St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1892-05-28
distance; and as he scrutinized the land

the woods along the shore.
Suddenly the crows circled around and
Owed downward, and a faint, inquisitive
car-r-r was borne to his ears on the still
morning air. Reuben had noticed that
the crows always uttered this peculiar
cry when they saw human being in an
unexpected place; and he was sure that
the Indians and their captives were even
now on the shore of the pond or bay.
Then he made his way down the steep
side of the ridge, whittier Tige had pre-
ceded him, but in thick group of hem
locks at the foot of the ridge he met Iige
coming back with bristled hair.
The dog turned, but stood still at
Reubens feet, as if listening. His hair
rose more stiy on his shoulders, and he
backed against Reubens legs. His
whole aspect seemed to give warning Of
danger near.
This hint was not lost on the young
woodsman, who quickly stepped aside
and concealed himself in the dense hem
lock thickot. Tige crouched by his side.
The boy and the dog had scarcely
hidden themselves when two Indians
came swiftly up the hillside, their
moccasined feet scarcel y seeming to stir
q dead leaf or crackle twig, as they
went backward upon the trail over which
they had came. Each carried a gun, and
had tomahawk and scalping knife at
his belt The faces of both were streaked
with war-paint, and their black hair
stood up in tall, stiff tufts.
Silent and swift as two spectres, they
rrl; cd
to view. Reuben's heart beat fast, and
he could see Tige's eyes glowing like fire
from his strong hatred of the redskins.
But not growl escaped the dog.
The reason why the savages were re-
tracing their steps occurred instantly to
Reuben. They had led their captives
to the larger Ike and secured them there,
and had gone back to fetch their canoe.
! Emerging from his concealment,
Reuben pushed forward as fast as Tige
could follow the trail. In a few minutes
he caught glimpse Of the water through
the trees ahead.
But Tige now unexpectedly held back
again; and after peeplng ahead tor some
minutes, Reuben moved cautiously
around to the left, to gain the cover OF
swamp of tlr balSams.
1t was fortunate he did so, for on creep
ing forward through the thickets here
till he could gain nearer view, he saw
third Indian coming along the shore
with a bunch of fish in his hand The
savage approached the embers of fire
which was smouldering beside dritt-log,
and sat down.
Raising himself cautiously for little
better view around, Reuben discovered
large black object beside tree, which
after moments keen scrutiny he saw
was Mercy Cary, tied to small tree,
with the brass kettle over her head!
Immediately, too, he espied little
Josh's bare head and woe-begone face.
The lad, like his sister, was bound to a
sapling close to the shore, his hands tied
behind his back and around the tree.
Reuben reflected hurriedly. What he
did must be done at once, for the other
two Indians would soon return with the
canoe, and probably embark with their
captives upon the luke.
Presently he heard little Josh crying
dolefully. 40 Mercy whimpered the
lad, my arms ache awfully, they are
tied terribly tight!'
Mercy said something to him in a low
tone, which Reuben could not distinguish,
for her voice was mufled in the kettle.
The Indian, who was placing the fish
on the embers, grunted angrily, rose,
and gave Josh three or four hard blows
with a stick. The boy screamed from
the pain. and his sister, unable to see,
but hearing the blows, cried out, too.
Thereat the savage rushed toward her
and rained blows upon the kettle to
brighten her into silence.
Reuben, his blood boiling, was already
sighting along the barrel of his hintlock,
but he did not fire until the Indian had
drawn back little fir I'M the children.
Then the old musket roared heavily
on the morning air and the young marks
man saw the Indian fall Thinking that
lie might be wounded merely, and that
he would crawl to his gun, Reuben re-
manned concealed, and hastily reloaded
his piece,
But Iigc had run out, and Reuben
had scarcely time to ram down charge
when he heard frightful cutlery from
the wounded Indian Tige was taking
satisfaction .or his own wound by fierce
ly shaking his hated enemy.
Hearing the shot and the growls OF the
dog, Mercy made q supreme effort to
withdraw her head from under the kettle,
and had succeeded in doing so as Rueben
dashed forward
With his knife he cut the thongs that
bound her arms, and those which bound
little Josh.
lie seized the sayage's gun, threw the
brass kettle into a thicket, and started,
leading Josh with strong hand, while
Mercy followed hastily in his steps, and
Tige brought up the rear.
Having first takgn a look around to
get his bearings, REUBEN made wide
circuit across the swamp and far Oft to
the southwark of the trail along which
the Indians would come. He hoped that
the two redskins might have crossed into
the ravine, on the other side of the hem
lock ridge, before the shot was fired, and |
that they had not heardit The distance |
was two or three miles.
After a hot walk of two or three hours, !
Reuben, with his companions, came |
around to the lower lake, where he had |
left SiIas Cary.
But before this time Nathan Wilson, |
with the party from the block house and |
two dogs, had arrived at this spot, and
with Gary had set off up the brook, fol-
lowing the trail, as Reuben had done.
They reached the foot of the second lake
Just in time to see the two Indians escap- |
ing in their canoe.
A scout returned and found the three |
young people at the head Of the lower
lake, and later in the day the whole |
party reached home in safety.
So much did the pioneers wives miss