The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-11-09

Then he Surmised from the sounds that
the red men were removing the panther s
hide, and for half an hour longer he was on
The rack Of anxiety lest they should dis
cover his hiding place.
But 10 his iudescribAble relief he gather
ed from few half English words, that
they intended to follow the horses trail,
not knowing that the rider had dropped
from his seat and was near them.
In a little time he heard their tread as
they crossed the roots within a couple of
yards of his head and FASTENED away on
the pursuit.
But had not the horse been also wounded
so as to- mark its continued flight with
blood, the savages doubtless would have
come back to the brook where Leslie fe II
and searched him out. Little cared they
for the injured animal, and much for the
scalp of is rider; but the continuous red
trail deceived them and saved him.
AS it was, he did not dare stir from his
hiding place until The afternoon of the next
day, lest returning past the place, they
might discover him.
All This time he was half immersed in
water, and suffering untold agonies from
his wound.
Finally, toward night Of the second day,
after neatly thIry-six hours IN a living
grave, he clawlrd forth, like huntrd fox
from his lair. AT list he put out his head
to look and listen and then, discover ing
nothing alarming, lie crept fecbly into the
open air.
But, ah, what situation for a wounded
and exhausted man, a long days journey
from the nearest help, ard surrounded by
an unirieudly wilderness. His rifle he had
left for his wife for her defence ii needed.
for pioneer women we're often expert with
il gun and hence his hunting knife was
his only weapon.
But hc was more troubled concerning his
gil-wife, alone in the distant cabin, than
about himself.
The PAIN Of hi- wounded limb was for
gotten in the keener anguish of fear lest
the bood-thirsIy Shuwnese should follow
tie trail TO the stockade and succeed i'll
killing or capturing the woman who con-
siituted its only garrison.
. As lie lay on the autumn leaves in the
afternoon sunshine, filled with such fore
bodings, hunger began to clamor within
hlm, and crawling painfully u the carcass
of the panther, he cut oil aud tried To eat
some oi this most unsavory meat.
at this moment the faint iatring of dis
tant steps came through the forest silence
tu his ears, and feeling his inability to de-
fcnd hIuisel iion even the smallest danger,
he turned aud began to creep back toward
the hiding place.
While he Is thus engaged, let us look into
the cabin aud see how Aunie is farng.
knowing " ell her own pcrIlous situation,
she kept argus watch duIing LeslIes alb
seuce and toward evening of the Sd me day
wheu he was Shot, what was her surpI Use
to hear the horse winning at the gale o!
the stockade. aS IT was nearly twGafy- Tour
h0uls too soon to look for her husband
Running to port-hole, her heart sank
as she saw IiIe anIual without rider. She
unbarled the heavy gate aud let i'll the
painting, foam-Strcaktd crea ure, WHEN,
in a moment, she discovered the blOUt.y
proof of what had befallen her husband.
The buck skin saddle cloth Mas soaked IN
his blood.
But Annie was "a brave and thoughtful
woman, and therefore gave way To notiiinE
weak or fouiish. Firmly bol;ing The gt'c
again, she took down the gun. powder horn
aud bullet-poucb from the hook on the
cabin wall. and filing an iron kettle over
The fire, determined, If the savages attacked
the st0:kade, ~ resist them with both lire
and water. Then, while Keeping keen
lockout through the portfolios and from the
cabin roof, she Thought over the case and
laid heI plans.
From the amount OF blood on the saddle,
she concluded that Leslie had helci his seat
for some distance after the sho, aud .ience,
perhaps had escaped the Indians. Size sur
missed that fitInjneSs from loss of blood.
together with some unusual leap of the
horse, had been the cause of her husband
falling to the ground. Reasoning thus, i,
seemed to her that he might be some here
along the route in need of her help.
IF not alive, she might find his dead
body.
Or, if she failed TO discover him, live oi
dead, she could ride through to the mill
settlement Cor safety and assistance.
With such reflections, she decided to
make ali early start along the wild valley
route.
Sne gave her horse an abundance of
food, and bound up the wound i'll its neck.
knowing that all depended on the faithi al
creatures strength.
1t was a long and anxious night to poor
Arnie, but the dawn came at last. and she
mounted and rode away; and 50 swiftly did
she go, that, had anybody seen her, she
might have seemed like some spirit of the
woods.
Aud as she sped onward along the faint
trail, marked by blazed trees, The peculiar
excitement of the horse attracted her no
tice and it occurred to her that II she was
attentive enough 10 the instinct of the auI-
NAL, she might learn where it had parted
from Leslie. Aud SO it proved.
Ali day she went forward, her senses al
most systematically alert to find her huS-
band ard avoid being suIpii ised by Indians.
As the sun was declining, she approached
the brook where Leslie Fad fallen, and he
conduct of the horse convinced her that she
was near the scene o: some part OF the dis
aster. Slowly she rode down the slope.
watching on every hand to hear something
pertaining 20 her search, her heart afiame
with feelings too intense for words.
1t was the tread of the horse that reached
Leslie's ears. AS the animal stepped into
the ream the poor man saw his wife, and
putting forth ali his streDg IL, he called iii
feeble tones, Annie Annie ~
She heard. and in an instant was at his
side. And such meeting. To each il
seemed as If the other had come back from
she dead What followed scarcely needs
rehearsal. By slow marches and great eau
tion, living on chestnuis and raw panther
meat, they reached the stockade.
A few months restored Leslie from his
wound years Brought peace and safety
and ultimately thousands of settlers flowed
into the region. The pioneers farm. where
once the little stockade stood so distant and