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

hain hhhEipk ffN0 tha btNkS3a WhNf@ - y
gau ususllY hung. and on looking 81 Che
Inside Of gbis read The following words
tudely serkwled thereon With The Poin,
Of a ballet:
lnjans air round. I've bean Bit. Keep
dark. Follcr round BY Otter Blnff.
THIS confirmed my worst suspicious
and hastily turned TO obey the iniauc-
tlons OF my wounded friend, wben,
bethonght me that hGd better eoneeal
some OF my effects and scorete the most
valuable Of the peitrles Imagine my
surprise when found most Of The iurs
gone, as wen as every article of mine, os
indeed, anything that would beiray the
fact that two men lived iH the camp.
did not quite comprehend this mAn9 nvre
lllI some time afterwards. | then quietly
crawled through the woods to the collec-
ton OF rocks that my friend, for some
fanciful reason Of bis own, had chosen to
call Ouer Bluff IL was late 10 the day
when arrived st the Bluif, and m0unsed
YEARLY to the top. looked around for
MSrslon, but be was no where TO be seen
Fearing that he bad fainted from the loss
OF blood | made a careful though cautlous
search among the erags and rayines
where a man might possibly have dragged
himself But could see no sign Of him
and concluded that through weakness be
had not been able TO get there ~ soon as
| had so sat myself down In little
lhicket OF young cedars that crowned one
OF the peaks, where could see without
being seen myself, TO await his coming
Here | crouche til dark, aud stlll no
signs Of my comrade. Torinenting doubts
now beset my mind aud | began TO fear
that Marston had been captured iu bis
retreat to the Bluff, or that he bad been
unable to use II through loss OF blood;
even pictured him lying among the maple
leaves stained with deeper hue than
their own dye, perishpg from thirst and
faintness.
While debating what course TO pursue,
perceived 3 ,bright light mile or more
off, could scarcely say how far il might
be in the gathering darkness; but as nc
attempt at conceaImcnt was made, ! con-
cluded il proceeded either from MarsioD
who had outwitted his enemies, or from
those enemies themselves, who, Ia that
event, thought must have captured or
killed my poor friend ip spite OF his keen
woodcraft, as otherwise they would be
too wary to draw on themselves the von-
gence of The wounded trapper. imme-
diately descended from my perch and
cautiously crept along The shaded edge
OF the river, keeping well under the over
hanging branches of the bordering cedsrs.
In this way must have crept forward
for full an hour, aud still the fire seemed
far away. AS l stepped out In the bend
of the river, on tue side OF which the fire
burned with increased fury, large owl
flew from bis perch iu an oyerhanging
tree, aud silently betook himself TO a safer
distance IRON bis natural enemy. As The
i'll omened bird spread his soft, noisely
wings to the night air, bethougbt me
that, II Msrston was near, could commu.
nicate my presence 10 him by initiating
its cry, whice had often repeated In the
hut when we lay listening to the awaken
ed chorus outside. Placing my band upon
my mouth, l emitted three or four oi
those weired, dismal cries, which were
re-eehoed by the sombre woods until the
somlsTa river bend returned its ghoslly
answer.
Hastily s2oking to my rife, and assur.
ing myself THAI the priming was all right,
/ hurried on siIGaty and stealtbily until
within an eighth OF mile Of the light,
When parted the branches behind whose
shade | had cautiously advanced, and
looked 10 the direction Of the blaze, be-
held sight that sent the blood cold and
chill back 10 my heart. Before me, on
the grassy plot in front of our hut, were
seated three brawney ssvages, naked, and
painted With black and vermillion stripes
aud two others with similar costume,
we're dancing around Young birch tree
to which was bound hand and foot, poor
Bill Msrstonl
| waited 10 hear no more, bnrrYing for
ward as rapidly as possible from the
b ature OF the ground and my desire TO
re main unseen, soon cstse 10 ASiek
gro with OF trees 10 the midst OF which oui
hut iNad been built. There was, of course
no hut nov. Everything was destroyed
have been useless to our savage
toes; the rest most likely lying 10 ful
view Of beir miserable owner. On mY
hands aud knees forced my way silently
through tl,e thick underwood until within
forty yards OF the hostile circle. ThIi
movement Of course bad taken some iimt
for to break twig or stir leaf would
have insured mY.destruction- when
parted the branches before me | found
the two indians busily piiing around thei
prisoner materials for Gre wberewith Il
roast him. plainly saw that promp
acoon would alone save Marston, wht
was cursing the blasted, sneaking, cew
srdly, red skinned bcAtben, with ever
ysriely Of oath known TO the maternity
aud there are some strange ones.
The three ssvsges that looked on wer'
sitting upon a log bali bnrIed upon ,h'
mossy earth, and the idea struck me lha
ss my rifle threw bullet with very grea
force, il could get them all in line
might Kill them Ali al one shot. or II a.
events, kill one aud severely wound th'
other two. therefore crept sileutil
back and considerably further TO the rlgh