Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-07-18


swollen, had deposited on the ledge At
this hating place, the girl had been tied
to tree, and had evidently struggled
violently to free herself The bark Of
the tree was torn and bruised where the
thongs had cut it. Cheered and encour-
aged by these Hnmistakable ''sign," we
pushed ahead as rapidly as my strength
would allow.
The character Of the country begun
materially to change from this point up
ward. Vegetation became more scarce,
which the trail had led so far, only &C.
casional clumps of skraggy timber
greeted the eye, while before US aud on
every hand there iutted cut from the
mountain side great cliffs of dark, SOM
Der looking rock, while deep chasms
penetrated the jagged surface in branch
ing seams; all lending to the landscape
a wild sublimity that l had never before
witnessed
What could be the Indians purpose
in carrying the girl away into this desc
late region? Again and again ! found
myself repeating the question, and as
often would fear, it can be for no
other purpose than to carry into effect
his savage threats.
But why resort to this method2 Why
not slay the girl at once, and then if
necessary escape the vengeance of her
relatives? In vain tried to give my
self a satisfactory solution of the mys-
| terry.
The trail here became uncertain, and
at times totally lost; nothing but the
wonderful sagaciiy, / had almost said
instincts, Of the Indian guide preserved
as from losing it altogether.
At times he was guided alone by q
broken branch, an overturned rock, a
messy spot, or slight strain upon the
unbroken surface of the rock.
Night was fast approaching, as after
long march we once more struck a
broad trail Of the fugitive-this time no
longer upsoard, but tending around the
brow of the mountain, to the left. A
hasty ejaculation of joy broke from the
guide at this discovery, and pointing
away in the distance, he called our
attention to a jutting crag Of larger
size than its fellows, and gave us to an
derstand that there he hoped to find
those we were seeking. He told Es of a
spring at the base of the rock, favor
tie spot where hunters of the mountain
goat often found camping place for
the night He had often stopped there
in his hunts, and more than once with
the william who had abducted his sister
| A rapid push of an hour brought us
In close proximity to the cliff, and care
fully secreting ourselves in the under
growth we held council of war as tc
our future proceedings.
We knew well that, if discovered, The
girls life would not be worth a moment
purchase; her quondam lover would
STAY her on the spot, and escape in the
shadows of the surrounding crags.
We silently sank to the earth, while
the girls brother proceeded to dives
himself of all surplus clothing tina
would 10 any way interfere with hi
movements as he stole forward to recon
hotter the ground.
he knew well the willy enemy will
whom he had to deal, and taking onl,
his bow, a long aud effective weapon, b.
{ disappeared like a shadow in the under
| brush that grew in scattered clump
about the vicinity. Minute after ninut
! passed slowly away; some half-hou
| elapsed before the Indian returned
/ He glided silently to our side, and in
: whisper informed US that our "game
was there.
r The greatest caution now becam
! necessary. The clouds of the previou
/ night had broken away, and q round
: | c,,U ~roo~ nee L.
/ landscape with almost the brilliancy @
day. The fugitive Indian, with habitus
watchfulness, was on guard against sur
5 prise.
= Between as and the foot of the eli
/ there lay an open space of some rods i
extent; and as we would have to pas
4 this spot to reach our sought-for prizt
}. we knew it could only be done by mall
I ing decisive dash or else shooting tn
Indian down from our hiding places
n snake could not have crawled over tn
barren rocks and escaped the lynx eye
t Carib's notice.
o lightning the belts of our revolveri
a and looking to the printing of our rife:
Burton and myself prepared to folio
3. our guide, and be led by him in all cd
a proceedings Slowly, cautiously, W
e picked our way over the clusters {
y boulders that lay thickly strewn around
: we reached the uttermost verge of til
!, "CoYer, and looking out from on
' scanty hiding place, we beheld sigh
b that made the very blood boil in GU
e veins.
e The Carib maiden, with her hand
dashed behind her back; her garment
: torn by rough, hard usage; her di
e heveled hair falling in masses over be
d shoulders, was half leaning, half sittin
e against fallen rock, a picture of ute
J woe and misery.
J. Near her, and almost in line wit
e ourselves, stood the scoundrel who ha
f abduetedlher. rs was standing IN an a
e tude of listening-his head throw
slightly forward and his bow graspe
b firmly in bis hand for instant use.
# few smouldering brands lay scattere
d near at hand.
hastily, impulsiyely threw my riff
forward and drew back the hamme
r The sharp click of the lock caught Bur
d tons ear, and laying his hand warningl
i upon my arm, be whispered: "Don
r risk it. The light is uncertain, and 20
J, may hit The girl saw the sense {
d what he said, for an inch the wron
b way would have been falkland so low
cred my piece.
Y With a muttered word of caution, Bul
b ton stepped back into the bushes, an
Il by making a slight detour, he sought t
Is gain position where the man would nj
5 be so nearly aligned with the captivr
: and thus be enabled to pick him Q
]. without danger.
) Unfortunate procedure. His foot ell
It countered loose stone lying upon Ii
l. edge of slight declivity that led to th
b chasm below, and rolled it erashin
down, where bounding from rock {
Is rock it loudly awoke the echo's of th
/. night The tigers bound is not quicke
d than was that of the Indian brother, fC
a concealment was now worse than use
less, and uttering bis shrill war whoop,
l. - n