The Plymouth Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1878-1901, 1901-07-04

but we were closely watched and,
besides, were heavy laden with
the baggage of our captorS.
Nevertheless, feeling that ach
day our captivity grew more
hopeless, we resolved upon a
plan and fixed d time at night to
make the effort. We were wide
ly separated in our sleeping
places and he was to move first
and give me the signal, which at
the agreed time he did and got
away. But in my haste stun
bled against fallen branch and
aroused the Indians, some of
whom seized and bound me while
others went in pursuit of him.
At day break they found him in a
hollow log; dragged him out,
stripped him naked, beat, pricked
him, and pushed him with the
points of their knives to the camp.
They fastened us to trees, our
hands behind US, and danced
horribly about roaring with JOY
and casting dirt and stones in
our faces. We were convinced
that our destruction Was deter
mined and called to each other to
be brave"
Angus was quivering with
emotion and Sammy John paus-
ed for moment before continu-
ing his narration.
The savages next brought a
parcel of dry branches, broken in
suitable lengths, and piled them
under and about US, examining
and tightening our fastenings
meanwhile. They brought a
blazing twig from the camp fire
and kindled the heaping pie
about my brother Our heads
were immovably bound so that
we faced, each the other, and
laughing fiends held my eyes
open with their fingers while
others ran about the fire aud with
poles heaped it up or pulled it
away so as to prolong the suffer
ing of the miserable victim.
They laughed and shouted in
their devilish delight and ever
and anon would one run up to
him and cut collops of flesh out
of his naked limbs, which they
threw dripping with blood into
his face. saw all of this and
saw him die. Then, though |
had not prayed tor many years,
l turned my thoughts to my
Maker and silently plead thatHe
would open way for my deliv-
erance or thatHe would take my
brothers soul and mine to Him
AS | prayed in the agony of MY
spirit my muscles swelled and
with a mighty effort | burst the
bark withes that held me and
they fell at my feet The whole
band of naked savages had at
that moment gathered close to
the burned and mutilated corpse
and | fed from the hOrrid scene
with a speed as miraculously
given as the strength that freed
me. l outran the yelling horde
of pursuers and still ran on after
| knew the last one had desisted,
nor did | stop until l fell exhaust
ed in the current of alittle stream.
Without food or arms and in an
unfamiliar region far removed
from any civilized habitation, my
plight was sore indeed, but
pressed on and on to the south
and finally found succOr. Since
then | have never ceased to pray
and it has Gained and cleared my
mind in many a sore strait and
delivered me from many temp
tatiOn
After this recital the man re
manned silent for long time MOI
did the boy interrupt his medita
ton, for his own heart was filled
with sympathy and his eyes were
suffused with tears. Continuing
their ride the hunter after a while
broke the silence and. after talk
ing pleasant commonplaces for q
short time, discussed seriously
his plans for the future. He hao
been profoundly stirred by the
inhuman treatment to which
the boy had been subjected
and it had exercised a sober
ing influence upon him, deter
mining him to abandon hi
rowing life in the Indian country
and to return to the home of hi:
youth for the purpose of engaging
in business and leading a civilized
life. He was at the middle ag'
and felt that he could be NOR
useful citizen than he had been