The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1878-10-10

water. The canoe had left its trace
the truth was easy read. Ten minutes
later the trail-hunters were searching
the opposite shore, and then the terri
bic truth was known.
Tie moist sand still retained the i'm
prints of the maldenS' feet-but beside
them were others, deeper, broader-the
trace Of moccasined feet. With groan
Smith sank to the ground. The blow
seemed to paralyse all his energy. But
not so with the other borderers. BY
the dying light they scanned the trail,
reading it as one reads the page OF
printed book.
The captors were five in number
probably some of the army that had
recently besieged Boonesborough. lurk-
ing behind to pick off stragglers. The
girls had been carried away in the
arms of the sayages, for their footprints
were no longer to be found, nor any
trace of blood to tell Of violence.
That was a long, weary night to the
hereaved ones, especially TO Smith
Nothing could be done until daylight.
while they knew that every moment
was adding to the start gained by the
abductors.
With the first glimmer Of dawn the
trail was taken up by Smith and three
comrades. More could not be spared
from the settlement. All that day
they followed it without pause or rest.
At night, when darkness put stop to
their labors, Smith lay down, bat could
not sleep. His heart was sore with
thoughts of his loved ones suferings.
That these had been great, that day
had told him. The savages had trav-
eled ut a rapid rate, forcing the cap
tives to keep pace with them. Their
shoes were cut and torn by the sharp
rocks AID roots. At times blood traces
showed where they had passed. And
yet Smith knew that they were keep
ing up hope-that they felt confident
friends were working for their free
dom. The trail was marked by Occa-
sional broken tWigs, or bits of cloth
that had eluded the eyes of the savages.
Even in the midst of his misery, the
young ranger felt peculiar pride IN
the courage and GOODNESS of the one he
so dearly loved, who could so cunning
ly deceive the foe, while aiding the
purSuer.
He was correct in his guess. Anne
eft the sign for their guidance. One
Of the savages, while goading her on
with pointed stick, promised to make
amends for her sufferings by making
her his squaw as soon as the village
was gained. Instead of crushing her
spirits, these threats aroused the maid
en-. She broke twigs as she passed
along, delaying the party as much as
possible by her tagging and laundering
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 he carefully
noted the course pursued by the Shaw
aneSe. lie began to fear that they
would reach their village before being
overtaker, and urged Oh by this dread
he resolved upon desperate course.
Should the same course be held, he
knew the Indians must cross the next
stream at a certain pass, 1t beng the
only ford for miles. BY making direct
for this point, without pausing 10 spell
out the trail, much valuable time might
be gained, and as last hope the set
tiers resolved to attempt it.
The pass was reached, and to their
great joy the trail was found. The
rocks in the stream We're still wet with
the water splashed up by the passage.
The savages could not be far distant
now.
"Look! A smoke!" suddenly NUT
tered Grafton.
"Wait here. I'll go forward and re-
connOiter, , whispered Smith.
Scarce two hundred yards he craWled
then paused, peer1ng out upon the
camp OF the savages. They were eat
ing. Anne and Jessie sat near them,
their hands bound, and their feet free.
Suddenly, one of the savages arose and
strobe to Anne's side, offering her
some food. AS she refused it he struck
Ter. That was his last insult The
scouts rifle was raised and spoke, and
! the Indian, with shrili death yell, fell
! to the ground, shot through the BRAIN.
The other Indians seized their weap-
ons. Smith sprang forward. The
maidens uttered cries of JOY and rush
ed to meet their friends. The Indians
! leveled their rifles. Smith rushed upon
/ them with dubbed rifle. His rif1ebutt
crushed one Indian to the ground,
| dashing out his brains. Then-crack-
crack-crack! three rifles spoke, and
three Indians fell, dead and dying.
| The long trail was ended.
The little party reached Boonesbor-
ough in safety, and Henry Smith was a
truly happy man, Tor during the jour
ney Anne forgot her coquetry, and
confessed that his love was returned.
Before the first snow fell they were
| married.
Both are long since dead, but their
descendants still tell the story of how
the daring young ranger won his wife.
Blackburn, England, contains the