Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1922-09-21
CONTINUED from last weekly
CHAPTER XIX
The Journey Continued

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eIlN@l& tains, having crossed several
sSS7S'S' other ridges and the inter-
vening valleys, they tarried for the
, night at Fort Loudon, from which
three hundred men. sent out by the
Province of Pennsylvania some years
earlier, had commenced to build the
road across the mountains which was
completed by the soldiers under Colo
nels Bouquet and Washington in 1853,
and by which the Indians and their
captives had come thus far on their
journey.
Crossing the west bank of the
Conococheague, whose waters uniting
with the east branch a few miles north
of the Maryland line, flow southwark
into the Potomac river, not very far
from the homes of the captives in
in that part of the present Franklin
county known among the early pio-
neers as the Conococheague settle
ment. On the very outpost of civiliza-
ton, the settlers here had suffered
!, like all others on the frontiers, from
the attacks and cruelties of the In
dians, especially after Braddock's de-
feat, and were compelled to protect
themselves against the savages in the
numerous forts and blockhouses which
they erected. A few miles from Fort
Loudon they came to one of these
block houses in small clearing in the
forest which still covered the greater
part of the country. At the block
house there were several of the set
tiers from the neighborhood, who re-
garded the travellers with a suspicious
bearing, as they had heard that band
of Indians was in the neighborhood.
One of them walked up to Johann
when they stopped to water their
horses at little stream, and said,
"Where do you all come from, and
what kind of company be you, if I
may ask?"
1--WE are peaceable travellers" re-
piled Johann, laughing. 'These In
| dams are going to give up the cap
tives they took in the war, that's ALL
"I reckon these is not all they took,
an where be the rest : Dead men tell
no tales, but if they could, they'd
have some awful ones to tell, know.
These pesky redskins killed and scalp
ed many a one,I bet. Why, they've
got scalps now" he concluded angri-
ly,. pointing to the Indians. ~"
"Yes," rejoined Johann, "but you
can see they're Indian scalps and not
white mems. They took 'em from
three bad Indians that attacked US in
the mountains back yonder, and we
had to kill 'em in self-defense."
"That so?" exclaimed the man.
"Well, I'm glad you did that. We
heered there was some bad Indians
around, an thought these here might
be the ones. l reckon you're all right
but you better keep your eye on EN-"
."Oh, they're all right" said Johann
as they proceeded on their way.
They passed several clearings on
the way, greeted by barking dogs, and
stared at by the wondering women and
children who came out of the log cab
| ms to look at the unusual sight, some
running in again when they saw the
/ Indians, and closing their doors.
| Johann advised the warriors to con-
ceal the scalps of the robber-Indians,
and they did so.
About noon they arrived at another
block-house, near which there was a
, log cabin with some outbuildings. Jo-
ham proposed stopping to ses wheth-
er they could get something to eat, as
their supply. of game was about ex-
hausted. Going up to robust, mid
die aged man who sat at the. door of
the cabin, he asked whether they could
have a meal, offering to pay for it.
"Who be you?" inquired the man.
rather gruffiy.
Johann informed him, and he re-
piled with something of an Irish ac-
cent, "Well, ya're a purity big party
and mixed one too, be jabers, but
reckon we can maybe spare you bite
and sup. Kathleen" he called into
the cabin, and tall, comely woman
appearing in the doorway, he asked
1 "Kathlen, can we give. these people
bite?"
"T reckon we can, if yoq say SO,
she replied.
"WelI" he said to Johann, "tell YOU
women folks to come in. The rest viii
lhaye to shift outside"