The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1889-10-23
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night fell upon him. and he could no
longer see the footprints he was fol-
lowing. he threw himself down upon
the green bank of running stream,
ate few mouthfuls from his wallet,
took a long drink OF the flowing
water, stretched himself out on the
ground, with one hand resting on his
trusty rife, and Amos: Immediately
went to sleep. though in that peculiar
condition of mind and body, the re-
suit of long experience in scenes Of
danger, that the slightest unusual
sound would be sure to wake him.
Six or seven hours was all the rest
that Jack required; and the moon by
that time being well up, and pouring
down asilvery fleod through 0 cloud
less sky, he arose, took another drink,
and resumed his course on the broad
trail. This he followed at a slower
pace till daylight once more made it
clear befo' him, and then he hurried
forward as on the day preceding.
The sun was perhaps two hours
above the horizon when he reached
the place where the Indians had en-
camped on the night following the
capture of his wife. Here he spent
some half an hour in examining the
different footprints, and when, among
others, he found those of his pretty
bird, and saw where she had passed
the night, his agitation and excite
ment became painful, and he several
times groaned out as one enduring
great bodily suffering.
At length he set his teeth hard, with
an answering determination drew
his hands slowly over his face, and
outwardly became more composed.
Then he commenced a broad circuit
around the camp, to find the depart
ing trail. In doing this he discovered
point where three horses had filed
off from the main body; and suspect
ing these had been detached and sent
off with the fair captive in a home
ward direction, he at once resolved
to follow this trail instead of the
other. mo" w "a
"Ef I'm wrong" he muttered,
goodbye to little Kate for the pres
emit; but eff I'm right, and it s in one
human mater to do it, Pll hev her back
ag' In. and the scalps OF them as TUX
hertz -
With this he again set forward in
the manner described, and, with only
now and then brief rest, continued
the same hurried pace till near sun
set, when he came upon the previous
nights camp of the three Indians,
showing that thus far he had gained
upon his enc mics With the widest
anxiety Of hope and fear, he now made
IAN eager search for the footprints Of
his little wife; and when at length he
found them, where she had dismount-
ed and been secured to a tree, thus
proving that her life had SO far been
snaraa - A..tat,- svskors ing Faaxysr
course. SsuA contending emotions Of
Joy and rage took possession of him
joy at the discovery and rage against
her foes-that for time he was like
one demented. N&E sS
Since branching off from the main
body, the three warriors had kept a
straight course, little north of west;
but on the third day Jack Hawk
worth reached spot on an open
plain, where they had made halt,
and from which, to his surprise. he
now found the trail led directly
south. toward a range of hills
that could barely be discerned
in the blue distance. Knowing
that among these hills was a rare
spring of medicinal waters. which the
Indians not unfrequently visited. it oc-
Cured to him that the present party
had gone thither. and might, perhaps,
make a halt long enough for him to
come up with them. The idea afforded
him fresh hope. and raised his spirits
materially as he started onward again.
When night again fell upon the
scene, the hills were looming up in
rugged lines before him. but still miles
away. Knowing the exact location Of
the spring. and that it was SO situated
as to command view of the bread
plain in the direction of his approach.
he resolved. weary as he was, to push
on in the dark and gain a safe position
among the hills before morning, even
should he not succeed in surprising his
enemies while resting in supposed Sc
curity.
1t was life or death to him. and he
strained every nerve and muscle to the
last tension, and succeeded in reach
ing the base of the hills in such an ex-
hausted condition that he was obliged
to throw him elf down on the earth
and rest for an hour to recover
strength enough to 60 through with
what was yet before him. He had two
miles yet to go to reach the spring,
and when at last he slowly dragged his
aching frame in sight of it the late
moon was already silvering the tops
of the trees, and he knew that day was
about breaking.
But now there came thrill OF Joy
to his heart that sent new life through-
out his dropping frame; 70 now it
was he who heard the whinny OF a
horse only q few rods distant and falt