The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1883-11-29
THEINDIAN TRAIL.
BY PIERCE R. SHELTON.


THEINDIAN TRAIL.
By PIERCE R. SHELTON.
"The Indians have attacked Mr.. Stuart
house, burnt it. and carried his famil,
into captivityp were the first words
a breathless woodsman, as he rushed
into the block house Of village in
Western New York, during one of the
early border wars. Cup, up, dozen
men should have been on the trail two
hours ago." ,,,."
"God help u.s." said one of the group,
bold, frank forester, and with lace
winter than ashes, he leaned against
the wall, gasping for breath. Every eye
turned on him with sympathy, for he
and Mr.. Stuart's only daughter, a lovely
girl of seventeen, were to be married in
few days.
The bereaved father was UNUSUAL y re-
spected. He Was man Of great hene-
violence of heart, and of some property,
and resided on mill seat he owned,
about two niles from the villa e. His
family consisted of his eldest daughter
and three widowed children. He had
been from home, SO the rumor said,
when his house was attacked, nor had
the neighbors any intimation Of the
catastrophe, until the light Of the burn
ing tenements awakened the suspicious
of settler, who resided mile nearer
the village than Mr.. Stuart, and who,
proceeding towards the flames, found
the houses and mills in ruins, and rec
ognzed the feet of females and children
on the trail Of the Indians. He
hurried instantly to the fort, and
it was this individual who now stood
breathlessly narrating the events
which we, in fewer words, have de-
tailed.
The alarm spread through the village
as fire spreads in swamp after a
drought, and before the speaker had
finished his story, the little block-ho Use
was filled with eager, sympathiz'ng
faces. Several Of the inhabitants had
brought their rifles, and others now
hurried home to arm themselves. The
young men Of the settlement gathered,
to a man, around Henry Leper, the be-
throthed husband of Mary Staurt, and
though few words were spoken, the ear
nest grasp of the hand and the accom-
panying look, assured nina that his
friends keenly felt for him, and were
The party was about to set fl rth when q
man was seen running up the road from
the direction of the deserted home.
ut is Mr.. Staurt," said one Of the old
est of the group. "Sland back all, and
let him come in"
The men parted right and left from the
doorway, and Immediately the father
entered; the neighbors bowed respect
fully to him as he passed. He scarcely
| returned their solutions, but advancing
directly to his intended son-in-law, the
| two mutually fell into each others arms.
TIL :. spectators, not wishing to intrude
on the privacy of their grief, turned
theiI faces away with that instructive
delicacy which is nowhere found more
often than among those who are thought
| to be merely rude borderers; bnt they
| heard sobs, and they knew that the
heart of the usually collected Mr.. Staurt
must be fearfully agitated.
my friends" he said, at length, "this
is kind. l see you know my loss, and
are ready to march with me. God bless
you." He could say NJ more, for he
was choking with emotion.
''Stay back, father" said young Lep-
! or, using for the first time name which,
| in that moment OF desolation, carried a
sweet comfort to the parents heart,
"you cannot bear the fatigue as we'll as
WeLdsath only will prevent us bringing
II know it-I'know, my son-but
cannot stay here in suspense. No,
will 20 with you. I have to-day the
| strength Of a half dozen men,"
| The fathers who we're there nodded
in assent, and nothing further was said
but Immediately, the party, as if by one
impulse, set forth.
| There was no difficulty in finding the
trail Of the Indians, along which the
pursue1s advanced with speed incred-
lille to those unused to forest life, and
the result of long and severe disci pine.
| But rapid as their march, hour after
II ,ur elapsed without any signs of the
vicinity of the savages, though evidence
that they had passed the route while
before was continually met. The sun
rose high in the heavens until he stood
above the tree-tops, then he began
slowly to decline, and at length his
81 mt beams could scarcely penetrate
the forest; vet there were no appearance.
es OF the Indians, and tho hears Of the
pursuers began to despond. AL.
ready the opinion had grown
| general that further advance
was useless, for the boundaries of the
| settlers districts had long been passed
they were n the very heart of the say.
| ages country; a d by this time the In
dams had pi obably reached their vii
| lage. Yet when the older men, who
| alone would venture to suggest return,
| looked at the father or his intended SON.
in-law, they could not utter the words
| which would cary despair to two al
was continued. But mig INT drew on, and
one Of the elders spoke:
"There seems to be no hope" he
said, stopping, and resting his rifle on
the ground, "and we are far from our
families. What would become of th.
village if attacked in our absence?"
| heart, and by one consent the party
stopped, and many, especially of the
Older ones, took a step or two invo]un-
tarily homewards. The father and
young Leper looked at each other in
mute despair.
"Y on are right, Jenkins" the young
man said, at length. ut is selfish in u
to lead you so away from home on"
and here for an instant he choked-''on
perhaps, fruitless errand. but as for
me, my way lies ahead, even if it lead
you into the very heart of an Indian viii
lage."
"And will follow you'll" "And Iv'
Sand II" exclaimed dozen voices. for
'1aring in moments like THESE, carries
the day against cooler counsels, and the
young, to man, sprang to Lener' s side.
Even the older men were affected by
contagion. They were torn by conflict
ing emotions, now thinking Of their
wives and little ones behind, and now
reminded of the suffering captives be.
fore. They still fuctuated, when one of
the young men exclaimed in low voice.
't'See-there they are!' and, as he
spoke, he pointed to a thin column OF
light ascending in the twilight above the
tree..tops from the bottom of the valley
lying Immediately before them.
con. then-on," said jenkins, now
The first to move ahead; shut silently,
or the slightest noise will ruin our
hopes"
Oh! how the fathers heart thrilled at
these words. The evident belief of his