The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-09-07

prophet lne voice OF GdIShWdldNd-
the fire that rushes through the land
had shrieked denuncations. and fore
told the doom OF the invader Of the
red mans territory. the extcrminator
of the red mans face. Everywhere
throughout the gulf region the dogs of
war were loose, and two races flew
savagely at one anOther's throats
Hamlets burned: villages. abandoned,
fell in ruins white men, horribly tor
tured, suffered at the stake; red men
fell i'm their thousands, shot, bayoneted.
bludgeoned, until at last the fury of
the unequal contest slackened and the
Indians, broken and despairinE, their
trusted leaders slain or captive. laid
down their arms and swung sullenly
from the Ian of their fathers,
1t was early in 1912 that General
Floyd, with his little army of Georgians
volunteers and 400 friendly Indians,
took up his position on the heights
above the swamps of the Chllibee in
Alabama. 1t was supposed that large
force of Creeks was lurking in the
vicinity. though the kecnest eyes
among the scouts had hitherto failed to
discover the exact whereabouts of the
cunning foe. But Floyd was too good
warfare to be deceived by appearances;
and, Notwithstanding the outward
calm, made most careful preparations
against surprise. Pickets were doubled,
patrols moved necessarily to and fro:
and though weared by his long
march, brief hour of sleep was all
the watchful commander allowed him
self to snatch.
Far away on the outermost line of
sentries Amos Duerden stood on guard.
Still as a statue, he leaned against the
trunk of great tree and peered into
the thick darkness that surrounded
him, or strained his ears to catch the
faintest sound that might break the
oppressive stiffness. Bravest where all
We're brave. strong of muscle and stout
of heart, there was no one in his army
in whom Floyd reposed more confidence
than in Amos DuerdOn; none who
might be trusted so well to stand firm
and do his duty, though death came to
him in the doing. Therefore it was
that he had been selected for this lone
ly outpost. the most dangerous of all.
where his firmness and knowledge of
the country would stand the white
men in good stead against the craft of
their dusky foes.
Yet We're the thoughts of Amos not
altogether with the army Twenty miles
away to the northwest lay a little viii
Iage, never desined to attain to the
dignity of a town which bore the pic
turesque Indian name Whispering
Pines. Towards this Duerden's heart
turned as he kept his watch; for there
waiting until the war should be over,
waiting in fear and trembling for her
lovers safety, lived Agnes Brotherton
his wife that was to be.
No wonder Amos was anxious, for
rumOr had it that Whispering Pines
was in the track Of the Creek advance,
and If that were So He put the
thought from him as one too horrid to
be entertained.
Away to his right a brook murmur-
ing mysteriOusly. rolled through the
blackness; but, save for the slumbering
sound, all was still. Ahead, behind
in front, all around was inky black:
but above, through the dark boughs
of the pines the stars looked down
upon the watcher, and ever and anon
one fell, steaming like n signal-rocket
athwart the sky.
'Tis mOnstrOus dark here thought
Amos. STRENGTHENING his tall form, and
Srasping his musket firmly at the
sound Of twig swapping somewhere
away To the left "A man might be
slain here ere he knew he was at
tackled" Then, as silence reigned once
more, II trust all is well with them at
Whispering Pines. If Agnes and her
mother had but followed my advice and
moved north out of this accursed coun-
try, ! should have no fear. As it
is"
Again twig snapped suddenly-this
time at his very feet; and, almost be-
fore he could recall his struggling
thought, dark form rose swiftly from
the ground, and a hand was laid light
ly upon his lips.
Steady" breathed "A voice in his
ear, so low that he could scarcely catch
the articulate words. STEADY! "Alls
Well! I'm Rivington. Who are you ?"
Ro'ore Amos could reply the man went
ON: THE redskins are coming on:
The redskins are coming i'm force.
They are not much more than five
miles away, They have swept through
Whispering Pines and cleaned out the
village. Not soul left, I'm told. Ag-
lies Brotherton is one of them. If you
see Duerdon. tell him I'm off to Let
the general know I think they'll at
tack about daybreak"
He dropped to the ground. and glided
away, while for an instant Amos drew
himself pp against his tree stiff with
horror There could be no mistake;
Mark Rivington was too careful a
scout for that and he was an old friend
OF Duerden's too. Hence his anxiety
- impart his fateful news to the first
man he met. And the enemy was but
five miles away and coming on in
force. The camp would be attacked
What of that? What was that to him ?
Agnes Agnes was i'm the hands of the
brutal redskins. Rivington had heard
that, and yet had done nothing to save
her. In the bitterness of his grief and
dlsmay Amos cursed the friend who
not recognizing him in the dark, had
Impaired the grewsOme news
As these Wild thoughts coursed
through his BRAIN yet another sound
close TO him, startled him No rustling
branch nor swapping twig this time
but a dun, smashing sound a low
moan, and silence Then a sudden rush
swish, sharp thud as the keen
blade of a tOmahawk was buried in
the trunk Of a tree an inch from hi,
face, and Amos found himself huggeG
against the brawny chest Of a greasy
savage, whose hot breath painted
against his cheek, and who strovt
nightly To bring him 10 the ground
His musket dropped to the ground a
the shock: but with a twist Amos freed
his left arm and drove his knife deel
into the throat of his assailant wh,
sank with gurging sob 10 the ground
hnnO'h A