The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-03-10

shoe in the rough path and her foot was
soon bleeding. When she was nearly
exhausted, they placed her upon an old
horse they had captured, and thus
mounted, she proceeded more easily,
They soon made a short step for break.
fast on their stolen provisions, which
they shared with their prisoners, and
then advanced seven miles farther, where
they crossed over into Vermont on RATS
which they had constructed of dry tim
Der. At night they stopped and camped
in the present town of Weathersfield.
For supper they made porridge in ket-
ties brought from Charlestown. The
next morning they turned to the right
and followed branch of Black river
nearly north. After going six or eight
miles, they turned TO the left and direct
ed their course by a little brook which
was tributary to the stream they had
been ascending to that point. They fol-
lowed this for little more than half a
mile, when they found themselves in a
deep defile between two steep we'll
wooded hills, and here they encamped
for the rest of the day and night, beside
the noisy little brook, in a corner of the
present town of CaVendish. This was
the birthplace of our heroine, the little
daughter of Captain and Mrs. johnson
and the child was appropriately named
Captive.
These Indians were party of St.
Francis tribe, whose home was near
Three Rivers, in Canada. They we're on
their way home. and johnson knew that
either death or slavery awaited the pris-
oners at the end of the journey, For
himself, he feared it would be death, be-
cause of the braves whom he had slain,
and he revolved in his mind the chances
of escape He did not wish to desert
his companions and family, but he
thought that if free, he could be of more
service to them than he could be by shar-
ing their captivity.
Each of the male prisoners had his
hands tied together, and the three were
bound to each other by stout thong
knotted about their waists. At night
they were made to lie down in the center
of the circle of savages, and all went to
sleep, or appeared to do so. Johnson
found that he could free his hands, and
then he turned to his companions and
whispered to them his design. The
noise of the brook made any light sound
inaudible to the Indians, and it was so
dark in the thick woods that any one
could not see clearly many feet away.
None of the men had any weapons
not even pocket knife. johnson picked
up a sharp stone, and by much rubbing
succeeded in seyering the thong which
bound him to his companions. He then
offered to attempt to liberate them, but
they feared recapture and the death
which was almost certain to follow it,
and declined to attempt TO escape.
Johnson turned upon his breast and
studied his surroundings, considering
meanwhile tho course he would pursue.
All was still. The darkness was in his
favor. His experience as ranger, and
the dangers he had passed through gave
him confidence in his abilities. He
thought his strength, speed and endur-
ance made him superior to any enc of
his savage foes, and he determined to
make bold break for freedom He
rose to his feet noislesSly, scarcely stirr-
ing a leaf. He knew this was the mo-
ment of his greatest danger, for some
watchful savage might shoot him down
before he could take step. Swiftly,
but silently, he stepped to the inner
edge of the circle Of saVages, and then
with tremendous bound he sprang over
a sleeping warrior and ran with the
speed of deer into the darkness, and
up the steep incline of the hill. One
gun was fred and bullet struck tree
close beside him. He heard the whoop
of the aroused savagss, and the crashing
of several through the bushes in pursuit
of him.
As Johnson gained the top of the hill
he picked up a stout club, and getting
behing tree, he listened. He heard
one Indian coming who seemed to be
near the top of the hill, and far in Ad-
vance of his comrades. The ranger
waited fer him, and as the Indian came
close up to the tree, johnson sPrang out
and dealt him a blow over the head
which would have felled an or. The In.
dian fell without groan: Selling the
fallen warriors arms and ammunition,
the escaped prisoner fed into the dark
forest along the hillside, until he was
nearly mile away from the encamp-
ment. Stopping there, he waited until
he was satisfied he was not pursued. As
sured on this point, he examined his gun
to see that it was all right, and then
crawled under some low spruces to Sc
sure few hours sleep.
In the morning, after hearty break
fast, which they shared with their pris-
oners, he Indians resumed their march,
giving up all hopes of capturing the lost
prisoner. Their way lad over the Green
Mountains toward Crown Point. Mrs.
johnson, on horseback, was urged along
as fast as possible, but was obliged to
stop frequently for rest, and finally her