Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1875-03-04

. little one he offered the precise mar
that Foster was waiting for. Whi7
came the fatal bullet across the creek
/ and the poor old Indian was now prof
t ably at the side of the lost one. 4
Having reloaded his rifle, Foste
bent his way toward Luther's resi-
dence. y
, Next day, and for several days sue
, ceeding, there was a commotion in th
neighboorhood. Two Indians had sud
, denly disappeared, and nobody seemed
to know whittier or by what means
Nor was the perplexing mystery ever
partially solved until two weeks after
ward, when the dead bodies hoated in
to the mill-pond. The theory was theI
that while engaged in fishing the In
dians had fallen in the creek anC
drowned. This theory would have
done very well had not an old Indian
an ex-chief. put in an appearance a:
the bodies were upon the point of be
ing buried. He knew the father anC
son to be expert swimmers, and scout
ed the idea that they had been drown
ed. UncOvering the bodies and exam
lining them carefully, he said Ehakins
his head:
No drown; no drown; no water kill
he be shot; white man kill. See!' anC
he placed his finger on the bullet
marked spots.
Come to look at the matter more
closely the bystanders were convinced
that the Indian was correct. They haC
noticed those suspicious-lOoking marks
before, but had thought little about
them. The bodies were duly buried
and searching ~ investigation of the
affair instituted, but with barren re-
suits.
Foster rested upon his laurel for g
time, waiting for the excitement tC
subside and suspicion to allay. II
would not do to be always on the war
path. Safety and success could be bet.
ter achieved by season of mastery
Inactivity and safety and success
were both desirable to Foster.
Now appeared new source of veXa-
tion. 1t was ascertained that .Luther's
flock of sheep was being rapidly deple-
ted. Of course 'the Indians were the
depredators; they always are in cases
of.this kind-in the estimation of the
charitably disposed! A double watch
was placed upon the fold, armed and
equipped according to taste. Yet poor
Lo persistently neglected to appear, as
expected.
Sheep or no sheep, said Foster, 'the
Indians did butcher my fathers fami-
ly; and for this I have an account to
settle with them.' And soon he was
again on the war-path. Being at Sails
bury Corners, one afternoon, he espied
couple of Indians, both of whom
were considerably under the influence
of liquor. Lettering about the village
until suindown, and keeping an eye
upon his victims, he saw them depart
for their forest home, staggering as
they went, and determined to journey
in the same direction. 1t is scarcely
necessary to inform the reader that
these Indians never saw their wig
vans again. They were found dead
next morning; and the commonly-re-
ceived opinion was that, being intOXi-
Gated, they had died from cold and ex-
pOsure.
Up to this time Foster had not arous-
ed the suspicious of the Indians in any
marked degree. Henceforward, how
ever, they regarded him with distrust;
and he was much of the time under
their watchful surveillance, though
they were unable to fasten guilt upon
him. He was early apprised of their
suspicious, and deported himself with
greater caution than formerly, but was
still intent upon fuller satisfaction.
Familiar with their haunting places
in the forest. he would conceal himself
in some place of safety, and, as
favorable opportunities presented, send
among them his leaden compliments.
From his place of concealmene he one
day discovered an Indian picking WIN
tergreens and gathering herbs of vari-
Gus kinds, and, seeing no others with
him, concluded that this was the Med
icine Man. and that the.present would
De good time to interrupt his prac-
tice. No sooner had the bullet done
its work, however, than the war-whoop
sounded from half dozen throats not
far away. There were too many for
one man to grapple with, and Foster
sought safety in flight. The timber
was very thick and heavy, and the
ground uneven, and Foster knew eve-
ry rod of it. Just under the brow of a
neighboring hill was 'Rattlesnake Den,
and in this he determined to take ref
uge. The Indians were coming in hot
pursuit, but so far had not seen the en-
emy, and were guided in the chase en-
tirely by the sound of his retreating
footsteps. They gave the Dem a wide
berth, suppOsing certain death to be |
the penalty of near approach. On
reaching the top of the hill they paus-
ed and listened for the sound, they had
been following, but listened In vain. |
A short consultation was held, during
which the Dem was mentioned, but
the idea of its search was rejected as be-
ing unworthy ofa sane mans consid- |
Grafton. If the enemy had taken ref
uge there his death was certain, and if |
any sought an exploration of those dark |
recesses the bill of motality would be
so much greater-so they argued. But |
bark! sound was heard away off to /
the right, caused probably by pass
ing wolf or fox, and in that direction
the Indians dashed with the utmost
speed. When they were we'll out of
the way Foster cautiously left his re-
treat, and started for the neighboring
settlement Lucky for him that the
day was cold, or his life would no doubt
have been the price of his temerity in
invading the precinct of rattlesnake-
dom.
The day following Foster was met at
Luther's by several of the Mohawks,
who, though they had not seen him in
the woods, charged him with shooting
the Medicine Man. Foster did not
in direct terms deny the soft impeach-
ment,' but attempted to prove an ali
bi, in which he was not encouragingly
successful. They then demanded his
rifle that they might compare its bore
with the hole in the dead mans head.
But, impossible! the gun having been
loaned to a friend, who had gone moose
hunting!
Give bullet, then; we measure him.
said the Indians.
'Oh, yes,' said Foster, you can have
a bullet; never refuse bullets to Indi-
ans; good for them.' And he fumbled
all his pockets; then looked on the