The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1870-05-05
II HE TR A p.
A STORY OF A wOMAN.s REVENGE.

There never breathed more merciless
snd vlllainous monster than Ben Nathans,
fellow who had attached himself to the
interests of the Pawpee Indians. then a
peaceable tribe and we'll inclined toward
the white settlers of the far West But
Nathan had sowed the seeds of discomfort
among the red men and although he
could not induce the chief to join him in
any mprderous enterprises, he had COM
pietely won over number of the warriors
who agreed to join him in any desperate
undertaking they might be called upon to
attempt, provided he would lead them,
and provided, also, that they would be
rewarded.
With q dozen of these fiendish Paw
nees, Nathans set out one bitter winters
night upon an excursion, which he inform
ed his men would pay them handsomely,
and that too, without intrrring any great
risk to themselves
The point of attack was rancho situas
ted on the main road from Laramie to
Brldger's Pass. The leader and his saw
ages entered it about midnight. They
had murdered the watchman outside, ard
had left his bloody form. ghastIy and hor-
rible TO look upon, stretched before the
dwelling
Within, they found two men; and,
even before they had been aroused from
their slumbers, the dripping tomahawk
was raised over them, and when it fell
1t crashed through the brain of the half
aroused sleepers, and sent them back to
their long sleep
A heavy door now intervened between
NathanS and An apartment he wished to
reach. He tried the latch, and found that
it was locked but seizing an axe, he soon
effected an entrance by battcring the door
into splinters.
4 single shot was fred at him, and the
bullet whiEzed past his head, cutting his
cap, but doing him no harm.
Instantly, he leaped through the OPEN
ing he had made, but all was darkness
around him. And yet he thought that he
heard the sound of light foot fall, and
saw the futter Of night dress by the
rays of the torches which were blazing in
the next apartment, So he called
"BriEg lights, men! Quick, bring
lights y
The sayages sprang through the apera-
ture with wild yells, flushing their torches
over their heads, and dancing about in
evident delight. They already felt them
selves more than repaid for their journey,
for in the rancho store they had found
blankets, ornaments, furs, tobacco, and,
what was of still greater Importance to
them, whisky. OF this they had drank
until they were ready for any act, no
matter how daring or brutal.
As soon as the lights were brought into
the room, their rays revealed bed which
was standing in one corner. To the side
of this couch the renegade sprang. He
saw that it had been but recently occuuied
for il was yet warm. But there was only
single indentation upon the pillow
Could this be the conch Of the woman he
sought where was the husband And
where was the woman
Nathans at once began his search He
seized a torch, and high and low through
the building he went, not a spot escaping
his scrutiny. But be returned to the
main room foiled, for not a soul could be
found. And yet the villain felt sure that
he had caught the glimpse of female
form, flying from his presence.
Upon reaching the upper room, he found
that it was in flames. He was angry,
but his wrath was of no avail, and he
found it impossible to extinguish the
flames.
At the moment ne believed himself to
be foiled for it was a woman he sought.
But cry fell upon his ears. He sprang
into the sleeping apartment and throwing
back the bed covering he saw an infant,
who, up TO this moment, had remained
concealed from his view. He seized the
child in his arms, and as he gained Tire
outside of the burning mass, he laughed
loudly, and exclaimed:
"The proud beauty is in my power
now. This is her child, and wherever
the infant is taken, she will follow. But
it is strange that the mother. should for
sake her little one, even for an instant, at
a moment of danger. Where can she
possibly be -
But the question was not answered. -
The walls of the little one arose upon the
still night air; but there came to it no
mothers soothing voice.
The villain and his followers took their
way into the mountains, bearing their
booty with them, as well as the frightened
and sobbing infant. But they halted only
a short distance from the rancho, for Ma
thans resolved upon further plans. He
had determined that the woman he sought
should become his captive, and that, too,
before he returned to the Pawnee strong
hold, at Table Hill,
Daylight dawned, and while he was
trying to decide upon some plan of action,
he saw white boy approaching bis camp.
The savages had discovered the lad at
the same time. They were yet under the
influence cf liquor, for they had quanti-
/ fv of n with them still upcousumed and