Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1896-04-09
Tue DUns CAPTIVE.

his wife and two bess, aged four.
teen and twelve years, removed
from PennsylAania to the valley oil
Virginis, which was then begin
ming TO be settled. He, with seve.
raj other families, made q settle
ment on the North Branch Of the
Shenandoah river, where the town
Of Woodstock now stands, or rath.
er, twelve miles south of it, to be
more precise. It was spot rather
ont Of the range Of the Indians,
and the little settlement grew rap
idly, being exempt from the attacks
and dssastations from which the
other settlemepts suffered.
<tds go zIits.
With . boy-companion, went 20
pick berries. Aaron Hits, the eld-
er, was strong and large. with dark
hair and skin, high cheek bones,
and straight black hair; Peter, the
younger Of the brothers, was small,
blue-eyed, fair-skinned, and gold
en-haired. The boys had wander
ed some distance from the settle
ment before they discovered any
berries. At length, they came
upon them in large quantities and
were busily filling their baskets,
when suddenly Peter uttered q cry
of terror, and, looking up, the 9TH
er two perceived a band of In
dams coming over the brow Of the
hill. The Indians had not yet per-
ceived them, and the Hite boys
companion promptly took to his
heels and in a few moments was
out OF sight. Aaron was about to
follow his example. but paused
when he saw his brother stand mo-
tionless.
"Come on, Peter" he urged des-
perately, ''run and we can escape
them" But Peter, who was q
timid boy, was so paralvzed with
freight that he was totally unable to
move. and stood trembling and
helpless, his fair face white to his
quivering lips. As soon as Aaron
perceived this, he made no further
attempt to save himself, and the
next moment the Indians had seen
them and. with yells, came swoop-
ing down upon them. The boys
were at once captured and bound
together, and the Indians continu-
ed their march.
Aaron was q brave boy and
thought but little of his own dan
ger; all his anxiety was for his
brother, whose terror was pitiful,
and whom he saw the Indians re-
garded with less favor than him
self. With their hatred of the
white man, Peters fair skin, blue
eyes, and golden hair reused their
worst passions. They urged him
on with kicks and blows which made
Aaron's heart beat wildly with pain
and rage. He tried to support Pc
ter, as well a. their bonds and his
own exhausted condition would per-
NIT. but, at last, the boy sank down
upon the ground.
"It's no use, Aaron" he faltcr-
ed, 81 can't go another step, not If
they kill me for it."
"Do try, Peter" cried Aaron
desperately: "I don't know what
they may do If You can't keep up." +"
"Indeed, indeed. / can't" reit-
Grated the boy, bursting into tears,
and Aaron saw that he was utterly
Incapable Of making even an effort.
Even the brutal urging of the In
dians had no effect, and, when they
saw that. they came to a halt and
began talking together. Aaron
could not, of course, understand
what they said, but his heart sank
% he watched them.
Finally, after talking aud gestic-
ulsting for about ten minutes, they
evidently arrived at decision, and
two of them came up to the boys,
cut the cords which bound them to.
gether, and lifted Peter from the
ground. Aaron struggled desper-
ately to free his arms and spring
at the throat Of the Indian who
held his brother, but some of the
others bound his feet together and
threw him helpless on the ground.
In the mean time, Peter had
been carried and lashed to q tree.
his quivering sobs Of terror pierre
ing Aaron as he lay in sickening
fear and dread. He was not left long
in suspense; the Indians ell drew
.s;Sn -vsth a.