Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1879-04-03

the trail, that the enemy was not nu-
merous enough to make it necessary
to apprise the garrisohs and settle
ments, Brady decided to follow the
savages and attack them at day-break
next morning. Swiftly, but warlly,
the scouts threaded the wilderness,
until, when darkness stopped their
pursuit, they were within short dis
tance of their unsuspectlng toe.-
Munching supper of venison and
corn, and drinking from their hands
the waters of brook, they stationed
their guards and then lay down among
the dry leaves to await for the dawn.
But while they had been tracking
and preparing to assail the Indians III
their front, another and larger party
Of Indians in their rear, were trailing
them, with minds bent on blood--a
worse tap being bated for themselves
than they had set for the enemy.
DAybreak came. and as soon as it
was light enough to look through the
sight of a rifle, the scouts were under
motion. Creeping among the dense
foliage, few minutes brought them
within range Of their victims, who
We're sitting in a circle eating break
fast. Each selected his target, and
when Brady gave the signal to fire,
which WAS the imitation of the hoot
Of an owl, the crack Of their guns
rang out through the woods.
Hardly had the smoke cleared away
when the other party OF redskins
opened fire upon the whites. Two OF
Bradv's men fell at his side and per-
ceiving from the number Of guns dis
charged that the en1my w"s too strong
to be successfully resisted, the wary
CAPTAIN Instantly adopted the motto {:
| discretion is the better part Of vaIor,
and gave his party the word to save
themselves by flight.
There are emergencies when true,
martial wisdom teaches that
lie who fights and runs away,
May live to fight another day
Brady himself started like q deer
to get out Of tfe Avs Of his outnnm-
beriag foes. A few steps brought
hin out o.! the t ckOt, from which
they had discharged their guns, upon
4 slope Of open woods. or course,
he would be far more exposed to shots
ahl pursuiL by the savages. But
they were coming up in his rear yell,
ing like tiends after his scalp, and
there was no choice for him but to
take the liSk and make hs best speed.
Away he went down the SLOPE, con,
tilent that his legs would save him
from anything but bullets, for there
WAS not an Algonquin sachem fleet
enough to oyertake him. Casting
back glance, he SAW Il dozen In
dians, their guns lett behind and
tomahaw;s drawn, rushing after him.
They knew Lis brawny form, aud ma,
nv insults an defeats had they to
aven3e on Capt Brady, If selt.pre-
sentalion lent swiItness to hls feet, a
hercer passion winged their pursuit.
Their eagerness to kill the great
captHn, induced them 10 relinqu sh
the chase after the other white men,
leaving them to escape.
Still as be always declared, he was
not concerned as to the result, for
even with the additional burden Of
his gun, be knew he could run faster
aud farther than they.
But they were familiar with the
'lav Of the land, and he was not and
as they followed him he was surprised
to see them spread out AS if to sur.
rouod him, although they were los
ing ground.
The fact was, he was Fastening to-
ward the stream in large bend,
where, for mile or more, it flows
deep and strong through a narrow
impossible gorge. They had on y to
encircle and close in upon him to
take him prisoner. They felt sure Of
his escape.
Suddenly he saw the channel be-
fore him, which, with the sAvages be-
hind, formed the jaws Of a trap as
merciless as fate. A glance at a point
where he could sse the nature of the
chasm, showed him its impassibility,
and another Glance back ward con-
vinced him that to wheel to either
hand would confront him with the