The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1866-11-22

| caught his car, and turning he saw a
couple of squaws (Tndian women) with
in a few feetof him, the elder of whom
immediately gave one of those, far-reach-
ing whoops peculiar to her ace, ;t.,..,,.,.,
White at once comprehended the
peril of his situation IF the, alarm
should reachithe camp, both he and his
companion must inevitably perish
selfprescrvation promptedth inhictien
of a noiselcss death upon the two
squaws-a proceeding to WHICH, in, all
probability, he felt but slight repug-
nance from any scruples of border gall
lantry. The purpose was no sooner
formed than acted upon. He sprang
on his victims with the strength and;
agility ola panther, and tightly grasp
ing their throats, leaped with them into
the river. Without difficulty he sue
'ceedcd in thrrsting the head of the el-
81
der beneath the water, where she spec
Oily became insensible, but the younger
made stouter resistance, and during
the struggle, to his great surprise, ad-
dressed him in his own language though
in words scarcely articuiate. lie quick
ly released his hold, when she informed
him that ten years before, she had been
made a prisoner by the indians, who
had brutally murdered her mother and
two Sisters before her eyes. au a4ai
During the narrative, White let go
his grasp upon the squaw, whose body
foated where it was not likely to be dis
covered, and then hastily directing the
girl to follow him, with wonted speed
aad energy he. pushed for the hill.---
They had scarcely gone 200 yards when
shouts of alarm were heard about a
quarter Of mile below. Some war-
riors, on their way to camp, had proba-
bly, reached the river, as the body of
the drowned squaw foated past. White
and the girl succeed in reaching the
hill, where McClelland had remained no
indifferent spectator Of the commotion
SO suddenly excited. The Indians had
Immediately struck off in every direc-
ton, and a number of them, before the
fugitiyes could reach the summit, had
commenced to ascend the activity, pick
ing their wa5 with caution, andkeeping
constantly under cover. From time, to
time glimpses were caughtof their swar-
thy faces, as they glided from tree to
tree and rock to rock, till at length it
became evident that the base of the hill
was surrounded, and every hope ofes-
cape cut off. "'''a .'''' dtjat 3
Nothing was left to the pioneers but
to sell their lives as dearly as possible.
This they resolved to do, advising the
girl to lose no time in making her way
back to the Indians. with whom she
would have no difficulty in convincing
that She had escaped from capture.
''Nor' she exclaimed, ''death with
my own people is a thousand times pre-
- 80
ferable to longer life of captivity ~
>Further remonstrance was useless,
and the scouts addressed themselves to
preparations for vigorous resistance
The only perceptible access to the hill
was by a narrow causeway or shack
bone" along which the savages were
compelled to advance in single file;
though; for the most part, under shell
ter of rocks and trees. But in passing
from cover to, cover. each warrior was
obliged to incur moments exposure,
and two inches of his dusky form was
target sufficient for the unerring rifles.
-
of the scouts. ~ ez5
For several hours, the outnumbering
foe was held in check !; but q new and
undiscovered, danger menaced the hardy
woodsmen. Their crafty enemies were
preparing to assail them in fank-a'
movement which might be successfully
accomplished by means of a detached
portion Of rock which lay adjacent to
one of the sides of the promontory-
The brave scouts fully, realized their
desperate situation, but SO far from he-
ing unnerved by its hopelessness, they
felt their courage emboldened by the
idea that the surety of death was not
greater than the certainty Of vengeance.
Soon McClelland Saw, dusky figure
preparing to spring from cover so
near the fatal rock that a SINGLE bound
must reach it. Everything depended
on the accuracy Of a single shot, and,
though less than half hands breadth
of the warriors body was exposed, and
that distance of one hundred yards, 7