Middletown transcript., 1869-07-31

lily down over the lofty trees. Occasion
ally the solitude was disturbed by the
cries of the night birds or the howl of a
wolf; and more than once his practiced
ear detected stealthy footstep amid the
underbrush. He laid his hand upon his
pistols, to be assured of their safety, and
urged his weary animals on.
A moment more, and dark form sprang
from the roadside and caught the bride
of his pony, while another attempted to
conine his arms with lariat. But,
drawing pistol from his belt, he fred
two shots in rapid succession, and one of
his assailants fell mortally wounded
Again he endeavored to quicken his
pace, but a well-known war-hoop rang
through the woods, and he found himself
surrounded by hostile Indians. They
were his old foes. His wife and only
child had been massacred by them, years
before; and then he had registered SOL
emn vow of vengeance against their name
and nation. So well had he kept his fear
full pledge that this one man had been
destroying angel to their tribe, and more
than fifty of their bravest warriors had
fallen by his hand. Thus far he had
eluded their grasp; for long years of from
tier life had made him as wary as his saw
age foes. But now he was SO far from
their hunting grounds and usual haunts
that he had not anticipated an encounter
with them, else he would not have been
alone. AS it was, the contest could not
last long, and soon the strong hearted
man was completely ut the mercy of his
captors, although five or six of their num-
Der had fallen before his death-dealing
pistols.
His pistols were taken from him, and,
with pinioned arms, he was compelled to
march for hours in the front, while they
moved silently away to join the rest of
the tribe. The strange procession swept
on beneath the starlight until the dusky
leader gave the order to halt. A rude en-
campment was soon made, and, with the
captive securely lashed to tree, the In
dians lay around their camp-fres, and
soon sank into profound slumber.
At daybrcak they ate their breakfast.
The weary march was resumed over hill
and plain.
On the evening of the second day after
his capture, and while yet the sun ling
cred in the heavens, they came up with
the rest of the tribe. When it was known
who their captive was, the wild yells of
triumph arose from hundred savage
throats and soon the whole tribe were
performing one of their hideous war dan
ces around the prisoner, whose feelings we
will not attempt to describe. The dance
was prolonged until the moon was high in
the heavens, when the captive was again
lashed to tree, to await the torture of
the coming day /; and under the influence
of generous supply of "fre water" the
Indians sank into heavy slumber.
On the side of the Guadaloupe, and a.
bout half way between the mines and the
Bateman rancho, was an Indians hut, in
habited by its owner, who called himself
Olanto. He was entirely alone and many
miles from the hunting grounds of his
tribe. Whether he was fugitive, or had
been banished by his fellows, no one knew.
He lived ostcnsibly by hunting, but he
frequently intruded upon Bateman's prem
ises, always appropriating the best of what
ever he could reach. The generous pio-
neer had borne with him long, but within
few weeks he had ordered him to leave
the premises, and forbidden any future
visits. All the malice and treachcry of
the Indian were aroused by this just SEN
tence, and he was now waiting for an op-
portunity to do him wrong. He had al
ready sent poisoned arrows among his herd
of cattle, on more than one occasion but
his malice was far from being gratifed.
Olanto had habit of creeping stealthi-
ly near whenever he saw two men engag-
ed in conversation; and, on the morning
of the fourth day after Armsdell's depar-
ture, while sitting on peak above the en-
campment of the miners, he saw them ap-
parently discussing some topic of great in
terest, and Fastening down, he approached
them. While lying concealed beneath
the under brush he heard one of them say:
"Poor Dick was brave fellow, but l
reckon he has met the Northern Avenger'
before this. He wouldn't stay away four
days if all was right"
Eyes, he's gone sure" replied Bill Mel
son. "I'll tell you how I know" he ad-
ded in lower tone, II saw that woman
last night and she wasn't crying and wrin-
ging her hands as she used to be, but she
was laughing and screaming, while the
wind blew among the great pines in an
awful gale"
"Well," said Ned Casey, the desperate
of the group, "it amt ghost that killed
Dick Armsdell. They don't do such
things; and besides. he'd fight his way
through whole regiment of the moonlight
imps. l tell you he has found foe that
is flesh and blood. Like as any way that
mean Yankee, at the foot of the mountain,
sent ball through him as he passed his
house. He could do it easy enough, and
then hide his body"
eyes, yes" said Nelson eagerly, "that's
what's become of him-that Bateman is
from the north, He's the Northern Aven-
ger reckoni''
"Don't be fool, Bill" was Casey's
courteous reply. ut don't make much
n diffaronoa uhot cort af mn ovoooo, L. 2.