certain but by showing indecision at
that point, and permitting his own trail to
!! again lead eff boldly, he reasoned that the
Indians hoping to overtake him speedily,
would follow on regardless Of tho others,
and thus he would draw the enemy away
from those it was his hope to save,
The result proved that Mr.. Barker rea-
! soned correctly, for within an hour of
) his quitting the creek the second time, a
party of a dozen armed and hideous savages
stood upon the spot and made a hurried ex-
animation and then, with a short, sharp,
exultant whoop, they bel eyed them to be
most within their & asp
That same day, just as the shade of
evening were stealing over the great gloomy
forest the foremost Indian caught glimpse
Of the fugitive, and imprudenty for his own
purpose announced the fact to his compan-
ions by whoop and disharge of his mus
! ket. Barker thus warned of bis great dam
ger, Immediately darted away withttthe
fleetness which fear lent to desire and was
? saved from his pursuers by the darkness,
e which soonconcealed both him and his trail.
r He travelled all night regardless of any
thing except to pat distance between himself
and his foes; and in the morning muck
: to his horror, discovered he had lost his
| way, and that his chances Of evading his
!! enemies preserving himself feeHa starvation
e and reaching Gallipolis were 80 few as tt
scarcely to keep alive hope.
|, He did not, permit himself to despair
= however, but struggled forward with ever
# greater energy, trusting all to Providence
e He was doomed to many painful trials, bu
survived them all and on the fourth da,
n reached the settlement of Gallipolis in al
e almost famished condition. Here he a
g once related his thrilling story, and urge
St a party to set off for the rescue of Nj
l. Kelly and her children, if hapy they migf
e. yet be living. Volunteers in the cause
is humanity were never wanting among earl
3e settlersssand in less than two hours frol
Barker's arrival at Gallipolis, be was lea
Il ing it in keel. boat in company with TIN
le ty armed and determined men.
= But. oh the suferings of that pos
= mother meantime what pen of language ca
a portray Wounded almost unto death |
ia the bite of venomcus serpet the limb
BIT swollen as TO be useless and producing t
We excruciating physical pain ;.left unprotect
and chained to the earth in the gre
he gloomy forest with wild savage beasts pro
D. ling around and equally wild and savae
to murderous human beings upon her tracl
T her husband and his brother .wo ghest