The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1869-04-23

DeBoHc! eAcidiineu nc; 'let us DePOne.
fear all is not right about this solitary
house, and we had better look out for
some other quarters. "--"Come good, or
come i'll L shall stop here for the night"
rejoined 1. ave are as safe here, as in
the woods, and l will finish my recon.
noitre." Inclining then TO the left, ,and
CROPPING my way as before, something
met my face, like the hair of human
head. / started back, and tlirusting
forward my sword, just as the point
had struck the object OF my alarm,
down came piece of timber upon my
head, which threw me PROSTATE upon
the floor, and 1 found myself entirely
overspread with something which took
away my breath.
The suspicious Of Lumley seemed
now realised. / made sudden effort
to extricate myself from the load which
pressed me down, and when l had
gained my feet, 1 found myself envel-
oped ina buffaloe robe!
My fears were now relieved; the
mystery Of the fallen timber was un-
ravelled; it having instantly occurred
| to me, that the robe had been hung up
to dry upon the rail which had pulled
| down, as silence still continued unbrok-
en- throughout the house.
My companion was now prevailed up
on to enter, and having carried in our
luggage, and spread the robe beneath
us on the ground, with our heads plac-
ed against the door, and my sword ly-
ing by my side, went to sleep. But
/ was soon disturbed. Half an hour
had not elapsed, before 1 felt myself
struck smartly by Lumley's elbow in
my side, when he exclsimed, "awake |!
awake! hear child crying: let us be
gone!" and jumping upon our feet, and
throwing open the door, we were quick
ly in the open air.
81 hear the voices OF men," continued
Lumley; and looking in the direction
of the river, we perceived Il column of
flame ascending from the bank; when,
approaching nearer, we observed a man
throwing some pieces of wood upon the
fire, which having sufficiently renewed,
he lay down upon the bank. Proceed
ing forwards to the river, we perceived,
in all, five men reclined upon the slop-
| ing sand, with their feet towards the
fire, and each rifle by his side. Hav-
ing appoigized for our intrusion, and
obtained leave to join them in their BIZ
vOuac, we stretched ourselves alongside
of the rough-visaged strangers; aud now
one thousand miles distant from our
families and homes, with no association
of any kind around us, which could i'm.
part confidence to the human breast,
we endeavOred to compose ourselves to
sleep. The robe served us again for a
bed, and a large cloak which ! carried
with me, for q blanket; and, with my
sword grasped firmly in my right hand
committing myself to Providence, soon
forgot the mysteries of the lonley house
and bid adieu to the cares of life. Not
so, my young companion. No sooner
had begun to dream, and fancied my
self sitting down to- comfortable break
fast in Kaskaskla, than his elbow again
saluted my side, and, whispering in my
ear, ooh, listen! listen" / found that
the boatmen were conversing on the
subject of some recent adventure; and
from their disjointed dialogue, / learn
ell that they were the persons who had
been the cause of the Indian war, which
had just broken out in the n ,rth-wes-
tern district of Illinois. In their pass
age up Fever River, they had inveigled
a young Indian female on board their
boat, and continuing their course with
their unwilling captive, some of her
tribe had pursued, and, having by re-
peated discharges OF shot between wind
anu water, sunk the boat, the rufiians,
carrying with them their captive, has
tening into their canoe, in which (the
Indian having leaped into the river,
and swan on Shore they were now re.
turning to their habitations, somewhere
on The banks OF the Ohio.
For persons situated as we were, this
was rather startling intelligence. In
the course of some military service, l
had frequently been in considerable
hazard, but had never felt myself in
circumstances so completely exposed to
danger, without the apparent power OF
efiecting an escape. We seemed still
more exposed to the risk of personal
violence, than in the deserted house.
-"Let US begonev again whispered
my more timid companion: 1--WE shall
be murdered, if we continue herc.-Let
us begone ~
"We may as well be murdered where
we are" replied |, ''as in attempting
to escape. Lie still, till the morning
breaks: perhaps, ere the dawn, some
travellers may be passing Dy"-and
soon was asleep again.
must have slept about an hour
when Lnmley's elbow was again felt
against my side, and looking up, / per-
ceived that the day began to break. In
II moment we were again upon our feet
and, passing softly over the sandy bank,
reached the cabin in which we had left
our trunks, with which we soon diSap
peared in the adjacent woods.
4 We now held consultation, as t.
whether we would carry our luggag,
with us, or conceal it until we hat
reached Kaskaskia, whence we coult
send some vehicle, to bring it to the
, town but fearing ii might be discov
cred, We resolved upon taking it on ou
} shoulders. After proceeding shor
distance, we struck upon a road. whicl
we conjectured would lead to the plac
OF our destination. Our course, h0wev
er, was 50 impeded by deep lagoon
formed by the high state Of the water
f in the Mississippi, which crossed ou
t path. As 1t seemed to lessen in depth
l tnn.arlI ,nrlAff tnrnnI In ihaf al