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


The scout gave utterance to a suppressed
groan as he saw the movement, aud gave
up all as lost. But at the same instant the
vaultiug savage uttered a piercing shrek,
fell limp and lfeless on the rocky edge.
and rolled into the ravine. He had been
to inquire whence the friendly bullet had
come, for new dangers were demanding in
slant action.
The fall of the swarthy warrior called
forth loud cries of defiance, indicating that
a man of some note had fallen, and that he
was to be avenged.
McCleland soon saw that the advantage
gained was but temporary, for a .talwart
Indian was seen to be cautiously making
his way to the spot which had proved so
fatal to his predecessor. He, too, was
about to make the fatal leap, and had been
covered by the scouts rifle, when another
shot from an unseen hand sent him reeling
into the abyss. The howls of rage which
came from below showed that another
favorite chief had fallen.
Two more essayed the fearful leap and
met with a like fate, when the Indians
withdrew to devise some new method of
attack. They had lost seriously, were ig-
norant of the number and character of their
enemy, and after guarding carefully every
path by which an escape was possible,
they drew off to determine on a new plan
of attack, and the besieged were given a
brief season for rest and reflection.
Now, for the first time, they thought of
the girl, but she was missing. They con-
cluded that she must must have fled in
haps returned to the Indian camp, or prob
ably had been killed during the fight, and
her miserable captivity ended.
Great was their surprise, tharefore, when
she made her appearance from behind
dense clump of hazel, with rifle in her
hand. Her story was soon told. In the
thickest of the fight she had noticed
warrior fall in a thicket considerably in
advance of his companions i. occurred to
her that if she could only get possession of
his gun she might materially aid her
friends. Taking advantage of a change
I'm position by the assalants, she crept out
through the tall grass and secured the
coveted prize, together with plenty of am
munition. Her quick eye had also taken
in the situation, and discovered the peril
which threatened them from the rock
which the savages had sought to occupy,
and it was she nho bad SO successfully de-
Tended it.
ifrht on wit TOR. Ia
storm of wind and rain, while darkness al
most impenetrable covered the mountain.
Fortunately the girl was familiar with every
path and ravine, and at her suggestion it
was determined that she should undertake
to lead the way through the savage lines
into the valley, whence their escape would
not be difficult. The noise of the storm,
i. was hoped, would prevent their move
ments being heard and she was to take
the lead, as the scouts thought that even il
she encountered some of the sentiueis, her
acquaintance with them, her knowledge of
their language, and her ready wit would
enable her TO turn aside suspsciou.
About midnight they set out, the girl
few rods in advance. They had proceeded
less than a hundred yards when she gave
the scouts the signal to halt. while she went
forward to reconnoitre. She soon returned
aud reported their retreat in that direction
cut off 10y half dozen savages, who occu-
pied the path directly in front of them
She then retraced her steps few rods and
descended to deep broken gulch, usually
dry, but which was then partially filled by
the falling rain. Along this gulch over the
broken rocks. and through the deepening
current, they cautiously went. the intense
darkness, and the noise aud confusion of
the Storm, protecting them from discovery.
The gulch led TO the river but a short dis
tance from the village, whittier the guide
directed the scouts to follow her. They
hesita:ed, demonstrated, and even began to
suspect treachery but she urged them ON,
aud they proceeded. Very soon new
danger confronted them. They we've saw
agely assaiied by couple of dogs, whose
barking threatened to arouse the whole
village but the animals were soon quieted
by .he guide, they easily recognized her
voice. They s,,ou reached the very midst
of the village, the most perfect silence be-
ing observed, passed through it without
aG venture, and were soon miles beyond on
their way to Ohio.
The sagacous girl afterwards explained
that she knew every probable line OF es-
cape was carefully guarded, and that the
only feasible road to liberty and safety lay
through the town, which route was un-
guarded, as a retreat in that direction
10. considered among the probabilities.
BY any other route capture and death would
have been almost certain. Once clear of
the enemy they took the direction of the
settlements, whiUb they reached in three
days.
The gir. who had been so singularly dis
covered, and had proved so efficient as
soldier aud guide returned to Virginia,
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