The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1872-04-12
WI i s g e IIane us
4 THRILLING ADVENTURE.

1t was about the year 1905 that settled
in Virginia, near the falls of kanawha.
The country at that time was an unbroken
wilderness. But few settlements had been
made by the whites, and they were so far
apart as to render vain all hopes of assis-
lance in case of attack from hostile Indians,
numbers of whom still infested the neigh
borhood. | lived there alone with my wife
for several months unmolested, and by dint
of perseverance when young and hardy,
had succeeded in making quite q clearing
in the forest, which | planted with corn,
and which promised an abundant yield.
One morning, after we had despatched
our humble meal, and had just prepared
to venture forth upon my accustomed rou-
tine of labor, my attention was arrested by
the tinkling of Il cow,bell in the corn field.
There" said my wife, "thc COW is in the
corn field
But the ear of the backwoodsman be-
comes by education very acute, especially
rom the fact that his safety often depends
upon the nice cultivation of that sense.
| was not so easily deceived. The sound
was repeated. "That," said l, in reply to
my wife's remark. twas not the tinklc of q
bell upon the COW but a decoy from some
Indian who wishes to draw me into an am
BUSH"
Believing this to be the case, | took
down my old musket, and seeing that it
was properly loaded, | stole cautiously
around the field towards the spot from
which the sound seemed TO proceed.
AS | suspected, there in a clump ofbush-
es crouched an Indian, waiting for me to
appear in answer to his decoy bell, that he
might send a fatal bullet to my 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 accompa-
MED by another, | returned with full speed
to the cabin, and having firmly barricaded
tire door, l watched all day for the COM
panirrs of the Indian had killed. 70 add
to IT,, danger and seeming hopelessness Of
my situation, discovered that ! had but
one shot left, and If attacked by plumbers
should be entirely in their power. Deter
mined to do the best with the powder,
put it into the musket, and then waited
for the approach Of night, feeling sure of an
attack.
Night came at last. A beautiful moon
light night it was, too, and favored me
greatly, as / would thereby be able to OBJ
serve the movements of the enemy az they
approached the cabin.
1t was some two hours after night fall,
and yet had neither heard or seen sign
of the Indians, when suddenly was star
tied by the baying Of my dog at the stable.
The stable stood little to the west of the
cabin, and between the two was path of
clear ground on which the light of the
moon fell unrestricted. Judging from the
noise at the stable that they would advance
from that direction, posted myself at the
port hole on that side of the cabin.
had previously placed my wife on the
cross-pole of the chimney, so that in case
our enemies effected an entrance into our
cabin, she might climb out through the
chimney and make her escape. For myself
l entertained no hope, but determined to
sell my life dearly.
With breathless anxiety waited at the
port-bo At length saw them emerge
from the stable and advance across the open
ground toward my cabin. One-two-
three-great heavens six stalwart Indians,
armed to the teeth, and urged on by the
hope ofrevcnge, and alone to oppose them
with one charge ofpowder. Ny case was
desperate, indeed. With quick and steal
thy steps, in close, single file, they approach
ed, and were already within few yards of
the house, when slight change in the
movement of the forward Indian changed
the six, so that aportion of the side ofeach
was uncovered.
They were in range, and one aim would
cover all. Quick as thought aimed and
fired. AS the smoke cleared away could
hardly credit what my senses showed Inc
as the result of my shot. The fifteen
sugs with which l had loaded the mus
ket had done their work well; five of
the six Indians lay dead upon the ground,
and the sixth had disappeared
Although no enemies were now in sight, |
did not venture forth untilmorning. There
lay the bodies offivc Indians undisturbed,
together with the rifle Of the other. Secu-
ring the arms and ammunition ofthe fallen
Indians followed up the trail Of the mis-
sing one until reached the river, beyond
which point could discover no trace what
ever. From the amount of blood which
marked his trail, together with unmistak-