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

when the lrishman pointed out to US the
house of a man whom he called John Nc
Donald; this man, he said, was a trader
and lived with his family, consisting of
his wife and one child, girl; all alone in
the little cabin.
"Wby don't he retro to the fort like
other settlers ?" asked.
"Rcthire the diyil, shurc ye coudn' help
him to do anything. Ye sec he thinks
he's alright, an the Injuns won't touch
him because they're running afther his
daughter day and night"
After the Irishmans speech, silence
again fell upon us, and we pushed on. Our
progress was materially slow. We had to
climb over the round huge powders and
logs that continually blocked our path. 1t
looked as if the mountain, at this point,
had attempted to bridge the river and form
the continuous chain which il had so alb.
ruptly interrupted.
Shortly after leaving the "narrows," an
unlucky accident happened which delayed
us considerable time. Hardly, who was
in front, stopped 10 examine "deer sign
and we pushed on. Shortly after leaving
him we crossed a small stream on the ice,
and on .he other bank awaited his coming.
We did not have to wait long he soon
appeared, and springing from the small
shelving bank upon the ice, he fell, strik-
ing his foot against stone and badly
spraining his ankle. We dressed it as
vol as We were able, but owing to the Sc.
we're pain he was unable to proceed for
some time. During the delay the sun had
Travelled far down on his way to his west
ern bed, aud the Irishman remarked that
we would have to hurry to reach Standing
Stone by dark. We, at last, got Hardly
upon his feet, and the pain from his injured
limb, at first though severe, gradually les
sened as We proceeded In this way We
logged on for about an hour and q half,
when a loud "hist" from the Irishman
who was in front, caused us to seek cover,
which we did rapidly, We had scarcely
got quietly settled in our hiding places,
when the form of man, leading mule,
was seen to rise from a small hollow imIne-
diately in our front. A few steps brought
him near en:ugh for us to see he was a
white man.
"Hullo!" called out the Irshman, who
was only few feet from me.
"Hullo yerself!" replied the individual
in a voice that bore an unmistakable
Scotch accent.
"Don't ye get scarted now" said the
lrishman as he arose, and we followed his
example.
1t was evident the Scotchman was not
afraid for the glance he cast upon us
contained anything but fear.
"Hout now p he exclaimed, sis that
yerself now, Moike2'
"Arrah thin it is, John
Hardly came forward now and received
hearty shake from the Scotchman, and
in few words l was introduced and my
mission explained.
"He can da nathing now r. said the
Scotchman.
"Why!" asked.
"a the Indians are in a beezc; an
they swar dcedly vcngenco agin the set.
tiers.
"They are on the war path, then ?"
"Nae, they are nae Oh the war path
now, but will be soon"
~ think | might ccnciliate them if |
would see them"
"Nae, nae, naething ill do them now
but bludc. They tauld me to gang owa
out of the valley, an I'm gaen ia ga. Ye
hae better come back wi me, its danger
Gus to gae on"
turned to my companions.
"What say you, shall we go on tonight?
l must go, but | will be guided by your
decision for this night"
Hardly looked around. The shadows
Of night were deepening in the little val
ley. The snow-clad objects looked ghost
ly in the gray light. The wind, which
had been quite calm, now arose and
shriekod like tortured demons, through
the leaaess trees. The cold now became
intense.
awe had better go back" he said /;
leastawisc, for a few days, until this thing
wears off.
looked at Mike.
"Them's my sentiments. No use in
running into moose"
"Lead the way" said to the Scotch
man, and We fell in behind, 10 single file
on the path we had made in coming up.
''Is this the tradcr2' asked of Hardly
who was in front of me, "who lives at the
end of the Narrows."
ayes, he answered, and we again re-
lapsed into silence.
In this way We proceeded for about two
hours. The cold seemed to become more
intense at every step. The Scotchman
stepped.
"houtc now p he exclaimed, "there'
someone at the hoose."
We listened, and could distinctly hear
the paving of horses
"We will nae ga up to the house, wei
gae doom into those brushes, tell we see
whas there"
Down we went into the thick laurel
brush that bordered the river, and passing
under the shadow we came directly below
the house but we were unable to see
anything going on, owing to the trees that
surrounded it.
We were in concealment only few
minutes when We heard two or three sharp
shrieks, followed by the report Of firearms
Mcdonald let 60 his hold on the mule
aud sprang away up the hillside like a
mountain cat; we followed but were una
BILE to climb as readily as be, therefore he
reached the house and passed in before |
gained the path that led from the spring
to the house. Just as reached the path,
| saw man emerge from the cabin bear
ing in his arms what | took to be the in
animate form Of woman In moment
he had reached one of the two horses tied
in front of the cabin, and swinging the
woman upon the horses back, leaped on
himself and dashed down the path that led
TO the river. At glance | comprehended
all the woman was prisoner. 1t did not
take moment for me to reach the side of
the other horse, tear his fastenings loose,
leap upon his back and start in pursuit.
Down the mountain path | went like an
arrow shot from an Indians bow. knew
/ could soon overtake the horse in front,
because he was doubly weighted and could
not hold out as long as my own. On we