The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-03-23


scout was quick to comprehend his peril.
II the alarm was to reach the Indian camp
his discovery and death seemed inevitable.
Self preservatio ion is the moving impulse
with every living creature, and the scout
decided that his first duty was to himself
and his companion, and that it was expedi-
ent that he should inflict speedy and noise
less death upon the women, and SO secretly
as to leave no trace behind.
Quick as thought he spraug upon them,
seized each by the throa., and dragged
them to .he river, his vice like grip sitting
their outcries. The OLD squaw was quickly
thrus. under the wafer and drowned, after
which the body was allowed to float down
the stream in hope that it would escape OBJ
servation. lie then turned hiss attention
to the younger one, who fought violently,
and succeeded in shaking off his grasp on
her throat, when to his great astonishment
and horror. she exclaimed in good English:
'For Heavens sake don't kill me, am
no Indian
These words, so strange and so utterly
unexpected, nearly paralyzcd the old hun
he demanded to know who and what she
was. She quickly told her story, which
was that she was white girl, who, with
her mother, had been captured in Virginia
some five years before, when nearly all her
! family had been murdered. Since then
She had been a slave to her captors, over
worked. starved, and beaten, and she en-
taI ri Well tn Stnr hpr tn her
| people.
| 1t was not in the nature of the old hun
| ter and scout to resist an appeal Of such a
character, and giving the girl an assurance
of his protection, he started with her for
the place of concealment on the mountain.
They had hardly made half the distance,
when the loud alarm cry of the savages
was sounded less than half mile away.
Some Indians in crossing the stream had
discovered the body of the squaw.
The fugitives quickeneG their speed and
soon Joined the other scout, who, from his
lofty perch, was watching the unusual
commotion among the savages, but was ig
norant of its cause. Parties of warriors
were seen to strike off III every direction
side, and the dusky foe was seen gathing
around the mountain, until a swarthy chain
of painted warriors completely ercompassed
the position, and closed all avenue of es-
cape.
Certain destruction seemed inevitable,
but the two men resolved to sell their lives
as dearly as possible. Not wishing to in
ha ui- Il in hai fata a6y
her to return to the Indians and represent
that she had been taken prisoner. This
she refused to do, and begged for a gun,
declaring that she was well trained to its
use and could aid materially in the defense.
But there was no weapon for her, and
she was urged 20 take shelter behind the
rocks, aud in case Of their death or capture,
to claim that she had been their prisoner.
Fortunately the position occupied by tie
scouts could only be reached over high,
rocky ridge, which was narrow that it
could be traversed only in in single file,
and there was no tree, bush or shrub to
afford protection to the hostile party. This
ridge was constantly covered by the uner-
ring rifles of the beleaguered men, and
every Indian who attempted to cross it was
shot dead, and his swarthy bodey rolled
down the rocky slope into the gulch below.
1t did not take long to convince the
savages that this mode of attack was i'm
practicable, and they attempted a flank
movement. On the left was a large rock
thickly covered with s.unted shrIbbery,
from which the position occupied by the
whites could be completely commanded.
But this point was difficult Of access,
and could only be reached by leaping
ravine in full view of the beleaguered men,
and within easy range of their rifles. But
how could two men successfully defend so
many points Of assault? The case appeared
hopeless, but they were not the men to de-
spair. To White was assigned the duty
Of keeping up tile fire in front, while Nc
Cleiand undertook to defend the flank
threatened.
Soon he saw TALL swarthy warrior,
croacLing on the brink of The ravine, pre-
pairing for the leap which TO decide the
battle. Only an inch or so of the dusky
figure was discernable, and the distance
was nearly hundred yards bat the scout
knew that everything depended on his foil
ing the savage, aud he resolved to risk
everything upon a single shot. Cooliy and
deliberately he raised bis rifle, his trained
nerves were brought under perfect control,
aud the weapon became as steady as the
rock on which he stood. He drew a bead
so true that failure seemed impossible,
touched the delicate trigger, the hammer
came down, tie flint icGs broken into dozen
1raqaasnts, but the guL was not discharged.
half stitied curse escaped from the
compressed lips Of the hunter, but be ro-
tanned his self contol, and proceeded ID adj
just new flint, though he felt almost
certain that the savage wonld gain the
coveted position before he could discharge