Frostburg mining journal., 1883-12-08
FROSTBURG, MD, DECEMBER 8, 1883.

NheiSS9 PuiSuSio, oiiV Pi'eiiS0 hiS
face to the casual opening, he even
looked out, with sort of desperate
indifference, on their movements.
Within reach of his arm was the
brawny shoulder of a gigantic Indian,
whose deep and authoritative voice
appeared to give direction to the pro-
ceedings of his fellows. Beyond him
again, Duncan could look at the vault
opposite, which was filled with the
savages, upturning and rifling the
humble furniture of the scout. The
wound of DAVID had died the leaves
of sassafras which the natives well
knew was anticipating the season.
Over this sign of their success, they
set up a howl, like an opening from
so MANY hounds who had recovered a
lost trail. After this yell of victory,
they tore up the fragrant bed of the
cavern, and bore the branches into
the chasm, scattering the boughs, as
if they concealed the man they had
so long hated and feared. One fierce
and wild-looking warrior approached
the chief, bearing load of the brush
and pointing exultingly to the deep
red stains with which it was sprinkled
uttered his joy in Indian yells, whose
meaning Hayward was only enabled
to comprehend by the frequent rep
etition of the name of "La Tongue
Carabine !" When his triumph had
ceased, he cast the brush on the
slight heap that Duncan had made
before the entrance to the second
cavern, and closed the view. His
example was followed by others,
who, as they drew the branches from
the cave Of the scout, threw them
into one pile, adding unconsciously
to the security of those they sought.
The very slightness of the defence
was its chief merit, for no one
thought of disturbing mass of
brush, which all of them believed, i'll
that moment of hurry and confusion,
had been accidentally raised by the
hand oftheir own party.
As the blankets yielded before the
outward pressure, and the branches
settled in the fissure of the rock
by their own weight, forming Il COM
pact body, Duncan once more breath
ed more freely. With light step,
and lighter heart, he returned to the
centre of the cave, and took the place
he had left, where he could command
d view of the opening next the river.
While he was in the act of making
this movement, the Indians us if
changing their purpose by a common
impulse, broke away from the chasm
in a body, and were heard rushing up
the Island again, towards the point
whence they had originally descend
ed. Here another wailing cry betray-
ed that they were again collecting
around the bodies of their dead COM
rades.
Duncan now ventured to look at
his companions; for during the most
critical moments of their danger, he
had been apprehensive that the anx-
iety of his countenance might COM
municate some additional alarm to
those who were so little able to sus-
tain it,
"rhey are gone, Cora," he whis-
pered; "Alice, they are returned
whence they came, and we are saved.
TO heaven, that has alone delivered
us from the grasp of so merciless an
enemy, be all the praise."
"Then to heaven will | return my
thanks" exclaimed the younger sister,
rising from the encircling arms OF
Cora and casting herself with en-
thusiastic gratitude on the naked
rock; "to that heaven who has spared
the tears of Il gray-headed father, has
: saved the lives so much love"
Both Hayward and the more even
tempered Cora witnessed the act of
involuntary emotion with powerful
sympathy, the former secretly believ-
ing that piety had never worn a
form so lovely as it had now assumed
in the youthful form of Alice. Her
eyes We're radiant with the glow OF
grateful feelings; the flush of her
beauty was again seated on her cheeks
and her whole soulseemed ready and
anxious to pour out its thanksgivings
through the medium of her eloquent
features. But when her lips moved,
the words they should have uttered