Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1899-04-05
The SETTLERS ESCAPE.

fO" w the sketch writer
vi the novelist. much as has been
written OF those DAYS; and the fol
'o"'hg adventure, which we now give
To the Reader, is one of thos. that
have for SO long a time lain buried
anu now for the first time brought
before the gaze of the great pnblic.
Among those that regarded them
selves AS living within the confines of
boOneSborongh, though SO far from
the station that bore the name of It's
founder as to be almost entirely am.
protected 10y 1t, was II settler known
by the name of Dick Turner. He
had built his cabin Oh the very ont
skirts of the settlements. and. with
his wife and three children. had for
two Years lived in peace and quiet
ness, unmolested by the savages that
were at all times in greater or less
numbers abroad ON the warpath.
Their nearest neighbor was half =
mile away down the river. out ,f
s'Sht and hearing; aud, had il not
been for the smoke that every morn
ing curled above the tree.tops. one
would not have known, standing in
the doorway of Dick Turner cabin.
but that this was the only settlement
for miles around, for on every side
was the forest unbroken and solemn
as IN the days before Daniel Boone
led the first party OF hardy advcntu
rers over the CumbeI land mountains.
One afternoon, the las; of August.
as Dick WAS at work IN his clear
ing (and as II chanced at point as
far from the cabin AS was possihl,
for him to toe without being in the
foresO. he WAS startled 10y the sud
den appearance of half dOzrn In
dians, hldeons with war paint. who
surrounded him almost before he
could spring and grasp his rifle that
he always carried into the field when
at work.
Startled hy their sudden appear
ance, he made motion toward il:
but heavy hand was laid upon his
shnu lder, and Its owner said IN hrok
ELI English, white man, go with us"
"Nu," said Dick. looking him full
in the face. Cant do that; much
work TO do"
And he pointed at what he had
been doing. aud then casting "a wiSt-
ful glance at his rifle. which was
now in the hand of one of the say
ages.
Come" said the savage. who mp
peared To he the leader, as well AS the
only one that knew word of Eng
lish, white man must go"
Dick glanced toward the chin, and
saw his wife stand in the doorway.
apparently in great alarm at his sit
uation. The savages saw her. anu
after word or two between them
selves, three Of them started IN that
direction.
Unperceived by his captors. Dick
made sign that his wife fortunate
ly understood, aud she disappeared
withiG. closing the door in such "A
manner that the sayages failed to ob.
tain ad.nittance, as Dick saw 10 his
great Joy when, after trying it for a
few moments, they hastily returned
and joined the Others.
Evidently small in point of mum
bers, they cared not to waste time
that would be necessary for siege;
so they had desisted from their eff
forts to make captives Of the woman
and children.
Come" said the savage, laying
his hand on his captive's shoulders;
and Dick. who had felt his heart riS,
that his loved anes were left behind.
went almost cheerfuIly into the for
est, in which the shadows of night
were already beginning to gather.
casting only one backward glance at
his home, to wonder when he would
see it again.
Then he resolutely put his face
forward for the fate the future had
in store for him. The future might
be long captivity, or might be
death; yet as he walked between his
csptors, and the shadows grew deeper
about him. IL hope was in his heart
that he might escape perhaps before
the ann shnul1 rico nm th,. t.orrou