The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-04-03
Ruth started to her feet, pale and trem-

bling.
'But are you on friendly terms with
King Phillip and his warriors ?" she asked,
excitedly.
Ponto seemed little confused.
II know some Of their plans" he re-
piled, evasively.
How did you learn this?" Ruth asked,
nervously, strange suspicion flashing
through her brain.
II cannot tell you," said the savage,
darting an uneasy glance around him.
'But haste" he added; land warn them;
the night wanes, and you've no time to
lose."
The girl obeyed him. To wrap heavy
shawl around her shoulders, and pass out
of the house and toward the village, was to
her but the work of an instant. Once
there, the villagers were soon made aware
of their danger, and prepared to meet it.
Ruth asked if Sam Carter had come in, and
learned he had not. All was excitement.
Many were the thanks and blessings be-
slowed on the young girl for the timely
warming.
Ruth decided to pass the night in the
village, but said she must first return to
her home and get some articles which she
needed. Several people offered to accom-
pany her, but she declined their company,
saying that she would return in few
moments. So she was permitted to go
nlone.
Meantime the chief had remained in the
cottage. The echo of her receding foot
steps had scarcely died away when he rose,
took his bundle from the corner, and glid-
ing to Ruth's bedroom, opened the sack,
and took out the dead body of girl. The
savages had attackeda settlers house, six
miles east of Deerfed, that morning. The
family-including Slas Fullbright, his wife
and three children and Mr.. and Mrs. Hall,
Ruth's parents-were all murdered! The
dead girl was one of the victims. :Ponto
placed her on the bed, then came out Of
the room, and with lighted candle fired
the house in several places. This done, he
came out on the steps and waited for Ruth,
whom, he rightly guessed, would soon
return.
AS Ruth drew near the house, with no
little timidity, she was startled to see flames
bursting through the windows. Ponto rose,
to meet her.
ooh, what shall do, Ponto?" exclaimed
the distressed girl, bursting into tears.
"Come with mel" cried the savage,
clasping her in his arms as he spoke.
Ruth struggled to get free, put Ponto
held her in vice-like grasp; and, finding
she was powerless, the young girl uttered n
series of agonizing shrieks. But there
was no reply; only the cracking Of flames
could be heard The chief now. raised her
in his arms despite her struggles, and
moved swiftly from the spot.
A party of men came to the cottage from
the village just as he disappeared. No
hnman power, however, could stay the
progress of the flames. The roof fell
with a crash; and soon only a heap of hot
and smoking askes marked the place where
once the cottage stood.
The query then arose: "Where is Ruth ?''
No one could answer until the charred
remains of the girl Ponto had placed in the
house, were discovered '"The Indians
have murdered her and burned the house, u
was the universal verdict.
eyes," said one of the men, "I'm certain
I heard her cry just before we got here.
What blow her sad fate will be to Sam
Carter! Poor Ruth who will carry the
dismal .tidings to her parents? 1t will
nearly kill ,them!"
The settlers hurried back to the village
They knew not what moment the savages
would descend upon it.
After Ponto left the burning house, he
went directly to the hills, few miles dis
tant. He moved forward at a rapid pace,
his captive lying passive in his arms.
The girl had fallen into a semi-conscious
state, from which she did not recover until
the chief placed her on pile of furs in a
cave, or rather indentation of immense
proportions, in the side of the hill.
Then she raised herself to a sitting
posture, and looked around her with be-
wildered stare The room was partially
illuminated from circular hole cut in the
entrance, and the light thus afforded
enabled the girl to note the surrounding
objects. The walls and ceiling were of
heavy plank, which prevented the loose
earth from fa;l.nt in; the furniture amounted
to almost netl.iDg-.a chair or two, rude
pine table, q rickety cot, two or three
bundles of furs and several cooking utensils;
add to this small armory of rifles and
hunting knives, and the description is
complete. The entrance was small
wooden door, of great thickness, and thick
ly studded with iron spikes; above this, a
round hole admitted faint light.
To escape from this plaee WINS imnossib1e