Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1880-07-01
A TALE OF THE JUNIATA,
BY edward JAMES. !"

/
gloomy periods when the very still
ness srartles the solitary tbinke
and causes him to couture up sight
the most horrible. Awful murders
fearful tag edies, bloody assasiDa
tions and kindred scenes rush pas
his mental vision with such painfu
rapidlty and vividness as 10 make
him fondly wish tor the early ap-
preach of dawn, with its cheering
horror-dispeIIiug light.
The scene of my sketch is few
miles southwest of Waynesburg
(uow McVevtown, Penn.,) a small
settlemens on be historic Blue in
piars,a stf cam justly for the limpid
ness of its waters and the grapc
and sublime scenery cf The Valley
through which it winds its sinuous
course. The time Of the occurrence
dates back almost century age
and time, with its changes, has al
most effaced the old land MAI ks, buI
enough yet remains to make the
size referred to familiar to all read
ers couvefsant with that portion OF
the j unia'a Valley.
In the woods which run down to
the liver stauds Il heavy log house,
embowered 10 deep foliage soon to
be the scene of q most exciting ad-
venture. The little rivulet hard by
ripples oyer the moss-covered
stones, making a peculiarly pleas
ing Dolee as 1t huriies on to join
the placid river below-just at this
time, however, sub-idiug from the
autumual floods. Inside the heavy
building ali is still as death; no
light can be seen whatever and as
the hours pass on the darkness
seems to become more peuetrahle
and the stiffness more intense unit!
The suspense is almost unhearabIe,
when bark the defying, challepg-
lug war>whoop Of an Indian rends
the air and echoes throughout the
distant mountains, chilling the
blood of all who bear it.
Socn all is hustle and excitement
within and cautiously the barrel oi
gun through theloop hole follow
cd by Il tsb, a repor. and as the
sound leverbel ates through the
neighooling hills and glens, the
death shrek of II savage is heard
and once more the portals opeu
and another dusky spirit enters the
happy hunting grounds.
Not many minutes elapse Until
the house is surrounded by a score
or more of blood thirty wretches
anxious to ayenge the death Of theil
broi ber.
a this stage a short description
of the occupants of this beseiged
place is necessary to proper un
d d:rslanding of the foregoing ,e-
marks, and will enable the reader
to form an idea Of the perilous and
and adventures Of tue primitive
settlers Of The Juniata region.
Alexander DePngh-for such We
shall call him--was an old and ex.
perienced hunter, who with bis
family consisting of his wife, SOP
aged twenty, aud daughter. the
latter beautiful girl os eighteen
summers, has settled here because
of its seclusion and its being The
center OF a good hunting section.
On the day upon which our story
opens, young DePngh was ont OIL
a hunting aud fishing expedition
and beng Of fearless aud ven
turesume nature had wandered sew
eral miles from home. About roon
being ve.y much fatigued. he ex
tended Eis tired limbs on the leaf
strcwn ground beneath the spread
ing branches of a large tree while
he partook of a refreshing lunch
He had not remained IN this posi-
ton long, however, until his train
ed ears was greeted with the gruf
voice OF man near by in close
conversation with another. DePugl
raised himself upon his elbow aud
with an in.elIness bonn of expert
ence, listepteL to their canfe, ence
Bn. few moments satisfied hin
that the speakers were IrdiaI
scouts and that, too. from a hostil,
party who were devising piaus fol
Ethe. capture of lis fathers family
Wi b stealthy steps the young
hunter stole away from the danger
Gus spot, and not having been dis
covered made his way rapid,
home, reaching lhere Just in tim