The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1873-08-08


drew nearer and nearer, and became
more distinct as it approached. .Thev
are our men, exclaimed Mile. Babv.
Don't YOU hear the barking of our
dog?' And she drew a long breath
of relief, as if an immense weight had
been taken from her heart.
Nine Baby did not reply; a faint
smile played over her lips. She, too
had heard the dogs barking; but an
other noise that she knew only too
well had also reached her ears. Very
soon the voices became so distinct
that it was impossible to be deceived
any longer. Here they are. here
they are! !" shrieked the young girl,
sinking into a seat near the window,
as the different colored feathers with
which the saVages decorate their heads
appeared between the trees.
Don't tremble So" said Nine.
Baby in a quiet voice to her daughter,
cor you viii betrav Us. Look out Of
the window, and don't let them per-
ceiye your emotion.
Courage and GOODNESS at a critical
moment are always admirable, but
when woman possesses these quail
ties, they are sublime. Calm and i'm
passive, without even rising from her
seat, Mime. Baby TRANQUILITY continued
her work The most praCtieed eve
could not have detected the smallest
trace Of emotion the least fevcrish ex-
citement or agitation, on her com
manding and noble cOUntenance \
heroine's heart beat in her woman's
breast, and it was thus that she await
ed the arrival Of the savages. 'TelI
us where You have concealed the white
warrior" cried the first one who ell
tered the room. 1t was the POtawat-
annie whom the young officer had so
imprudently offended He was drip
ping with perspiration, and out of
breath with his long and fatiguing
quest You could see the rage and
evaporation of his disappointment in
his ferocious glances, his scowIing
brow, and the excitement that made
every feature quiver.
"Comrade," =" replied Nine Baby, in
a tranquil tone Of voice, you know
the superintendent well; and if YOU
have the misfortune to misbehave in
his house, you will get into trouble. 8"
The Indian hesitated a moment,
then said, in a feigned mildness Of
voice, My white sister knows that
the Potawatamie loves peace, and that
he never makes the first attack The
white warrior is on the war-path, or
the POtawatamie would not have pur-
sued"
Il have not hidden the white war
riOr," answered Nine. Baby. 1T is
useless to search here you had better
look elsewhere, or he viii escape you"
The Indian did not reply, but look
ing at Nine Baby with a smile, he
pointed to a little stain on the floor
that no one but an Indian would have
discovered But the sharp eye Of the
savage had detected there a trace of
his enemy. 1t was a drop of blood
which Nine Baby had taken the pre-
caution to wipe away most carefully.
"My sister has told the truth" -" said
the Indian, in an irOnical tone. The
white warrior has not passed this way;
that drop of blood, | suppose, she put
there to persuade the Indian that she
mau cOICeaIeu Une unIUe warrior.
Then, assuming a more serious tone,
he continued: MY sister, know well
that the POtawatamie will do the white
warrior no harm only show Us where
he is hidden, and we viii go away !;
we only want to take him pris--.'
He stopped, and, bending his head
forward, looked through an open win
dow at the other end of the apart
ment; ; then, giving a hideous yell, he
rushed across the room, and leaped
out of the window that opened into
the garden His ferocious compan-
ions followed him, bowling like troop
of demons. Without seeing what had
happened, Nine. Baby understood all.
The young officer, hearing the Indi-
ans return, and believing himself lost,
had the imprudence to jump out Of
ore Of the windows into the garden.
He ran toward a covered fountain in
the center Of the pGTtey're to hide, when
the Indian perceived him. How can
| describe the scene which followed Z
The pen drops from my hand. In two
bounds, they had reached him, and
one of the savages striking him a ter
ribIe blow with his fist, sent him reel
inc to the ground He fell on h1s
broken arm, and the excruciating pain
caused him to utter n deep Sroah.
They then seized hold of him, and
bound his hands and feet Poor
young man what resistance could he
make to his cruel enemies, with bro
ken arm, and totally disabled and
weakened by the loss of blood He
called for help, but the echoes in the
garden only answered his cries, and
Tedoubled the horror Of the scene.
Mile. Baby, bereft Of her senses, threw
herself at her mothers feet, and, hid
mo her face on her knees, she covered
her ears with her hands, to shut out,
if possible, from sight and hearing the
frightful tragedy While the rest of
the savages were tying their victim
down, the Potawatamie drew out his