The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-09-29

no pains to conceal thsir tracks--they
simply had struck back into the country
so as to avoid coming in contact with
the spies whom they supposed to be lin.
gering along the river
; The whols four Wentsd down TO the cab
in and carefully examined the ruins.
After long aud minute search, Bra
dy declared in an authoritative manner
that none Of the inmates had been con.
sumed. This announcement at once dis
PEELED the most narrowing fears Of Gray.
AS soon as all that could be discovered
had been ascertained, each one of the
| party proposed some course Of action.
One desired TO go to Pittsburg and OBJ.
| tain assistance-another thought it best
to return to IcIntosh and get some vol
unteers there-Brady listened patiently
to both these propositions, but arose
| quickly, after talking q moment apart
with Biggs, and said, Come"
Gray and Bevington obeyed ct once,
nor did Biggs object. Brady struck the
trail and began pursuit in that tremen-
dous rapid manner for which he was so
famous. Ii was evident that If tue saw
ages were oyertaken, it could only be
done by the utmost exertion. They were
some hours ahead, and from the number
of their horses must be nearly all noun
ted. Brady felt that if they were not
overtaken that night, pursuit would be
utterly futile. 1t was evident that this
band had been south of the Ohio and
plunderod the homes Of other settlers.
They had pounced upon the family of
Gray upon their return.
When the pursuit began, it must have
been two o'clock. 1T least two hours
had been consumed by the spies in max
ing the necessary exploration about the
house, ere they approached it, and ex-
amined the ruins. Not a word was
spoken upon the route by any one.
Their leader kept steadily in advance.
Occasionally he would diverge from
the track, but only To take it up
again mile or SO in advance. The Cap
tain's intimate knowledge Of the topog-
raphy Of the country, enabled him to
anticipate what points they would make.
Thus he gained rapidly upon them by
proceeding moro nearly in a straight
line toward the point at which they aimed
to CROSS Beaver River.
At last, convinced from the general
direction in which the trail led, that he
could divine, with absolute certainty, tho
spot where they would ford that s,rpnm,
he abandoned It and struck boldly across
the country. The accuracy of his judg-
ment was vindicated by the fact, that
from an elevated crest Of long line of
hills. he saw the Indians, with their vic
Tins, just disappearing Up ravine on
the opposite side of the E.2yec. He
counted them as they slowly filed away
under the rays of the declining sun. There
we're thirteen warriors, eight of whom
were mounted woman, besides
Gray's wife was in the cavalcade, and two
children besides lIis-in all, FIVE child.
rem.
The odds seemed fearful to Biggs and
Bevington although Brady made no
comments. The moment they had
passed out of sight, Brady again pushed
forward with unhagging energy, nor did
his followers hesitate. There was not
man among them whose muscles were
not tense and rigid as wbip.cord, from
exercise and training, from hardship
and exposure. Gray's whole form seemed
to di late into twice its natural size ut tho
sight Of his wife and children Terrible
was the vengeance he swore.
S'Just as the sun set, the spies forded the
stream and began to ascend the ravine.
1t was evident that the Indians intended
to camp for the night somo distance up
small creek or run, which debouchea
into Beaver River, about three miles from
the location of Fort Mcintosh, and two
below the ravine. The spot, owing TO the
peninsular form of the tongue Of land ly-
ing west Of the Beaver, at which they
expected to encamp, was full ten miles
from that fort. Here there was famous
spring 30 deftly and cunningly situated
in q deep dell, and 30 densely inclosed
with thick mountain pines, that there
was little danger of discovery Even
they might light fire and it could not
be seen one hundred yards.
The proceedings oftheir leader, which
would have been totally inexplicable to
oil othors, were partially, if not fully
understood, by his followers. At least
they did not hesitate or question him.
When dark came Brady pushed forward
with as much apparent certainty as
he had done during the day. So
rnpid was hia progress, that the Indians
had hn. jast kindled their fire and cooked
their meal, when their metal foe, whose
presence they dreaded as much rs that of
the smallpox, stood upon huge rock
looking down upon them.
His party had been left short dis
tance in the rear, at o convenient spot,
whilst he went forward to reconnoitre.
There they remained impatieatly for
three mortal hours. They discussed, in
low tones, the extreme disparity of the
force-the propriety of going to get as
sistance.. But all agreed that it Brady
ordered them 20 attack success was Ger.
tain. However impatient they were, he
returned at last.
He described to them how the women
and children E:T.withinf the centre Of a
crescent formed by the savages as they
slept. Their guns were stacked upon
tho right, and most Of their tomahawks.
The arms were not more that fifteen feet
from them. He had crawled within
fifty feet Of them, when the snor-
tingsl of the horses, occasioned by
the approach of wild beast, had
aroused q number of the sayages
from their light slu,.bers, and be had
been compelled 10 lie quiet for moro than
an hour, until they slept again.
He then told them that he would attack
them. 1t was'impossible to use fire arms.
They. muEt depend solely upon the knife
and tomahG,ck. The knife must be
placed in tho left hand aud the toma.
hawk in the right. To Biggs he assigned
the duty ofsecuring theirarms. He was to
begin the work Of slaughter upon the
right Gray upon the left, and Bavington
In the centre.a Ta .a98
After each fairly understood the duty as.
approach began. They i Continued naiA,uSus upon
their feet until they had gotten within
one hundred yards of The foe, and then
laY dnRn unnn fhnir hallinn nnd kas.a..