The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1865-11-15
OLD CROSS-FIRE !
= A Story OF Border, warfare,
= - ~AA By GRO. S. " HERMAN IA ~.
lC0NCLUDED. |

/ CONCLUDED.
| WetEcl and his companion moved with
surprising stiffness, and never uttered a syl
liable, unless it might have been. to check. his
cointado fro IN making unnecessary noise, I
When the hunters reached the mouth o
Short creek, the sun was nearly ready tC
disappear behind the bold heights on the
opposite shore Of the Ohio The banks O
the crock rs its confluence with the river
were abrupt, though not high, and covered
event to their ,exueme borders with luxu-
Iglant growth OF pawpawS. The outer edge
of the beach OF either stream was dry anC
SANDY; but wide strip of wet and unctious
earth next to the water edge, had been ex.
posed to view by the recent subsistence OF a
This IS the cond ef our tramp whis
pered Wetzel to his companion. They were
then standing at the lower angle of the
junction of the streams--screened, however
from observation by the thick pawpaw grove
which extended to the yerger Of the preci-
pice.
what is to be done now?" asked the
youth, i'll like low whisper.
III =, see, = ;, said Wetzel, You stay
where you are, aud do not budgea peg, nol
make a bit Of noise, while l go and look
around little.
He cautiously drew the branches aside,
and glided through the bushes with n quiet
ness peculiar to the skiltul Indian hunter
Alter an absence Of several minutes he re-
turned, and made a signal to Elliot to follow
him.. The latter stepped forward as eau.
tioQsiy as he. could, and accompanied Lewis
few rods up the creek bank, /, whenth el-
der hunter called the attention of his com
panlon to the stumps CT two bushes on
which the recent marks OF the hatchct were
visible.
This one" whispered Wetzel, STOPPING
down to the nearer stump, was cut by 0ld
Cross Fire himself.
"Flow do you know that?' inquired Elliot.
Can you see that it was cut Iy left
handcd man? Tie highest pint of stump
Is always where the heelot the hatchet cuts
it; and thathigh pint is nextto us on this
stunp, and on the left side. "
Il understand you" said the youth
Your reasoning is conclusive that the bush
was cut by IL It-handod mln.
Now look at the other stump" resumed
WHz'h and give he your idea about
that"
Elliot earthly examined the second stump,
and yentarcd his opinion promptly.
This one, said he, was cut by right
han led man. because the highest point Of
the stump is on the right side. -"
.u"Ihat' 3 right, Ellit Igeslarnt you that
much, and its worth minding, ton.
'Why il thetinormation so valuable"
Its yalublG on this account, Ellit: you
see 1t shows 'ss that there have been at least
tuo rel skins he1c--one left. handed and one
right handed one. The left-handcd one is
Odd Cros5-f fWe, ,becase he's the, only left
handed mani Know Of IN these parts; and
the other. lljudge, is one o. his hangers
on.
But might there not have been more
than two, Lewjs?'
$50 there might but we can't tell, said
7Wetzcl, as he moved near the bank, and
cast his keen eyes upon tho hosonl of sthe
water There's aanotier discovery I've
made, he added, DO you see that little
green twig in the creek there?'
Elliot glanced his eye in the direction de-
noted by his comarde' finger, and answered
in the affirmative. s.e.7.e.-, ..l... /
'.Well, Ellit, that little twig is fast to Old
Cross Fires canoe, which is there sunk il
the water: and | arger that these bushes
here were cut to make forks to tasten it tc
the bottom.
VERY likely" said Elliot.
E"H'And now argcr that there might have
been one or more Indians taking care of the
canoe, while the old dog and his imp come
ashore to cut the forks
"YoIAreason like philosopher Lewis =
will soon become an expert hunter, under
your tutorage.
Now, EIit," said the scout, "you &c
back to your old place and keep quiet, and
| lave a bright lookout, while | slip around
the pint of that hill and see what's going on
Only be quiet, and do as I tell you. I'll be
| back before you get oneasy.' +
The two hunters separated: Elliot to seek
his original covert, and the other to obtain
some information of the expected enemy. =
The former examined the priming of his
gun, and satisfied himself that every thing
| wash proper order fcr'service. He seated
himself upon the ground and kept remark.
able quiet-busying his mind most of the
time, in fancying the situation of Rose. =
Sometimes he was ready to conclude that
she had fallen q victim to savage cruelty
but he endeavored to dispel such gloomy
ideas from his mind, and contemplate only
the brighter side of the picture. He was un.
happy, however, in spite of his efforts tc
restore his spirits to their wonted buoyancy.
In the midst of his meditations, he fell
something strike him on the shoulder from
behih1. He sprang upon his feet and dis.
covered Lewis Wetzel standing near him.
Its well / amt an Indian! said the
latter.
+ Elliot was much mortified to think thai
he had allowed himself to be surprised SC
easily.
Lewis, you have learnt me another les
son., said be, tand | shah profit BY it.ls
"See that you dos replied Wetzel, in a
low voice. 'tYe GU must be quiet now," he
added, in whisper. IN
"Did you see anything?" asked Elliot. !,
"Yes; they are comingl"
"Who?"
''Old Cross.Eire, and three others.''
g''Ahd Rose?" ~ Ff-.Eia Ebt 8E. r
j''She's safe enough, riding the little
white pony, and Old Cross-Fire is leading
it along" q
Lewis, I'll shoot the imprudent scoun.
drel if | die for it" muttered the youth;
and he clenched his teeth with rage.
IGa''Unsh. 3ElEt, hushl--Do7 asl tell you
and all will he we'll Crouch dawn ae lou