The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-01-11

and fell to the ground bearing his rider
with him. | was unable to check my own,
until he rushed headlong over the fallen
steed, throwing me violently. In a mo-
ment was on my feet, facing my antag-
onlst, who had risen also, apparently
wounded in the leg and unable to walk.
lie leaned against huge stone and await
cd my attack. He was armed, only with
the long broad bladed knife which all In
dians and bordermen carried at that time.
| drew my sword and advanced to the at
tack; the contest was unequal The In
dian, could see, was only a boy of about
fifteen or sixteen years the fight was not
long; few skillful parties and | plunged
the sword into his bosom until it grated
harshly on the rock at his back. With
loud groan he sank to the ground, limp
and lifeless. now had time to look after
my own injuries. The wound in my shoul.
der was very painful and bleeding, but in
my fall from the horse / received a much
worse one-a long cash had been cut in
my head from which the blood flowed
swiftly. saw was losing strength fast,
and | turned to help the unfortunate wo-
man before would lose it altogether. A
few steps and my head swan giddiy l
sank to the ground unconscious.
The next sensation that filled me, was
that Of being half carried, half dragged
along the ground toward the mountain; |
could in no way account for the snarling,
growing and bowling that was going
on around me. 1t seemed as If Pandcmo-
mum had let loose its demons aud they
had fiocked to this lone mountain valley,
by the Juniata, to make the place hideous
with their cries. | could not tell who
was thus carrying me away, but it was ev.
ident il was woman. | could sec one
hand and it was too small and tapering
to be the hand of rough Borderman or
Indian. She dragged me a little farther
to a small plateau or huge rock, spread a
blanket on the snow aud laid me upon it
and drew it closely around me-
1t was now | fully came to the sense of
my position
"Where am I2' Igasped family, trying
to arise but fell back upon the snow.
"You are safe now" she said, bending
over me, ''lie still and do not injure your
self by trying to get up" "What are
making those cries p asked.
Evolves; they are eating the horses"
Wolves !" | echoed in surprise. Then
turning on my side, said
T'm sleepy"
"You mustn't 90 to Sleep, she said,
dropping on her knees beside me- smil-
cd family.
awake up heard her say, and l
felt smart rap on the cheek; but | was
too far gone. Before my mind wandered
into chaos altogether, | heard her exclaim
"Oh God, help me IN this hour of trial
What will l do? he is freezing, dying and
at the mercy of the wolves"
1t was long time before became con-
scious again, Dnysa and nights of suffering
passed away and | knew it not My mind
was spared those terrible horrors we un.
derwent that night on the Juniata. Even
now, as | sit here with my wounded arm
in a sling; my swollen feet tightly ban
daged and placed on n chair, in this little
room in log house, within Fort Shirley's
inclosure, with Athca sitting opposite. |
skudder at their recital. All knew of that
terrible night when Death, in the shape of
wolves and cold, was so close, was gather
ed from Althea and | will relate it in her
own words:
"That terrible morning" she said shud-
dcringly, Father went of to Standing
Stone and left mother and alone. After
dinner We saw you and your men pass and
wondered who you were and where you
were going; we could tell by your clothes
you were soldier and stranger in those
parts The day wore on, until about
halfpast four; when John Catch and the
Indian boy sou killed in the narrows,
came to the house we did not mind them
much, only we noticed they were not as
laxative as usual As it began to grow
dark, they talked great deal between
themselves; but could see | was the sub.
ject of the conversation, on account Of the
many stealthy glances they cast on me.
| was fixing fathers leggins at the win
dow overlooking the river, and mother had
gone to the spring for water. Nameela,
the Indian boy, arose and came over to
where | was, telling me | would have to
so with him to his lodge, informed
him, as quietly as could, that it was i'm
possible for NE to 60 there as my father
was away, and mother would be left alone.
He pointed to Jack Catch saying
"He take mother"
At that moment mother entered Ma
meela waited no longer; but winding his
long sinewy arms around me lifted me from
the floor and bore me towards the door.
Mother sprang upon him aud by our uni
ted exertions We threw him to the floor,
Catch now interfercl, throwing mother
back against the opposite WALL he picked
me up off the Indian where | had fallen.
Motheragai rushed up screaming. Catch
drew pistol and fired; | saw my dear
mother fall to the ground the blood rush
ing from hole in her forehead; again |
renewed my struggles and forced the In
dian back to the wall, but my struggles
now failed and l fell forward fainting in
his arms; at that moment saw my father
rush in but Catch intercepted him before
he reached me and they commenced to
struggle.
saw no more; consciousness deserted
me. / knew nothing of that wild ride; |
felt nothing rntil awoke, like one from
horrible dream aud found myself lying
beside the dead body of horse; | put out
my hand and felt the snow, then | knew
| was in the open air. lay there looking
up at the flcecy clouds and twinkling stars,
trying to realize what had happened to
me. As | heard long loud terrible cry,
| knew what it was; the wolves were gath.
ering to the dead horse. | sprang to my
feet; with that spring memory flashed
back on me; the struggle in the cabin
my mothers death, all came back; burst
into tears How long stood thus know
not; | was again brought to sense of my
position by that unearthly howl. | look
ed around me, the moon was shining bright
ly. | saw, instead of one horse as i first
thought, there were two; the one farthest
away from me was not yet dead. look
ed on the other side and there lay the
bodies OF two men, one white man and
the other an Indian. You were the white
L IA L