Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-05-17

was repeated. f'That," said T, in renlv to |
my WHeS remark, " was not the tinkle of |
bell upon the COW, but a decoy from some
Indian who wishes to draw me into an am
bush' ~- '''hA
Believing this to be the case, took
Gown my old 5uusket, and seeing that il
was properly loaded, [ stole Cautiously
around the held toward the spot from
which the sound seemed to proceed.
AS L suspected, there in a cIunan of
pushes an indian was waiting for me to
appear IN answer to his decov bell that he
might send a fatal bullet to nv heart. |
approached without discovering myself to
him until within shooting distance. then
raised my piece and fired. The bullet
sped true to its mark, and the Indian fell
dead.
Not knowing but that he was accom-
panied by others, l returned with full speed
to the cabin, and having firmly barricaded
the door, l watched all day for the COM
panions of the Indian L had killed. To add
to the danger and seeming hopelessness OF
my situation, l discovered that | had but
one shot left, and if attacked by numbers
L should be entirely in their power. De
termlned to do The best with the powder, l
put it iUto the musket and then waited for
the approach OF night, feeling sure of an
attack.
Night came at last. \ beautiful moon
light night it was too, and favored me
| greatly, as l would thereby be able to OBJ
serve the movements of the enemy as they
| approached the cabin.
1t was some two hours after nightfall,
and yet l had neither heard or seen a sign
| of the Indians, when suddenly l was
startled by the baying Of my dog at the
stable. The stable stood little west of the
| cabin, and between the two was 4 patch
of clear ground, on which the lighJ Of the
moon fell uDObstructed. Judging from
the noise at the stable that they would
advance from that direction, l posted my
I self at the portfolio on that side of the
/ cabin. -
had previously placed my wife on the
croSs-pOle in the chimney, so that In case
| our enelc1ieS effected an entrance into our
cabin, she might climb out through the
chimney and make her escape. For my
self l entertained no EOpe, but determined
to sell my life dearly.
/ With bTeatlleSs anxiety waited at the
port hole, At length saw them emerge
from the shadow of the stable and advance
across the open ground towards my cabin.
Observation-Disclosures heavens! six stall
wart Indians, armed to the teeth, and urged
ca by the hope Cf revenge, aud L alone to
oppose them with one charge Of powder
My case was desperate, indeed. With quick
and stealthy steps, i'll close single file, they
approached, and were already within 2
few yards Of the house, when a slight
change in the movement of the forward
Inoian changed the six, so that a portion
of the side of each was uncovered.
They were1n range, ard one aim would
cover all. Quick as thought aimed and
, fired. As the smoke cleared away | coulC
1 hardly credit what my senses showed me
as the result Of my shot. The fifteen slu9s
4 ! with which had loaded the musket hal
| done their work we'll. Five Of the six III
= dians lay dead upon the ground, and The
. sixth had disappeared. Although no enc
- mics were now III sight, L did not venture
;. forth until morning. There lay the bodie
a of five indians undisturbed, together Will
e tie rifle Of the other. Securing the arm
: and ammunition Of the fallen Indians,
1 followed up the missing one until
). | reached the river, beyond which point
k | could discover no trace whatever. From
# the amount Of blood which marked hi
i trail, together with unmistakable evidenc
Y that he had picked his way with difficulty
b | was led to believe that he was mortal
e wounded, and in order to prevent his bod
f falling into the hands Of the foe, he ha
: CROPPED his way to the river and throw
!. | himself in the current which had borne
q | away,