The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1871-07-27

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to a room on the ground floor, con-
tanning one small window, barred
from the outside. The light was
withdrawn, and the door fastened
upon me. | lighted a small taper,
with which / am provided, and pro-
ceeded TO examine the premises. The
room was separated from an adioin-
ing one by thin partition, On which
was a small door, fastened on the 9TH
er side with latch.
There might be means OF exit here !
took my knife and cut the latch,
through the Stats between the boards,
and stepped into the closet, from
which came forth n death like odor.
1t apparently contained nothing but
a pile of skins, and a window case
ment covered with leather. / was ex-
tinguishing my light to make my es-
cape when a foot, prOtruding from the
hides, caught my eye Removing the
uppermOst, n sight met my gaze
which frOze me with terror. The
body Of a man lay stretched out be
fore me, which had evidently been
dead for two or three days. His
clenched hands, battered head and
blOOd-smeared clothing gave evidence
of fearful struggle. For a moment
/ stood unable TO move; the next,
tearing the leather from the easement,
/ was in the open air.
81 heard you ascend the stairs, and
knew from the sound of your footsteps
the direction you had taken, and de
termined to save YOU il pOssible.U
During this recital he often stop
ped to listen, while we made what
/ mr. Il
! uneven ground We could not have
gone more than three miles when we
heard the barking of a dog.
"My God they are after us! If we
only had our rifles ?' exclaimed my
companion; "but we must make up
our minds to sell our lives dearly with
what we have"
We could now distinctly hear the
shouts of our murderOus pursuers, and
/ in our haste and confusion, to our
great CONSERVATION, found we had
/ taken 4 new course, that terminated
| in a dense thicket. 1t was too late to
| retrace our steps, so we decided to
/ leave the horse to his fate and rely on
/ the forest for safety. They seemed 20
/ have lost our track for a short time,
| but were soon on il again, and surely
gaining upon us. Shortly after there
was a rustling among the limbs, and
| a ferOcious creature bounded out,
making a spring at the one nearest
him. My friend had barely time to
articulate, "YOur knife" when 4
blade was plunged into the animals
| heart.
Breathlessly, and with increasing
speed, ,wepursued our;way. We had been
for some time following a ridge of
rocks, then turning an abrupt corner
we came upon 4 campfire.
Lying before it was the athletic fig
ure of an Indian, who started hurridly
to his feet. My companion told him
of our danger, and begged for protec-
ton.
The Indian listened gravely, shook
his head and answered:
white man may not speak truth;
he loves not red-skin."
He then gave peculiar call, and sew
eral warriors approached from the
tnicket. The surrounded us, consult
ing together in their own tongue, but
my friends face grew pale as they
proceeded, ,and turning to me explain
ed that one of their number had been
killed by the whites, and they would
retaliate on US. We may as well make
up our minds TO die, said he, and j
could almost feel the scalping knife,
and see the kindling faggOts, when an
Indian entered the circle and walking
| toward my companion said:
as the white mans name Locks
ly?'
f'Yes."
"You remember me? White man
friend to Indian twelve moons ago
Know this?' showing q large Orna-
mented knife.
LOcksly smiled, stretched out his
hand to the Indian, who warmly
grasped it,and turning to his brethren,
addressed them in earnest and
what appeared to us, eloquent lam
guage. e..
LOcksly afterward explained to me
that he had met this fellow at the
trading station. "He came into the
store for tobacco, and gave the clerk
contemplate rascal a piece of
money double it's value. He waited
some time and asked for his change.
The clerk said:
"That's all right, the price of tobae-
co has raised" winking slyly at me,
who had just purchased the same
quantity.
''The Indian looked quite detected,
saying he wanted to get knife, and
this was all he had; and then asked if
he would trust him for it till he came
again."
ave don't trust red SKINS" sneered
the clerk.
''I am quick tempered, and at this
my blood rose. l stepped up to the ras-
cGl, and, thrusting my fist under his
nose, said:
"Give him his change this minute,
you villain, or l will pound you to jel-
ly."
"He trembled likethe coward he was,
and laid down the money. ! then
told the Indian to select knife and
| would see that he was not cheated
'tHe took one paid for it, looked at
me steadily for moment, and went
away. had quite forgotten the cir
cumstance until il was just now recall
led"
The hostile manner of the Indians
soon disappeared; they invited us to
the fire, and prepared for our defence.
4 blood hound was the only one Of
our pursuers who appeared, and he
was dispatched by one of their num-
terrible war whoOp. As it echoed and
re-echOed through tne woods, could
imagine the terror of the early settlers
as with blanched faces they listened to
that death-note.
Next mOrning we left the, encamp-
ment guided by several indians, and
at nightfall We had reached station
with which we were familiar, and
where after loading them with pres
ents, we bade our guides farewell
From this place my friend and I re-
turned to Montreal, wiIssrs NE made a
deposition of what we had under
gone.
Locksly took me to his home, and
introduced me to his wife and children.
His help-mate was kind-hearted
sensible woman. l soon learned their
circumstances. He was a collector or
agent for q couple of Montreal firms at
a salary of S700. I asked him if he
would like to come to the States if he
could do better. He said he would
Gladly do en- II gIIra of an1ploVnaanf