The Evansville journal., 1868-02-13


ness. Two Indians-miserable speci-
mems Of their race-strolled into
camp. made friendly professions,
peered with their keen black eyes
into the wagons and tents, aud went
away again.
Reaslured by the inoffensive de
pertinent Of their savage visitors, the
emigrauts gave themselves up TO a
sense Of security, and when night
came all slept, for they were weary.
No precautions whatever had been
deemed necessary. Picket guard was
dispensed with, and the cattle were
left to take care Of themselves.
Renne' last waking reveries were
of Normandy. Seated In front of the
tent BIZ gazed thoughtfully at the
fading horizon toward which they
were j0urneying. Jea1ette shared the
rude eat he had improvised and
fondly rested her head on his shoul-
der. Beautiful Ia fo1m and face, aud
too delicate, one would think, to un-
deFgo the fatigues of such pilgrim
age, she seemed an impersOnatlon Of
faith aud affection. She clung to her
brave husband with an abiding con
tidence IN his judgment. She, TOO,
was pensive, and stirred from her
position OnlyWhen a slight movement
within the tent indicated that the re-
pose of their little ones was disturbed.
Perhaps they, too, In dreams were
borne back to the scenes and joys of
their old home in Normandy. At
length night dropped its sable cur
tain over the camp. Gabriel pressed
a warm kiss on his heOTie little wife's
lips, and they retired to share the
couch of their sleeping infants.
Silence reigned supreme, except as
anon the wild yell Of famished moUE-
tain wolves, scenting flesh and blood,
broke upon the air like a concert of
devils. But this sound had become
too familiar to give even annoyance,
and our devoted little band yielded
themselves willing eaptives to the
chains Of sl0mber
#d#
Iniunsl Iujuns Bang-bang-
whiz! Who can portray the feeling
Of horror which seizes the soul when
at midnight the sleeper is suddenly
reused to a consciousness of some
thing terrible-an underlined calamity
that has come without promonition or
anything to betoken the source or di-
rection Of the blow. In a moment
the camp was in alarm and confu-
sion. A volley of bullets and whiz-
zing arrows told but too plainly that
this little band of emigrants had been
marked for the massacre Their wall
Of distress only brought back hollow
echoes as if mocking spirits had come
to the carnival Bravely the men,
though bafled by darkness. stood
their. ground against nknown num-
bers, but courage oould avail nothing
in the unequal contest. and with short
shrift fate had executed her inexor-
aSle decree. During the conflict Ga
briel Renne thought only of his wife
and babes. His tent was their sane
tuary, and at its threshold be fought
with che fury Of a.tiger, until over
powered oy fearful odds he sank to
the ground pierced with many arrows.
Morning came, and the Humboldt
Mountains loo ked grimly down upon
thevalley where carnage had traced
10 bloody characters the first chapter
in the doleful history of Big Meadows.
The camp that but few hours before
had rested under the shadow Of peace
% who shall tell it? A pile of burn
ing wagon embers. upon which lay the
half consumed bodies of a woman and
child utensils broken and scattered !;
trunks rifed on their contents; and
more than all, t'le mangled forms on
every side gave a fearful earDestness
of Indian barbarity, while the scalp
ing knife had added its harvestings to
their trophies. The butcher had gone.
and the wolf came to ply his fangs at
the banquet. There was blood to lap
and carcasses to gnaw, and the weird
brute howled with delight.
twas almost midday, when from
under a disOrdered pile of tent cloth,
pale, haggard form emerged, like a
creeping thing smeared with its own
blood. Poisoned arrows vexed Ga
briel Rennes flesh, and for hours he
had lain as one dead but kindling
feveTs quickened his feeble pulsa-
tions aud excited his little remaining
vitality, guntH consciousness came
back with its pangs and its recollec-
tiOns. -gVeFeome-by-the exertiou to
extricate himseH, he again sank inz
sensible. but zaftera period, once more
revived, and looked forth upon a
world xhAt offered him but a sorrow
full greeting. The events Of the pre-
vious night crowded upop his mind,
and lifting his head he faintiy called
the name of Jeanette. There was
a whispering respopse-Only the low
sob Of the soft wind as 1t pa sed
through the grass tufts. Fear ul Of
being discovered by some lurking foe.
he fha1,a = A 70 Sr.e, sb;s to-sH