The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1868-12-04
[SBURG, PA, FRIDAY, DEC. 4. 1868.

y
name-Sydney Chapman.
Tho train were always careful to
guard against the approach of the In.
dans during the hours Of the night.
The wagons were formed in circle. in
the interior of which were placed the
horses, to prevent a stampede during
the confusion of an attack and as near
the centre as possible were placed the
women and children, this being unques-
tionably the NEST inaccessible position.
The usual guard were stationed on
this night. The trappeis, who, without
doubt, were best qualified 10 speak, ar
firmed that they had seen no "sign'
during the day aud they lay down rear
one of the baggage wagons and joined
the rest in slumber.
In the course of an hour profound
stiffness settled over the camp. The
fires smoldercd, and the human beings
were all asleep, except the pickcts, some
of whom, dreaming of no danger, were
little better than so many sleepers.
1t was not far from midnight when
shadowy form came stealing up the bed
of lhe brook. SO stealtlily, and pan.
thtr-like were its movements that not
single seutine! observed it. 1t resem-
bled some siow-moving reptile prone
upon the ground scarcely able to drag
itself along.
But if slowly, it surely approached
the timber where the emigrants lay
sleeping. When in the dense gloom of
the trees it raised quietly to its feet,
and then the most superficial observer
would have seen that it was an Indian
| warrior.
Like shadow the savage moved for
ward. Not twig snapped under his
feet, and the brushing limbs and under
growth seemed not to stir breath of
wind. No sleeper could possibly be
awakened by his approach, if he should
step backward and forward over his
person,
He passed under and through the cir
Gle of wagons with the celerity and si
lence Of phantom. When on the
edge of the open space, where smold-
eied The camp-fires and where the fe-
males had arranged their couchPs for
| the right, he raused and looked around.
The train, rs now arranged, it should
re stated, consisted of two circles OF
wagons an inner and an outer one.
The inner one, which was separated
| N hu NJ x,a Al
yards. was in immediate proximity to
the camp-fres, and contained, ss we
have already stated, the women and
children Of the party.
1t was by this circle that the Indian
halted. He knew that the prize he
sought was in ore OF those covered
wagons, but what strange fatality guild
ed him directly to it is impossible to
say. But the first one at which he hal
ted contained Miss Evington xnd two
companions.
The savage drew the curtain aside and
peered within. The light from the
camp-fires permitted him just 20 dis
tinguish the features of the sleepers.-
How his basilsk eyes CLEANED when
they rested on the beautiful face of Miss
Evington! She was the jewel for whom
he was searching.
He waited but momen', and then,
with the same noiseless dexterity, step.
ped up in the body of the wagon aud
placed his feet between the sleeping
girls. Not one stirred or showed the
least sturbance.
Carefully lifting the blanket froln the
others, he places it so that when he rails
es Miss Evington it shall close around
} her None of the females have remov'
ed their clothing, so there is little fear
Of their suffering from the chilly night
air.
, STOPPING down, the dusky villain
slides his arm slowly and cautiously
: around the body of our heroine. s.
, skillfully is this done that she is scarce
ly disturbed in her sleep. He then rails
es her from the floor Of the wagon, an,
crouching with his burden, steps softly y
l tow Wards the rear, so a. to decend 10 III,
\ ground. How unaccouptable! Mis-
. EvingtOn still sleeps.
e 1t is difficult task to reach the eartl
e with the dexterity andgenlenes' which
the savage desires, and he is compelle,
: first to seat himself on the boards o
5 the wagon, let his feet hang down, 81
e that they nearly touch the ground, ant
then quietly to slip down.
i This he accompishcs, but it is accom-
!. panied by n jar that causes the oIcrpe
Z 80 open her eyes. One wild look, ant
II then she gives uttcranCe TO scream
r that echoes again aud again through tn
e grove, and rouses every being within
u The savage darts away with the spec
IS of the wind.
II Screaming aad struggling, Miss +,
u ington has comprehended her posto
i In an instant. She bites at the arms {
) her captor, endeavors to catch at tn
passing limbs, and does everything sh
3 can to impede his movements. In on
n case she grasped small sapling an
= held on with the strength of desperi
/, tion but the savage tore her han
X loose and darted away again.
y The confusion occasioned by the cal
" tive's screams lasted just long enoug
" , to give the Cheyenne time to escap
Passing a short distance down the cree
- he came to where his noble horse WI
y. - waiting, vau!ted on his back, and Il
~ next moment was laundering over Il
- prairie.
The excitement occasioned by this
" ring abduction was extreme. Accu
: toned as were many of these men
=, midnight assaults by the Indians, it |
g quired but few moments for them
\, prepare for any demonstration the
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