Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1868-10-10
TALES AND SKETCHES.
.aE TiBE STAKE;
4 THRILLING STORY OF INDIAN LIFE
By JOSEPH l.. BADGER.

1t was cool day in the fall of 1875, some
few months after the attack on Swansey by
the forces Of King Philip, that the incidents
of our story occurred. 1t was row Il com
mon thing, for the settler and his family, to
retire at night in peace and security, to he
awakened in the gloom of midnight by the
roar of their burning dwelling and the yells
of the painted savages, as they danced in
fiendish glce around the funeral pyrc Of their
victims. Or for the pioneer when he return
ed from his daily toll, to find his cabin in
ruins, his family dead or maneled, or per
chance carried into captivity to fate in
fnitely worse than sudden death. Many
thrilling adventures, many deeds of daring
and heroiSm, were then enacted by the hun
ters and pioneers of those troublous times,
that are doomed to remain unrecordcd and
forgotten. One of these forms the substance
OF the following sketch:
4 man dressed in the garb of a scout, was
rapidly walking through the forest, carrying
the headquarters OF a buck upon his shoul-
der He was armed with long, heavy rifle,
brace of brass, 5ell.mouthed pistols, and
the Indispensable hunting knife. A tall,
robust form, massive and deep chest, long,
snewy arms, with legs to match. His face
was lightened up by the keen piercing
glance of a pair of dark gray eyes. Brown
whiskers and mustaches, covered the lower
part of his face.
The woods through which the scout was
passing, were rather open and free from un.
derbrush, and although few small knolls
were scattered at intervals along the route,
the ground was comparatively level.
Suddenly two sharp reports rang out on
the still air, and the Euntcr uttered a stiiled
exclamation of pain, at the same time clap
ping one hand upon the side of his head,
where bullet had evidently wounded him.
Instantly dropping the meat that he still
held, the scout leYeled his rifle at the ap.
preaching Indians, who were bouncing for
ward with demoniac yels. At the whip
| like report of the scouts gun, one of them
suddenly faltered, swayed 10 and fro, feebly
throwing his hatchet at lis destroyer, and
with faint whoop fell upon his face, dead.
The remaining savage at the death of his
! comrade, gave yell of terror, and fed
| through the forest fast as his legs could
carry him, closely pursued by the infuriated
| white man. On through the forest, and
through the bushes and underground, over
hills and over fallen trees, fees the painting
savage, to escape the vengeance of his in,
tended victim. On they speed, the Indian
yainly striving to throw his enemy off the
scent, but still he follows close behind, now
slowly gaining, then falling behind for a
short distance, yet never losing sight of hi:
flying foe. One after the other his pistols
were discharged, but without any effect
other than causing the terrified savage tC
quicken his pace. Disguised at his failure
the scout slightly slackened his pace and
began loading his rifle. The savage perceiv
ing the white mans intention, now strained
every nerve, evidently hoping to distance
| his foe while the latter was embarrassed with