Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1871-09-21
Upon the evening of the fourth, I

stopped at a spring, yelling like
crystal from the : ground, to let my
horse drink. Thepony, though thirs-
ty, shifted the ground and gave; voice
to low whlnnies, which was explain
ed NhenI suddenly discovered hoof-
tracks and moccasin-prints in the
mud around the spring.
I turned in alarm to mount, when
there was rush through the bushes
a chorus of yells, and I found 4 my
self surrounded by Indians Their
camp was close at hand,
There were thirty Of these men,
women and children. Their wig
vans were among the bushes, and
here their ponies grazed, their dogs
quarreled, and the filthof theirhving
gathered around them.
: 7 expected, as great hideous saw
age laid hands on me, to be instantly
killed and scalped but after depriv-
ing me of my gun, and binding my
hands and feet with deer-thongs, they
carried me into one of the wigwams
and laid me down upon a bed Of
skins. 1t was evident that they did
not mean to kill me Immediately.
For twenty-four hours, without
meat or drink, was left to wonder
what they did mean to do with me.
: H
My lashings had become very an
moving, for t was bound with unne-
fcessary ightness. The rude leather
compressed the flesh upon my wrists
and ankles, and rendered my hands
and feet almost numb and very pain
full. The pain gradually extended
through my whole body, and no
words can tell what / suffered.
I think, upon the second. day, |
must have become somewhat dellrlous,
for I had forgotten where I was,
when saw two faces turned. atten-
lively upon me: :,
One was dark and repulsive-the
other fair and delicate. | turned be-
seeching glances upon them. and
tried to speak.
I don't know what I succeeded III
saying; but the dark face was distor-
ted with a horrid grin. To my as
tonishment, the other murmured, In
English
"Poor fellow j.
Ny senses cleared little.
"Kill me at once" I said. n
had rather die now, than bear an
hour more of this suffering
As looked at the one who had
spoken, saw that she was a young
white girl. She was wrapped, like
the:otheg in skins and ;furs, wore
mo,casins upon her srnall22 feet, and
had a string of tawdry ornaments
about her neck; but her-hair flowed,
fair, fine and silken, upon her slender
shoulders.
She could not have been more than
fourteen years old. | looked at her
in wonder as she knelt down by, me
and passed her small fingers lightly
over my lashings.
Something in her manner of doing
this made me look narrowly into her
face. She was blind i Her-lovely
blue eyes did not see me at all.
She rose up and spoke to the
souaw who accompanied her. The
latter replied by harsh laugh.
The conversation was continued
in language I did not understand
but | saw that the young girl 4assum-
ed something Of authority.
Sheseemedto todemand something for
me, 10 which the other gave no en-
couragement.
She was an old hag, stolid and
hldeously ugly, yet, as she pleaded
l saw the sweet young girl put her
little hand on her shoulder, and
stroke her tawny cheek. Finally, as
l watched them in agonizlng sus-
pense, both left the wigwam.
In vain l waited for their return.
The terrible hours went by unbroken,
and daylight began to fade
Through half delirious slunber ]
heard the voices of my captors, heard
horses neigh, and knew that they
were going to and fro around me
but none of them brought relief to
my protracted agony.
If they had not taken my knife,
and could have got my hand to my
pocket, I think l would have cut my
throat.
1t was nearly, if not quite, dark,
when half realized the sound of q
step beside me, and tlen water
heavens how refreshingly cold and
sweet was held to my lips.
"Who is it?" I asked, for the
skin at the entrance of the wlgwam
had fallen and shut out what little
light there was,
:" Hush!" whispered a soft voice.
There was a light retreating step,
and I felt that I was again alone.
But the water had revived and
strengthened me. A wild plan of
escape dartcd through my head, and
I fell to gnawing the thongs upon my
wrists.
must have worked for hours.
At length the thong, worn to q shred,
separated.
My heart bounded with Joy.
Though my hands and arms were
much swelled, and acutely sore, l
managed to use them sufficiently to
unite nv feet.
At first I could not stand, but by
rubbing my limbs, and urging them
gradually to the task, I was at length
able to walk about the wigwam. AT
ter little of this exercise, lay
down to rest again, and consider the
possibilities of my escape.
1 felt that my danger was now
greater than before. l was weak
and i'll, and suddenly the great tears
welled up to my eyes. In the dark
ness I seemed to see my mothers
face, with its mild eyes and chasten-