The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1869-04-23
COL. DEM. .---VOL. XXXIII....NO TO-

posed by another lagoon, which we
were compelled to ascend as before. At
length, we came to a place which we
thought could be forded; and, pursuing
our uncertain and vexatious course, un-
til the water at length reached our mid
die, we had nearly fallen under the
weight by which we were so severely
embarrassed, when we devised mode
OF obtaining rest for short time, by
strapping our trunks around tree.
My companion, it seems, was gifted
with more acute sense of hearing than
myself. We had scarcely been re re-
lieved from our oppressive burdens,
when he exclaimed, 81 hear cock
croww and Immediately afterwards,
~ hear the voices oil men I" We NOV
ed forward in the direction whence
these joyful sounds seemed to issue, and
were just approaching a vista in the
woods, which promised view of some
habitation-when suddenly my hat was
knocked off my head, and, at the same
instant, poor Lumley fell forward into
the water, and the smart crack of rifles
convinced me me that we he'd been fired
at by some persons in our rear. look
ed back, and just emerging from cloud
of smoke, not distant more than thirty
yards, were two men in close pursuit of
us, each with rifle in his left hand,
and long Indian knife in his right.
Thay a oppnornd IN ha of tho ,ortx, mo
had left sleeping on the bank. My sit
uation was most awful, but resolved
to defend myself and my wounded COM
panion to the last. The smallest, but
seemingly the most active of the two,
sprang forward in advance, the water
foaming on the surface, as he forced
himself along with impetuous strides /;
and when distant from me only a few
yards, he clutched his knife, and was in
the act of springidg forward to give me
the fatal stab, when, drawing pistol
from my bosom, lodged the contents
in the villains head, and he fell with a
sudden splash upon his back. q lifeless
corpse. The other assassin now quick
ening his speed, had approached within
dozen yards, when, sasting his knife
at me with all his might, it passed close
by my right ear, and entered tree
within n foot of where / stood 4; then,
maddened by the disappointment, with
fiend-life cOnntenance, he dubbed his
rifle. and strobe Onwards, with the in
ention of dashing out my brains with
the butt. Still, however 1 was not dis
mayed l seemed to gather GOODNESS
from my perilous situation, and draw
ing out my remaining pistol, present.
ed 1t at his breast, and drew the trigger
but il missed fire THE ruffiain was
now close by me, ,and making tremen-
dous blow at me with the butt of his
uplifted rifle, evaded the murderous
stroke, by lodging my head, and my
assailant having Tossed his balance, by
his weapon whiring in the unresisting
ari, he went down with prodigious force
upon his left side, when, drawing out
his own knife from the adjacent tree.
plunged it up to the very hilt in the
villains breast.
My friend Lumly!-I turned round
that might hasten TO his assistance
hoping that he was not mortally wound
ed, when 1 found him in the arms o.
two men, who hearing the report of the
! rifles, and the shouts uttered in our dead
ly conflict, had thrown themselves into
the intervening lagoon, and crossed i
by swimming, that they might come
in aid of the distressed.
Poor Lumly life seemed almost eX
tinct but, on examining the nature o
his wound, it appeared that the ball
after striking obliquely upon the scapu
la, or shoulder blade, had been turnet
in its deadly course, and prevented
from entering his body. The shock hat
thrown him down, but the wound itsel
could not have caused his present stat'
of exhaustion. We concluded that
was awing to the water In which he hat
been immersed, and at the moment o
his beinsllifted he was, in fact aImos
drowned. No time. was to be lost, ant
nowords were now spent n explanation
Entiring a canoe, which had been fasten
ed to bush at some distance lowe
down, we were soon landed on the OPP
posite side of the ravine, and in Il few
minutes we entered the habitation o
these generous men, and, having takeI
off the wet clothes from the seemingl
inanimated Lumley, we dried his body
and placed him gently in bed.
We were now distant not more thar
a mile from Kaskaskia, and having deS
patched a messenger for medical assis
tance, and applied tho usual remedies
! for restoring suspended animation, my
young friend showed symptoms of re
turning life, and when the physician
arrived, his aid was required only t.
dress the wound.
| Pierre Ribaud, to whom aud to hi
eldest son, Etienne, we We're indebte,
for the humane assistance in the lagoon
was, as his name indicates, OF Frencl
descent. His wife, and every membe
OF this amiable family, were unsparini
in their attention to my wounled com
panion, aud myself. His daughted, il
particular, the lovely Adelaide, no,
apparently in her sixteenth year, ,evince
lively interest in his misfortune and
after remaining week in their hospita
BILE cabin, when he was SO far recover
ed, as to be enabled with entire safety
to proceed TO his brothers house, ou
generous host refused to accept tn
smallest compensation for the invalui
bio services reHdered TO us. and eve
carried our luggage Into kaskaskia |
his humble OK cart, the Ouly vehicl
that his little establishment possesset
During our residence under the ro,
\ of the good Pierre Ribaud, We learne
: the history of the mysterious rabil
Some weeks previously TO our arriva
I man napaI HnSf.ar laI haan arra.