Frostburg mining journal., 1883-11-17
FROSTBURG, MD. NOVEMBER II, 1883.


they lay, with their eyes rowing, with
out intermission, along the dark mar
gin of trees that bounded the adjacent
shores of the narrow stream. Not a
sound escaped them; the most subtle
examination could not have told
they breathed. 1t was evident that
this excess of caution proceeded from
an experience that no subtlety on the
part of his enemies could deceive.
1t was, however, continued without
any apparent consequences, until the
moon had set, and u pale streak
above the tree-tops at the bend of the
river Il little below, announced the
approach of day.
Then, for the first time, Hawk-eye
was seen to stir. He crawled along
the rock and shook Duncan from his
heavy slumbers.
"Now is the time to Journey" he
whispered awake the gentle ones,
and be ready to get into the canoe
when bring it to the landing-place."
"Have you had quiet night p
said Hayward; "for myself, | believe
sleep has got the better of my vigil
ance."
"All is yet still as midnight. BE
silent, but be quick"
BY this time Duncan was thor
oughly awake, and he Immediately
lifted the shawl from the sleeping
females. The motion caused Cora
to raise her hand, as if to repulse
him, while Alice murmured in her
soft, gentle voice, "No, no, dear
father, we were not deserted; Dun
can was with usw
eyes, sweet innocence" whispered
the youth; "Duncan is here, and
while life continues or danger re-
mains, he will never quit thee, Cora.
Alice. awake! The hour has come
to novel,
A loud shrek from the younger
of the sisters, and the form of the
other, standing upright before him,
in bewildered horror, was the unex-
pected answer he received. While
the words were still on the lips of
Howard, there had arisen such a
tumult of yells and cries as served
to drive the swift currents of his
own blood back from its bounding
into the currents of his heart. 1t
seemed for near a minute, us if the
demon of hell had possessed them
selves of the air about them, and
were venting their savage humors in
barbarous sounds. The cries came
from no particular direction, though
it was evident they filled the woods,
and, as the appalled, listeners easily
imagined, the caverns of the falls,
the rocks, the bed Of the river, and
the upper air. David raised his tall
person in the midst of the Internal
din, with hand on either ear ex-
claiming
"Whence comes this discord? Has
hell broke loose, that man should
utter sounds like thesew
The bright flashes and the quick
reports of dozen rifles, from the
opposite bank of the stream followed
this incautious exposure of his per-
son, and left the unfortunate singing
master senseless on that rock where
he had been so long slumbering.
The Mohicans boldly sent back the
intimidating yell of their enemies,
who raised a shout of savage triumph
at the fall of Gamut. The flash of
rifles was then quick and close be-
tween them, but either party was
too well skilled to leave even limb
exposed to the hostile aim. Dun
can listened with intense anxiety for
the strokes of the paddle, believing
that flight was now their only refuge.
The river glanced by with its ordi-
nary velocity but the canoe was no.
where to be seen on it's dark waters.
He had just fancied they were cruelty
deserted by the scout, as a stream of
flame issued from the rock beneath
him and a fierce yell, blended with a
shrek Of agony, announced that the
messenger of death, sent from the
fatal weapon of Hawkeye, had found
a victim. At this slight repulse the
assailants instantly withdrew, and
gradually the place became as still
as before the sudden tumult.
Duncan seized the favorable mo-
ment to spring to the body of Gamut,
which he bore within the shelter of