The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-01-26


wood, across plains and over steep and
rugged declivities, at last reached the set
tlement But the long journey, together
with the alright, sadly impaired the al
ready feeble bealth of my mother, and my
parents soon returned to their former home
in Ohio.
Unwilling to relinquish the life to which
| had been so long Injured, went to st.
Louis and Joined party of tfappers who
were there to dispose of their furs and
were about to start again for the Rocky
mountains.
With this party roamed over the great
territories capturing the wild horse and
buffalo on the plains and hunting the
grizzly bear on the mountains
Three years had passed thus, when one
fine afternoon left the party encamped at
the foot of the Rocky mountains, and set
out alone to hunt species of deer which
abound in that section in great numbers.
had been out but an hour or so when |
deserted small herd quietly grazing on a
distant elevation. ! immcG lately set off in
that direction, but the distance proved
r
telnOoD was well nigE spent when reached
them. AS | neare0 the herd | crawled
cautiously along until l got within easy
range, then singing out d fine buck, took
deliberate aim and fired; but no sooner
bad | done so than the cliffs vetberated
with the unearthly yells of a hundred red
skins, who, concealed beneath mass of
al
and, the moment / discharged my rifle,
rushed down upon me like so many fientis,
aud surrounded me in a moment.
To attempt flight was useless to resist,
madness. There was no alternative bat
surrender. The chief a gigantic savage,
whose plume of eagles feathers danced
high above that of his tallest brave, strobe
forward and gave me one searching glance
with his eagle eye. | instantly recognized
him as the wretch ] once punished for
abusing my mother. He also recognized
me at the same moment, and with a yell of
triumph he assisted to bind me upon one
of their horses, and the party then imme-
diately set out for their village, taking me
with them. The slightest hope that my
life would be spared was instantly dspelled
by the assurance that | was recognized by
ihe chief, foI / knew too well that l would
receive no mercy from him, and | also
knew that being fairly in his power l need
expec. nothing less than death by the most
fearful torture.
On arriving at the Indian village | was
taken off the horse, bound hand aud foot.
and thrust into an unused wiewam. and
two of the savages were placed over me as
guard. My limbs were bound so tightly
that they soon became very painful, there
foie sleep was out of the question, and |
passed the longest night of my life, con-
stan.ly haunted with thoughts Of the ter
rible fate abicb awaited me. About an
hour before daybieak the guard, seeing
that | made DO attempt to escape careful
~ examined my bonds, then stret Ching
themselves befoIe the door of the wigwam.
so that no Que could pass in or out without
awakening them, they soon fell asleep.
My limbs were now considerably swollen
and benumbed, rendering them less pain
ful, and kind of drowsincss WAS gradully
stealing over me, when | was suddenly
aroused by hearing my name softly 1his-
pered close to my ear through a small
ctevice in the wigwam. In the same breath
the voice admonislied me TO keep perfectly
calm lest | awaken the guard. | inquir, d
who addressed me, and was asked if | did
not Iememb the little Iudian girl whom
/ once rescued from drowning in Wisconsin,
| answered in tie affirmative, and the
reply was ''lt is she who now speaks to
you. Two years ago large part Of our
tribe left Wisconsin, and came farther
west, where game is more abundant, and
this powerful Indian, your biiterest foe
was soon after appointed chief. \ coun-
Gil has been held, and you ale doomed to
die by the hand of the chief ere the setting
of another sun. The chief, cmraged at be-
ing once beaten by you, has determ ined TO
engage you again, and for this purpose
when the sun is high will furnish you with
knife and hatchet, aud alone will once more
measure strength with you; and SO sure is
lie Of victory that he will cross the stream
with you where no one may assist him for
he thinks SO brave deed will give him a
great name among his people.
But you, too, are strong man, and
remember your life depends upon his de-
feat for | will be near with the fleetest
horse of the tribe, and if you conquer the
chief, you may easily escape. 1t will soon
be light and | must not be seen here. Be
hopeful and brave. Tie gratitude of the
Indian girl is as strong as the haireo of the
chief, and she will befiiend the white man
to-day though it be at the peril of her
lite.''
She was gone, and l was again left to my
reflections. But, OH, how changed were
these reflections! How | exulted at the
prospect of escape!
Had been in good condition / should
have felt much more confident but /
knew that my limbs would be terribly
Il