Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1895-12-13
thanks in broken English.

thanks in broken English.
Upon being questioned, be said
ne was & messenger from his tribe
far toward the setting sun, sent to
the tribe who dwelt near by, and
been had making forced marches
until the preceding night, when he
had learnt the tribe had changed
its camping ground, and despairing
OF finding them until the next day
he had thrown himself down to rest
when he was overcome by fatigue
and fell fast asleep,
Being vel! acquainted with In
Idiaaa and. their w,.ya. Weisman sav
that the man before him was not
one Of the ordinary Indians who
skulked around the settlements, but
from his speech and bearing was ev-
identity person of some Importance
among his people, probably chief
of some small tribe, or one Of the
head men of u local Assem- bly, of un-
tied tribes.
After skinning the dead panther
Weisman asked the Indian to ac-
company him home. At first he
declined, but suddenly accepted and
followed his preserver to the clear
ing. in the middle Of which stood
the cabin of our adventurer.
The Indian partook of the rude
cheer set upon the table by Mrs.
Weisman, and when passing through
the store-room expressed his appre-
ci~ of the contents by several
o.unts of appreciation.
The Indian stayed until evening,
when he gave his host to under
stand he had to leave. Before he
went Weisman took him into his
store, and pulling down a gaudy
blanket threw it to him, telling him
to wear it the next time he slept in
the forest.
The red mans eyes cleaned with
admiration of the rich hues. and
then exclaiming, "Heap good, heap
good," he threw it around him and
strobe into the darkening forest.
Mrs. Weisman laughed at her hus-
band for giving a good blanket
away to such ragged looking crea-
ture, and the neighbors upon hear
ing the story laughed at the store
keeper and at his soft-heartedness.
Cold weather now set in, and
each little family was compelled to
battle against all the rigors of a
frontier winter by itself aud in its
own lonely clearing far from other
human habitations.
Late one evening in January as
the family of our hunter we're seated
around a blazing FIRE in the great
kichen back of the store and which
served as kitchen, sitting room
and parlor. the door was burst open
and man rushed in, turned to the
door, and throwing the large piece
of wood which served to secure it
into its iron supports, sank to the
ficor.
All turned to the newcomer in
alarm, and saw to their horror that
he was covered with blood, which
flowed from gaping wound in
his shoulder. The store-keeper
bent over the man, and then re-
cognized him as one of his neigh
bors. a trapper, with whom he was
on terms of the greatest intimacy.
"Indians J" gasped the stricken
man; "get your guns out quick ;
protect the house and don't mind
me-"
But before anyone could move a
blood-curdling yell arose from out
side, and the next instant q swarm
OF savagss in war paint and brand
ishing tomahawks and hatchets
rushed through the door that led
into the store.
Resistance would have been hope
less, yet captivity had its horrors Of
torture which was infinitely worse
! than quick death at the hand of an
infuriated foe.
Picking up stool that stood close
by Weismau was about to dash at
the nearest Indian when call was
made outside that caused the In
dians to halt where they stood. and
the ones who had already commenc.
ed to loot the house stopped as
though by the word of a necroman-
Ger.
The next instant an Indian gor-
geously arrayed in war paint and