The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1878-08-29

they knew thAi every moment w1a adj
ding to The start gained BY tho abdueiofs.
With The Grst glimner of dawn ths
trail was taken up BY Snish and three
comrades More coald not be spared
from The settlement. All that day they
followed Il wiihout pause or csi At
night, when darkness pu. stop TO their
labors, Smith lay down bat could NOT
sleep, His heart was sore with thoughts
Of bis loved ones saferings. That these
bad been great, that day bad told him.
The sAvages bad Travelled al a rapid rate,
forcing tho cApliyes to keep pace with
them. Their shoes were cut and torn By
the sharp rocks aud roots. At tunes
blood traces showed where they had
passed. And yet Smith knew that they
were keeping up hope -thst they felt con-
fdeut friends were working Tor their
freedom. The trail was marked by 90
casional broken twigs, or bits OF cloth
that had eluded the eyes Of the ssyAges.
Even In the midst of his misery, the
young ranger felt peculiar pride 10 the
courage and GOODNESS Of the one be so
dearly loved, who could so cunbingly de.
ceive The foe, while aiding the pursaer.
lie was correct 10 his guess. Anne
left the sign for their guidance. One Of
the savages, while goading her on with a
pointed stick, promised to make amends
for her suferiugs by making her his
sQuaw as soon as the village was gained.
Instead Of crushing her spirits, these
threats aroused the maiden. She broke
twigs as she passed along, delaying the
party as much as possible by ber tagging
and blundering footsteps.
At dawn the borderers again started
forward, but the past night had greatly
composed Smith, and he was once more
the cool, keen-witted scout. Through the
forenoon be carefully noted the course
pursued by the Shawness. lie began to
fear that they would reach their village
before being overtaken, and urged on by
this dread be resolved upon desperate
course.
Should the same course be held, be
knew the Indians must cross the next
stream at certain pass, 1t being the only
one for miles. BY making direct for this
point, without pausing to spell out the
trail, much valuable time might be gain
ed, and as last hope the settlers resolved
to attempt it.
The pass was reached, and to their
great JOY the trail was found. The rocks
in the stream were still wet with The
water splashed up by the passage. The
savages could not be far distant now.
Look A smokel suddenly multered
Grafton
Wait here. I'll 90 forward and re-
connoiter, whispered Smith.
Scarce two hundred yards he crawled,
then paused, peering out upon the camp
of the savages. They were eating. Anne
aud Jessie sat near them, their hands
bound, and their feet free. Suddenly,
one Of the savsges arose aud strode 10
Anne's side, Offering her some food. IA
she refused il he struck her That Was
his last insnit. The scouts rifle was
raised and spoke, and the Indian, with a
shril death yell, fell to the ground, shot
through the brain.
The other Indians seized their weapons.
Smith sprang forward. The maidens ut
tered cries of joy and rnshed TO meet
their friends. The Indians leveled their
rifles. Smith rushed upon them with
clubbed rife. His rifle butt crushed one
Indian to the ground, dashing out his
brains. Then - crack - crack - crack
three rifles spoke, and three Indians fell
dead, dying. The long trail was ended.
The little party reached Boonesborough
in safety, aud Henry Smith was a truly
happy man, for during their journey,
Anne forget her coquetry, and confessed
that his love was returned. Before the
first snow fell they were married.
Both are long since dead, but their de-
scendants still tell tho story o. how The
daring young ranger won his wife.
/