The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-09-09
A DOUBLE AMBUSH.

We lived in Florida (said Mrs. Wal
ters) through all the Seminole war,
which lasted seven years, so that grew
up with the names of the great hostile
chief, Oceola, Alligator, Wild Cat and
Tiger Tail making o part of my child
hood.
A sense of peril was always present
with us. I remember the feelings
with which we heard of the slaughter of
Lieutenant Dade and his command.
The tragedy took place in open battle,
yet it seemed dreadful that so many
brave men should be shot down in the
dark woods with the painted savages
yelling around them.
In the spring when was thirteen and
my brother Arthur fifteen the war was
at its worst and my father talked strongly
OF removing to greater distance from
the danger.
Among our few slaves, consisting only
of two black families, was half-idiotic
young negro named Jason, who had the
privilege of wandering pretty much as
ne pleased. He would often remain
all day in the forest, either lying asleep
or hooking the gobble of the wild
turkeys
One day he returned with an appear
ance which startled us. His woolly head
had been completely shaved, and his
black face dyed to bright scarlet. He
had, however, received no real hurt,
and seemed not in the least terrified by
the ordeal through which he must have
passed.
We gathered from his broken SEN
fences that he had fallen in with the
Indians, and it was plain that they had
been i'll some measure true to the proyerb-
ial respect 81 their people for idiots.
An ordinary person they would have
sacrificed without mercy, but when
Jason stared aimlessly at the tree-tops
or gobbled like a turkey, they simply
set their mark upon him and let him 60.
The incident showed that our danger
was more imminent than had been sup
posed; but there was fortunately a
squad of United States cavalry picketed
within few miles Of US, and my father
lost no time in notifying the officer in
command of what had occurred. The
soldiers, however, could find nothing of
the enemy, and in the meantime we
passed q couple of days in very anxious
suspense. The movements of Indian
warriors are cratic, and to white men
upaccountable.
My parents began to regain conf.
dence, believing that the Seminoles were
gone from the neighborhood, as they
doubtless were for the time. Father
said they were probably scouts, and
there was no telling how they might
have scattered themselves, or at what
point some of them might appear next.
He hoped, however, that the presence
of the soldiers had led them to abandon
any design they might have entertained
of attacking us.
On the third day after Jason's adven-
ture we were feeling much relieved.
The negro men were at work in the
fields, aud father had gone to a consid-
cradle distance from the house. Mother,
Arthur and myself with the female serv-
ants were within doors.
Presently, not far off, we heard the
gobhle Of IL wild turkey, or what seemed
such, although, as turkeys were not III
the habit of approaching so near the
house. we imagined Jason to be at his
old silly pastine again, initiating the
call which he could SO well counterfti it.
The notes We're continued with great
regularity at intervals # n minute or
two, and so natural were they that Ar
thur would have been all on fire to seize
his rife and hurry in quest of the game
had he not remembered how often he had
been led upon fruitless chase by the
vocal powers of the poor idiot.
eve all excel in something said my
mother, "and Jason was made to call
turkeys. But I do wish he would he
quiet; it makes me nervous to hear
him."
"Jason," said little negro girl who
Just then came in from the rear of the
premises; "why missus. Jason done
gone asleep in de shade at de back oh
de wash-house. l done seen him dis
minute
Arthur FASTENED outdoors, looked he
hind the wash-house, anti having as
sured himself that the black boy had
nothing to do with the gobbling, re-
turned quickly for his rifle.
ct is real turkey" said he "and
he's somewhere in the hollow
The hollow was made by depression
OF the ground about fifty rods from the
house front, and running parallel with il.
Upon its further side was decaved
stump, some four or five feet high, stand
ing below the sloping bank, and with
its top just visible from the house, OF
this stump the portion next to the slope
had so fallen away rs to leave a large
cavity, capable of containing O man.
The gobble indicated the turkeys
whereabouts pretty definitely.
"He's somewhere near that stump,
said Arthur, "perhaps inside Of II, sit
ting up ON the rotten wood toward the
top. I'm afraid he'll get high enough "a
see me. But I'll make . circuit and