Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1868-10-10

two hundred yards in the rear, and only at
intervals could he obtain sight OF the fugi
tive, who was doing his best to throw his
pursuer off the trail, but in vain. For nearly
half an hour the race was continued with
unabated vigor, and the scout was drawing
nearer and nearer to the object of his ven.
gance, when suddenly stopping, he leveed
his long rifle. and just as the Indian was
leaping over fallen tree. the sharp report
rang clear and loud upon the air, and with
"A spasmUdic groan the savage fell across the
mossy trunk, while his braway limbs gave
one cnnvulsivc quiver, and then Strengthened
out, still and stiff in the embrace of death.
simultaneously with the crack OF the
scouts rifle, a series of loud yells aud wloops
arose from the forest, on his front, right, left
and rear. The startling truth burst upon
his mind in moment. He had been drawn
into an ambush, and was surrounded by
scores of demoniac foes, who were bent upon
capturing or killing him. Probably no one
person living at that time had given the
tribe of Pok noSets greater cause for enmity
than Ned Wilson. lie seemed TO hunt and
kill the me bers of that tribe with as little
compunction as he would kill wildcat or
wolf. Never tiring, but ever on the alert, it
appeared that he was everywhere at one and
the same time. He seemed to bear charm
and twice bound to the stake, he had always
managed to give them the slip, only to re.
new his bloody exploits at the earliest op.
portunity.
The cause for his deadly enmity to this
particular tribe is easily explained. Some
two years previous to the date of our story,
Edward Wilson lived in an humble log
! cabin not far from the settlement of Swansey.
I Unfortunately he had Il quarrel with one of
| the Pokenoket braves AMI in the heat Of an5
er Wilson gave the savage sound thrashing,
an insult that was neither forgotten Eor for.
given. About a week after this the settler
was obliged to be absent over night on busi
| ness, and on his return the following day,
! he found that his enemy had been before
him. All! what pen could describe or por-
tray the emotions of the husband and father,
| as lie assembled the little knoll from which
the first glimpse of his cosy home could he
caught; his step, SO quick and buoyant his
eye, sparkling with joy, aial so eager to
| catch glimpse of the caskct that contained
those priceless treasures his wife and chill.
| dren.
But ah how terrible were his sensations
-whut soul sickening horror he felt when
he saw only smoking ruiEs where he had last
| seen the snug Uncovered cot, with two
graceful shade trees standing before the door
Now, AS he looked, he belleld, instead of his
home, heap of smoldering rubbish; his
neat garden obliterated, and his two heau:i.
fn trees were reduced to charred trunks
all combned making a sad scene OF ruin and
| dcsontiOn. But he was vet to learn the
worst. AT first he hoped that his family
| had only been carried into captivity, for
then there would be remote chance of
again b,holding them, but he was doomed
| to disappointment, for, as lie neareG the
! ruins, most horrible sight met his eyes
! y sight that caused that strong man to fall
| to the ground in II duatli.like swoun, from
/ which he awoke with only one purpose, only
one Object to live for and that was revenge
J There, upon sharpened stakes set firmly
! in the ground, were impaled the bodies of
! his wife and three children, weltering in
| their blood, yet warm, though dead!
! This was the reason of his deadly enmity
| to all Indians, but the tribe of Pokenokets
, in particular and that oath of vengeance he
! then vowed had been faithfully, fcarfully
! kept, so well that he was universally termed
White Deyil' by his red foes.
AS the undannted scout heard the trium.
plant ye!s and heheld the painted forms of
his enemies bounding toward him, he leapcd
back pace or two, placing the huge trunk
of tree rs a shield for his back, and grasp
ing the barrel of his rife, lie awaited the
onset in stern defiance. 10 moment they
were upon him, and then began a confused
struggle, the savages endeavoring to capture
the scout uninjured, for they had recognized
him us their hated foe, and he, swinging the
heavy piece around in the air with such force
that it leveled all before it. The stock was
broken, yet he did not fater, but used the
iron barrel upon the heads and forms of the
Pukenokets with terrible effect. In spite of
all of Wilson's efforts, he was being pressed
closer and harder by his enemies, and ul.
though several of them had been disabled
( by his blows, their companions pressed for
ward, determined to overpower the scout by
force of numbers. 1t would have been an
easy thing for them to have shot the white
man if they had been so disposed, but they
had resolved to carry him to the village aud
/ there put him to the torture for the benefit
( Of TIE whole community. Wilson's arm was
! tiring, and he resolved upon bold move
/ for liberty, though failure would he death.
/ With loud shout of defiance he bounded
( forward, and dashing the blood stained
Z weapon upon the heaGs of the saYages that
opposed his passage, he burst through the
crowd and sprang off through the forest with
{ a horde of yelling tiends closely following
upon his track. Arrows, rifle ball, and toma-
hawks were shOwercd'after the flying scout,
but owing 20 his swift, zigzag manner of
/ flight, the fugitive was still unharmed.-
! Scarcely mile had been travcrsed in this
race OF life or death, when the yells OF the
pursuers were echoed back from the direc.
/ lion in which the fugitive was flying, and
{ Wilson felt a sharp pang OF despair as he
discovered another party of Indians who
were preparing to intercept his flight. ln-
stantly the hunted scout darted off to the
right, the pursuers spreading ont in order to
! surround him, and the race was continued as
before At intervals, arrows and other mis-.
s!es were discharged but without effect, and
| the scout still continued his fight, unable to
( increase the interval that divided him from
captivity or death, yet he maintained his
distance, in spite Of the almost frantic efforts
OF the sayages.
On, on they speed, the scout painting, and
! with stern, settled look of despair testing
upon his features as he strained every nerve
to effect his escape. A wild yell of exulta.
tion bursts from the lips of the Pokenokets
as the scout leaps over the PROSTATE trunk
of a tree for there, not a score of yards dis
tant, spring up the form of two warriors,
who confront the flying scout.
Not moment does he hesitate; but, draw
ing his yet unused knife, Wilson dashes aside
the blows that are aimed at him by his new
adversaries, and plunges the keen blade to
the hilt in the breast of the foremost savage,
who, with faint groan, dropped lifeless 20
the ground. At the same moment the scout
a Il IL. l. =. Al. 4