The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1873-02-07


dis chile am, as ia all no dat is 50 brave
dat me can kill twenty Injuns."
Smiling at Jim's braggadocia, the Doc
tor left. The evening was clear and beauti
full; the moon was riding high in the heav-
ems, casting its mellow light over the peace
full plateau. Mrs Hickman and Betty were
seated on the porch, which fronted towards
the river. The little boys tired from their
gambols were sleeping on rug in the par
Tor, and the brave jim was ia setting in de
kitchen looking outen de windcr."
Whilst thus sitting, Betty drew the atten-
ton of her mistress to band ofmen that
had just made their appearance from the
banks of the river and were boldly march
ing for the house. AS they came nearer
they had no difficulty in seeing that they
gittering in the shimmering rays of the
moon. One ofthe men led two females,
which the ladies in the porch took to be
captives. jim, ode brave nigga" saw them
too and slipping out at an opposite door he
crawled on his hands and knees until he
reached IL thicket, when he arose and bound
ed away as if Old Nick were after him.
Mrs. H. now fully comprehended the
it calmly. She whispered to Betty to be
calm and show no signs of alarm. The
marauders were quickly in the yard and
formed themselves in front of the porch,
one of them taking charge of the two cap
tives, whom he tied to two small saplings
in the lawn, telling them that ifthcy made
any noise "Iniun would kill"
Mrs. H. now arose and advanced towards
the murderers and enquired what the
braves wanted. Her question, delivered in
the silvery accents of her voice, accompani-
ed with sweet smile, appeared to please
the savagcs, and although bent on murder
most foul, yet the chief seemed to think
there was time enough to cat supper and
do their fiendish work afterwards. He told
Mrs. II. that "Injun much hungry; lniun
want eat; Injun want tire-water."
With smile the lady told them to be
seated on the grass and their wants would
be supplied. While speaking with them
she saw by the moonlight their belts were
hung with reeking human scalps.
Her stern and terrible resolution was
at once formed. The Indians now were
all squatted on the grass at the com
mand of their leader, while the
ladies went into the kitchen for some re-
freshments for them. They soon returned
with basket filed with bread and dried
venison hams, which they carried to the
villains, and smiling swectly on them
told them to eat. The savages did not
know the purport of those sinister smiles,
and were completely thrown off their guard.
The lady now told them that they would
go and fetch the fire water, at which the
villains gave grunt of satisfaction.
Mrs. H., taking Betty with her, went
into her husbands office She now took a
demijohn which she knew contained gal
lon of fine old brandy. She then took from
the medicine shelf vial containing
ounces of clear, inodorous liquid, which
was q powerful narcotic. With firm hand
she poured the contents of the vial into the
brandy. She and Betty now went boldly
and gave the liquor to the Indians. The
chief first smelt the beverage, then tasted
it, pronounced it good, and commenced
drinking and gulping it. One Of them
said to the ladies, "Pale squaw, good no
kill; make Injun wife, Kill children,
mebbe, but no kill squaw."
Mrs. II. knowing that wild scene would
now occur as the eight in number had
drank a gallon of strong brandy and four
ounces of u powerful narcotic, took Betty
and went up stairs and watched them from q
window. The medicine was now at work
They first commenced laughing peal after
peal of laughter came from their savage
mouths. They now attempted to rise, but
their limbs were paralyzed, and they could
I not move. With horrid yells, they one
7 after another sank prone upon the ground,
7 in deep suporifc, drunken sleep, form
which the tates had decided they should
! never waken. AS soon as they had all got
f quiet, our heroines again made their appear
ance on the scene of action. Betty lost no
time in rushing to relieve the bound cap
tive maidens. With sharp knife she
quickly cut the cruel thongs by which
? they were bound, and with all the endear-
ing words of love and protection that she
7 was master of, she led them into the house,
5 whittier the mistress had retired. The
I weeping captives, who were two beautiful
? young ladies, soon told their tale of woe.
I During the preceding afternoon the In
3 dams had attacked their house, killing
and scalping their father, mother and two
: little brothers, and took the girls with them,
g telling them that they were to be their wives,
| and further that they had murdered three
: other families before they arrived at the
l Doctors. The heroines now persuaded the
weary captives to go to bed, after which they
e proceeded to finish the work that they had
a so nobly begun. In the first place they took
: their arms, consisting of musket pistol,
s tomahawk and scalping knife to each MUIR
j, derer these they carried and hid them in the
h cellar; the demons still sleeping soundly
n They next brought coil of small hempen
cord of great strength, and Betty by her
: mistresss direction soon had the villains
C firmly tied and bound hand and feet.
/. Betty now requested her dear mistress TO
i let her take the axe and chop off all theil
y wicked heads, but the lady objected, tell
If ing her that the villains would sleep un.
o der the effects of the drug they had drank
a for perhaps 20 hours, and before that time
i the Doctor would be home, and it was
S likely other help would arrive; but in the
n meantime they would keep strict watcl
S and ifany of them stirred it would then BIZ
e time enough to act. Mrs. II. now took heI
G husbands rifle, which she well knew how tc
It handle, and Betty took her trusty axe; they
e seated themselves on the porch and watch
J. ed the sleeping foe, who still continued tc
e lie as still as if they were dead. The short
o summer night was now on the wanc and
g grey morning soon appeared. About sun
Y, rise our hcroincs were aroused from theil
a weary and terrible vigil by hearing the
d clatterof many horses feet, when look.
ing towards the river from whence the Indi.
L.. ono oapn thav COW a bo1v Of orp,nJ bnrco