The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1879-10-30

1lF MtAb b9Wt Of pAaui Hlto bAhthNAl
Yell siraieEetosily followed by Msrs,ou
Il rushed forward and lsyelod one OF The
two hidc0us imps dancing araund ibe Ore
who were lsken too much by surprise 70
know whether The stack whs made by
oue or a score. The other With bis
wounded comrade, fed aaflghled into
the woods, while scattered the burning
Pile sod cut The bonds OF my friend. No
sooner was he free than be bonded 10
the log behind which the two victims lay
silent In death, and tei1lug their rifles,
dashed Into The dark shadows OF the tor
est, shouting to me TO follow him. lu .
few minutes we were far beyond the be-
traying light of the scattered fire, when,
suddenly stopping bic rapid though silent
advance, Marston caught my arm and
told me 10 reload my rife, st the same
time testing the captured weapons,
which be found already charged. was
eager to get as great q distance from our
enemies as possible and so told MarstOn /.
but be soon convinced me that it would
only bripg on the destruction | would
escape. For, said he, ifthsm ar red skins
diskiver that they aren't chased, they
won't run fur; and the chances are that
they raise our bar Aiore we'd been asleep
an hour Of our fret bivouse.
In order TO ascertain II the Indians had
really left Ne, and II not, TO wipe them
out as soon rs possible, Il was finally de-
termin I'd that should return TO the am.
bush whence bad fired on Il EN-, and
watch the opposite side OF the valley for
their return, whilst my companion would
creep silently around TO the Il ickets OPP
posile, wherein the sayages had disappear
ed. AT sunrise we were TO meet at the
old Buff aud compare notes. AS soon as
this arrangement had been agreed npon
Marston disappeared noiseessly into the
dark ness, and falling on my hands and
knces, l cautiously retraced my steps to
The old camp and having securely hidden
myself from any outside observation In
the thick cedsrs, peered through q tan
gled bush In my front for signs OF life on
the opposite bank.
Tee FIRE had not yet died out, and the
red light reflected from the stream in
front lighted up the opposite shore with
weird radienoe, which, with my exclt-
cd brain, kept me fully awake watching
the huge shadows that chased each other
along the margin OF the sombre woods.
The minutes scemed hours to me, as
thus lay IN wait, and, as the night air
curbed my bounding pulse, | found my
self wondering at the nonchalance with
which regarded my then present occu-
patton and the still visible bodies Of the
slain = slain, too, by my own hand
How long lay there have no means
of knowing All know was that no
welcome beams Of the wished Tor sun yet
tinted even the feecy clouds high above
in the starry sky, and that till then |
must keep my wearlsome watch. was
trying 10 imagine where Marston then
was, and whether he was more successful
in his vigil than myself, when the sound
of a breaking twig startled the stiffness
of the night and the next instant the loud
whir of q tomahawk sounded close 10 my
ear. was on my feet in an instant; but
before could bring my rifle to bear in
the right direction, was seized in the
arms OF powerful savage aud dashed to
the earth, the rife going Off as fell. We
fell together, my antagonist uppermost,
aud | half stunned beneath. struggled
with all my strength to throw him from
me, but might as well have tried to
move a mountain. My right hand was a
prisoner, caught by the sieve of my hunt
ing shirt, together with the bosom Of that
too unyielding garment. Ia our fall we
had cleared The clump OF faithless trees
which | believed had 80 securely conceal
ed, and in bis struggle TO bold mo down
and TO reach the weapon be had thrown
at my head, we had gradually approached
the slope leading 10 the water; aud just
as his hand had secured the handle OF the
hatChei, and closing my eyes, was ex-
pecting the crushing blow, the sharp
crack ofs rifle broke upon NY opeisirain-
ed ears, and / felt my arm freed from the
vice like grip OF my .enemy. Opening
my eyes, expecting my asssilant to fat
dead al my side, (or knew II aust be
Marston who fred, saw TO my horror
that be was uninjured, but ! saw also
that be was startled by the discharge
Quick as thought threw all my strength
into one last despsring effort, and, all un-
prepared, the savage was soon struggling
beside me on the dewy sward. AS we
rolled swiftly down the slope, sliced
my knife aud buried 1t 10 The hilt In bis
aide again and again. Almost with bis
last expiring groan, however, be lifted me
in bis arms and plunged into the rolling
stream. My head must have struck
agaIns, projecting rock, for II seemed
to be cleft in twain; the bright stars
danced before my closed eyes; the yield
ing waves closed over US, be above aud
below, snd--I remember no more.
When ! awoke to consciousness, the
morning sun was shining brightly, and
Marston was poufing cold water over ms
head and chest from bis cap. When
was able to st up, be told me that be bad
shot The wounded Indian, who had placed
himself ln position similar to my owr
on the opposite bank, aud for similar
purpose--io shoot ns down did we iDeau
tlously approach tie old camp or the ire
The other savage, whose gigantic bod,
lay jammed between Two rocks In tb'