I;   e‘xfimmwkmw‘ K 1 ix,

. '%3‘1°1°i‘°‘ % BEADLE} {$236333 1

 _\
\‘80 

/ Abdiel, the Avenger.

V \“

\ «J 5 1

mt”

Mil/7M .r,‘

 

 

     
   
         

 

 ; NEWER?

THE MADMAN OF THE MIAMI.

BY EDWARD WILLETT,
AUTHOR 93' “m TEXAS TIGER," Poona: mom No. 111.

    
 
      
 

' ’NEW YORK: I ; »
BEADLE AND ADAMS, PUBLISHERS,
v 'Nmasmmurs'rmr ‘ '

— \

flamed according to Act of Congress, In the yen-1m by
BEADLE AND ADAMS,

a the office of the lenrinn of Congress, It Wanna“

 

 

 

    

  

3'

 

“I!
s t
V

A? 5:!

 

   
 

 

 

' I of cooking appeared to have been delegated by the others.

' r

ABDIEL, THE AVENGER,

 

CHAPTER I. r
A mmn IN THE CAMP.

FIVE of them—Joseph Proctor John McGinnis, Hugh RalL
ston, Henry Ewing, and Benjamin Pirtle—five stout and hardy
young men, strong-limbed and strong-willed, skilled not only
in hunting the game with which the forests and prairies
abounded, but in the stubborn strife that was continually
waged between the encroaching white men and the resistant
Indians. All roughly but comfortably dressed, and armed
with rifles, tomahawks and hunting-lmives.

'One other—Samuel Seavey—a middle-aged man, slightly
stooping in his form, and with a cast of countenance that had
caused the Indians to give him the nickname of Dog-face.

Not the self-reliant expression of the niastifl‘, nor the dignified

air of the Newfoundland, but the face of a bulldog, treacher-
ous, brutal,bloodthirsty, tenacious, yrevengeful. His garb was
the commonest homespun, and a cap of opossum-skin did
not tend to lessen the resemblance of his head to that of a
dog.

It was noon on a sultry day in the summer of 1780, and H

these men were resting from fatigue and the hot. sunshine, in
8 SL ;dy hollow in the forest, on the north side of the Ohio.
Although they were in an enemy’s country. they ,were far
from the Shawnee towns, and believed that they had no cause
to apprehend danger. They had built a fire, therefore, for
the purpose of cooking their dinner; but it was a small fire,
\zide with light and dry sticks, and the thin blue‘ smoke could
hardly be visible above the tree-tops. ' Some corn-cakes had
been baked in the ashes, and some slices of venison were broil-
ing on the coals, superintended by Seavey, to whom the duty

 

‘: 4‘. “surf-.‘Tnlf

» .

10 V ' ABDIEL, Iran AVENGER. '—

,The other five were sitting or reclining near the fire, wait-
ing for their dinner, and conversing as they waited. The
cook, although apparently attending to nothing but his duties,

’listcned earnestly to what they said, and his small eyes gm.
tered every now and then, and,his lips moved as if he were
muttering to himself.

“ I don’t think it ii worth while to go any futther,” said

Iugh Rallston. " 2 seems to me that we have come on n
'ool’s errand, and the sooner we quit and go home the better
it will be for us. Afoot, as we are, we can’t reasonably ex.
pact to overtake mounted Indians, especially when they had
eight hours the start of us.”

"That’stwo sides to that question, Hugh,” remarked Joe
Proctor. “ Thar was eighteen or twenty Injuns, and they only
got eight hosses from us. It stands to reason that they could
n’t all ride.”

“ Couldn't they ride double, Joe ?"

“ ’Twould he tol’ahle hefty on the bosses. They would
have to go slow or break down right soon. And then thar
would be some left afoot.”

“ But they might ride and tie."

“ They mought do a heap 0’ things that they don’t do. It’s
my notion that they're a sight less than fifty mile ahead of us.
A hoss is no better than a man for long tramps. I’d engage
to beat any man‘s hoss, day in and day out, through these
Woods, and to wear the critter out in the eend.”

“ Even as you put it, Joe, they can reach the towns on the
Miami, with the start they have, before we can hope to over-
take them."

“ Are you right sartin that they had sich a start?”

‘9 Seavey says so. He was in charge of the horses when
:hcy were stolen, and he ought to know something about
it.”

" I think I ought to say, right here, that I ain‘t nigh as
keen to believe what that chap says as some of you seem to
be.”

Seavey's attentive ear caught this last sentence, and he
darted a malicious glance at the speaker.

’ ,

Joe Proctor, ever wideawake, with his eyes squinting in,

all directions, did not fail to notice this glance, and his voice

 

 

 
  
 

 

 

 

 

Km noon.

dropped to a. lower key, while his companions draw closer to-

him, as if surprised at his’statement, and anxious to hear the
reasons with which he might support it. 7

“ Seavey was in charge of the hosses, true enough,”.he said.
“ The pastur' was a leeth over a mile from the station. When
the Injuns came, he ran away and left the hosses. He can't
be blamed for that; but I don't see why he shouldn't. have
run right to the station, ’stead of stayin’ out in the woods four
.n' five hours. He said that the Injuns chased him and that.
he had to hide; but it seems to me, as he was runnin’, that
the nearest ltidin’-place would have been the station. More’n
that: boys—«though this is somethin’ that I ain't exactly sar-
t’in about—I noticed his tracks from the pastur’. Ididn’t

have time to foller ’em up; but I know that they started in V

e strait chute for the station." .

“ Do you suppose that he lied about the time that had passed
since the horses were stolen, or that he was simply mistaken
about it ?” asked Henry Ewing. a fine-looking young horderer,
who had been listening with the deepest interest to the state-
ment of the stalwart scout.

“ Don‘t think he could have been skeered into any sich a
mistake. It‘s my notion that he came right away to the sta-
tion nrter the hosses war stolen, and that he lied about the
time. If he did, what. (lid he do it fur i”

“Do you suppose that he could have been in league with ;

the Indians ?" asked Ewing. '

Proctor's voice sunk to a. whisper as he replied:

“ I don’t want to say any tltin’.ng‘itt’ any man ontil I know
it for sartin. But I may say this—when I was a prisoner up
in Detroit, a year or so ago, I saw a man thar who was just
as much like Seavey as Setwey ain‘t like any other man.
And it’s my conclusion that that chap needs watchin’.”

During the latter part of this conversation, Seavey was
closely occupied in attending to the broil'mg venison. He
could not, without attracting attention, change his position so
at; to get near enough to the speakers to hear what they said,

'but he had heard enough to convince him that. they were

talking about him. There was a dark frown on his bro-v,

and a red light in his eyes, while his lips curled up so as to
show his white and sharp teeth. ~ ‘

.p

  

 

 
  

   

mun, m; imam:

 

12

When he had turned over the venison on the coals, 11¢",

took a small package from a pocket of' his long vest or]
“jacket,” and sprinkled a brown powder on all the slices ex-
cept one. As his back was turned to the rest of the partyI
this action was not observed by any of them. I

As Proctor arrived at his “conclusion,” the cook turned
around, and informed the men that their dinner was ready.

“Not a bit more ready then we are,” said Rallston. "I
7 am hungry enough to eat an ox. Let us finish it, boys, and
then we had better get on the trail again, and make up for
lost time.”

“ After me is manners,” remarked Seavey, with an unpleas-
ant grin, as he helped himself to a slice of the venison and a
corn-cake. This piece of impertinence was not resented by
the others, who hastened to help themselves, and the meat
and bread began to disappear rapidly.

“It seems to me that this meat has a bitter taste," said
Ewing, who was eating his dinner with a little more delibera-
tion than the others used. “ Do you notice it, Hugh i'”

“ Yes; there is a queer taste about it. Have you been
putting gunpowder on it, Sam, in place of salt ?" v

“ Didn’t put nothin’ on it," replied the cook. “ Team to
me that it is a little bitter. though. I've heern tell that buck
meat do sometimes have a queer taste, at this time 0’ year."-

The bitterness of the meat was noticed by the rest of the
party; but, as all were very hungry, the slightly unpleasant
taste did not interfere with their appetites, and they made
an end of all the venison that had been cooked.

Strangely enough, though all had agreed with Hugh Rall-
ston that they ought to get on the trail again as soon as possi-
ble, they were in no hurry to bestir themselves. A spirit I!
laziness appeared to possess them all, and those who wur.‘
smokers drew out their pipes, and filled and lighted them.

An unaccountable drowsiness crept over those strong and
healthy men, usually so active and wide awake. One after
another succumbed tin its influence, and lay stretched on the
sward, in deep and deathlike slumber.

" What in thunder’s the matter ‘3" exclaimed Joe Proctor,
starting to his feet and rubbing~his eyes. “ I never felt so
sleepy in alI my born days. What does it mean t" ‘ '

 

 

 

     

   

 

 

 

   
 

13

. 

t " That’s more’n i kin tell,” replied Seavey. “ I declar’ to

gracious that I can’t keep my eyes open another minute.“
‘With these words he sunk back upon the ground, and .

seemed to slumber with the rest.

“ Thor's suthin’ wrong about it,” muttered Proctor. “ ’Tis'
mighty strange that all the boys should he laid out at once in
this way. I must keep awake, ’cause I’m snrtin that thar’s
some devilmeut afoot.”

He walked about, stamping his feet, swinging his arms,
and beating his breast, striving to shake 011" the influence of
the drowsy god. He strove in vain, and in a few moments
was stretched out on the ground with his companions.

As soon as Proctor had fallen asleep, Sam Seavey raised
himself to a sitting posture, and his mouth was spread in a
grin of satisfaction as he looked around upon the inanimate
figures.

“ I reckon they will stay thar a while,” he muttered, “ and
I will have what mought be called a surprise ready fur ’em
when they wake up.”

He walked about quietly, carefully examining each, and
then took up his rifle, and disappeared in the shades of tho
forest.

0 H A P T E R I I.
Tim nnsrnomn A armors.

BEAVEY had been gone about fifteen minutes.

The five young men were still wrapped in their deathliko
slumher, and lay silent and motionless.

The stillness of the grave was all about them, broken only
by the chirping of birds or the barking of squirrels.

The sun, slowly moving toward the west, was continually
flecking them with changing patches of light and shadow;
but the figures that were stretched on the ground gave no
sign of life.

A heavy step was heard among the trees, crushing the (it! \
leaves and sticks, and a. new actor appeared upon the scene ,

 

   

mm, "m amen; ‘

, .Thls ‘Was an old man, considerably above the usual night,
and of a bu.ld that denoted the possession of great strength.
His long gray hair hung down upon his shoulders, and his
long gray beard fell over his breast and reached to his waist,
His face was bronned and emaciated; but the features were
fine, and his dark ey‘e blazed with a wild and unnatural lusten
He was clothed entirely in deer-skin, which had been \vell
dressed and made into comfortable garments, not. without a
‘eertain air of style that recalled the fashions of a late day
On his head was a covering of the same material, with the
fur left on the skin, shaped in a close resemblance to the
cooked hat that was then generally worn. '

“ Verily the evil spirit is uppermost," he said, as he stepped
down into the hollow, and looked at the silent group on the
ground. “ These young men have fallen victims to the
treachery of one whom they trusted, and he has even now
gone to bring the Philistines down upon them, that they may
be bound in their sleep, and given over to destruction. The
red savages will soon be here, and I must act quickly, if I am
to save them from torture and death.”

He shook the sieepcrs, endeavoring to arouse them from
their deep and unnatural slumber; but the effort was ineffect-
ual. He nodded his head,glanced in the direction that Seavey
had taken, and then, lifting one of the young men bodily,
took the helpless burden upon his back, and bore it
away.

Through the woods he went, up a steep incline, to a rocky
ledge. 'l‘hen over and among the rocks, to the base of a cliff
not more than fifty feet high, in which there was a hole, large
enough for a man to enter.

Laying the body on the ground, he crawled into the hole, and
then dragged it in after him. Having disposed of it to M.
satisfaction, he) came out, and hastened down into the valley,
where he picked up another of the unconscious sleepers, and
carried him to the cliff. In this manner he proceeded until
the five young men were safely deposited within the hole in
the wok.

This was, in reality, a herculean task, and the old man
staggered and panted as he ascended the slope and made his

way over the rocks with his burdens; but. when his labor was 1

’

 

 

 

    
 

 

finished, he showed, no sign 0: exhaustiomand did not seem

v to require rest.

When he had drawn in the last body. be rated the ashes
from some embers, and kindled a torch, by the light of which
a large, rude and irregular cavern became visible, the floor
and sides showing where the hammer or chisel had been ust-d
to chip ofl‘ points and rough edges of rock.

A rude bed had been made in one corner, and many skins

f fur-bearing animals were scattered about, on which were
lying the senseless forms of the five young men.

Their preserver—if they were preserved—Jacked at them,
examined them carefully, one by one, and made sure that they
were yet. alive.

“Fine young men,” he muttered. “ Splendid fellows ; 'but
their thews and sinews are worthless to. them now. What
can they have been doing in the country of their enemies,
surrounded by savages? Sutnn has been at work upon them by
one of his agents, and I will be the instrument in the hands
of Providence to protect them."

He then crawled out of the cavern, and busicd himself, for
a few minutes, among the rocks in front of it. When he
crawled back, he held a powder-horn in his band, with which
he laid a train of powder, terminating it just inside of the
cavern.

His next move was to take his rifle and the five rifles which
he bud brought up from the hollow, to carefully examine the
priming and the flints, and to lay them in order nenr the nar-
row entrance, where he seated himself, in a position that com-
manded a view of the slope and the hollow below.

He was ensconced in his fortress with arms and ammunition
at hand, and appeared to await the approach of an enemy.

The enemy that he expected was not fur distant.

About half an hour after the old man had carried the last
of his burdens up to the cnvérn, Samuel Segtvey approach-d-
tbe hollow from the north, followed by a dozen half-naked
savages, whose breasts and arms, as well as their faces, were

I plentifully smeared with the Shawnee war-paint.

They came on stealthily, with noiseless tread, slipping from ‘
tree to tree, as if creeping upon unsuspecting foes. Thugs
foes, us they believed, were wrapped in a slumber from which ‘

 

 
  

ABDIEL, 'm MERGER

confident that they had nothing to fear; but these considers,-
tions‘did not induce them to forego their customary craft and
caution. '

Not until they reached the bottom of the hollow, where
the five young men had lately lain in a deathlike stupor, did
the slightest sound escape from their lips.

The foremost warrior uttered a. gutturai “ ugh i” as his eyes
rested on the vacant spot, and looked inquirineg at Seavey,
who stood aghast, incapable of any thing but a vacant stare.

“ What does this mean?" asked the Shawnee, in the lan-
guage of his race. “ Has Dog-face lied to us? He said that

" we would find the Long-knives sleeping in this place, but they
4 are not here." -

“ I can not understand it,” replied Seavey, in the same dia-
lect. “ I know that I left them here, not more than an hour
ago. I hare told Night-Hawk nothing but the truth. v I
sprinkled on their meat the powder that Captain Dutith gave
me, audit made them sleep. They should have slept at least
three hours. Perhaps some of their friends have found them,
and have taken them away.”

“Dog-face has spoken wisely. If the Long-knives have

‘ awaked, or if their .friends have found them, they may be not

far away, and we must be careful. N ight-Hawk will look for
sign."

After giving some directions to the other Indians, who held
themselves in readiness to meet an attack from any quarter,
the warrior proceeded to examine the ground near the ashes
of the fire.

He easily found the trail of the old man who had carried
away the sleepers, and perceived that it was a single trail-—
the tracks of but one pair of feet. Those tracks were fre-
quent, going and coming over the trail, and had been deeply
printed in the earth, showing that the owner of the feet had
been heavily burdened. The Shawnee had no hesitation in
arriving at the conclusion that the five white men had been
taken away by one man, who could not have carried them far.
He pointed ,to the direction in which the trail led, and beck-

.-

3 nned to the other warriors to follow him.

The samecaution that had been used byrthe Shawndes

\

they could not be easily aWakened, and the Shawnees were ‘

   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
    
   
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  

 

my .V..- ,3

  

 
 

 

l, ‘t‘
i
i
i
4’
t
I
.‘i T»
r I
ll
E
t.
Kw

-_.-- <V... H;

m- 4,. .N .(u

 

 
  

gs mums: K V H 

when they approached the hollow, were observed by them as
"they ascended the slope that ,led to the old man‘s cavern.

They moved stealthily, availing themselves of the‘cover of the
trees, and keeping on the alert for an enemy or_an ambus-
cade; but their advance was not interfered with, and they
neither saw nor heard any thing to arouse their suspicions, un-
til they had nearly reached the cavern, when the old man nd~
dressed them in their own tongue, ordering them to belt, and
asking what they wanted.

Somewhat startled, the Shawnees fell back a little, and
most of them sought cover, Seavey. who had carefully kept
in the rear during the ascent, dodged down behind a rock,
anxious to get out of sight, as Well as out of harm.

N ight—Huwk, from behind a tree that he had interposed be-
tween himself and the hole in the rock, held a. pariey with
the occupant of the cavern, who could be heard but not seen.

“ We are looking for white men,” he said, “who were
lying down there in the hollow, and who have been taken
away.”

“They are here,” replied the old man.

“ We want them." .

“ You may want them, then, as long as you live ;_ for you
shall not have them. The Great» Spirit has delivered them
out of your power, and has given them into my care, and I
will protect them.” r ‘

“ Who are you, and what are you doing in the country of
the Shawnees "t"

“ Do you ask who I um I I am Abdiel, the Destroyer, who
was sent to subdue the evil spirits of the wilderness.’ The
strength of the Shawnees’lshull melt before me, and the cun
wing of the Delawares shall come to naught. Yen, they shut
be utterly consumed, as the dry grass when the west wint.
drives the flame. Hence. ye painted demonsl Fly, before
the power comes. upon me that I can not resist, and I rend
you limb from limb, as the lion of the mountains devours IJE
tender fawn l” t

This, although spoken in their own language, was “ Greek ”
to the Shuwnees, who naturally judged that the speaker must
be insane. With their Juthitunl reverence—although thn't

Weed uses not rightly describe the sentimentmfor one whom

  

 
  
   
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
    
  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
    

  

'- is, T

‘ atone,rtuixerl with red bodies and fragments of bodies.

a

the Great Spirit has deprived of reason, they did not notice.
the threat that was evidently contained in the old man’s
speech, and hesitated as to what they should do.

“ Hevis a white man, and is alone,” suggested Seavey, in a
half-whisper. “ He has dragged the five men up to that hole,
and they are asleep in there. It is easy to get him out of the.
way, and to go in and capture them before they awake. Is
Night-Hawk afraid to do it ?” ,

“Perhaps Dogface had better go in and take them,” re-
plied the Shawnee, in a contemptuous aside. He then ad-'
dlessed himself to the old man.

" Those white men are our prisoners. They belong to 113,

ad we must have them."

The answer was hurled back, hoarse. and angry, from the
hollow of the rock. ,

“ Dot: of a Shawnee! come and take them if you dare 1"

Such a bold defiance, from one man to a dozen, was too
much for savage human nature to endure patiently, and several
shots were fired at the hole in the cliff. '

A mocking laugh resouuded from the opening, as the bul-
lets pattercd hai'nilessly against the rock.

The Shawnee leader, indignant at being thus derided, di-
rected the warriors to reload, and to follow him in a charge
upon the old man‘s fortress. It was supposed that they would
draw his fire at once, and would be able to get in and over-
pewm' him before he could fire again.

Night-Hawk sounded his war whoop as a signal for the on- ‘
- set, which was answered by the’fierce yells of his followers,

and all rushed together toward the cavern. Not a shot was
fired at them, and nothing was done to prevent their ad

‘rance. .

They were collected in a huddle at the entrance, into which
they.were firing their guns, preparatory to forcing their way'
into the chamber in the hill, when the light of a torch gleamed
in the darkness 'of the opening, and a stream of fire ran out

, over the rocks.

.-Then there was a dull, heavy explosion, and the earth
eemed to open under their feet. A dense cloud of smoke
and dust rushed upward, carrying with it a mass of broken

 

2

 
 

 
   

 

I rifle—a trusty friend, from which he was never parted.

mm summit.

‘Screams and groans from the wounded and dying ensued,

with yells from the frightened and furious survivors,‘aud over
all arose the wild and mocking laugh of the old man who had
proclaimed himself as Abdiel, the Destroyer.

/

CHAPTER III.
THE mm mm

RALLs'roN’s STATION, on the west bank of the Licking, was
composed of twelve stout log houses, joined end to end, in
two parallel lines. Between the rows was an open space of
about thirty yards wide, forming a parallelogram, two sides
of which were bounded by the houses, and the other two were
closed in by palisades of heavy logs, set deep in the ground.
The eastern palisades were near the river bank, and at the
Western end was a gate formed of heavy timbers. The build-
ings at the south-east and scum-west angles were two stories
in hight, with the upper story projecting over the under, so’
that riflemen in each could command two sides of the parab-
lelogrmn, and could prevent an enemy from effecting a lodg-
ment under the house.

in front of the southern row of houses, near the close of
day, several men and women were sitting or standing. Among

~ them were Colonel Rallston and his wife, the former tall and

dignified, the latter stout and matronly. Solomon Steele and

' his wife were another couple, and resembled each other in

being tall, lean and angular, with sallow complexions, browned
and hardened by exposure. _

Sol Steele, as well as his Lucinda, had passed .the meridian
of life, and in his black locks, as well as in hers, ware many
streaks of gray. He was dressed in a homespun hunting-shirt
and leggings, and her only ViSible garment was a coarse. home-
woven gown. His hands rested on the muzzle of his long
In
her mouth was stuck a cob pipe, with a short cane stem, which
was 1." almost inseparable companion. The rugged features I

  

 
 

 

 
 
     
  
 
 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
   
  
  

of each wore a thoughtful, contemplative expression, and 00.
lane! Rallsron was listening attentively to the words of the
old hunter. " ‘ \

“I wish the boys hadn’t gone,” Steele was saying. “1
don’t ullow that they could do any manner 0’ good by goin'
M'ter'them bosses, and ther mought run into danger. But
young folks are apt to be hard-headed, as well as hot-headed,
kid that was no use in talkin to ’em."

“ They may overtake the Indians and get back the horses,”
suggested Colonel Rallston. “ I hardly know hOW We would
get along without a horse at the station.”

“ Men’s lives are wuth more ’n hosses. I hope the boys

'won't try to cross the Ohio.”

“ Why so ‘3”
“’Cnuse’thar’s too many resks to be run over yonder. 1

, know the boys are brave, and stout, and actyve, and every one

of ’em is a fighter; but the Shawnees are all that, too. And

-. then hg’in, thnr’s no knowin’ how soon thnr help might be

needed here at home."

" Do you suppose that we can be in any danger here? The
Indians got what they came for. They have stolen our horses
and have gone back to their own country.
that that they will come again soon.”

“Those lnjnns may not come, but others may, and some
of ’em may be lyin’ out in the woods now. 'I’m kinder sus-
picious about the way that hoss-stenlin' job was done. It
makes me doubtful whether they got all they come fur. and
whether it warn’tjest a blind to kiver another stroke. I saw
Injun sign out at the southord this ntot‘nin’, and that's the
rcuSon I didn’t keep on ltunti‘n'." »

“Indian sign! I wish I had known it sooner.”

“ I hev jest come in,colonel, and couldn’t hev told ye much
sooner." ~

“ It was just after dinner that I let the girls go 'out to gas
ther berries.”

“ What gals ?"

“ My daughter, Emma, and Laura Wingnte.”

“ Jerewsulem l Anybody go with ‘em Y"

‘* Walter Coleman and Billy Linn."

“High about nobody. Any folks out in the corn patches?

It is not likely

\y;

 
  
 

\i I

u .45

 

' rmvym' imam '

“There are several men at work there. They were at
work all the morning, and went out again after dinner." '

5‘ This won’t begin to do, colonel.
call the men in, and no more work must be done until we
take a scout fur miles around the station. Fur my part, I
mean to go and look arter them gals.” ‘

Mrs. Rallston was greatly troubled by the ominous words
of the hunter, and her husband was hardly less so. lt-
threw open the great gate, and directed a young man to llit .
ten and call in the people who were working in the corn-
patehes. Then he went to get his rifle, declariLg that he
would go out with Sol Steele to look for the girls.

In front of the gate was a narrow piece of cleared and
cultivated ground. that extended up the river about half a
mile, and the same distance down the. river. In this cleared
strip were the patches of growing corn in which the men
were working. Beyond it was the dense forest that inter-
vened between the river and the prairie or “ barren " land.

The three men had just passed out at the gate, when
several shots were fired from the forest, and the shots were
followed by the known and dreaded yells of the savages.
The next instant a number of Indians rushed out from the
concealment of the timber, yelling and shooting as they ran,
endeavoring to interpose themselves between the white labor-
ers and the station.

But the men who were in the corn-patches had gone
armed to their work, and had wisely refrained from scat-
tering. At the firing of the first: shot they picked up their
rifles, and, in obedience to the commands of a recognized
leader, came together, and began a hasty but orderly retreat
toward the station.

I won as the alarm was given at the station, the men
who were left there seized their weapons, and sallied out,
under the lead of Colonel Rallston, to protect their friends
and bring them in. '

The Indians, perceiving this demonstration, and unwilling
to be caught between two fires, ceased their movement to-
ward the station, and turned upon the party they had first
)ttacked ; but the white men presented a steady front to their
.nemies, at the same time retreating rapidly toward those

 

You must send out and '

  

    

 

,2, ~ :
‘ s.‘ 4'

  

enmity, gm; awesome:

who were hastening to meet them. ~Thus the two. parties
came together, and were able to assume the aggressive, com:
‘ polling the savages to fall back in their lum-

' As soon as the junction had taken place, the woods seem.
ed to be alive with Indians, who came out from the wood,
in swarms; and scampered over the cleared space, intent
upon extol-urinating the little band that was opposed to
them.

The white men fired a final volley, to keep their nearest I

. foes at a distance, coolly reloaded, and then turned and ran

to the _stockade, closing the gate behind them before their

foes could again get within range. Two of the men who
had been at work in the corn-patches were \Vounded, but.

Were safely brought into the stockade.

There were but twenty-one men at the station, including
the wounded men and two negroes, to meet the ClOUd of In-
dians that had issued from the forest, and they had no time
to ask questions, or to consult upon a plan of action. Each
man, however, knew his place and his duty, and each sprung
to take his place and to do his duty.

‘ Not only the men, but the women also, were quick 10 315-
sist in the defenseof the station. Without needing any or-
ders or directions, some brought ammunition to those who
needed it, some loaded spare muskets and rifles, and some
began ’to melt lead and to run it in the bullet-molds. Sol
Steele's Wife, for once laying,r aside her cob pipe, took her
place at the stockade with a rifle in her hands. Even the
two wounded men, at. their own request, were assisted up in-
to the block-houses, where they Were seated at: loop-holes,
with the women at hand to load their rifles

There was no noise or excitement, no flurry or sign of
fear. All knew that the odds against them were great, such
as their utmost exertions might not be able to overcome; but
all were calm, cool and collected, going about the work of
defense against a merciless foe, as if they were proceeding
with the ordinary business of their lives. Mrs. Rullsmu was

nearly broken down by grief at the probable lo'ss of her \

daughter; but she strove to repress her feelings, and to
, cheer and inspirit the rest. Her husband was gloomy and
and; but-bis face wore a look of fierce determination, as it

 
     
 
 

 
  

A“?!

,‘1

5,

I
4.21

 

: ", I . v ,

A' saunter premises.

he meant to take vengeance. then and, there, for what had
happened or_ might happen to his child.

Few as they were, the (lefenders of the station had a great
advantage over their opponents in the strength and security
of their fortress. The solid logs of the. houses and of the
stockade were bullet proof, and it was hardly possible, except
with the aid of ladders, to clim‘.) over or upon them. It was

'ruch a distance front the station to the woods, that the as-
sailants would hardly attempt to carry combustibles across
the cleared ground, under the fire of their adversaries. There
was no other chance to fire the buildings, except by shooting
combustibles upon the roofs, and the whites were prepared
against that danger, as they had a deep well and two cisterns
within the station. In the cleared ground no trees had been
deadened and left standing, but all the stumps had been cut
as low as possible, so that they might afford little, if any,
shelter to the enemy in case of an attack.

The Indians came on at a run, spreading out as they ad-
vanced. and attacking the station on three sides. A man , in
the uniform of a British officer could he seen among them,
urging them on and directing their movements. V

Although there were but seven men on a side to'oppose
them, they were met by a rapid and steady fire, that staggered
them and checked their advance. The white people knew
that this was the crisis of their fate, and that the Indians, if
once driven back, would not be likely to risk another assault.
Every man fought, therefore, not only for life, but as if the
liVos of all the inmates of the station depended on his indi-
vidual eflorts, and the women strained every nerve to assist
and inspire their defenders. Not a man was suffered to be
i to a moment from lack of ammunition, and all who were
l'tle husied themselves in reloading the rifles as fast as they
Wt'l‘e discharged. '

By means of their vigorous and united action, they were
enabled to keep up an' incessant fire from the stockalle nnd
the houses, doing nearly the Work of double their force. Every
rifle, also. was carefully aimed, and very few shots were thrown
away. Protected by the stout logs, and firing through narrow
loopholes, the white “men Were in absolute security; while
their adversaries, as they advanced over the cleared ground.

is: 1’

 

 

   
  
 
 
 
   
 
 
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
   

  

Were continually presenting themselves as targets for the un-
erring rifles.

The Indians had no hope of success but in overpowering
their opponents by the force of numbers and a quick rush.
They hoped, after drawing the fire of the station, to run in
and accomplish their purpose before the white men could rc-
load; but in this they were mistaken, as there was not the
slightest cessation in the fire, and they were compelled t :
meet the same pitiless storm of bullets at every step of tlt
way.

This was too much for Indian human nature to stand.
They found their numbers rapidly diminishing, while they
were inflicting, as far as they could perceive, no damage upon

their antagonists. Their rapid advance was at first staggered, ‘
then checked here and there, and then stopped entirely, and'

they turned and fled in confusion, hardly pausing to pick up
and carry away their dead and wounded.

The gate in the western Stockade had been the chief ob-
jective point of the assault. and it was reached by nearly a
dozen warriors, who, imagining that they were sheltered by
the stockade, endeavored to cut and beat it down with their
tomabawlts.

But this possibility had been guarded against, and two more
riflemen had already been sent up into the north-western
block-house, from the upper story of which such a fire was
opened as soon made it too hot for the Indians at the gate,
who scampered away as fast as their legs would carry them,
dodging, jumping and twisting their bodies about, in the hope
at avoiding bullets that wore sent after them.

V!

 

q!

(We

CHAPTER IV.
wno was CAPTAIN Du'rrrn?

Suzanna!) with the repulse they had given the savages, the

‘white people rested from their labor, but only to prepare for

another possible struggle, by cleaning their weapons and get-
ting ready their supplies of ammunition. The hurts of those
who had been wounded in the corn-patches were attended to,
and it was discovered that only one man had been slightly
grazed. by a bullet during the attack on the station.

Mrs. Rallston went into her own house and shut herself up|
that she might indulge in secret the grief with which she was
unwilling to trouble the others. The men, as they came from

' their posts of danger, met and congratulated each other on

their successful defense. Lucinda Steele laid down her rifle,
and resumed her cob pipe.

“ We are safe for the present,” said Colonel Rullston, stop-
ping where Sol Steele was wiping out his rifle. " They won't
be likely to make another attack before the dark hour of the
morning."

“ Nor then, I’m thinkin’. I reckon they’ve got enough of
it, colonel. I never saw any better work than the shootiu’ we
did from behind these logs.”

“ Every man (lid his duty. I now see what saved us, and
am glad that we were wise in time.”

“ Tis a good thing that them stumps war cut down clues.”

“ It is a good thing that our little garrison was so perfectly

' trilled that every 'man went to his place at once."

 

" All that wouldn’t have saved us, colonel, if the women
folks hadn’t been willin‘ and able to help.”

“ That is true indeed, and none did better work than yous
wife. She is as good a man as the best of us."

Mrs. Steele took the pipe from her mouth and blew acloud
of smoke in acknowledgment of this compliment.

“ ’Cindy has seen enough 0' sich work to know suthin about
it," remarked the hunter. "Did you take notice 0’ that Bri
fish (miter, old gal ?" ’

 

  
 
   
  
 
    
   
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
    

 

 

 

. / ‘1 . "
ABDXEL, THE_ AVENGER.

, Lucinda‘s dark eyes blazed'as she replied:

“ Yes. I had a bead drawed onto him more’n oncei but 1

the sneakin’ wolf Wouldn't come nigh enough."
’ “Did you allow that he mought be anybody in partic‘lar
that you know’d of ‘2”

“ Arthur Dutith."

“That’s what I took him to be. My Old rifle was jest
tchi'n’ fur a Mr shot at him, but didn‘t git it."

“Arthur Dutith!” exclaimed Colonel Rallston. “ 13 it
possible? I thought there was a resemblance, but did not be.
lieve that it could be he."

“ Do you know him, colonel ?"

“I have known so much of him, that I wish to know

nothing more. What have you had to do with him ?"
. “Too much, colonel. We was settled on the Mononga-
hely—‘Cindy and Inc, with our one chile, which was a gal.
She was the likeliest gal in them parts. and was so purty as a
pictur‘, though you mought not think it, lookin‘ at ’Cindy and
me. Arthur Dutith—he called himself captain—was a
Canada half-breed, as I take it, and was actin’ as some sort
of an agent fur the Gov’ment, among the Injuns. He often
came to see our gal, and we let him come, as we didn‘t know
any harm of him, and he kep‘ comin’ ontil one day he and
the gal war missin'. It turned out.that they had gone off
together; but I couldn't git the least track of ’em. At last
the gal came back alone; but she was so crazy that she
couldn‘t tell us nothin‘, except that Dutith had (lesarted her.
'I‘Ve took keer of her, and watched her as clues as we could;
but she got to the river one mornin’, and the Monongaher
swallowed her up with all her sorrers."

The hunter drew, the rough sleeve of his hunting-shirt
across his eyes, and his wife puffed out a great, cloud of
smoke. '

“ You have cause to remember the man,” said Colonel
Rallston ‘

“I swore that I would be the death of the sneakin’ wolf,
as 'Cindy calls him, and have been tryiu’ ever sence to git on
his trail. I could hear of him now and then ; but it seemed
that I could never reach him. Whar did you meet him.
colonel Y" '

  

u

 

_ .V

is'

y
l

f

i

serif

“ In Virginia. My planlation was on James river, and he
came into the neighborhood soon after the beginning of the
war. No one knew any thing about him, except that he
dressed Well, and that he had plenty of money; but he soon
became acquainted with the Tory families, and was made
welcome at their houses. He saw my daughter Emma, and
made 11) secret of saying that he had fallen in love with
her; but Emma disliked him, and it is not to be supposed
that I would favor the pretensions of a man about whom
nothing was known except that he was a friend of Tories. I
ordered him to keep away from my house; but he persisted
in coming, until my son Hugh was provoked into flogging
him for his impertinence. Then it came out that he was a
Spy in the pay of the British, and that his business there was
to organize a conspiracy among the Tories. The patriots
rose for the purpose of crushing the conspiracy, and Dutith
fled the country, taking some of the lending Tories with him.
He was heard to say, before he left, that he would be re-
vcnged upon me and Hugh, and that he would yet get pos-

t session of my daughter.”

“‘Cordin‘ to that, colonel, it ain’t a hard matter to guess

what he’s here for now. I heerd that he was with the
’British, up at Detroit; but I couldn’t see my way to git at
him thar. He has been spyin’ about among these settlements,

 no doubt, and has found out that you had stuck your stakes

hereabout. You know what them half-breeds are—mean
and treacherous as snakes, never furgivin’ or furgittin’ a
grudge, and never losin‘ sight of a trail that they’ve once
got onto. He has found it easy enough to git the Injuns to
foller him down acre, and he has come arter your gal, among
other things.”

“He has succeeded, then. He has got her,” exclaimed
Colonel Itailstam, in tones of anguish.

" Easier than he calkilated on, I reckon. We may as well
give that up fur a fact. It’s my belief that that hoss-stealin’
job was a plan of his to git part of our folks out of the
way.” .

“ I could better bear the thought of my daughter’s death,

.thau that she should be in the power of such a scoundrel.
What can be done, 801 l"

 

   
   
 
   
 
  
 
 
 
 
     
  
 
 
   
   
    
    
    
   
  
  
   

 
     
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   

'to think that green pérsimmons ain’t Wuth pickin’.

,Annmn, fruit unnam-

, "‘Nothin’ at all, jest now. ‘In the mornin’ we may make
name sort of a start at suthin'; but it's hard sayin‘ what it
may be, as the red-skins are too many fur us. I don’t reckon
they will try to hit us ag‘in. Dutith would be glad to
wipe out the station, like enough ; but the Injuns will be apt
I can
say this much, colonel, for sartin—all that one man, and
that's me, can do will be done to git your darter back.”

" 'l"other one, too,” suggested Lucinda Steele.

.“Poor Laura VVingutel” exclaimed Colonel Rallston.
“Orphan as she is, without a relative in the world, I feel
toward her as if she were my own child.”

“T'other one, too, of course,” rejoined Sol Steele. “And
you mus’n’t forgit that I’ve got no small bit of a bone to
pick with that Cnptuin Dutith, myself. I reckon we had
better make things safe fur the night, colonel, and let all
turn in who ain’t needed.”

Sentinels were duly placed, and all proper arrangements
were made to guard against a surprise or to meet another at-
tack; but nothing was heard of the Indians duringthe
night, except a horrid howling at one time, indicating that

. they Were mourning their dead who had fallen in the fight

before the station.

When the morning sun rose. not a sign of the savages was
visible. They had destroyed such patche of corn as were
out of range of the statiun, but had not ventured to molest
any of the others, having a wholesome dread of the rifles of
the settlers.

The Indians had evidently decamped, and in their place
appeared a mounted party, which proved to be fifty men from
we settlements near LimestoneI led by Captain Hugh McGary,
a gentleman of undoubted bravery, but whose courage was
not always tempered by judgment and caution.

“ What has brought you all here, this morning ?" asked
Colonel Rollston, when he had thrown open the gate and
welcomed the strangers to the station. ,

“ We were afraid that you were having trouble down this
way,” replied McGaryt “ Some of our scouts found the trail
of a large party 'of Indians, who were heading in this direc-

tion, and we thought it likely that they meant to strike thlr

l

 

 

1

nation. ' So we mounted, and came heroes fast ‘as our horses
would carry us." ‘

“ We are greatly obliged to you," said Rallston; “ but the
danger is over now, if the trouble is not. The Indians have.
done as much damage as they could do, and have left the
neighborhood."

Colonel Rallston then proceeded to give his visitors an no
aount of all that had happened in that vicinity, from the steni-
lug of the horses to the attack on the station.

“We are not too late to be of use,” said McGary. “ The
red rascals must have started about (lawn, if they have really
left the neighborhood. Let us follow them at once. My men
are freezing for a fight. What do you suppose the force of
the Indians to have been ‘2”

At least a hundred warriors, was the opinion of those at
the station, and McGury declared that his force, with those
who could be spared from the station, was amply able to de-
feat them. All were not of his opinion, as it was known that
the Indiana were nearly, if not quite, as well armed as the
white men, that they were equally skilled in the use of their
weapons, and better acquainted with woodcmft and the pecu-
liar style of warfare that made them such dangerous foes to
the settlers.

But McGury was ilupetuous and ardent, and Colonel Rall-
oton was anxious to do every thing that might be done toward
accomplishing the rescue of his daughter and Laura, and it
was agreed that they should start in pursuit of the savages, at:
noon as the visitors could rest and get their breakfast.

0 HA P T E R V .
ma cnmsorz TRAIL.

It! one particular, Captain McGary consented to. be gov-
erned by the advice of Sol Steele, although he chafed at tho
delaythat it involved. Scouts were sent into the woods in
advance of the party, to ascertain whether the Indians had V

 

  
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
  
   
    
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
   

 I'rrm unseen.
"ally, left the vicinity, and they reported that the coast was
clear in all directions, and that nothing was left of the In-
dians but their trail, which was broad and plain, leading to-
ward the north.,

The scouts had not progressed far, when they found the
bodies of Walter Coleman and Billy Linn, boys of sixteen and
twelve, who had acoumpanied the girls when they Went on:
to gather berries.

Information of this discovery was at once sent back to the

main body, and all hastened forward to witness the confirms.
tion of their fears. The boys had been scalped, and their
bodies were shockingly mangled. They were lying at a con-
siderable distance apart, as if they had separated in the at.
tempt to escape.

The tracks of the young ladies were also found, mingled
with those of the moccasined feet of the savages. They, also,
had endeavored to escape, but had been overtaken and cap-
tured without a struggle.

There was no hesitation now. Colonel Rallston, in his (is.
sire to punish the Indians and recapture the girls, was as im-
petuous as McGary, and'even Sol Steele could hardly speak
a word of caution. Two men were left behind to take care,
of the bodice of the boys, and the others pressed forward in
pursuit. Scouts were sent in advance as before; but the
main body pushed on so rapidiy that this precaution was 01'
little avail. '

It was evident that the Indians were retreating slowly, as
if they had no fear of pursuit, but were rather inclined to,
court it. Sol Steele was of the opinion that their trail was
entirely too broad and plain, indicating that they wished to
be followed, and that they would make a stand at some place
where all the advantages of position would be in their favor.

He mentioned his suspicions to Captain McGary, and urged
that the advance should be conducted with more caution;
but his advice only stimulated the latter to greater speed. ,

“A fight is what we want,” said McGary. “The sooner
they make a stand, the sooner we will have a chance to whip
them, If we hurry forward, we can overtake and strike,
them before they have time to prepare to meet us."

' In obedience to his orders, the mounted men rode on rap-

  
  

  

 

 

 

idly, leaving those who were on 'foot lagging behind, 'with a
considerable distance between the two bodies of men.

Suddenly a few‘ dropping shots told of the presence of an
enemy in front, and the scouts came hurrying back to the
main body. They had not for to go, as the mounted men
had kept close upon their heels.

In it moment the woods were nlive with yelling Indians,
and from every tree a close and deadly fire was poured in
upon the white men, which told on them with fearful effect
as they were huddled together in the narrow trail.

As soon as the firing began, the men from the station has-
tened to the assistance of their friends, but discovered that
the Indians hitd thrown themselves into the gap between them,
and each body was compelled to fight separately and against
odds ‘

To the mounted men their horses were a great annoyance
and hindrance as soon as they reached the enemy. It was
impossible for them to maneuver, and hardly pessible to move,
in the thick forest, and mnong the tangled undergrowth. Some
of the horses stumpeded. tearing their riders from their backs
under the branches of the trees, or carrying them among the
Indians, where the tomahawk and the swiping-knife soon
made an end of them.

All dismounted who were able to do so, letting their horses
run loose, and sought shelter behind the trees, imitating 'the
mode of warfare adopted by their assailants. But the sur-
prise they had hoped to etfect was effected on the wrong side;
the Indians were fully a match for them, man to man, at
forest fighting; and their forces were outnumbered and di-
vided from the start.

McGary and his men, as well as those from Rallston's stu-
tion, stood up to their work mnnfully. Not one was willing
to be the first to flinch or to coWer, or even to propose a re-
treat. In fact, a retreat would have been adifiicult maneuver
to execute, with the two bodies separated and a strong force
of Indians between them.

Still the woods rcsounded with the continued reports of the
rifles and muskets, and the occasional clash of steel against
steel—with the yeils and shouts of ‘the combatants, and the
shrieks‘and groans of the dying and wounded. The numbers

/

 

 
   
  

s

 amenn.‘
" 7. r

  

at the fallen wereabout equal on both sides; but the Indians
were animated by the success of their "surprise, by their supe-
rior numbers, and by the advantages they had gained so early
in the action. They continued to press their antagonists back
and to drive them into a smaller space, threatening to soon
surround them with a line of fire.

Unless something could be done to change the fortunes of
the fight, it was evident that the utter defeat of the white men
was only a question of time. They might possibly inflict as
much damage as they suffered; but sooner or later, the last
man of them must bite the dust.

Sol Steele comprehended the position of affairs, and resolved 
to make a desperate effort to break through the encircling line E
of savages. ' .[

At the signal he gave, the men from the station discharged. ‘
their rifles with deadly effect, and made a determined rush,
that carried them, in spite of all opposition, past the barrier .
of Indians, to where their friends were huddled together. , y

When the two bodies had joined, and were able to act in
concert, they formed themselves, as near as possible, into a
hollow square, and thus slowly forced their way back over
the trail.

L The Indians, enraged at the possibility of their foes slip-
" ping from their grasp, rcdoublcd their efforts, and loaded and
fired with the utmost rapidity, springing from tree to tree as ‘Lv
they closed in on the line of retreat. But the white men
held their ranks firmly, slowly and steadily falling back I 
through the forest, and dealing death to all who were pre-
3 * ‘ sumptuous enough to approach them too closely. ,‘  —

 
   
     
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
  
 
 
 
  

i , “ Steady, men I" shouted Sol Steele, whose ringing voice .i
was heard above the din of the conflict. “ Don’t throw away ,
a shot! Hold ’cm a lcetle longer! Thar’s a clear place a '5
little ahead, and we can fix ’em thar.”

I Inspired by the voice and action of the resolute hunter, the
retreating party kept their enemies at bay until they reached
an Open space across the timber, about ahundred yards in‘
width, where a clearing had been commenced. Running
across this space, they gained a position on the other side, .
where they were sheltered by the trees, and could shoot down ' i .
i - r all who attempted to cross. ‘ gt

  

The Indians in vain endeavored to outflank them, and a
few warriors who started to drive them from their Vantage
ground bit the dust, as the penalty of their temerity. The re
mainder contented themselves with long-range practice, in

- which they were excelled by the white men, and with attempt. '

ing by taunts and insults to draw their antagonists from their
cover.

Among those who were conspicuous in this war of words
was the white man in the uniform of a British ofl‘icet‘
whom Sol Steele had recognized at the station as Captain
Dutith. ‘

He had been by no means one of the foremost in the fight,
and now kept himself ensconced behind a tree, while he sent
his stinging words, instead of rifle-bullets, across the space that
then separated the Indians and the settlers.

“ Is that you, Colonel Rallston ?” he shouted. “ Are you
lookingr for your (laughter? You will have to follow me to
Detroit, if you want to see her. I told you that she should
be mine, and I have kept my word, and I am not done with
you yet. .

“I know you, Sol Steele l" he yelled again. “ You would
be glad to send a bullet through my heart; but you shall not
have that pleasure just yet. You will join your daughter in
the next world before I give you another chance.”

At each of these taunts, the men who were addressed by
him sent a vengeful bullet at him ; but he was not hit, and
he uttered his mocking laugh in derision of their efl’orts.

Colonel Rallston, pullid with anger, shook his fist impo~
tently at his insolent foe.

“Steel can reach him, if lead won’t touch him,” muttered
old Sol, as he rammed down another charge.

The firing'across the cleared space was kept up for nearly|
an hour, at the expiration of which time the Indians, per-
ceiving that they were suffering more than their adversaries
were by this style of warfare, made an end of the combat,

, and gradually drew off toward the north. The whites,

knowing that they could gain nothing by following them,
Waited until it was certain that they were really in retreat.
and then came together, for the purpose of returning in a
body to the station.

      
 
 
  
   
 
 
 
     
  
 
 
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

1, .maVr.‘

 
 
    

    
  
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
  
 
 
    
  
 
    
    
     
     
   

mm... Tatum
/ gar Steeie was standing at the edge of the ,eleering,'guingv
in the direction in which the savages had disaplwaned. when
he felt a. touch on his shoulder. He turned, and saw his
wife standing there with a rifle in her hand. Colonel Rall-
ston was near them, gazing wistfully at, both.
_ “ Why, ’Cindy l” exclaimed the hunter. “ What on airth
i are you doin‘ here ?"
' “ Been takin’ a. hand in this scrimmage. What are you ‘
‘; oin’ to do now, Solomon 't” ‘
Sui Steele pointed toward the north.
“ That's right. I knowed you would. But it’s a hard job,
Solomon.”
‘ “ To tell the truth, 'Cindy, I don’t see much chance ahead
g fur bringing them gals back; but. I am bound to try, and
i you may he sure that I will do my best.”
“I will go with you, my friem,” said Colonel Rellston,
who had nppronched them while they were speaking. '
“ Reckon not. colonel. The best thing fur you is to stay
5, at home and take hour of what is left. I allow that I can
do more alone, than I could with a party at my back. Noth-‘
in’ less than an army Would be of any use. Besides, I am
i ' to come across the boys who went nrter, the hosses, and they

 

l

i will help me, if I need any help." 
 “ I’hove no doubt you are right, and I will follow your a, W“,
i‘ . advice. I know that you will do every thing that you can '

I do.” i

1

l “ You mought bet all the land in Kaintuck on that. and .
never lose an acre.”
; “ I thnnk you for your kindness, from the bottom of my
heart. and if I can ever reward you-”
“ Tlmt’ll do, colonel. You know that I’ve got on account
to settle with that mun, and I mean to settle it, if I have to
follow him to Detroit, or into the heart of the British army. j
Good-by, colonel! Good-by, ’Cindy l” 
“ Good-by i” said the stout-hearted woman, as she grasped l '
his rough hand. “Take car‘ 0’ yourself, old man, and mny
the Lord help ye i”
; Sol Steele hastened across the clearing, and disappeared in
i" the forest on the other side.
Thelwhite survivors of the combat proceeded to buy their

 

 

l-n),;

1

,v,,.s.._._.s-, A s._....4....._..‘....

mama or.

dead, to succor their wounded, and to regain such of their.“

horses as had not been appropriated by the Indians. These
tasks completed, they sadly returned to Rallston‘s station.

CHAPTER VI.
A BIG SURPRISE.

NIGHT-HAWK, the leader of the war-party, was one of the
Shawnees who were unliurt by the explosion of the old White
man’s mine. Bewildered, almost astounded, he turned as
soon as the smoke and dust lifted, and shook his tomahawk
savagely at the cavern. As he did so, a rifle cracked, and a
bullet Whistled close by his ear, causing him to retreat to the
hollow in undignified haste.
Seavey, who had been ensconced in the shelter of a rock,
executed some remarkable gyrations as he descended the
slope, his speed being accelerated by a shot from the cavern.
The few remaining Shawnees were so thoroughly terrified,
that they hastened out of sight of the scene of their disaster.
even abandoning the wounded to their unseen foe.
The five young men who were lying on the floor of the
cabin were partially aroused by the reports of the rifles and
the noise of the explosion. Joe Proctor, who was the first
to recover his consciousness, sat up, rubbed his eyes, and
stared wildly about.
“ What the blue blazes does this mean i’" he muttered.
l‘he devil is to pay, snt‘titl ; but I would like to know just
what is up. Am I dead and buried, and is that the big noise
that’s to wake the dead and call ’eni to judgment? I wish
l‘d knowod it, a leelle sooner. Here's the boys, too, all of ’cm
in the same fix, and just beginnin’ to stir.”

As his eyes opened and became accustomed to the dark.

ness, he perceived the outlines of the cavern, with its rude.

furniture, and the old man seated near the entrance, whose
features the flaring torch lighted with a demonish glow.
As the surroundings suggested the possibility of something

   
  
   
   
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
   
 
  
  
    
   

      
   

   
      
 
 
    
  
  
   
  
 
    
  
   
  
  
 
   
   
   
  
 
   
 
  
   

:‘w-wur-rr .  H in“

36 ,/ mm,  AVENGER.
humanin connection with the cavern, be determined to 'no-
cost the old man. ,

“I say, stranger; air you the boss‘of this buryin’ place?
If you air, I would be glad to know how long we have been
dead, if we air dead. If we ain't dead, how did we git
here?

" Are your companions awake?” asked the old man, sud-
denly turning and facing the speaker.

“The boys? They seem to he sorter stirrin’. Git up.
fellers! The day of judgment has arriv’, or thar‘s been an
airthquake.”

Proctor shook his four friends vigorously, accompanying
his action with a running stream of talk. All were finally
aroused, and sat up, half stupefied. ‘

“ That will do, Proctor,” snid Hugh Rallston, rather an-
grily. “If you have carried this joke as far as you want to,
Ihope you will tell us what it means.”

“ You needn’t git riled at me, Hutch. 'Tnin’t none of my

 

I doin'. If anybody knows any thin’ about. it, the old man is
' the one to talk to."

Hugh and the others stared at the old man, who crawled
out at the entrance of the cavern, and beckoned to them to
follow him.

“ Come out into the air," he said. “ You will feel better
here, and will be able to understand what I have to tell you."

They obeyed, and crawled out after him; but their sur-
prise wns not diminished by the sight that met their eyes when
they got outside of the cavern.

Right before them ynwned a dark cavity, from which smoke
was still rising. All around were scattered pieces of smoke-

blackened rock, mingled with the remains of,dc:1d Indians, /

and the faint groans of two badly-wounded men, who had
vainly endeavored to crawl away, could be heard in the dis-
tance.

“ This is too much fur me, strangers,” remarked Joe Proc-
tor. “If it ain’t the day of judgment or an airthquake, I
must give it up." _

The old man pointed down the slope, at the shady hollow

below.

“ Do you remember that place i” he asked

{ w;

“13" ‘ .

\

l,-

i

 

vs...

 

J
I! Ar
4,.

be brought to bear upon the question; but they finally com-
* prehended it, and remembered the spot.

" That‘s the place whar we camped at noon,” said Proctor.
“Now it's about two hours to sundown. Was it 10-day, or
yesterday, or a month ago? Durn my pictur’, if I can make
bend or tail of it yet!”

“ It was to-day,” replied the old man.
your dinner, and you laid down to sleep.”
“ That’s a. fact; but thar was one more of us-—'S;un

Seavey—what’s become of mm f”

“ He laid down with the rest of you; but, as soon as you
were sound asleep, he arose, looked at you, and hurried away
into the forest, going toward the north.”

“I see it all now I" exclaimed Hugh Rallston. “Seavey
was a traitor. You remember, boys, that we all noticed that
the meat had a strange and hitter taste. He ‘ salted ’ it
with some drug, so that he might put us to sleep and betray
us to the Indinns.”

“Very likely,” resumed the old man. And he at once .
proceeded to detail, in a brief, solemn Wuy, all that had hap-
pened.

“If it’s a fa’r question," remarked Proctor, when the nar-
rator had ended his story, f‘ I would like to ax who you are,
and what you come from t” p

The old man's eyes glistened, and a strange, wild expres-
sion overspread his features, as he replied to Proctor‘s ques-
tion. -

“I am Abdiel, the Destroyer! The Lord has given the
.heathen into my hands, and they shall be utterly destroyed.

Z came from the depths of the dark water, and I am a. flan)
mg sword on the face of ths earth.” ‘

“ If this is a specimen of your Work in the destroyin‘ line, ‘
I judge that you are signed hand at the business. I don’t want.
to he too inquisitive, friend Abdiel, but I would really like to
know how you happened to have so much powder on hand ?"

“ It is u long 'story, and it has nearly passed from my
memory. Be thankful for the life that the Lord has pre-
served to you, and _ask not too many‘ idle questions.” ‘

The old man, who was seated on, a rock, bowed his face

“You had eaten ’

   
 
   
  
  
    
   
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    

“MM .- 4-” n. _. u. .A ..

      
   

    
   
      
  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
   
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
     

  

upon his hands, and his manner intimated that he‘was un-

willing to continue the conversation. .

‘Joe Proctor looked at him, and pOinted at his forehead
significantly. Then he asked:

. “What shall we do now ‘3” ’Tain’t wnth while to go utter

,3", those hosses. I would like to hunt for Seavey and the rest
i of the red-skins, but don’t feel much like ondertakin’ the

It '0'.) jest now." _ '

tl‘ The others were of the opinion that they did not feel lil ,-

‘ undertaking that or any other job,‘and agreed that it would

be best to remain where they were, as the cavern wns prob-
ably a safer resting-place than any other they Would be able

to find in that vicinity, and arrangements were accordingly

made for passing the night. .

t Joe Proctor went out to reconnoiter, and succeeded in
shooting a young,r buck, which he brought to the cavern. It
was‘dressed, and supper was cooked, of which Ill pnrtook
quite heartily, including the now silent Abdiel. When they
had smoked their pipes, and had talked over the events of

' the day, all laid down in the cavern to sleep, with the excep-
tion of one, who was to stand guard until relieved.

 

 

.7

C H A P T E R V I I .
9. mm NEWS IN THE WILDERNESS.

_ THE sleepers in the cavern were not disturbed during the
t 7; tight. Ben Pirtle, who was on guard when day dawned, no
ticcd a dark object moving stcnlthily among the trees below ’,
3nd scan made it out to be the figure of a man.

Thinking it possible that one of his comrades might have
taken a fancy to m-ike 'un early scout, he looked in at the I
t - cavern; but all the four were there, with old Abdiel, Sleeping
\ soundly. ' . \

As it was important to know who and what the stranger
,: was, Pirtle aroused Joe Proctor, who was ‘the oldest and most.
‘R’experi‘enc’ed hunter iii the party, and told him what he had seen.

   
 

 
 
 

 

 

   
 

A JOYFUL ammo.

Proctor went out and saw the stranger, who was still mov-
ing stealthin about the shaded hollow, examining the marks
of a recent fire and the tracks that were plentiful near it, but
at the same time keeping carefully in the cover of the trees,
and looking warin about, as if expecting an enemy to appear
at any moment.

The two men took a position where they could not be seen
by him, and watched him while he continued his examinatioi.
As the light of coming day penetrated into the hollow, the
traces that he was scrutinizing became more distinct, and his
eyes fell on the trail that led up to the cavern.

He raised his head, and both the men above uttered a sim-
ultaneous cry of recognition as they caught a full view of his
face.

“ It is Sol Steele,”.said Proctor. “ I allowed that it looked
like the old chap. Wonder what has brought him here ‘3"

He arose and hailed the old hunter, who at once responded
to the summons and hastened up the slope.

By the time he reached the cavern,all its inmates had been
aroused, and Sol Steele was joyfully greeted by the young

1 men, who were eager to learn what had brought him into that

country. His countenance showed that. he was glad to meet
his friends, but that there was a grief behind his joy that quite
overshadowed it. \

“ It ain’t no pleasant arrant that I’ve come on," he replied,
“and I’ve brought sech news as you won’t be glad to bean.
The lnjuns have been at the station, and we have had two
fights, and Emma Rallston and Laura Wingate have been took
and kerried away.”

This announcement caused the greatest consternation among
the group to'whom it was made. Henry Ewing was the be-
trothed of Emma Rallston, the attachment of Hugh Rallston
to Laura Wingate was well known, and all the young men
had relatives as well as friends at the station.

As soon as the first shock of the announcement was over, a
they pressed Steele to give them the particulars of the intelli~
gencc he had brought. and he proceeded to relate all the oc-
currences since they had left the station, concluding with the
pursuit of the savages and its disastrous repulse. ' .
“The Injuns didn’t seem to be in any hurry to git to the

 

 

/ x

 m"): Aimee

river,” he said.‘ .“ They mo've'd'tol’hblé slow arter they left
na,'jeit as if they thought we mought be. fools enough to' ful-
ler ’em ag’in. But our folks had had enough of that sort 0‘
work,I reckon. It was easy fur me to git ahead of the Shaw-
nees, and to cross the river ufore they reached it. I then al-
lowed that I had better take up the trail of the hoss-stealin‘
party, as I knowed lhutyou would be on it, and that I Would
be likely to ovurhuul you, or to meet you comin’ back. As
this trail that you have been folleriu'fis th'e reg’hir war-path,
to and from tlmr toWiis, it is likely that the Injuns will pass
this way, and I thought it best to give you wau'nin'."

f‘Arthutj Dutith i" muttered Hugh Rallston, whose unger
nearly choked his utterance. “That half-blood Tory scoun-
drel l I flogged him in Virginia, and he vowed that he would
be revenged upon all of us. But I never thought that he
would find us, down there in Kentucky.” ,

“ He has laid his plans mighty keerful,I‘m thinkiu’. That
noss-steulin’ job, as it now looks to me, was part of the busi-
ness. The Injuns wanted to git some of our folks out of the
way, so that they [nought have a better chance at the station;
Did you see any thin’ of the hosses or of the thieves who took
them t” . l , .

“ Nothing at all, unless they Were here yesterday, and we
can’t say that we saw them then. In fact, we all came withn'

.ln an ace of losing our scalps."

‘.‘ How was that?"

Hugh related ,the particulers of , Seavey’s treachery, as he
had been informed of them by Abdiel.

“ That‘s .ofi‘ the same piece with the rest of the business,”
said Steele. “ It’s plain enough, now. that that feller Seavey
was a spy, sent to the station by Dutith. It is jest in secli
sneakin’, onderminin’ ways that the cussed half-breeds work,
They have all the wust p’ints of the Injun nnd the white man,
with none of the good that’s in either of ’em. I neliced how
anxious Seavey was to git a chance to go with you arter tho
hose-stealers; but I couldn’t see that thur was any harm in It
then. It must have been Captain Dutith who put him  to
thehull job, and, who gave him suthin‘ to" doctor ’ your meat
with. (I’make p9 (toutinth ,thellnjuns‘ who cenie here arter
you war those slime hose-etealin’ «intend thet Beavey‘knowed

o

 

 

 

 

 

>r’vr’*<..’ 2'",r ‘ ' r... _
,~3 ‘1  2 ;’ ,  .1 -' SAW-1 1“”

_w1n'r xnx'rt ’ l ' 41

'jest‘whar to find 'em. They wouldn’t haye took your scalp.
Hugh, but would” have saved you for the wast kind of ardeath,
and Dulith would have had 'a hand in it when it came to
killiu'. I’d be williu’ to ‘bet even‘ my rifle.'thut the business
was fixlzd up in Detroit long ago, to be kerrled out'jest as
’twas kenied out, and'I can tell you, my boy, that we've got
to do some powerful cluss work, to 'beat the game of eech a
seamp as that Czw'nirl Dulith.” ' ' ‘
' “ What can we no, Sol? Have you formed any plan ?"

“ Not a bit of 'It. I calkiluted that I had best'git ahead of
'em, and let you know what had happened, if I could find
you. As Dutith has had it all so cleverly arranged so far, it
is likely that he has fixed matters up so as to take the gals
rightxou to Detroit." ' ‘ " '

“ As the ShaWnees outnumber us so largely, we can't hope
to fight them, especially here in their own ‘country. What
we can do, if we can.do any thing, must be the worli of
chance or stratagem.” ‘ - '

" Exactly so. I don’t see my way an inch ahead. Jest
now we had better be thinkin' of our own safety. The n
Shawnees, accordin’ to my notion, will be comin' up this trail.
They will find your campin’-place, with all that sign around
it,'and will want to know what it means. Naterally they
will look about nml study the sign. They will find the trail
that leads up here, jest as I found it, and will be sure to come
to this cavern." ' ‘ ' ‘

“ You are right. If they should find us here, it would be.
difficult for us to escape, and it would be our wisest course,
no'doubt,'to escape "while we are able‘to‘ do so. And yet, I
hate to run away. What say you, boys ?”

All agreed that they would be uselessly incurring danger
by remaining where they were, though all were anxious to

keep near the trail of the savages, in order to avail themselves

of any possibilities that “chance or stratagem ” might throw
in their way.

“ As that point is settled," said Hugh, “ we had better steal
away from here, and find a hiding-place a few miles t0" the
north.” ‘ ' ' ‘ : '

"‘ No !"
It was Abdiel‘ who spoke. He had been seated near lhl

 

 
 
  

mama, rim among.

groomabsorbed in his own thoughts. and seeming not to listen
V to what was said; but he now started up, and in his face was
that strange and wild expression that it sometimes wore.

“ You shall not. go i" he exclaimed. “ Am I not Abdiel,
the Destroyer? Has not the Lord given the heathen into my
hand, and shall they not be destroyed utterly? Ht. ve no fear
of theman Dutith, or of the hordes of painted Amalekitesl

?' t‘o your tents, oh Israel, and you shall see the vengeance of
the Lord upon the wicked.”

‘-‘ I’m afeard that the old man is a leetle queer,” said Sol
Steele, as he shook his head, gravely. _

“ But he saved our lives,” suggested Hugh, “and he nearly
destroyed one party of Shawnees. If he can give any good
reason for advising us to remain, I am inclined to trust him.
Please explain yourself, friend Abdiel, and tell us why we
should not go.”

The old man’s demeanor had suddenly changed, and his
reply was calm and to the point.

“ I have not yet shown you all the secrets of my cavern.
Come with me. and let your eyes answer your ques‘don.”

He crawled into the cavern, followed by Steele and Rail-
ston, and lighted a torch. Giving the torch to Rallston to
hold, he went to the rear of the cavern, which wasapparently
composed of as solid rock as the other sides. He loosened
some atones,however. which he suffered to fall upon the floor
of the cavern, disclosing another opening. A larger piece of
“stone was then removed, which widened the opening an that
he easily passed through it, with the torch in his hand, fol-
lowed by his two companions. r

The old man held up the torch, showing them a large:
chamber in the rock than that which they had just left. It
was high enough for them to stand erect in it, and was des-
titute of furniture of any kind, being left exactly as nature
had formed it, with the exception of the entrance, into which
the stones had been fitted, so that the wall could be built up
from either side. This was explained by Abdiel to Steele
and Rallston ; but they still looked at him inquiringly, as it

unable to comprehend his purpose in showing them this re-
treat.

  

“ When the Shawnees come, you will retire into this place,” . -

     
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
  
 
 
    
     

 

‘0.

 

1/ . m omen owns. -



he said, answering their glances.
and will come up here.
then—"

“ And then what ?” asked Hugh.

“‘1 can not tell you; but you shall see.

“ Too safe, I am afraid. We will be cooped up here, like
late in a hole. We can not live here, with nothing to eat or
to drink, and it will be impossible to get out, unless the In-
dians go away." '

The old man pointed to the back of the cavern, where a

streak of light, which his companions had not previously no-
ticed, was filtered through the rock.
' " That will do,” said So] Steele. “ I don't know what your
plans may be, my friend; but that streak of light satisfies
me. We had better stay here, Hugh. If the Shawnees come
along afore night, they will be apt to camp down thar in the
holler, until mornin‘, anyhow, and we may git a chance to do
sttthin', though i can't guess what it may be.”

[Iugh was glad of even a shadow of a chance to do some-
thing for the captive girls, and joyfully agreed to Steele’s
proposition. He went out and explained the position of af-
fairs to the others, who were quite willing to remain where
they were.

As Steele was of the opinion that it would yet be several
hours before the Shawnees would make their appearance in
that vicinity, the scouts had no hesitation about making a fire
and cooking enough provisions to last them two or three days.
This done, the fire was carefully extinguished, and the ashes
were scattered so that they might cool quickly. ‘

All then took up their quarters in the cavern, with the ex~
replica of Steele, who concealed himself where he could not

“ They will find the trail,
They will enter the cavern, and

Yon will be safe.”

- be seen from below, and watched for the arrival of the Shaw‘

BOOB.

 

  

   
 
 
   
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

CHAPTER VIII.
~ a GUNPOWDER PLOT.

60!. 8mm“: had calculated with considerable accuracy the
probable time of the arrival of the Shawnees. It lucked ‘-
about three hours of sunset when they came in sight, strag-
gling alone singly, and by ths and threes, exhibiting none
of the caution that they would have used if theyr had not be-
lieved themsolves to be out of reach of any possible danger.

Notwithstanding their losses at the station and at the fight
in the forest, they numbered, as the scout calculated, about
eighty warriors. They brought with them several wounded
men, some of whom were carried on litters, and others were
mounted on horses that had been taken from McGnry’s men.
They seemed to be sad and despondent on their return,
rather than joyful and triumphant. Although they had in-
flicted a great deal of damage upon the hated white men,
they had themselves suffered quite severely. Many of their
best warriors had been lost, and they knew that a season o!
lamentation awaited them when they should reach their
towns.

In about the middle of the struggling line rode Emma
Rallston and Laura Wingaw, mounted on captured horses.
Although so much care and attention had been shown then),
they looked pale and weary and disconsolate. Near them,
attired in the gay uniform of a British omcer. rode Arthur
Dutith, who appeared to be cndeavoring to make himsel

agreeable to them, and to be meeting with very poor succuss_ "

in his endeavors.

A dark frown gathered on Sol Steele’s face as he looked
at Dutith, and he communicated to those in the cavern the
particulars which he had thus far observed. Then he looked
at the enemy again. '

The Indians had halted, as he expected they would, on
reaching the hollow, and they were not sparing of their ex-
clamation: and gestures of snrprlue, when they observed the

a--- -a..._.

   
 
   
 
   
 

  

 

_:. ._ .L. a&.‘

 

remamsror 'a‘firemhd ‘the’ many mm muewerewts‘mte near
it.‘ o '

On'e’wh‘o appeared‘to be‘ a chief heid‘a'lbrief conference
with Dutith, and it seemed to be settled that they rwere to
remain in the" hollow for, the present, assume of the Show-
nees busted themselves with preparations for encmnping,
while others carefully examined the traces of previous occu-
yttion. The girls were assisted to dismount, the'horses were
tvthcre‘d‘ to trees, and couches of leaves‘and blankets were
prepared for the wounded:

Hugh Rttllston and Henry Ewing were anxious to get out
'of the ‘ct'Wern, to obtain at View of their captive inamoratos ;
but. the old scout, fearing that the sight" might prompt them
to‘do something rash, would not‘ sufl'cr' them even to show
their faces outside of’the'opening.

Soon there was a commotion among“ the savages in the‘
hollow. It was evident that a party was approaching from
the north, and it was also soon evident that it was a-t‘riendly
party;

It printed to be cemposed of Sam' Scavey, Night-Hawk,
and two more Shawnees who had been unhurt by the explo-
sion of A'hdiei's' mine. Badly frightened as they had been,
it Was long before they ventured back to the scene of their
disaster, and then they were overjoyed-at finding the hollow
in the possession of their friends.

Dutith hastened forward to meet Seavey, and the Indians
ciustercd around Night-Hawk, listening eagerly to his account
of the mysterious destruction of his band.

’l‘lmt account was accompanied by many gesticulntlons, the
Shawnee pointing energetically in the direction of the 0th

km, and Setwey chiming in to corroborate his statements.

Then there ,was a conference, at which it. seemed to be
decided that there must be an investigation of the mysterious
transaction, and a- number of warriors were told off by the
chiei‘. D‘utith appeared to be declaring his intention of join-
ing them, and Souvey to he dissumliug' him from such a pur-
pose.

As soon as the Slmwnees, fifteen in number, started to or
and the slope,‘Sol Steele- hn‘s‘tened' into the cavern, and joint

' at no friends in the" inner chamber; Mister: wintering

 

 

 
     
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
   
  
 
 
   
   

./,

must-ms, mum

were anxious to make n stand at the first opening, declaring
that they could give the advancing warty at least one volley,
and thus decrease the number of their opponents; but old ‘
Abdiel was earnestly opposed to this course. He was of the
opinion that it would serve their purposes much better for
the savages to remain in ignorance of their whereabouts, and
in this opinion he Was upheld by Sol Steele.

The old man built up the entrance to the inner chamber
from the inside, leaving the wall as it had been when he
showed it to Steele and Rallston, and enjoined perfect silence

' upon all.

They sat in silence and in darkness, unable to see or to be.
seen. Only Abdiel and Sol Steele, who were close to tho
walled-up entrance, would be able to hear the Indians if they
should enter the outer chamber, and perhaps to catch a glimpse
of them through a crevice in the rock.

‘he Shuwnees made their way up the slope slowly and with
great caution. Night-Hawk, who was one of the party, kept
carefully in the rear,and those in the advance, infected by his
timidity, were in no hurry to reach the point of supposed
danger.

As they approached the cliff, and saw the mangled remains
of their friends scattered about among the rocks, their fear
was partly overcome by anger, and their faces were dark with
scowls as they muttered threats of vengeance. \

At last they were in front of the entrance to the cavern,
standing around the spot where the explosion had taken place.
They looked with uncoucealed horror at the smokesblackened
nud blood-stained rocks, and there could be no doubt that they
felt uncomfortable, that they wished themselves anywhere but
there. ‘

They held their weapons in readiness to repel an attack at
any moment ; but there was no attack to repel. They stepped
gingerly about, fearing an explosion ; but no hidden 
rushed up to destroy them. Gradually they grew bolder, and
peered in at the opening, and their confidence rose when they
discovered that no enemy was in sight. Night-Hawk also
gained courage, and went to them, telling them that the white
people must surely be in the cavern. If they had left the.
place. he said, they would probably have traveled on the war.

s

  

... e..- _s-.........

. W.-. .n.

  
 
 

.-.4...‘,.,. ..._._—. .. -te. _. “.‘W H..." as w a». -Hw.

,.

t.

 

' empty.

 
   

Merck. . ,

trace. If they had gone north, he and his companions would '
have seen them; if they had gone south, the larger party
would have met them. Besides, he had noticed the trail
carefully, and there were no marks to show that they had
descended the slope, and they could not have climbed the
clifi'.

His conjectures were any thing’but consoling to the other
'ihawnees, who were by no means anxious to discover the

.hite men. Again they peered in at the cavern, but nothing
was to be seen or heard there.

One thrust in his head, and declared that the place was
Pushed on by those behind, he crawled in, and the
rest gradually followed. They had brought a bit of burning
wood, with which they kindled a little blaze on the floor of
the cavern. By this light they examined the apartment, with
many gutturalexclamations and significant gestures as they
noticed the traces of its recent occupation.

The white men in the interior chamber maintained a silence
as profound as that of the grave. None of them stirred, and
hardly their breathing could be heard. Sol Steele, with his
ear at the rocky wall, and Abdiel, with his eye at the crevice,
could hear and see something of what was going on outside.
Both knew when the Indians. entered, and Abdiel, when the
fire was lighted in the other apartment, could see them quite
plainly.

“ Are they all in i” asked Steele. '

The old man did not reply, but pulled a stout cord, made
of braided buck-skin, that hung near him.

Sol Steele fancied that he heard a click, like that of the
lock of a gun or a pistol. If he did, the slight sound was
lost in the terrific explosion that followed-an explosion that
seemed to jar‘the whole ledge, that shook the apartment in

:which the white men were concealed, and sent fragments of
stone rattling down about them.

After the explosion came the noise of falling masses of
rock. mingled with shrieks and groans, that continued a few
minutes, and then all was still.

The white men had started up in surprise and consterna-
tion, and crowded around Abdie for an explanation of what
had happened. ‘

 

 
 

 
 
    
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
  
  
  
   
   
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   

  amen.

7“. Hue mu blamed up - no :wema in' .thar r” asked .801

z'Steele. /

"No; I have blown it down," replied the old man’. “I
put my, change of powder deep in the rock, just over theen
trance. . I- nrmngeddt some time ago, expecting that I would
be able to catch the heathen in a trap. If it has Worked as

.I intended: it to work, the rock over the entrance has-fallen

in, and the cavern is closed."

It was to be noticed that Abdiel spoke in calm and' oven
tones, without a touch of the madness that was so evident at
times. , Not even the excitement of the explosion had caused
him to break- forthas he had done on the previous occasion.
This fact,>ooupled with the recent result of his plans, evincing

intelligent and deliberate action, gave the young men greater

confidence in him, and they were ready to look up to him..as
a lender. _

“ It seems to have extinguished the Shawnecs,” said Hugh
Rallston. “ We know that some of them were badly hurt.
Others must have been killed, and some may yet be living.”

“ They can’t live long," suggested Ewing, “and it would
have been better for them to be killed outright than to die
such a lingering death.”

" Their friends may dig them out.”

“ It will he a hard job of; digging. I am glad that none of
us are in there. As it is, I feel as if I hztdrbcen buried alive,
and am anxious to get out. of this stifling hole. It seems to
me, friend Abdiel, thntyou may -as.Well turn us loose now.”

The old man led-the way toward the. buck part ofthe cnv-
em, to the streak oftlight that .hasbeen mentioned. He rolled

"away a large stonenear the moi of the apartment, showing

an' Opening .throughtwhich light and air came freely. “l

,crnwletl out at this opening, gladly.followed by the other-F

and replaced thecstune.

The lodge, as the young .men perceived when they had
passed. out of the Cavern, was of a peculiar formation. On
the side next to theSliawnees,.as has been noticed, was a clifl
some fifty feet in hight. From,the edge-of this clit’fit sloped
ohul'plyofl. toward the east, until. it terminated in it email and
rapid brook. the bed of» which W43 considerably. lower than

\the hollow where the lndinns were camped. Thecavem £1.

’r

  

u

 

 

 

w

 
 
  

 

 same

math through the wedge, and 'A‘bdfdl and 1m. companions.
when they crawled out at the eastern opening, Yound them-
‘eelves 'at about the middle 0'! the rocky -but\‘trec-covered
’eiope. ‘

As they were thus completely concealed mm the view of
:their enemies, they ’s‘topped there ‘and held a conference, the
result of which wes‘thnt they determined to go further up the
streum, and to select a. hidingpln‘Ce’near-‘thetrailtot the Shaw-
uves. They could not reach the lndlens ‘fr-nm where they
were, nor could they ’he r‘encheti by then)"; but they would be
able, by following 'the'war-trace down fiom'the‘north, to ob-
serve the mow-ments of the Shawneespmd ‘t‘o tnke advantage
‘of My opportunities that m'ight‘pl'esent themselves.

It was ’near sunset when they arrived at this ‘conclusinn ;
‘and they proceeded to carry it into effect at once. Joe Proc-
'tor and Hugh ’R‘ullston announced their intention-of remain~
ing‘ at the ledge a while longerit'o Watch the proceedings of
the Shawnees. They were ‘cnutiOn‘ed to be very careful not
to expose themselves to the view of the Indians, end-the oth-
ers took up'their line of march toward the north.

 

CHAPTER 'IX.
m A on“) Inn's Dam

OLD Amman was tacitly chosen as guide of the party that
'went ner'tli,'because 6f'hls acqtiaintan‘ce with the'fl’cinity, and
because the signal services “that 1he lind"‘rendered 'n‘ud given
him It high'piace in the'estinmtidn of the others.

Following his lead, they stepped into the wuter,‘and walked
"up the bed of the'stren‘m, Which‘flowed "from the north-east,
'being one of the tributaries of ‘the “Miami. Willing to leave

'. no trail behind them, they proceeded in this way nearly-a

mile, and then turned off to the‘léft. luto’niliule'glen'thtit led
at the direCtion of ‘ the‘Shawnee"watt-Ltvruce. ‘

They determined to pass the night near the stream,'und'sat
 u'HdEr me'tre'es‘to “emanate :“but tiltey‘biailt no

  

 
  
   
   
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   

  

. mums,  ravenous;

tire, lest it might attract the 'attention of some wandering
Shawnee scout.

When they had finished their repast. Sol Steele announced
his intention of scouting through the forest and in the direc-
tion of the Shawuee encampment, in the hope of making some
discoveries that might prove profitable. Old Abdiel, who
seemed to have taken a great fancy to the hunter, insisted on
accompanying him. and they set 011‘ together, leaving Ewing
and Pirtle and McGinnis to keep company with each other.

They had not been absent half an hour when they returned,
and were asked what had brought them back so soon.

“ We have found something," replied Steele.
north a leetle way, as our old friend said that the Shawnee
trail turned to the right not fur front here, and we wanted to
see a sort offipass that it led through. When we got to the
pass, we noticed that thar was a tire burnin‘ in it, and we
picked our way purty keerful, ontil we caught sight of a

 ‘small camp, and diskivere’d that the campers war four Injuus

and a British ossifer.”

“ Was it Dutith l’” eagerly inquired Henry Ewing.

“No; it warn’t Dutith, but an ossifcr who will suit our
wants jest now, I‘m thinkin’, rayther better than Dulith. He
was sleepin' on a blanket, nigh the fire, with three Injuns

' deepin’ class to him, and t‘other propped against a tree, tryin'

to keep awake and stand guard.” -

'“ What. has that to do with us? If they don’t belong to
the party that carried 05' our friends, we had better leave them
alone, as we have enough to attend to without interfering with

- them."

“ We five can creep up on ’em, Harry, and can Jay ’em out
without hurtiu’ a ha’r of our heads."

“ Kill them in cold blood?
like murder.”

‘9 They are inimies, my boy, and you know that they would
treat us to the same, or much wuss, if they could git the
chance.”

“ But one of them is a white man.” _

“ He is in durned bad company, and must take the conse-
kences.” , ,

“ That. is, the Very man we want l" exclaimed Abdlel

“ We went}

That would look too much'

“r _ .m.

‘4.

rs.

“Young man, it you wish to rescue. your friends from the
Shawnees, this is an opportunity that will not occur again,
and it may prove their salvation. Don’t you see what may he
done it we get that emcer‘s uniform ?"

Ewing did see, and he jumped up and seized his rifle as the
idea flashed across his mind.

'The others were ready enough to go, and the fiva men at
once set out through the forest.

The moon had risen when they reached the pass, as Sol
Steele called a narrow'valley between two high and sloping
hills, through which the Shawnee trail led. About in the
middle of the valley was a spring, from which a little brook

ran in Wet weather, but the brook was now almost dry. Near v

the spring were sleeping the British oflicer of whom Steele
had spoken, and three Indians. The fourth Indian, as the
scout had said, was standing guard and endeavoring to keep
awake.

The five white men stole along the side of one of the slop-
Sng hills, in the cover of the trees, until they were directly
opposite to the party below, and within fair rifle-shot of
them. ' '

' “ Thar’s jest one apiece," whispered the scout.

“ I will mark the oflicer.” said Ewing. “ I promise you that
I will make him sure."

“ And I will take the sentinel. Let each choose his man,
and we will crawl to the bresh down yander, and you must
fire when I whistle.”

The five crawled a few yards further down the slope, and
took their pesition behind some low bushes, through which
they pointed their rifles. The sleepy sentinel nodded at his
post, and neither saw nor heard any thing, until a low whis-
tle from Sol Steele broke the profound stillness of the night

The five rifles cracked together, and the scene in the quiet

,- mlley changed suddenly. The sentinel uttered a startling
' cry. threw up hishands, and fell to the ground. The British

oflicer moved convulsively, but did not rise. One of the
Indians near him leaped up into the air, and dropped back a
corpse. Another was badly wounded, and one only was un-

, hurt. He sprung to his feet ; but his deadly fees were upon

him before he could collect his'startled senses. A pistol bnl

l

   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
  
 
   
   
  
   
    
  
 
 
 
 
   
     

 

 

 

 
  

, .". "3"‘1. 6'3"!“ ,
'ABDIIL, m AVKNGEB. fl

 front  disabled Vhini,:and he was uncerc'nioniously,

"knocked in the, head by John MbGinnis, while Pirtle finished
the other wounded wretch. , , , ‘

I It was bloody, brutal, inurd'erous Work; but it was the
kind of work that was rendered necessary by the savage nu.
tors of Indian warfare. Five souls had been suddenly sent,

without a moment’s warning, into the presence of their Cream

35.11"; but those who hurried them out of the world knew that
'heir adversaries would haveshownthem no mercy if they
had caught them at a disadvantage. Besides, one of the
white men had the death of a brother to avenge, and'all had
lost near and dear friends by pitiless Indian massacre.

, There was no room for any thing like sentiment in the
hearts ‘of the victors as they looked at the bodies of their

1 .vanquished. They had made an end of four enemies of the
' white race, and of one enemy of their country. They had

.done what they believed to be their duty, and their con-

- sciences did not reproach-them.

' , Henry Ewing felt a pang of pity as he viewed the corpse
of the officer whom he had shot; but this'feeling Was quickly
efl'aced by the thought that he had gained something for

r himself andhis friends.

The officer was a middle-aged than, about the size and
build of Ewing, who hastened to strip on his outer garments,

‘ assisted by Abdiel' and Sol Steele.

“What are you going to do now i" asked the old man.

“‘1‘ have guessed what you meant," replied Ewing. “I
shall borrow this man‘s clothes, and shall present myself at
the camp of the Shawnees in the character of a British om.
cer, As you suggested, a great'deal may he done with this
uniform?” , _ V , , , , ,
I “ But the.Shawuees may be acquainted with this officer, and
maydiscoverithat you, are imposing upon them."

. , “ There is'a risk to he run, no doubt; but 'we 'mustiexpect

to take some risks, it. we are to gain anything.”
“ You are young, and, have the world before ydu. I am

bid, and my life is useless to any one. Let me take the risk

in your place." ‘ ~ I V
“"11arryfs the right man to go,”_ ,sai‘dISol Steele, “,‘He's
just the right size, and he has the "gift of gab. Perhaps, if

 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
  
 
   
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

  

I’M?"

help him out.”

you took in t

hem pockets,_you mayfind some papers that ,will

' "The pockets were searched, and letters and documents were
found in them,r indicating-that the omce'r was named Captain
Cumberford, that he had recently come fromCanada, and that
he had passed through Detroit and Fort Miami, on his way to
incite the Indians to fresh outrages upon the settlers in Ken-
tucky. " ' "' > ' ' ‘ - '

Henry Ewing donned the uniform and assumed the ch- .
actor of Captain Cnmberford, and requested Abdiel to (“not
him to the Shawnee encampment. He was told that \he had
only to follow the trail he was on, which was a broad and
easy one, being a regular war-trace, and that he could hardly
miss it'by‘ moonlight. ’ "

A horse was found tethered near by, with the saddle and
holsters and'equipments that had belonged to the oflicer, and
Ewing mounted and rode doWn the trail,followed byithe God
speed of his companions.

It was the fact of his being a white man, no doubt, that
induced Abdiel and his friends to give burial to the body of
Captain Cumberford. They left the Indians where they lmd

‘ fallen, and went away from the trail, a short distance up the

slope, where they rested themselves under the trees. They
had been so excited by recent occurrences, that they were not
inclined to sleep, and preferred to talk over the events of the
day and their prospects for the future.

0 [I A P T E R X.
A REVELATION.

Son STEELE had noticed that old Abdiel showed no more
symptoms of the madness that had broken out on him ‘occa-
sionally, and was curious to know the reason of the change in
his demeanor. 'He hinted at the subject, quite delicately, to
the old man, who appeared to be not unwilling to convey-n;

¢

frankly concerning itl'

 

 
   
   
  

 

' mortally wounded.

, “Mm-Mr...» ._._A, V ___~

   
 
 
 
 
 
   
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   

i" Anetta,- um AVENGEL

“ I believe that I haw been crazy at times," he said ;«“ in

fact, I know that I new hecn ; but a great change has come;

over me during the past day. It mur-I he that your company
and conversation have changed me. I t is so long since I have
seen and spoken with any of my own race, that I have be-
come more like a wild animal than a man.” ‘

“ I would like to know," remarked Steele, “ if it ain't bein’
too inquisitive, how long you have been in the Woods, and
how you got’thar ?” t

“ I will tell you. One of you asked me how I happened
to have on hand the powder with which my mines were
charged. I said that it was a long story, and that it had
nearly passed from my memory; but it has come back to me
now, and you shall bear it. I

“ Nearly a year ago I was descending the Ohio in a keel-
boat, intending to go up the Licking and seek a location for
a settlement. Willi me were my son and daughter, and {our
men whom I had hired for the trip. We were a little dis-
tance below the mouth of the Scioto, when the boat was
hailed from the right 'bank bya solitary white man. My son,
who was on deck with the four other men, steered the boat
in toward the shore, and was told by the white man that he
had escaped from the Indians, and was in distress. We had
heard of decoys; but the claims of humanity overcame our
caution.

“ The hands mantth the sweeps, and rowed in to take him
off; but, when the boat had nearly reached the bank, a num-
ber of Indians jumped up and fired a volley into it. By that
volley every man in sight, including my son, was killed or
I escaped by being inside of the inclo-
sure with my daughter.

“ I at once went out, and succeeded in turning the boat's
head from the shore. There happened to be acurrent setting
oil‘ at that point, which carried it out into the middle of the
river.

“ The boat was hardly out of reach of rifle-shots from the
north bank, when I perceived that the Indians were putting
out from below, in a flat-hoat which they had captured, and
which they used for the purpose of making other Capture; I
knew that they would not endeavor to force their boat against

 

 

mi mat '0': mm:

the current of the river; but Would wait to intercept me be-
low. The only chance to save the lives of my daughter and
myself lay in reaching the south bank and trusting to the
shelter of the woods. -

“ Bx great exertions I succeeded in effecting a landing,
made the boat fast, and hastened ashore witlt my daughter.
When I had taken her a considerable distance into the forest,
I bethonght myself of my rifle. I had not been able to carry
it and take care of her, and I knew that it was absolutely
necessary for the support of our liVes. As it would be some
time before the Indians would be able to get to shore and
reach the point where I had landed, and as it was, by that
time, so dark that they would be unable to trace our trail, I
determined to return for the rifle.

“ No enemies were in sight when I reached the boat, and
I thought it best, as I could do the work in a few minutes,
to scuttle it, to prevent it from falling into the hands of the
Indians. This was soon done, and l'. secured my rifle and a
quantity of ammunition. As I came out on deck, I was star-
tled by Indian yells, and at least a dozen savages came rush-
ing down the bank.

‘t The boat was sinking rapidly. My daughter was far in
the forest, and it was impossible to reach her. I was crazed,
and knew not what I did. I had lost every thing but my life,
and it was only a blind impulse that prompted me to save
that. Ijtmiped into the water, and found myself, the next
morning, lying under the trees on the north shore. -I must
have swum "crass the river and climbed the bank; but I
knew nothing of what had happened

“ I do not know how or where I lived for a while. Provv
i-lt-nCe in its mercy, had destroyed my memory. In the Course
of time, as the water fell, 1 saw the boat on the other side,
loft nearly dry. I had found an Indian canoe, in which I
crossed the river. I took from the boat, mnongother articles,
a rifle and sew-ml wat- rproof cans of powder, which I brought
away and concealed on this side. In the course of my wan-

' derings I discovered the cavern in which you met. me, and re-

moved my property thither. .
“ I have since lived in the forest, supporting myself 1,). my
title, and caring for no other life until you came I was once

 

 

 

  
   
    
   
  
   
  
  
    
   
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
  
  

 

 

 

swarms-titans " ‘  " :3;

avprisoneramqag the-Indians; but, they .did‘ not harm me—
perhaps for. the reason that” théyiconstdei-éd ‘ me insane?" ‘If
they had known how many of their warriors 'I hadIslaini,'I
think they would not have sttfi‘ered me to live. i ‘
“As I said, a great change has come over me. It may
have been caused by the companionship of white men, or it
may be that my mind has been gradually restored to its bal
Nice. I know that I now have my reason, and my memory -
has come back to me. There is but one thing I have forgot §
ten, and that is my own name. .When I was among the In-
dians I learned the name of the white decoy at the river. ’ It
was Arthur Dutith. I can never forget that; but I 'am ut-
terly unnhle to recall my own name.”
“ Was it Gideon Wingate ?" asked Sol Steele, who had
been listening intently and gazing earnestly at the old man.
“ Yes! That is my name! Who are you, and how did
you learn it?"
“ If you are Gideon Wingate, your darter is alive.” . , h ;
“ Alive! It is not possible. For God's sake, do not trifle
with me i" ' )' '
"‘ I ain’t much of a triflin‘ character. Jest listen a minute.
Suthin’ less’n a year ago, I had escaped from Detroit, and was
guidin’ Colonel Rallston and his folks across from Limestone
to the place ou'the Lickin' wlmr they meant to settle." We
had camped for the night, and I was tnltin‘ a 'leetle scout “is”,
around, when I found a white gnl thar in the Woods; ‘She
told about the same story that you have told, exceptin’ she al-
lowed that her father was sartinly killed, as she had heard the
‘Injuns yellin’ and firin’ arter he went back to the river. 5
took her into camp and Went to the river the next mot-nit”
but the boat was sunk, and thar was no Sign of her fath. i

find We went on. She called herself Laura Wiugute. and st.

I that her father’s name was Gideon Wingate.”

The old man was trembling to such a degree, and such a
wild fire blazed in his eyes, that his friends began to fear a
relapse into insanity.

“ My daughter l” he exclaimed. “ You saidthat she is liv~
ing. Where is she P”‘ ‘

.“ She has been livin’ with Colorel Rallston's folks,_yvho
think the world of her. Bu‘ she is the one” who was picked

 
 

zen, w J  * ‘ .. ~ -, ~ ~~~~~~

.'  emcee ' V '67“
3 hp by the Injuns, with Emmu'Ra'l’lst'on, and she is. now in the
Shawnee camp." ‘ v
“ And the name of the white man who led the Indians in
Arthur Du‘tith ?” . r
‘f Arthur Dutith. That's 'another score fur him ‘to settle, I

uanu n

CHAPTER x1.
TEE CAPTIVES.

I EMMA RALLSTON and Laura Wingnte had left the station
'with the knowledge and approval of Colonel Rnllston. When
the Indians had stolen the horses belonging to the’seltlement,
it was supposed that they had gone nwuy satisfied, and that
there were no more in the vicinity. The two boys wer‘e'sent
'with the young ladies us company, ruther than as n protec-
“on.
( _ Tliey strayed more than a niilefrom the'stntio'n,the'ir pur-
‘ 'pose'heing to reach the edgelof n “ barren," where blackber-
W‘“ 'ries were abundant. They were busily engaged in filling their
-’ baskets, When the Indians silently approached them, 'nnd one
of the boys wns knocked down with’ u tomahnwk before the
I presence of the assailants Was discovered.
. The other boy and the young ladies attempted to escape by
flight, but “we speedily captured, and Emma and Laura were
"(impelled to Witness the slaughter and sculping of their re-,.~
twining companion. The girls were then taken into the for-
'4st, Where their captors joined a. large body of Indians, who
were on their way to the station.
“Among the Indians, and apparently acting as their leader,
/ (\vas'a man in the uniform of a British oflicer, whom Emma
;' Rallston hnd no difficulty in recognizing as Arthur Dutilh, the .
half-breed Tory, Who had pressed'his,attentions on her while
she with residing in Virginia, and who had been flogged by
'lier‘brother'Hngh; end finally driven out of the country.
Thin mdivlaual‘spprba‘ched her with a malicious smile on

 

 

 

    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     
  
 
 
    
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
   

 

: ficulty in doing their errand.

poses. Seavey \\ ill lend them into a trap, if he has not al-

    

56 4 ’ ume, no: “new.
his unpreposSessing countenance, and congratulated her upon
being in his presence and ttnder his protection. '

Emma, who was a high-spirited and fearless young woman
of twenty, answered him only with a glance of contempt.-

“ I told your people long ago,” he said, “ that I would be
revenged upon them, and that you should yet be mine. You
perceive that I have remembered my promise, and that I have
kept my Word. I have waited long for this opportunity, and
have watched for it carefully, and have so laid my plans that.
it will be impossible for you to escape from me. You must
become my wife, or worse, and the sooner you make up your
mind to it, the better for your peace and happiness.”

“ I shall not allow .you to disturb my peace of mind,"
proudly replied Emma. “ I have no doubt that I shall escape
from your hands, though you have captured me in such a
mean and cowardly manner. My father and brother will soon
miss us, and they will raise a force that will scatter your In-
dians and make an‘ end of them. .

Dutith laughed—a hard, dissonant. mocking laugh.

“ Soon there will be none of your people left alive to inter-
fere with me," he said. “ Listen, and Iwill tell you how well
my plans have been arranged, and then you will know that
there is nothing left for you to do but to submit to my will.

'It Was easy for me to learn that you had removed to this

country, and where you were located. I sent a man whom I
could trust to live witlt your people,'aud to lettrn their habits
and strength. His name was Seavey, and you doubtless knew
him well. Then I senta party of Indians to steal your horses,
Seavey arranging matters so thatthe party could have no dif-
My object in this was to wea-
ken the force at the station, by drawing off men in pursuit of
the horses; but I had another object. Can you guess what

it was 1'”

“ I have no disposition to try.”
“I knew that Hugh Rallston would be one of the party,
and that my man Seavey would be another. They went af—‘

‘Vter the horses, and I saw them and counted them as they

went. Imigltt have "killed them before they crossed the
river; but they went with tny permission and for my pur-

a ' “ - hummer.  I I 

ready done so, and they will be captured by the Shawnees,
g and will be held until I come and decide what‘shall be done
 with them. Don‘t you think that I Will :be revenged on
 Hugh Rallston for his treatment to me ?"

If Emma had been able to kill the half-breed, she would
have struck him dead where he stood, reckless of all conse-
quences. She could not trust her lips to answer him, and
said nothing.

“ There is another in that party,” he continued, “ in whom
I believe. you feel some interest. What do you suppose his
fate will he? I do not know, myself, but am of the opin
ion that it will depend somewhat upon you. As you can’t
rely on your brother, will you fall back on your father and
the people at the station? Within an hour every one of
them will be dead or in our hands. What chance do you

\ think they have? Five of them have gone after the horses.

 Eight or ten are at work out in the corn-patches. Those
‘cight or ten will be cut oil“, and will surely be killed or cup-
tured. Do you suppose that the few who will be left at the
station can defend it against all these Indians? You per-
ceive, my proud beauty, that you must be mine, and that my _
revenge on your family will be complete.” A '

, He laughed again—the same harsh, unpleasant, mocking

 laugh—and went to another part of the forest, leaving the

girls in charge of the Indians who had captured them.

The proud and fearless spirit of Emma Rallston was near-
ly crushed. She could not doubt that all was as Dutith
had told her. When she saw how carefully his plans had

y, been laid, and how exactly they had been carried out thus
5 far, she was forced to believe that there was no hope for
her or her family and friends. The probable fate of her
brother and Henry Ewing was too horrible to think of;
death or captivity surely awaited her parents; while for
herself nothing remained but a life of misery or death by her
own hand. ‘ a '
Great as her terror was, she was obliged to conceal it for
the sake of her friend, who was two years younger than her-
self. and whose nature was not so capable of endurance as
her own.
 7 ' Laura Wingate was so distressed by her [own capture, by

 

 
  
  
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
   
    
  
  
    
  
 
 
 
 
   

 

mums, minivans.

theinfirder’ét the two boys, by the peril of Hugh Railston,

 by the danger that threatened her friends, that she was

completely broken dewn. She remembered toowell the
loss of her brother and her father, at the‘ hands ofthe In.
(liens, and these additional honors, as Dntith painted them,
'neari’y drove her crazy, Emma knew that her friend‘s grief
and weakness would only prompt the Indians to renewed
persecutions, and she used her utmost exertions to encourage
Laura and restore her composure.

Soon the girls knew that the attack upon the station had
been commenced, and they awaited the result in trembling
anxiety. From their position they could see nothing of what .
wa‘srgoing on: but the firing and yelling told them that
abloody work was in pregress. Believing that the plans of
*Dutith would be carried out, they could only pray 'for their
"friends. ‘

The dark cloud that overshadowed them turned up an
edge of its silver lining when they discovered that the attack
had not succeeded. They did not know who had been killed

'or Wounded, or what damage had been done by the Indians;

“but 'they soon learned that. the assailants, had been de-
feated, that the station had resisted their efforts to destroy
,
t.
D'utith came to them, and his face was black with rage.
“I have lost one point in the game,” he said, with an
bath. “ Has Séavey lied to me, or has help come in at the

‘station ? You can tell me, it‘ you will, whether they have re

ceiv‘e’d'any'reinforcements within the past ten days."

“ You 'will get no information from me," replied Emma.

“'Very well. It was only curiosity that caused me to ask
'yon,‘as it is of no consequence, now, whether there are'many
'or few at the station. If they have not received reinforce-
mcnts, each man must have done the work of twq'and I
atrt’wiiiing to admit that I never saw such fighting. They have
baffled me this time; but I will come again, and’will then

make sure of ‘them. These cowardly Shawuces will do noth-
‘ing more now. They have determined to return to their >

'o’w'n country, and 'will start early in thevmorning. ails it 'will
he a long journey for you, you had better content yourselves

'and‘go to sleep.”

  

~his other projects might also fall through.
V and his companions were expert and careful woodsmen, who

 away. i ' gm,

:Emm'BalmsnAorsetfinz her ewepmlssdwtom- re
solved to make an efl'orl; in behalf of her friend. ,

“Whyshould yonrtake this girl ‘3" she asked. “5he is

. not related to my family, and has pever done you any harm.
“She is_near.ly heart-broken. and is too weak to endure. the

fatigue and hardship of such a journey. You have nothing
to do. with her; let her return to the station."

Dutith smiled maliciously.

“ The Indians wouldn‘t allow it.” he said, “ if I should be
willing to let her go, and I am not willing. I can findtplenty
of use for such as she, and you must think that I have learned
Very little about you,-not to know that she is betrothed to
your brother. I mean to be fully revenged upon Hugh Ball-
ston, and there is more than one way to hurt him. The fail-

,ure oflthe attack on the station has only strengthened my

determination to make the most of the rest Of my opportuni-
ties. You had better content yourselves and try to sleep.”
Emma, endeavored to comfort her friend with the hope that
they might yet escape or be rescued. One of Duttth's plans,
which he had counted on as sure to succeed, had failed, and
Hugh Rallston

could not be easily led into a trap. The presence of such a

'body of Indians would arouse the settlers, who would speed-

ily rally and'pursue them. Thus she strove to raise. the
spirits of Laura, but with poor success, as her own were very
low, and she could really find no ground for hope.

Before daylight the Indians started down the river, and the
girls could only sob and moan as they were helplessly curried

.away from their home and friends.

When the sounds ,of firing inthe rear of the party pv- .
claimed that there was an enemy at hand, Emma again sougl.
to cheer her friend, and reminded Laura of her prediction
that thesettlers would rise. She was sure that the men at
the station would not have attempted to pursue the Indians
alolte,'and rightly, judged that they had received reinforce—
ments from other settlements.

,The girls soon learned that their friends had been am-

, bushedwnnd defeated, and were finally informed, of therein“
. “the conflict by Dutith, who. boastfully toldthem that 011'

 

 
   
  

 

  

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
   
 
   
  
   
 
  
 

 

   
 

mm, mm swam

white people had been driven back to the station with great
loss. ‘

“ I’m sorry to inform you, Miss Rallston, that your father
didn't happen to be among the killed," he said ; “ but I gave
him a few cuts with my tongue that were probably as bad
as bullets to him. We took a number of horses from these
people, and that is a windfall for you and your friend, as
you will be able to perform the rest of the journey on
horseback. ‘

The girls Were mounted, and the Indians reached the river
without any further molestation. They crossed in canoes,
swimming the horses, and resumed their march toward the
north.

Nothing of importance occurred until the afternoon of the
first day after the crossing was made, when the Indians who
were in the advance reported that they had come upon the
“ sign ” of white men.

The advance came to a bait, and the word was passed down
the struggling line. '

“ We will soon hear from Hugh Rallston and his party,
and will probably have the pleasure of meeting them," said

‘ Dutith, who was riding with Emma and Laura when the news

reached him. “ They can’t have got much further than this
when Seavey led them into a trap, and it is probable that the
Shawnees who captured them are near at hand."

CHAPTER XLI.
OPENING THE DEATH MINE.

CAPTAIN Qu'rr'ru rode forward until he reached the place
where Hugh Rallstou and his companions had lain down to
sleep, under the influence of the drug that had been admin-
istered to them by Seavey.

He found the Indians examining the hollow, considerably
puzzied by the appear-sum: of the ground. The ashes of a
the indicated that 'there had been an encampment on the spot;

   

If,‘

M.“wa

__ M-r..,.-.rc.c w‘, ,s u. .. s

' his employer.

 

m, en’s ‘ men .

but therewere so many tracks, both of red-men and whites,
,leading in so many different directions, that the Shawnee
trailers were obliged to confess that they did not understand
the “ sign.” V
The ditficulty was soon sochd by the appearance of Seavey,
with Night-Hawk and a few other Shawnees, who proceeded
to explain what had happened, Night-Hawk addressing him-
self to the Indians, and the spy reporting to Captain Dutitl .
The account of the latter was by no means satisfactory to
lie had used the powder, he said, as Captain‘
Dutith had directed him to use it, and it had the effect of
putting the whole party to sleep. When he had made sure
that they were all asleep, he left them, and went to find the
Indians, who, by previous arrangement, were to be near that
spot. He went on to describe his return, the disappearance
of the young men, the assault on the cavern, and the explo-
sion by which the party Was nearly destroyed. He did not
know who or what the man was who had taken the sleepers
to the cavern, but thought it probable that they were still
there.

When the entire band had collected in the hollow, it was /

decided that the cavern should be explored, and that its in-
mates, if it had any, should be captured at all hazards. A
picked party was sent up the slope for this purpose, and its
progress was watched with the intensest interest.

When the Indians had entered the cavern it was supposed,
that they had found it empty, and that there was no more
danger. The explosion that ensued was unexpected and ter-
rifying.

The Indians in the hollow were so stupefied, that it was
some moments before they could speak or move. They stood,
silent and motionless, staring vucantly at the smoke and dost
that arose from the cavern. None were worse frightened
than Seavey and Night-Hawk.
rock open under the feet of one party, and now they saw it
open over the heads of another. These terrible manifesta—
tions were too much for their equanimity, and they hastened
to put a safe distance between themselves and the scene of
the two disasters , .r I

. ‘When the smoke and dust had cleared away, the entrance

They had once seen the solid '

 

 
  
 

 

 

' Indians were won obliged to build a. fire to‘ give than ligh.

 

mm,=m""“ Am “ «me '

tdtb'té’cat‘re‘m'was no longer misread in its place wits r

masstofsindke-blackened rock. The explosion had simply

loosenVe‘d'a large portion of the clifl’, which had dropped down=t

into the opening, completely closing it.
Captain Dutith'wns in a fearful rage. The escape of Httgh

Rallston and his companions; whose capture he had regarded
as certain, had annoyed him greatly, and he believed that

\they must have had a hand in the subsequent developments;
He knew that the explosioti had been caused by some human
agency, and it was reasonable to suppose that that agency

‘could not be far distant from the scene of its operations. He
was resolved to make every possible etfort to discover the ob- .

jects of his vengeance.

The Shawnees we‘re no less indignant. It was not enough

that they had lost the opportunity of exulting in the tortures

‘of their escaped viptims; but they must be defied and» slaugh-
tered in their own country. And yet, it was some time be-‘
fore their anger was sufficiently fierce to induce them to take
action in the matter. The mysterious and terrible occur-
rences at the cavern had demoralized them, and they were loth
to approach the spot where the explosions had taken place.

Dutith encouraged them to not, urging that the warriors
who had entered the cavern might not have been killed. The
rock had fallen down at the entrance; but they might be in-
closed in the interior, alive, and unable to extricate themselves;
Their e‘ne'mles,‘ also. must be somewhere in the vicinity, and
should be found and punished; but it was the first duty of
the Shawnees to cndeavOr to rescue their friends, by removing
the debris of the explosion, and working their way into the
cavern.

He ascended the slope and began to throw aside the broken
rock. His example was followed by the Indians, although
they found it dilflcult to ovarcotne their repugnunce to such
labor, and undertook the task fearfully and unwillingly.-
The work was as difficult as the laborers were unwilling.
some of the masses of stone were so heavy that they could
not be Moved by as many as could take hold of them. and it
was'necessar‘y to break them into smaller fragments;

As it was nearly dark when the job was commenced; the

   
   
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
  
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   

  

to work by, and the indications were that it. would take them
the greater part of the night to dig their way into the env-
ern.

Emma Rallston and Laura Wingnte viewed these proceed-
inga with intense interest.
hollow by the Indians, and were guarded as usual, but were
free to look about and to interchange opinions with each
other.

Dutith had told them that they would soon hear from Hugh
and his companions, and would probably see them; but they
had. neither seen them nor heard anything about them. If
they had been captured, Dutith Would have been eager to
make the fact known, and his silence on that subject was at
least encouraging.

The girls could easily see that their captors wete perplexed
about something. There was a great deal of talking among
them ; but Emma and Laura could understand none of it, an
it was in the Shawnee language.

The arrival of Seavey was a development which the cap«
lives at once understood. It was he who was to lead Hugh
and his friends into a trap, and the Indians with him were
probably thos. who were to spring the trap. But they‘
brought no prisoners, and had nothing to offer but explana-
tions, and it was reasonable for tne girls to conclude that
their friends had escaped. The frequent pointing toward a
neighboring cliff, and the final ascent, by a number of" In-
dians, of the slope that led to the clifl“, induced them to be-
lieve that the untrapped party had escaped or sought con-
cealment in that direction. '

. After the explOsion, the girls were confident that Hugh and'
his companions were somewhere in the vicinity. They could
not understand what had happened, but knrw 111111 the In-|
dians had been foiled in some manner, and naturrally sup
posed that the explosion which they had witnessed was the
work of white men.

While they were seated on the side of the hollow, gazing
at the cliff and at the Shawnecs who had begun to remove
the mass of rock, Laura suddenly uttered an exclamation, and
grasped her friend’s arm convulsir'ely.

' “.Wflt is the matter i" asked Emma.

l ' \

They had been brought into the ,

   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
  
   
   
  
 
 
  
   
 
 
 
 
 
   

 
  

   
 
 
   
    
    
  
 
 
 
    
    
 
   
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 

   

 

" hope that the others will fall through.

mm, an “mom.

“I have seen Hugh, or his ghost l" ~

“ Where? Don't point; don’t show any excitement; but
whisper to me, and tell me what you mean.” -

Laura explained. as calmly as she could, that she had bee
looking at the clifi‘, and had seen a. man’s face at the edge.
It had been suddenly withdrawn ; httt the light of the setting
sun had shown it plainly, and she had recognized it as th
face of Hugh Rullston. ‘

" Don’t look that way again, dear,” entreated Emma.
“ You are too much excited to be discreet. The Indians are
watching us closely, and they might see the face if it should
be shown again."

Laura hid her eyes to avoid temptation. Emma, while ap-
parently gazing at nothing but the working party of Indians,
watched the edge of the elifl“, and soon a face appeared, which
she recognized by the last rays of sunlight.

“ It wasn’t Hugh,” she whispered. “ It was Joe Proctor.”

“Then they are both here,” answered Laura. “ I am sure
that I saw Hugh."

“ Seavey did not succeed in leading them into his trap, or
they escapt d from it. That. is certain. You now see, Laura.
that two of Arthur Dutith’s projects have faila, and we may
Hugh and Proctor

have seen us, and the others are with them, no doubt. They
will try to help‘ us—we know that—and they may be able,
with the aid of Providence, to do something for us. But
here comes Dutith, and he looks angry. Don’t say or do
any thing to give him a hint of what we have seen."

Dutith was angry, and he closely scrutinized the ecumen-
ances of his prisoners,-to judge whether they understood what
had happened in the hollow and at the cavern ; .but Laur-t

"held down her head, and Emma met him with a calm, un~
shrinking gaze. V

" You have disappointed us,” said the latter. “ You told
us that we would soon hear of my brother and his friends,
and that. we would probably see them. Were you mistaken
in your calculations, or do you not intend to allow us to see

them 1*" ‘

Dutith looked searchineg at the speaker. She was strangely
calm and outspoken. Could it be that she had seen any

 

 
 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

a cease.

thing that he had failed to observe—any thing that had in-
splred her with new confidence or with the hope of deliver-
ance? Whatever he may have expected, he learned nothing
from his study of her features.

“ My plans have not succeeded as well as I expected," he
replied, sullenly. “ Hugh Rallston and his party have es-
cared, so far; but I Will soon get hold of them. They can

' not be far from here, and it will be impossible for them to

reach the river without being discovered .by the Indians, who
will scour the woods in search of them. You need not de-
ceive yourself with the hope that any thing will-"

He was interrupted by a crash. A huge piece of rock had
become detached from the edge of the cliff, and had gone
thundering down, into the midst of the Shawnees who were
at work at the entrance of the cavern. The crash was fol-
lowed by yells and sbrieks, and the greatest consternation
prevailed among the Indians.

CHAPTER XIII.
THE unnxrnomn GUEST.

CAPTAIN DU'rrm, uttering a horrible oath, rushed to the
spot where the rock had fallen, and discovered that the terri-
fied Shawnees had run away from their Work, without stop-
ping to render any assistance to those who had been injured.
It was with the utmost difficulty that he could induce a few
9 t‘riors to go up to the cavern to look after their comrades.

It was a terrible blow. Three men had been killed by the
1:)”th of the rock. and others were badly bruised and mangled.

No wonder the Shawnee; Were afraid of the place, and un-
wiiling to go near it. Their superstitions were aroused, they
believed that the cavern was fatal to their race, and they dc.
clared that they would not meddle with it in any manner.

Dutith represented to them that the warriors who had been
shut in by the explosion might yet be living; that he was
sure that some at them were alive. as he had heard their cries

 
 

  

 
 
  
   
 
   
  
   
   
 
 
    
  
  
 
   
 
 
 
 
   

  

mm, inn svaxoan. ’

and groans; that the rock by which the entrance was choked ,
up was nearly removed; that the Shawnees were unwor'tl‘iy~ '
the name of men if they should not make another effort to
rescue their friends from death by sutl'ocation or starvation. '

He implored them and threatened them, plied them with
entreaties and stung them with taunts; but it was not until
he set the sample, by going to the cavern and applying him-
self vigorously to the work they had abandoned. that they as-
cended the slope, one after another, and fearfully returned to.
their task. - >

When he had got them at work, he went down into the
hollow, and had a consultation with the chief in command,
the result of which was that twenty warriors left the camp,
half of them going toward the north, and half toward the
south.

Dutith then went toward the place where his captives were
seated; but, instead of going up to them openly, as he had
done before, approached them stealthily from the rear, taking
great pains to prevent them from seeing or hearing him.

The girls were whispering to each other concerning the
, 3 last occurrence that had so shocked and frightened the Shaw-

' noes.

“ I believe it was either Hugh 0: Joe Proctor who loosened

w the stone from the edge of the cliff,” ’ said Emma.

3, g y “ Do you think they will try it again 1’" asked Laura.

" “ I hope not. They can do very little for us in that way,
If any thing: and they run a great risk.”

“ Hush l I think I can see one of them at the edge of the
cliff again." i,

, “ I believe I can see something moving there, though it is
so dark that I can’t distinguish what it is.“ i

“ You are both right I”

The girls started and screamed, so great was their surprise
at hearing these words pronounced so close to them, and at
seeing Captain Dutith rise up out of the ground as it seemed.

' “Don’t jbe frightened, young ladies," he said. “I have
taken theliberty of listening to your talk. and am satisfied
that you were both right. It was either Hugh Rallston or
Joe Proctor .who loosened that stone, and it was one of them
who was at the edge of the clifi' just now. My eyes are

.,.~.I.A_._...._.._.,_ . ‘.emt.,&?h- .

 

 

 
  
 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

better than yours, and I could distinguish a man’s face, thong-ls
I couldn't tell to whom it belonged. You need have no un
easiness about them, as they Won’t,r011 down' any more rocks.
[have sent some Indians to look for them, and we will soon
have them, dead or alive.”

A sudden thought flashed into Emma’s mind. Her friends
had been discovered, and it was her duty to warn them of
their danger. She acted on the thought instantly.

“ Run, Hugh i" she screamed, in a voice that the young
man would be sure to hear. “ Run for your life! The In-
.liuns are looking for you 1”

With a muttered curse, Dutith seiied her, and covered her
mouth with his hand ; but he let her loose directly, and
threw himself upon the ground near her.

“ You are too late,” he said. “ You ought to have warned
them before they threw down the rock, if you wanted them
to get away. I thought it strange that that rock should fall
without the help of human hands. When I looked at it, I
was quite sure that it had been rolled to the edge and dropped
over, and Isvnt some warriors around the ledge on each side,
to look for the men who had done the work. It was a bright
thought of yours, to scream and give them warning; but the
Indians have surrounded them by this time, and you need not
tl'ink that they will escape.” I

Hardly had Dutith finished this sentence, when the yell of
the Indians on the ledge told that he had spoken truly, and
that they had found and started their game. A few shots
followed. and then a yell of triumph, that caused Dutith to
look at Emma, with a smile of satisfaction on his face.‘

“ It is just as I told you," said he. “ l was sure that they

nuld not escape me. My revenge will be all the sweeter for

'.‘ .tving been delayed, and the Indians will take particular de-

light in torturing the men who have given them so much
trouble.”

Emma made no reply. but put her arms around Laura, who
was quite overcome by terror and grief, and awaited with a
beating heart the arrival of the Indians and their captives.

_ The Indians soon made their appearance, and they brought
only one prisoner, but amp was Hugh Rallston; - g
“ We'ré‘th'ére a?)~ til‘ore 7" asked Dutith, who win may

\

v

 

   
   
   
 
 
    
     
   
   

     
     
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

 

   
     

 

m womb; was among.
"disappointed, though his face was lighted up by a smile of
triumph as he looked at Hugh.

‘ A warrior explained that there had been one other white
man on the ledge ; but he had made his escape, although they
fired at him, and they had been unable to follow him in the
darkness.

“ This one is worth more to me than all the rest," said tha
half-breed. “ I would not have lost him for the whole Shaw
Lee country. What do you think of him, young ladies;
Isn’t he a fine figure of a man to burn at the stake? Would
the Indians disfigure his face, do you think, by shooting pow-
der in it? Hasn’t he a good scalp to dry in the smoke of a
Shawnee lodge? You will be very humble when his torture
begins, and will be willing to become my slave to save his
life.”

“I hope you will be nothing of the kind," put in Hugh.
“ I hope you will never give this traitorous and foul-mouthed
villain the pleasure of knowing that he has frightened you.
Have no fear for me. God himself has once delivered me
from the power of this man, and will rescue me again.”

“You think so ?” passionately exclaimed Dutith. “ We
will soon reach the Shawnee towns, and then you can call
upon God as much as you please. You will have cause
enough to call upon some one; but no one can help you
tlfirn. Do you suppose I have forgotten the time when you
beat me like a dog? It is my turn now, and you may be
sure that I will pay my debt with interest."

Hugh treated the half-breed’s outburst with silent contempt.
Emma and Laura could only look piteously at. their brother
and lover, who was then taken, by the direction of Dutith,
down into the hollow, where he was securely bound to alsapr
Jug. .

The half-breed, after indulging in a little abuse of hi.
prisoner, was called away to the cavern, where his presence
was required.

The Indians who were at work at the cavern had at last
reached the interior, and a sickening sight was presented
when they discovered the bodies of the warriors who har'
been in there at the time of the explosion. Most of them
had been near the entrance, and the mass of loosened rock

 

“,4.

v '-_.____r-—» -—-‘ ~—

 

 
  
  
   

<_v_,n_..v -- v;

.,-~Alnr~§

     

s new momma

he was found.

the death of some of their number.

 ‘ _ The Shawnees had not finished the work of burying the
' mangled remains of their comrades, when there was an
alarm in the camp, caused by the approach of a mounted
man, who came riding rapidly down the trail from the north.
As he was but one man, he was allowed to come on with-
out being challenged, and soon galloped in among the Shaw-
nees, presenting to their astonished eyes the unusual spec.
tacle. of a British omcer, riding alone and at night. through

91...

that wild country.

to recognize a compatriot.

—A _—_....._4 “w—‘N -4. .;‘

W.  . '
rm... 3

Q

a

,. y. g t , .., 1H —. AM,,,A_.,- . ..

 

 

_. ...A--_a-e A

1 ,
3 had.fallen upon them, Crushing them out of all semblance
of humanity. There were but three Who had not been killed
1 . outright. One of them was so badly mangled that ho was
“ dead when discovered, and another expired soon after being
brought out into the air. The third was uninjured by the.
explosion, but had been snfi'ocatcd, and was senseless when

The Shawnees, who had hoped to find their comrndm

. alive, were highly indignant at their loss. Twelve of their
l is number had beer. killed, and others were badly wounded,
 not to mention those of Night-Hawk’s party who had perish-
ed at the cavern, and it was no wonder that they were angry.

As they passed the tree to which the prisoner was bound,

their curses were botlt loud and deep. and they plainly in-

timated their desire to take vengeance upon him for their
misfortune; but Hugh Rallston did nohappcar to he fright-

, ened by their words or actions. Ile expccted no mercy from
them, and believed that they would have been no more ready
to show him favor if he had not been instrumental in causing

All gathered around him, and, questioned him eagerly—
especially Captain Dutith, in whom the new-comer was glad

He hastened to dismount and to tell his story, which was
highly interesting to hisauditors, for more reasons than one.

He was Captain Cumberfurd. of the British army, and had
come from Canada through Detroit and Fort Miami, on a
special mission to the, Indians, to make arrangements for a
4 combined attack on the settlements of. Kentucky and Western
‘V I 1’ Virginia. That very night. not an hour ago,as he was
, .- I  i? the forest with his emu at four Indians, they

I

 
  
 

 
  
   
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 

 

   
 

 

morn, 'rrm “mun.

/

were attacked by a party of white ‘men, whb surprised and
instantly killed all of his escort. Being near his horse,
which was ready saddled and bridled, he had mounted and
made his escape, the white men being on foot and unable to
follow. He had rode blindly through the woods, until be
perceived the light of the Shawnees‘ camp-fire, to which he
hastened for refuge.

His uniform was suflicicnt proof that he was what he
claimed to be; but he also produced letters and other docu-
ments, which he showed to Captain Dutith, who was entirely
satisfied, and was glad to meet him. In fact, he was cordial-
ly welcomed by all, and was invited to make himself at
home. '

Perceiving a white man bound to a sapling. the visitor in-
quired who he was, and advanced toward him.

Hugh Rallston could not help giving a start, in his sur-
prise at recognizing Henry Ewing, there in the Shawnee
camp, in the guise of a British ofllcer; but he controlled him-
self, at a warning gesture from Ewing.

Dutith gave an account of the capture of the prisoner, and
was proceeding to relate the occurrences that had led to it,
when he was stopped in the midst of his narration by Cap-
tain Cumberfurd.

“We are wasting time here in talking," said the latter,
“ when we ought to be acting. ,It is not far from here that
I was attacked, and I believe that the Indians might easily
find those white men and kill or capture them. There
were not more than half a dozen of them, and it is not likely
that they will leave that place before daylight.”

“ Perhaps a portion of the party that attacked you may

' be the very men I am searching for," remarked Dutith. “ If

you can tell me where your misfortuneoccurred. I think we
will be able to find them, and I will set the Shawnees on
their track at once.”

Captain Camber-ford easily described the glen through
which the War-trace rah, so that Dutith had no difficulty in
recognizing it. Telling his visitor to amuse himself as he
pleased, Dutith hastened to organize a war-party to go on
the trail of the white men. ~
This conversation had been held near the tree to which '

3' ~ .

 

 

 

 

r,

 

 

 

e

s'

,3,

   
 

to search the woods for the missing prisoner

 
  
 

 

.0131 (Ann aux.

“Hugh Rsliston was bound, and ‘Gumberford had raised his
voice, when he gave his description or the glen, so that the

. prisoner heard every word. \

' As soon as Dutith was out of sight, he stepped to the tree
and quickly cut Rallston’s bonds with a sharp knife, whis-
pering to'him as he did so:

“ Watch your chance, and slip ofl‘. You can easily find
your way to the p! we I spoke of, and tell our friends to lay
a. tl'ap for the war party."

Captain Cum mford acted and spoke so quickly that he
could not be suspected of holding any communication with
the prisoner. Having accomplished his object, he turned
away and joined the main party of Shawnees, among whom
Dutith was drumming up volunteers for his expedition.

The half-breed had no difficulty in inducing the Shawnees

to engage in an enterprise that promised them a cheap re-
venge, an} in a short time fifteen men, led by a brave and
skillful warrior, were ready to leave the camp.
- Just as they were about to start, an outcry was raised, as it
was discovered that the prisoner was missing. He had been
so securely hound, that it was not considered possible for him
to escape, and he had taken the precaution to carry away the
fastenings that had been cut, so that it could not be told how
he had managed to get loOse. The Shawnees had been so in-
tensely interested in the expedition that was being organized,
that they had no thought of the prisoner, and no one knew
when or how or in what direction he had disappeared.

Captain Dutith was in a terrible rage, and distributed his
curses right and left among the Indians, for their negligence
in permitting the prisoner to escape. In his anger he had the
sympathy of Cumberford, who declared that he had noticed,
when passing near the prisoner, that he seemed to be car.-
lessly secured, and had intended to speak about it. This was
acoepted as the correct version of the afi‘air by Dutith, in spite
of the protestations of the Shawnees that no captive was ever

fastened in a more thorough manner.

The half-breed did not permit his'wrath to run away with
his reason. . Hoping to efi‘eet the capture of Railston’s com-
panions, he hurried ofi‘ the war-part y, and then sent out soon

  

 

  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
  
 
 
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 

 

( H A P T E R X I V
m WAR-PARTY’S sPorLs.

'A‘N 51mm score for Arthur Dutith to settle."

Those who beheld Gideon Wingate’s eyes and the wild ex-
pression of his countenance when Sol Steele announced that
there was another score for Dutith to settle, were convinced
that he only needed an opportunity to close accounts with the
wretch wno had decoyed his boat, and hadcnused the death
of his son and the loss of his daughter. Y

He snook his fists vengefully, muttering a half-audible im-
precution, and then his countenance changed.

“ My daughter 1" he exclaimed. “ She still lives. God has
been merciful to me. But she is in the power of the Shaw-
nees, and of that hellish villain. What can I do to rescue
her 1’" ’

' “ Nothin’, jest now.” replied Steele. “ The British ossifer
that we sent down among the Slmwnees may l’urn suthin’, or
they fix up some way for us to be of use; but thor’s no sign
of an openin’ yet.”

‘ “ My time will come; 1 am sure of it; and that foul wretc‘h
will be punished for his crimes.”

“ We all hope so. Thor‘s more’n one got an account to
settle with him. ‘ Whatever may happen, we must have pa-
tience, and mus‘n‘t make any kcerless move. I wish that
Hugh and Joe had come with. us, ’steed of stayin' down you-
der at the ledge.”

“ Joe is a very careful hand," suggested Pirtle.

,“"I‘ain‘t Joe I’m skeered about, but Hugh. He will he
wantin’ to keep his eyes on Miss Laura, and the red-skins may
git sight of him. But it won’t do no good to worry. We
had better lie down here and try to git'some sleep afore
mornin’-‘nll but one of us. I reckon Pirtle can stand

‘ watch."

Steele’s companions accepted his suggestion, and laid down ;
but none were in the humor for sleeping, the late exciting oc-

 

('3

  

 

 
 

‘4

golf/'2

by the severest torture;

, me hecuuse he is took, and I will tell you how he we: took if

, i‘t‘scnttered ’em l

~ on" the gels.

  

'fi'm‘ mm.“

entrances having made them wakeful. If they had slept, they
would soon have been aroused, as they had been lying down
but a. short time when a men was observed prowling about the
glen, who proved to be Joe Proctor. He was joyfully wcl'.
comcd, and was overwhelmed with inquiries concerning what
had happened and why he was alone.

“ Don’t ull speak at once," said Proctor.

  
    
  
    
  
 
 
 
   
 
  
    
   
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
   

“ Hugh ain‘t with

you will give me a chance to talk. Hugh and I looked over
the edge of the cliff, down thnr, and we saw the Injuns and
that ur‘ Duti‘th and the two gels. The Shawnee: hnd gone to
Work to move the pile of stun’ that had tumbled down, and
thnr was at big rock right at the edge that wus powerful loose.
It was it mighty temptation, as it Was jest over that heads,
and Hugh and me fetched it a shove, and over it went. and
dropped right down among the Injuus. 'I‘hunderot‘ion l, how
It smashed a few of ’exn, Ireckon, and they
set up u nation of u. howliu'.

, “ Jest then we ought to have. left thur, and soI told Hugh ;
but he said he wanted to see what dnmage had been done;
though the fact was, I reckon, that he couldn’t git his eyes
So we stayed, ontil I heerd suthiu’ scrnmltlin’
about on the ledge, and jest then Hugh‘s sister yelled to us,
all of u sudden, and tohl us to run. The Iujuns had gone
arou‘nd the ledge, and had sneaked up on us quietly. We
both started to run, and I jest more‘u tumbled down the rocks
and into the brook, though they fired at me right peert; but
they got Hugh.

I kep‘ up the branch n. ways. and then struck into the tim-
ber, and got out of the way; but I lost myself, and didn‘t
know whnr to look fur you folks, and jest wandered about in
the woods for a long time. How I ever huppened to stumble
onto you is more’u I can tell. Jest my durned fool luck, I
reckon." I

The capture of Hugh Rullstou cost a gloom over the party.
Not only did they feel the loss of one of their best men, but
they knew that Dutith and the Slinwnees, eager to take 'ven-
genuce upon him, would show him no mercy. His fate seemed
to be settled, and his death could not fail to be accompanied

 

 

 

 

, , . l
70 ‘ mm, m amen.
While they were lamenting his capture, and debating al.
sorts of possible and impossible plans for effecting his rescue
and that of the girls, they were most agreeably surprised by
the appearance of their missing comrade himself. He had
easily followed the route that Henry Ewing had so accurately
described to Dutith, and had made all possible speed to reach
the glen, running so fast that he was quite breathless and un-
ebxo to answer his friends when they hailed him.

He was plied with qrestions even more vigorously thun_

Proctor had been, and answered them briefly, as soon as he
had taken breath, simply stating that he had been set free by
Henry Ewing, who was in the Sir-rwnee camp in the guise of
a British otflc-er.

“ We have no time to talk," he said. “ Action is the word
now. Henry Ewing has persuaded Dutith to send a war-
party out to capture you fellows, and he told me to hurry to
this place and tell you to lay a trap for them. I have run
all the way like u. seared wolf; but they will soon be here.”

“ How many are in the party? asked Steele.

“ Haven’t the least idea. I had no time to look about or
to ask questions. [Lin-v knows what he is about, I suppose.”

“ Reckon he does, and he won’t be likely to send more than
we can manage. But they will be double our number, any-
how, and we will have to do good work. It is lucky that
Harry left his rifle here, Hush. as you will need it. I reckon,-
boys, that we had better move down yonder to the bresh,
whar we war when we struca the ossifer and his Injuns. It‘s
the best hidiu’-place lll'll I've noticed hereabout." '

The six men moved dovm the hill, and stationed them-
selves behind the clump of bushes which they had previously
used as a. shelter. All were eager for the fray, and did u t
allow themselves to doubt that they would triumph in the e:-
peoted contest.

“ It’s goin‘ to be by quick loadin’ and firin‘ that we will
win the fight, if we do win it.” said Steele; “ and you must
have everythin' ready, So as not to waste a second when the
shootin’ begins." ' ‘

'l‘he scout's advice was heeded, and the preparations of the
party were made none to soon, as a low “ hist ", from their
" leader shortly informed theni that their toes were in sight.

 

 

     
   

 

 

Si.

 

 

.-

t

A, sum yams. ' 77'

A few Indians came stealthlly and silently into the glen,
looking warily about, as if anticipating an ambush or search-
ing for an unseen enemy. At a little distance behind these
scouts walked the main body of warriors; ,

As they passed a point where the moonlight fell full'upon
them, the white men were able to see them plainly and to
count them.

“ ’l‘nar‘s fifteen or sixteen of ’em," 'whispered Steele.

,: " t‘hey'il be sure to step down thar whar the dead Injuns are

4‘ lyin’, and then we will give ’em Bunker Hill. Every man
must make sure of his shot, and then must lead in jest no
time."

As Steele had expected, the Shawnees stopped at the bodies

1 of their slain comrades. The scouts in advance were first
" ' attracted by them, and, after examining the locality and look-
., ing about for enemies, beckoned to their comrades, who were
4 4‘ ' soon gathered at the spot.

The white men, with their rifles pointed through the
bushes, and each with his ramrod and his charger full of
powder ready at hand, waited for the Word. A great deal of
jabbering and gesticulntion ensued among the savages, some
of “11011) knelt to examine the tracks that were plentiful near
the bodies.

  They were in a huddle together when Steele's low whistle
' gave the signal to fire, and the six rifles spoke at once.

The effect of the discharge was as if a lightning bolt had

, fallen among the Shawnees. The warrior who led the party

74 ' was one of the ‘fallen, and those who were uninjured hast-
l enetl to make their escape from the fatal spot. but were ral-
lied until they could fire avolley into the bushes. Then they
'seatnpered away, to seek cover and reload.

Lying in a little gully. on the edge of which grew the
bushes that sheltered them, the white men were untouched by
the bullets that whistlcd near them. They had nearly ‘2-
loaded when the volley was tired, and again poured the (on-
.‘ tents of their deadly rifles into the backs of the Indians as
they ran to cover.

This quick work completed the consternation of the
Shawnees, who doubtless imagined their enemies to be double
their actual number. Without making any further attempt

a

 

   
 

 

  

 
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  

 

 
 

 

mes. wemgm
to seat; shelter or to relate their weapons, they ran out of the
pass and down the, trail as fast as. their legs wouldeerry

them.

With loud shunts the white men emerged from their con-
cealment and ran down the slope, joyful in their victory,
and only sorry that their guns were empty, so that they were
unable to send their parting blessing after their enemies.
They did not attempt pursuit, as the Indians had too fair at
start, hardly looking back as they continued their rapid retreat.

Then ensued the sickening work of putting an end to those"
who were not already dead. Eight of the war-party had m1.
len, and there was no danger that the remainder would return
to renew the contest.

“ Twas the skeer we give ’61:) that did the business,” re-
marked Sol Steele, “ We did powerful good work; 'but they
mought hztve been too much for us, if we hadn‘t skeered the

' heads ofl' of 'em at the start.”

“ We are indebted to Harry Ewing for helping us to this
piece of good luck," remarked F"l‘ 

“Smart thing in Harry; but 1 am.“ quite so sartin ’bout
the good luck, though it's mighty hard luck for the Injuns.
It’s astonishin’ what a slaughter we have made among them

' critturs, countin‘ it all together. If those who went into the

cavern never come out, thar must have been a dozen of ’em
killed down yonder."

“ Fifteen, after Joe and I rolled the rock down upon them,”
suggested Hugh. ‘

“ Call it. fifteen. Thar’s a dozen here,und that makes e’en.
a‘tnost thirty that we have settled, in one way or another.
When we git back home, boys, it" we ever do git back, we
will have suthiu’ to brag about."

“ We will that," asserted Joe Proctor.

“ Suthin’ to brag about, sartuin; but the gain to us don’t
amount to as much as the loss to the Injuns. If we war only
on a scout, without any partic'lar business, we thought. say
that we had done a big job of work; but it don’t help to git
the gals out of the bends of the Shawnees and that cussed
Dutith.”

This view of the matter had a, discouraging effect upon the
wet we so one enemas t9 meow“ it:

o

  

 

  

 

   
 

  

mum: mm.
 “Tut: is What nought bounce humming we: intex
Amity," continued the scout; “and it stands ’to reason that
the Injune will be powerful mad. They ain’t goin’ to put up
with bein’ whipped on thar own dunghili, and will hunt us
high and low. We won’t be able to git nigh the trail ag’in,
as they will have the woods full of scouts when they move,
and it will be as much as we can do to keep our scaip's on
)ur heads. We can't hope to hinder 'em from gitti'n' to that-
.owns, and then our chance to help the gala will be slim
enough." .

The young men could not help but feel the force of these
remarks, and anxiously inquired what they should do.

“The fast thing to do is to git out of the way,” replied
Steele. “The Injuns will be on the move right soon, and
will be arter us hot-foot. We had better try to 'glt behind
’em, I think, and thar is a good openin’ now fur wine lust-
.rate trail coverin’.”

CHAPTER XV.
ansnma THE TRAIL.

Emma RALLSTON and Laura Wingate had not failed to see
Ewing when he came into the Shawnee camp in the guise of
a British officer. After a while they had a better View of
him, and both thought that they recognized him.

“If it isn't Harry,” s'aid Laura, “it is a man who exactly
resembles him ; but it can’t he Harry, of course.” '

“ It in Harry,” replied Emma, whose eyes. naturally keeuer
than her companion’s, were sharpened by love.

“ But he wears the uniform of a British ofllcer. Can it be,
possible that he has deserted his country and turned traitor?"

“ Harry Ewing a traitorl Don’t you know that that is
impOSsible? He has procured that uniform—I can’t guess
how—and is here for the purpose of helping us; buy, he i.
running a fearful risk."

“ Captain Dutith appears to be very friendly toward him.”
“No doubt, he believe: him to be at British (:3th

 

 
 
   

 

’ \ ' mums.  #mem‘

V They are talking together quite earnestly, and Barry int)“

have home plan for our benefit, or to help Hugh. Now Du-
tith has leftihim, and Harry steps quickly toward Hugh. He
stops at the tree; Laura I”

“ What is it it" asked the excited girl.

“ I do believe that Hugh is free, that Harry has cut his

' bl mds i"

“ Impossible ! He was not there a moment.”

“ Be quiet, and wait, and you will see."

, Ewing went toward the north, and in a few minutes the
girls witnessed, with intense satisfaction, the escape of Hugh
Rallston, who crawled away under the shelter of a mass of
undergrowth, and was soon out of sight.

Clasping each other‘s hands, they uttered prayers of thank-
fulness for his escape, and continued to breathe prayers for his
safety during the search that ensued.

“ Do you think they will find him ?” timidly asked Laura.

“ I hope not," replied Emma. “ No, Laura; they will not
find him. Hugh is a splendid runner, and it is night. Al-
though the moon is shining, they can't follow his trail, and
he had a good start. Now you know that Harry Ewing is
here, and that he cut Hugh’s bonds. Let us pray that he
may be able to help us.”

“ I will pray that he may come to no harm, himself.
Seavey was here yesterday evening, and he may recognize
him."

" How 50? Harry Ewing has been at Harrod’s station,

and has not visited our settlement since Seavey came there.”

“But Seavey was with the party that went to hunt

“the horses, and Harry joined them somewhere down the

river.” ' 2
“ You are right. How stupid I have been, that I did u: 3‘
think of thatl I have not seen Senvey tonight, but he must
be somewhere about the camp."

The uheasiness of the girls was without cause just then,
as Scavey had left the camp about nightfall, with Night-
Hawk and the remuinder of that Warrior’s party. Their su-
perstitious fears had been so thoroughly aroused by the'oc-
currences at the cavern, that they were actually afraid to re—
main in the vicinity, and they sought and obtained pm

   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
   
   
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
  
 
 
    

 

 

 

   

; “laurel-"or man.- i!

1 sion to go on to the town, to make preparations tor the' re-

ception of the prisoners. ,

Emma. Rallston, not knowing 0f Beavers absence.‘WiSde
that Ewing would come near her, so that she might wnm
him of his danger and advise him to escape in time, although
she feared that Laura, by her recognition of him, might
cause his true character to be discovered.

Harry Ewing, probably fearing some indiscrction on his
own part, as well as on the part of Emma and Laura, did
not trust himself to the recognition of either of them. It.
had been nearly two months since he had seen Emma, and
he was naturally anxious to speak to her, especially when she
was in such a perilous position ; but he wisely resolved that
he would not go near her, until he should have reason to be-
lieve that he could do so \vitb safety.

When Dutith had set on foot the search for Hugh Ball;
man, he spoke of his captives to his visitor, and ofi‘ered him
the privilege of making their acquaintance; but the officer
professed a great lack of interest in backwoods beauties, and
politely declined the offer. ‘

The Indians who had been sent to recapture the missing
prisoner gradually returned from'their unsuccessful hunt; and
Dutith‘s rage was so great that the presence of Captain Cum-
berford did not restrain his curses.

“ I would rather have lost a hand than that fellow," he
said. “ I have a grudge against him and all his family
They were pestilent rebels in Virginia, and did great harm
to the cause of the king. One of those girls that I brought
from Kentucky is'his sister. It is very strange that he got
loose as he did." . '

“ I am quite sure that he was Carelesst tied."

“ The Shawnees had good reason to keep him secure
But I will get him again. He will doubtlesa try to join his
friends, the same men who attacked you.”

“ If he has joined those people, he has got into trouble by
this time. I am sure that they were not more than six' in
number, and your sixteen warriors. if they_can be relied upon
for any thing, will give a good account of them.”

a , ‘_‘ I am sure, that they will.” ‘
.' To give the lie to the confident assertions of both the

\

" ’ ‘/ ,- I e, \

11—:

mas—x..- 1.2:,4vrv

 

 

 

 

 

7 ‘ new. mamas: ‘

ofilcers, one of the Shawnees who had escaped from the
massacre at the glen came running into the camp, closely fol-
lowed by his companions. .

It was speedily known that the war-party had been de-
ft-ated, with the loss of more than half their number, and
the intelligence caused the greatest excitement among the
Indians.

The first arrivals reported that they had been attacked
from an ambush by at least a dozen men, that their chief!
had been killed at. the first fire, and that their loss had been
so sudden and so great that they had been unable to resist,
and had fled for their lives. The last comer was certain
that the number of their enemies was exaggerated, and that
it was the surprise that caused the defeat of the‘war-party.
He had not been too badly frightened to look back while
retreating, and had counted Only six white men. The state-
ment of this man agreed with that of Captain Cuniherford,
who was sure that there had been_not more than half a dozen
men in the party that attacked him and his escort.

Captain Dutith had very little to say upon the subject.
His vocabulary of oaths was nearly exhausted, and he had
none left that were strong enough for the occasion. Ill luck
seemed to have overtaken him. His schemes were falling
through, and he had brought defeat and disgraceupon the
Indians. True, the disasters had happened through no fault
of his; but they had happened in the attempt to execute
his plans, and he was to a considerable extent responsible for
them.

The escape of Hugh Rallston and th discomfiture of the
war-party troubled him greatly. Had he defeat of the six-
teen warriors been caused by carelessness or cowardice, or
had the missing prisoner reached his friends in time to give r
them information of the force that had been sent against
them! The last supposition was very unreasonable; but
it might be true. The ambush had certainly been laid as it
the white men had expected the Shawnees and had prepared
for them.

The half-breed had a consultation with the chief and some
of the principal warriors, at which Captain Camber-ford was
“agent. I} was agreed that the party should at once so on

/'

 

 
 

b‘w‘

 

 

‘i’epresented as having been killed, and the four were still

 

 $111011 mom” 8!"

to the Shawnee town, without stopping. for any other enter-
prise whatever. They would send scouts in advance and
on each flank, to guard against an attack, but Would do noth-
ing more until they should reach the town. Then, if Gap-
tain Dutith could persuade any Indians to help him search
for his enemies, he would be welcome to do so; but the
warriors there present did not hesitate to admit that they
were infected with the superstitious dread that had taken so
strong a hold upon Night-Hawk and Seavey. The chief de-
clared that he was willing to fight men, but it was useless to
strive againsts evil spirits.

Dutith acquiesced in this decision, knowing that it would be
useless to argue against it. He had the two girls in his power,
and that was a great point gained, both for his revenge and
for what he called his love. He was sure that their lovers
and friends would not return to Kentucky without attempting
a rescue, and he hoped that such an attempt would lead to
their capture.

Day was beginning to break when the fugitives from the
glen arrived, and the sun was rising when the Shawnees were
ready to leave the fatal hollow and resume their march toward
the north.

The captives were mounted, and were placed, as usual, in
the middle of the line of march. They had reason to suspect -
that some new misfortune had happened to the Indians, but
could not guess what it might be. Hugh had escaped, Seavey
was not to be seen, Ewing was safe so far, and they had cause
for thankfulness, if not for hope. ~

During the march Henry Ewing approached them occa-
sionally, coming near enough to exchange glances and slight
gestures of reCognition, but did not venture to speak to them,
or make any further demonstrations.

Scouts were sent in advance and on each side of the main
body, as had been agreed upon, to guard against the possibi-
lity of another ambush, and the party soon reached the glen
which had already witnessed two disasters.

The fugitives had corroborated Captain Cumberford's ac-
count of the destruction of his escort, by saying that they had
found in the glen the bodies of the four Indians whom he had

 

  

   
 

84 I, d. _'Annmn,'rnn amen.

I

there, together with the eight victims of the subsequent mas-
sacre. ' ' ‘

Dutith and the Shawnee chief were convinced, nftera care-
ful exunination of the “ sign ” in the vicinity, that there had
been not more than half a dozen men in the party that de-
feated the sixteen warriors, and fresh curses were vented nver
the disgrace of that defeat. A few picked scouts were sent
1 ) follow up the trail that the white men had made as they
J ft the glen, and the remainder of the Shawnees proceeded
to bury the bodies of their slain comrades.

While they were engaged in this task, they happened upon
a'newly-made grave, and upturned the body of a white man,
nearly destitute of clothing, who had been shot through the
head.

Dutith was somewhat puzzled by this discovery, and asked
Captain Cumberford whether any of the white men had been
killed in the attack upon his party.

V Cumberford was sure that nothing of the kind had occurred

then, as his lndians had been slain before they could use their
weapons, and suggested that the man must have fallen (in.
ring the late attack, when the Shuwuees had fired into the
bushes

“ I suppose it must be so,” replied the half-breed; “ but
there is something strange about it. His comrades would bury
him, of course; but I can’t imagine why they should strip
him. He doesn’t look like one of those Kentuckians. The
little clothing that is left on him is of fine quality, and he has
light hair, reddish whiskers, and a fair complexion.”

Captain Cumberford professed himself unable to solve these
doubts. In fact, for his part, he could not understand why
there should be any doubts. If the man was not one of the
attacking party of whites, who could he possibly be? Du-
tith could not answer, and contented himself with remarking
that there was something strange about it. One of the Shaw-
nces settled the question to his own satisfaction by appropriat-
ing the scalp of the corpse, which was then left for the wolves
and the buzzerds, while those of the red—men were buried.

The scouts who had been sent on the trail of the white

men came in and reported that they had traced it until it em

Iced a brook, and had net’ thought it wont: while to follow it

   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
    
  
  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
   

 

   
 

FE. Li
a A“ s r‘

was aroma» rim;

  
 
  
  
   
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    

   
 

any lfurther, as the men who made the trail had evidently gone I. [I
sout ., . ,_

The Shawnees again took up their line of march, and
reached their town before nightfall. , t

t CHAPTER XVI.
CINDY, THE SCOUT.

 !~ V THE people of Kentucky were thoroughly aroused by the
’f D ‘ Indian invasions of 1780. The defeat of the previous year,
 v when they had made an unsuccessful incursion into the coun-
, try of their enemies, combined with the capture of Martin’s
' l . and Ruddle‘s stations, and other outrages which they had been
compelled to endure, had exasperated them to such a degree
that they determined to take such vengeance upon their blood-
thirsty foes as would put a stop to further dcpredutions.

To this end a regiment of mounted riflemen was organized
under the leadership of Colonel George Rogers Clark, an otfi 2
car who, in the course of his long and glorious career, was ;
nc-ver defeated. The rendezvous was at the mouth of the g
" ‘ Licking, and the inVading force was joined by many who, al- ._ 

though exempt from military duty, were anxious to serve as r‘ t

Volunteers in the expedition. “ 5

Among _these was Colonel Rallston, who hastened to the ;

rendrzvous with all the men who could be spared from his 

station. He had no fear that those he left behind WOUId be ‘
. molested during his absence, as the invasion of their own
" country would prevent the Indians from sending any parties
to harass their neighbors across the river.

In Command of the regiment of mounted men he found
Colonel Clark. a. genthman of commanding appearance and
soldierly healing, to whom he made known his purpose of
joining the expedition. v

“ I will be glad to have your assistance,” said Clark; “ but
I can nfl'er you no Command, as our oflicers are. all chosen

and assigned to their positions.”

 

 
 

  

 

 

“I Want no command, colonel, and will be thankful
enough for the privilflg': of accompanying you as a voltm-

 teer. A party of Shawnees, led by a halt breed Tory omcer,
 havo carried away my daughter and nuother who Was as den!
1 to me as my daughter.
" with several of his friends, and I fear that they may have

My son is in the Indian country,

been killed or captured. I am only anxious for the expedi-
tion to make an early start.”

“ We will soon be on our Way, and will move with the ut-
most possible rapidity. We will strike quick and hard, and
you may he sure that we will go through the Shawnee towns.
We may not reach them in time to save your friends; but
we will do our best."

Not far from Colonel Clark and Rallston stood a tall,’
powerful and fine-looking man, with light hair and mild blue
eyes, leaning on his rifle, and looking across the Ohio with an
eager, longing gaze, as if anxiousto cross the stream and ex.
plore the forest on the other side.

As he stood there, he was approached by a woman, tall,
lean and sallow, but with bright gray eyes and a determined
cast of countenance, roughly dressed in a coarse linsey gown,
that might have been patterned after a meal-bag. In her
right hand she held a rifle, and in her mouth was a cob-pipe
with a short stem. ,

The man recognized her as she approached, and accosted ‘
her:

“ Why, Cindy Steele!
you doing here i?”

“ It’s me, Cap’n Kenton, and I’m here on business."

Is this you, old lady? What, are

V l “ What do you mean by that ‘P”

A “ I mean that when you go up arter them Shawnee riptiles,
I mean to be one of the crowd. My old man is up thar
among ’em, and I am goin’ to look arter him.”

“ Better not, I reckon.”

“Better had. I reckon. Thor‘s more’n him to be looketI
arter. too. I s‘pose your comp‘ny takes the lead—«don't it i"

“ 0f c0urse it does.”

“ Then Cindy Steele belongs to that comp'ny. You needn’t

1 her that I will git in the way, Cap’n Kenton.” ‘ '

“ I am not afraid of that, old lady. I know that you. an

   
 
  
   
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
   
 
    
   
   
   
   

 

a’l good on the trail or in '8 3811‘! as most or the men, and I '
know, too, that it your head is set on going, you will go.
As far as I am concerned, you are heartily Welcome.”
“ That’s all I want to know.”
By the 'silent and rapid marches that were characteristic of
that truly great commander, Colonel Clark led his brigade
 up the Missouri valfey, right on the heels of the last band of
, sttvaccs that had ravaged Kentucky. '

NH" the close of u very dark night, we find the extreme '

advance. comlmsed 0f Captain Kenton's company of inounted
riflclm‘n.‘appl'0=1clliug the first 'Shnwnee town that lies on
their route. They have left their horses concealed in a hol-
low, at n sufe dismnce from the probable scene of nction,und
are “Ppmiicmng the town quietly and cautiously, under cover
of. the darkness and the forest, for the purpose of ascertain-
ihg “19 0X80! W‘Sllion 0f the enemy, and of learning whether
the designs of Colonel Clark have been fothonied or sus-
pected.
'l‘he scouts move in an irregular line, too far apart to be
- visible to (melt other, but near enough to hear the signals
which they have established, and with which all are Well no»
qusinted. At the right of the line is Sol Steele’s “ old wo-
man,” with a rifle in her hand, and without her pipe. She
is too goods. scout to smoke in the presence of the enemv.
and she is hunting Shawnt-es and looking for her “old man.”
To the right she hears nothing. Kenton’s men move 80
noiselessly Ilmt not the breaking of n twig 0r the Nb‘mug 0’
a leaf is audible. She is as whet-footed as any of them,
and scarcely heats her own tread. It is so dark that she can
see nothing before her. Her sense of feeling IIUMOS 1181‘.
together with that strange instinct which is Pecu‘lm‘ to
human dwellers in the forest, as well as to wild animals.
After a while she dOes hear something, und she suddenly
stops and listens. As she does so, 1119 “0‘59, if there Were
any, ceases, and she is doubtful whether she heard any thing.
Again she advent-es, moving more silently and cautiously
than th-r. Again she stops, as she hears the some noise, and
again it ceases. But she is convinced that she has heard u
foothill, and her sensu are sufilciently ecute to distinguish the

"aid-9! a men from that of 1 beat.

, u. .4. ‘1-.-:hfi-<

 

  

 

 

Asyshe stops there, at the trunk of a dead tree, she has sets
tied the matter in her mind. It is a man who has been mo-.

ving near her. He is aware of her presence. He supposes

her to be an enemy. He has made a misstep. He is wait-
ing for'another movement on her part. Who and what can
he be '2”

' From her slightly-parted lips comes the chirp of a cricket.
shrill, but faint. There is no answering chirp, and she knons
that her unseen neighbor is not one of Kenton’s men. H

' must be an Indian, and she prepares for the inevitable con-

flict, by changing her rifle to her left hand, and drawing from
her belt a sharp knife. Whatever may happen, not a shot
must be fired. An outcry or any thing that would alarm the

sleeping Shawnees, would insure the destruction of some of V

her friends, and might defeat the object of the expedition.
She breathed a brief prayer, thought of her “old man,” and
moved as if she had again begun to advance. There was
'a rustling, nearer than before, and a dark form rose from the
ground, and launched itself at her. The attack was much

more sudden than she had expected, and she was obliged to _

save herself by stepping behind the dead tree. There was it
mattered exclamation from her antagonist; but it was in the
English tongue, and was an exclamation that sounded familiar
to her.
“ Who‘s that ?" hissed Cindy Steele. intensely excited.
“ If you are a white man, speak !” was the reply.
“ Sol Steele! is it you ‘3"
“My God! if it ain't Cindy !"
" Yes, it‘s me, old man, and thank God that we are both
safe 1” ~ g
> “ Whar did you come from, and what- are you doin’ here L
“Hush, and I'll tell you.” , ,
»In the fewest possible words Cindy Steele explained th
position of affairs.
_ “ Are Kenton‘s men scattered along here 1’” asked Sol.
His wife nodded,- and pointed out the position of the line.
“ They mus’n’t go no furder. Can you stop ’em'?”
From Cindy’s lips came the cricket’s chirp, loud and shrill
this time, and ending with a quick and sharp note.
' It was repeated from _varions points, and soon a step was

h',

 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
  
     

I. - ._- 5.x-

 

 

 

A mum cinema

beard, and Captain Kenton came to ‘where the old couple
were standing. ' r

He was agreeably surpt'ised'ut meeting 801 Steele then and
there, and asked what had been the cause of the signal to stop
the advance of the scouts. .

“Thor‘s no use in goin' on any furder, and you. thought
run ug'inst suthin’," replied the old man. “ Thar's one van-
miut prowlin’ about here, that I know of, and that may be
more. I can tell you all you want to know about the town
and the Injuns.”

“ Tell me something about yourself," requested Kenton.

It did not take the old man long to give a succinct account
of the adventures of himself and his companions.

,“ The boys ain’t fur from here,” he said, in conclusion,
“ and they are well hid. Suthin' in the air told me that
somebody was about, and I crep’ out to look around. I come
on one chap, and who do you think he was, Cindy 2"

“ Dutith ?”

“ Not quite; but it wns his right-hand man. That sneak-

‘, in’ cuss, Seavey, tried to sell the boys out to the Injuus. He.
 p‘isoned that victunls, and come nigh gittiu’ ’61!) killed d!"
5 caught. I wish we could kill or ketch him."

“ Perhaps we can," said Kenton. “ If you can tell us where
to find him, we can try."

“ I can find out whar he is, in half a shake of n sheep‘s
tail. I can see in the dark, jest like a painter, though I didn’t
see Cindy till I got holt of her. Wait here a minute."

The old scout crept away, and soon returned.

“ He is right thur," he said, pointing at the outline of a
tall and straight hickory sapling. “ He is lenuin’ against the
:trunk of that tree, and listenin'. Thar was an lnjun with
him awhile ago; but the Injun has gone back to the town, I
reckon." ~

“ We will catch him,” said Kenton. “ My men will get
mound between him and the village, and you can close in i
from this side when we give the Siguul.”

But a few words were needed to complete the arrange;
ments, and Kenton left the old couple, and went Along the
line of 7 his men. Not one of them had moved from the
position heoeeupied when Lucinda Steele gave the signal that

l . a

 

,fi‘

 

mama,; an; mimosa.

stopped thaladvancs, and they were. soon found. and set in ‘

motion.

Seavey,.as Sol Steele had said, was standing at the trunk,

of a hickory sapling, listening intently. He had heard some
strange and unusual sounds there in the woods, and was anx-
ions to know what they meant. The Indian who had come
out with him had laughed at his apprehensions, and had re-
turned to the village; but Seavey was not satisfied, and hoped
to make some discovery for which he would be commended.

He took his station, therefore, at the hickory tree, and Us
.ened for a repetition of the strange sounds.

He heard, among other sounds, the chirping of a cricket,
tnd he heard it again, with a peculiar note, unlike the ordi-
nary cry of the insect. The chirping was repeated again and
min, and then all was silent for a while. He kept his posi-
tion, and again heard the chirp; but this time it was behind
him, then in front and on each side. He might have thought
that the crickets were holding a carnival, as he waited for fur-
ther developments. .

, Then. there was a rustling near him, and a suspicious sha-
king of a bush, and he beat down to listen and look more
closely.

As he bent, a dark form threwitself upon him, hearing him
to the ground. Another seized him from the front, covering
his. mouth with abroad hand.

“ If you make the least noise, you, are a dead man i" was
hissed in his ears.

As he made not even a struggle, the hand we removed
tron: his mouth, and he was raised and quietly led away by
his captors.

When he perceived that Sol Steele was one of the party,
hevbegun to beg for his life, offering to give all the informa-
tion that could be asked for, and told how and in what part
95 the town Emma Rallston and Laura Wingate were, impris-
Good.

“Is thar a British ossifer in thar,,named Cumberford 2”
asked Steele.

“ I've heerd of him, but huin't seen him," replied the-spy. ,

“ I’m. glad of that, and don’t want tovhear any thia’ mom

' Slum sow"

    
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
   
 

  

 

 

"5mm

 

 

Captain Kenton directed someot  mgpfig. ‘
oner hack to Colonel Clark, but to caution the colonel not.”
place; implicit confidence in “1th the min! might say, ‘ '

CHAPTER XVII.
TEE smwnnes AT HOME.

HENRY EWING succeeded in reaching the Shawnee town,
with Dutith and the rest of the party, without having his iden-
tity revealed by either of the captive girls, or by any one else..
If Dntith had any suspicions—and he occasionally cast some
strange glances at: his fellow-Briton—ho kept them to him-
self.

Perhaps the pseudo Captain Cumberford owed his immu-
nity from discovery, in good part, to the carefulness with
which he kept from communicating with the young ladies.
except at a distance, or by the exchange of a word or two now

‘und then. His air and tone, when he did speak to them, were

such as might have been used by an entire stranger, and they
took pains to imitate him—especially Emma, who taught her
companion caution in the use of her eyes, as well as her
tongue. Anxious as Emma was to see her lover and converse
with him, and constantly as- the sense of his danger pressed
upon her mind, she manifested no desire for his company, and
treated him with the coolness that she might- naturally be
supposed to feel toward a stranger and an enemy of her coun-
try.
She expressed her anxiety but once, when heireined up his
horse at her side for a few minutes. _

“ Where is Seavey ?” she asked. “ He Wm know you When
he sees you.” ‘

“ I am thinking of that,” replied Henryt “ He has gone on

to the town."
“ But you will see him, if you stay with us. You are risic

*ingtoo. mmh.’ “that will you do when you meet. him 1""

v“ I haven’t made up my mind. Iain thinking aboinit.”

  

\

 
 

 

 

amen, m’ AVENGEB. '

“ You had better not think too long, or you may be loot
You must escape before it is too late.”

“ I can not leave you,” replied Ewing. Then, as he caught
the glance of Dutith, he rode aWay.

He meant what he said when he told the captives that he
could not leave them ; but he did not know how he could stay
with them and live. If he should reach the Shawnee town,
and should find Seavey there, discovery would be inevitable,
and he did not need to be reminded of the fate that awaited
him in that event. I

How to avoid that fate was a question which he had often
asked himself, and which he had not. been able to solve to his
satisfaction. Should he deny Seavey's assertions and face
him down? It was more than probable that such an attempt
would not be successful, especially as it was evident that Du-
tith's suspicions had been aroused. There was a chance that
Sol Steele and his party might do something to help him;
but it. was the merest chance, and it was idle even to think
of it.

It must he confessed that Harry Ewing had come to the
conclusion to “trust to luck," to go on and take his chances.
If an emergency should arise, he hoped that he would be equal
to it, that some inspiration would tell him what to say or do;
but he was utterly unable to map out the course of conduct
that he intended to pursue.

“ You seem to have made the acquaintance of my fair pris-
oners," said Captain Dutith, when Ewing joined him. “ What
do you think of them?"

“ They are well enough, I suppose; but I never fancied
these sun-browned beauties of the backwoods.” -

" You are quite brown yourself, Captain Cumberford. You
have no advantage of them in that particular.”

“ 'l‘rne enough. I have seen a. great deal of exposure dur-
ing my service in the colonies.” ,

“ You are much darker than that backwoodsman whom we
found buried in the ‘glen below. If it had not been for the
uniform, I would have supposed him to be the British officer.
and youths American.” .

\ Harry Ewing laughed, but felt that his laugh Immd

_ (stood and unnatural. ,

   
  
 
    
   
   
  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
  
 
 
 
  

 
  
 

 

  

 

fl A-_.~.. .uw..v-~..

 

_ to be near Duiith when hcaimpristme

hearing that the spy was abselll. “'0

m M LODGE. ,
it. I wish that my man Seaway had been with us when we ,
found the body,” continued Dutith. “ He'woutd have known
whether it was one of those people with 'whgm’he started‘
from Kentucky. If it was not one Of them, I can’t imagine
who it could have been. It is not possible that there are any
other parties of Americans prowling about in these woods."

“What do you expect to do with the Kentucky girls?”
naked Ewing, who was anxious to change the subject.

“One of them I will marry, if she is willing to beconc
my wife. If she is not willing, why—ha, hnl What’s the
matter, Camber-ford ?” t

Captain Cumberford’s face flushed crimson as he turned it
from the keen gaze of Dutith.

“ I thought I saw a buck in the edge of the woods yonder,”
said he. “ I must go and try to get a shot at him.”

“There is soxnething'wrong about that fellow," muttered
Dutith, as nis companion rude away.

When the Shuwnees arrived at their village, Dutith has-
tened to get his prisoners into a place of safety, as if he
feared that an attempt at their reSCUe might be made, from
seine unknown quarter, and in some unexpected manner. He
caged them in a stout log-building, near the center of the
town,-wilh a stout door and no windows, which had pre~
viously been used for the safe-keeping of prisoners. Into
this Emma and Laura Were led. were provided with blankets
and furs for a couch, and their supper was brought in to
them.

A guard was placed at the door, and the half-breed went
to make inquiries concerning Seavey. He discovered. Emmy
to his’vexation, that that individual had gone 0“ a bum» ""-
companied. by an Indian, and it was not known W11“ 5
would return. ‘

Henry Ewing had watched these details, and had contrived
d the girls and made his
inquiries concerniug‘snavey. He was naturally rejoiced at
ugh he hastily formed a

plan, which he meant to put into execution on Senvcy’s ap—
peqrance. intending to pick a quarrel with him. the result of
which would probably have made an end of Seavey. , V

A: Dunn. soon retired for the night, after showing Captain

'\

 

       
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
  
 
 
 
    
  
 
   
   
   
  
 
 
 
 
   

 
 

 

 

"nu-e.“

g be found.

Rvould go out into the woods and find Seavey.

,ceetd. in the direction that had been pointed an: to him.

sf, ._ ’._ ', 'A ' K

 \ ems, Ni “twin. I

Gunman the lodge to which he had beet: hssign‘edfthe
tuner thought that he, also, might safely get a little sleep.
Before lying down, however, he casually walked by the prison-
house, and slipped through a chink of the building a note
which he had written, informing the girls that he was still
present, in the hope of devising some means of saving them,
and that Seavey was not in the village. ,

Having tints, as he hoped, cheered and comforted‘them a
little, he laid down, intending to awake and rise at midnight,
not knowing what he would then do, but still trusting to
luck, and half-believing that he would yet be inspired with
some plan that would enable him to rescue the fair prisoners
and get clear of the scrape in which he found himself.

He did not wake at midnight. In fact, it was long after
that hour when he arose and looked out of the lodge. As
the moon had set, and it was extremely dark, he knew that
the night must be near its close, and that he had very little
time in which to do any thing, if he had known what to do.

He strolled out, thinking of Seavey, and passed near a
couple of Indians, whom he heard mention the name of Dog-
fhce, which he had understood to,be the nickname by which
the spy was known among the Shawnees. Listening to their]
conversation, he learned that one of them, named Night-
Hawk, had been hunting with Seavey, and had just come in,
having left his companion in the woods. '

Ewing asked Night-Hawk where he had left Dog-face,
and the Indian pointed out the direction in which he might
According to Night-Hawk‘s explanation, Seuvey
had imagined that some stranger was prowling about in the
forest and had stayed behind to investigate the matter.

The young; man‘s resolution was instantly taken. He
If the spf
would recognize him, he must make an end of the spy, so
that he would have nothing more to fear from that quarter.

He left the village without attracting 'the observation of
Night-Hawk and the other Indian, clrret'nlly‘ examined the

. condition of his weapons, and went on his march.

The night was so dark that he did not expect to be able
to see his antagonist, and he felt his way as caretnily as 'he’

 

 

 

  

He was. about a quarter of a mile from the village, sur-
munded by the dense fm‘esflt 8nd coivered by the thick dark-
am, when he thought he heard the murmur of vojéeg ahead.

More cautiously than ever he advanced, until he missed hi,
footing as he stepped over the. edge of a steep little incline,
and fell down among a number of men who were sitting and ’
lying at the foot of the incline.

' Their muttered 'cxclamations, as they seized him and held
him firmly, convinced him that he had fallen among friends,
and he hastened to make himself known to them.

“ What are you doing here, Harry ?” asked Hugh Rall-
stpn, who was one of the party. “ Were you looking for us ‘P”

“ No—for Seavey. I had no idea of meeting you."

-“ What use did you have for that rascal 'f"

“ I was afraid that I would meet him in the village, and
that he might recognize me."

“ No danger of that now. He is in safe hands, and stands
a good chance to get his neck stretched.”

Hugh and his companions then briefly explained to Ewing
the arrival of Colonel Clark and his regiment, and the pro-
jected attack upon the Shawnee town. A body of riflemen
had already been sent around to the north of the town, to
cut oti' the retreat of the Indians, and there would be a gen-
eral advance as soon as they could get into position.

“ It must be nearly day,” said Ewing, “ and I must hurry
back to the town. I must be near the girls when the attack
is made."

He explained to his friends the situation of the building
in which Laura and Emma were imprisoned, so that they
might know where to strike when the signal should be given
{or the onset, and left them. '

When he reached the village, there were signs of the com-
ing dawn in the eastern sky, and he knew that what he
should do, if he could do any thing, must be done quickly.
The danger was that an attempt might be made, at the com-
mencement. of the attack, to remove the girls, or that the
Indians, in the excitement of combat or the anger of defeat,
might summarily disposepf them With the tomahawk. Ewing
had determined that. he would remain with them and defend

them with his life. , «

 

  

 
  

 

 

, can hold it for a while.”

 

 m amneni.

He went direct to the' prison, and demanded admission of
the guards. The two Indians who had been stationed at the
door were’ half asleep, and either supposed him to be Dutith,
or believed that they must yield obedience to the commands
of a British ofllcer. At all events, they allowed him to enter,
without a word in opposition.

The girls were awake, and greeted him warmly when he
spoke to them and made himself known. V In a few words
he explained to them the position of afi‘uirs, and rejoiced
their hearts by informing them that their friends Were at
hand, in strong force, ready to destroy their foes and release
them from durance. He was there, he said, to stand by them
and defend them in any extremity.

He had secured upon his person the pistols that he had
taken from the holsters of Captain Cumberford., One of
these he gave to Emma, knowing that she could and would
use it if occasion should require. The other he retained, to-
gether with his knife and a rifle that he had appropriated
since reaching the village.

CHAPTER XVIII.
A SHORT srneeem.

LAURA WINGATE looked with dismay at the warlike prer
parations that were made by her two friends within the
prison. It is true that there was little to be seen; but she
understood them very well, and knew that a perilous mo-
ment was approaching. Emma Rallston, who was more in-
trepid by nature, stood by the side of her lover, with a pistol
in her hand, ready to face any danger that might present‘it-
self before her.

When a. faint light that could be seen through the chinks
informed the occupants of the prison of the approach of day.
a muttered conversation was heard at the door.

“ It is Dutith,” whispered Harry. “ I will keep him out
of here as long as I can. The door'opens toward us, and I

 
  
 
   
 
  
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
   
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  

 

  

 

.. -n—An-.>~...._ t ‘ . ‘

Hm... ..‘_____‘ I _

 

¥

 

to I

m  'mscnosnn‘.‘
“ Don't try it,” entreated Emma. V“ It will only make  I

more angry, and he has 11919 enough to open it.”
'As Harry moved toward the door, .she' laid hervhnnd upon

"37.; "

his arm. ’
“He may shoot you through the door. Don’t go there,
dear Harry!”
In her excitement she raised her Voice to a. higher pitch
than pmuence would have advised.

“ Dear Harry / Ha .’ ha / ha I"
It was Dutith who spokeI and his sarcastic tone and ex.

ulmnt lnugh told the young man thnt he had been disc0v-V
ered, and'that further attempts at concealment were useless.

“ Dear Hurry l” repeated Dutith. “I Will settle With your
dear Harry! It is just as I suspected; but your game is
ended, young man.”

As he spoke, he attempted to open the door; but it did
not yield to his hand.

'Just then u rifle-shot was heard in the distance, quickly
followed by another, in another direction.

“ What is that i" exclaimed Dutitli. “ Who can hzwe fired
those shots in the woods?”

He was answered by n yell, that surely did not proceed
from Shawnee throats. The yell was repeated from the
forestat the north of the town,uud wus succeeded by shrieks
and howls, intermingled with the war-cries of the awakened
Indians, as they hastily seized their weapons, and rushed out
of their lodges.

There wns no mistaking the cause of the tumult. The vll-
inge was attacked on two sides by the terrible Long-knives,
who had stolen upon it unheralded and unpcrceived. The
advance of Colonel Clnt'k’s little army was almost in the vil-
lage when the attack commenced, and several of the Indians
were shot down before they could defend themsolves.

But the Shawuces were brave and their lenders were skill-
ful. ' They were not to be ensin defeated in their own coun-
try and driven frotIi their own homes. Quickly obeying the
commands of their cliieftnins, they were collected at the most
available positions, determined to drive back their ndversariel,
or, at least, to keep them out of the Village until they could,
provide 3 way of escape for the women and children.-

a

 
  
 

 

r are in great danger while you stand there.

 

It Was-deifietigm when the alarm arosc,‘snd the this;

friends in the prison-house, faVOre‘d by the chinks between the
heavy fogs, Were able to see each other and to understand
what they were doing. ,

“ Our people are here 1” exclaimed Harry Ewing, and there
was a glad, exultaut smile on his face, which was reflected
back by the determined countenance of Emma Railston, and
mts even answered by timid Laura Wingate, in the corner.

“ If we could but keep everybody out until our friends reach
us, we would be safe,” said Emma. “Laura, you hadbetter
crouch down in the corner there, as some one might shoot
through that wide chiuk."

“ Just listen to the shots and the shouts 1” said Harry.
" They are coming nearer.”

“ I wish you would come away from that door, Hurry. You
What would I
not give for something to barricade it with l"

“ You need not fear for me. I will keep out of harm’s
way as much as possible. You must be ready to act when
the time comes, as I depend upon your coolness and courage.
Here comes Dutith again, and now may God help us i"

The. half-breed had not been idle, and had not forgotten his
prisoners. Hardly fifteen minutes elapsed between the firing
of the first shot and his return to the prison-house. In that
time he had ascertained that the advance of the enemy had
been checked, that the Shawnees were doing all that could
be done to repel the attack, and that the women and children
were being gathered together, preparatory to sending them
away on the trail that led to the nearest town. He believed
that he would have time enough, whatever might happen, to
secure his prisoners and take them away, and he took a eou~
ple of Indians with him when he hastened hack to the prism.

He again tried the door, but it did not yield to his push,
and he called on the Indians for help. i

“ There is only one man holding it,” he said, “ and two of
us can easily push it open.” '

Dutith flung himself against the door, and a stalwart Shsw‘
nee contributed to the eflbrt his heavy frame and strong sin-
.‘u‘ I V ,.

“ Stand out of the way, Emma," said Harry Ewing, a he

   
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
  

_..._..  '

 

     

 

 

M -a- W, ‘
l at...“

 

 

0........,-.. n»... 9.“..-

1?}

floor in a. heap.

was me, transom.

perceived that the door must yieldt “ Stand back and on one
side. Something will happen directly.” r
She stepped lightly to one side, and Harry, at the moment
when the greatest pressure came upon the door, 'quickly
jumped back.

The door flew open, admitting a rush of light, and also ad.
mttting Dutith and the Shawnee, who fell forward upon the

Harry Ewing fired his pistol at the head of the Indian, and
pounced upon Dutith as he lay on the floar, at the same time,
drawing his knife from his belt.

The three Shawnees who had been left outside hastened to
take a part in the combat; but the first who attempted to en-
ter the door received the contents of Emma Rallston’s pistol
in his breast, and fell forward, striking against Ewing, and
nearly knocking him over.

A wild cry broke from the lips of Laura Wingate, as nn-’
other Indian burst into the rootn,over the silent and the strng
gling forms, who seized Emma by the hair, and raised his
tomahawk to strike her dewn.

Laura did not content herself with screaming. The dan-
ger of her friend had aroused the tiger within her. With the
quickness of thought she seiZed Henry Ewing's ride, that
leaned against the wall near her, cocked it, and fired at the
Shawnee, without pretending to take aim. As if guided by
instinct, the bullet flew to the heart of the red warrior, and
laid him low.

Dutith had taken advantage of the fall of the Indian against
Ewing to throw off his antagonist, and to plunge a knife into
his side. Then he arose and stared wildly about, as it' uh-

' to to comprehend the situation of affairs.

At that moment a startling cry rose above all the yells at
inc-contending parties outside. The remaining Shawnee took '
to his heels, and a tall old man dashed in at the prison door
nearly upsetting Dutith, and lifted in his arms Laura' Win
gate, who had fallen upon the floor in a faint.

Dutnh had no diflflculty in coming to the conclusion that
he was alone, and that he must lose no time in providing fox
his own safety. He started toward the door, but was con-
fronted by Sol Steele and his wife. 'He threw himself’upon

 

 
 
  

 

   
  
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
  
 
 
 
 
  
     

 

 

 

,it is unnecessary to speak.

 

semen, was: “mess,

the old man, and was met by the point of a knife, that caused '

him to stagger back with a curse. Then Lucinda Steele's .'
rifle was fired, and the half-breed fell back on the floor strug-
gling in the agouies of death. ‘ '

“Did you shoot him. Cindy it” asked the scout.

“ Don't know. My rifle went off, somehow.

“It must have been aProvidence. But that account is
settled, any way." ‘

Hugh Rallston and his friends pushed into the prison ;
house, and brought out the girls and Henry Ewing. The
stab that Dutith had inflicted upon the latter was a deep
one. and he had fainted from loss of blood, but the wound
was not: necessarily dangerous.

The Shawnees, when they were no longer able to Ina-kc
head against Colonel Clark's little army, sought. safety in flight,
leaving their town in the possession of the victors, who des-
troyed it by fire, and ravaged the cornfields. But the Shaw-
nees had fought so obstinately, that seventeen white men had
been slain, and their own losses, as far as they could he as-
certained, were not much greater.

The expedition devastated seVoral other towns about the
head-waters of the Miami, and then returned to the falls of
the Ohio, having fully accomplished the purpose for which it
was organized.

Of the joy of Laura Wingate at finding the father whom
she had supposed to be dead, or of the joy of Emma Rall-
ston and her parents when she was safely,restored to them,
It is sufilcicnt to say that Henry
Ewing recovered from his wound, and married Emma Rall-
ston; that Hugh R'tllston and Laura Wingate “ made a match
of it" in due course of time; and that Rallston’s station
grew and prospered, hting never again molested by an Indian
incursion. - '

Sol Steele remained in the Rallston settlement while he
lived, and his wife was dignified, during the remainder 01
her life, with the title of “Captain Cindy.”

9

THE m.

 

 

 

1,. a

I ' I'he May Queen. For an entire school.
! lreu R-f‘rm Convention. l-‘ur ten females.

 

 

Léoioioioo ' ' 
E DI'ALOGUES

r0. School Exhibitions and Home Eutertainments.

Roe. l toil] iuluein. II to 1'5 Poplllfl DIAIQKMI Ind Drum-u In euh book.
"mo "in, uni. poli-plid, on receipt of price, mu «nu.

El’uhjolune I“

‘ Beadle & Adams. Publishers. 98 William St” N. Y.

 

'l’heu volmuha h-vu been prepared with elpeciai reference Ito their availability («r Exhibition,
Dying ada ted to wheel: and nlrlare With or Without the furniture oi I Maze,nml lulled l1) sCHOD

ARh AN

YOUNG PEOPLE of every rge both umle and female. It in {air to ueume nun, n,

q bank. in eh. .mrket, at any price, contun 10 many unlul and evniluble dialogues Ind drum.

"It. path“, humor and untlment.

. DIME DIALOGUES, N0. 1.

’nln; ofihe Mum. Fur nine y-ung lmlm.

...n; u Live Engilahrn-a. For three bay-u

. «o'e Cornnntlou. For rule and female.
ehlon. Fol two ladies.

f. Rehearul. For ll: be I.

Which will you Chemo! or lwoboyl.

1' men of av. Far two little lirla.

The, ea-Parly. or lourlndlel-

i‘hm Scanu in Wedded Life. Male and female.

Mn. Snllln’ Coaiuui . For muiu and female.

The Minion of the Spirih. Five ynun‘ lullu.

 

The Genius of Libertv.
Cinderella or, The l.
Doing Gm: :mi fiuginu Bud. .
The Golden Rule. Two male: and two females.
The Gin. of the Fairy Queen. Several {e
Takzu is and Dune For. For two chm
Thu Country Aunt'e Vie t to the Ciiy. F0
eral chnmten.
e Two Roman. For two main.
fly“: the gunfire"? For threle‘malel.1 ’
I. a py am y. or Iarern ml nu l.
The Raefiahw. For lever-l charactun.

7 malu Anrl l female.

3‘
c
F

 

  

 

Hobnohblng. For five I alien.
The Secret of Snccell 'or th
Your)?I America. Th e nmle

Jon inu‘aneetiny. i"

 
  

 

 

n two female.
our in union. one male.
The ally of the Duel. For llll‘o‘u male spake!"
Dogmntilm. For three mule epmhere~

'l‘hel noruul Coaimimled. For two buy.

The ant Young Min. FM two mnim

The Yenr'n Ruckonlng. l? l'elnulua L :1 l m-lfi
iThe Villlge with One Gentlemen. h, eight I.
i male: and one male.

‘ DIME DIALOGUES N0. 2. ~

How to i'rite ‘ Popular ’ Starla. Two-uh.
The New nml the (lid. For lwo muln -
A Sen-Minn at hunt. For iwn millet. .
The Greenlmrn. Fnr two melee.

The Tlmu Men of Science. For four hallo.
Tha Old Lady": Will. For four malel.

The Little Phil Ill hen. For two liltle (hie.
llow to Find an air. For five main.

The Virluea. For nix youn‘ludlul.

A Connuhinl Eclngue.

The Public muting. Fir-melee and mind.
The Englilh Trnveler. For two main.

DIME DIALOGUES, N0. 3.

Kevin“ Bad Com ay. A Farce. For five ml

  
  

 

‘9
fl
2.
=
n
c:
D

C-
S

9
a
a

E.

 

_ I 9 melee, \ {emu
Nltlonal Reprareutltirel. A Burlesque. I III
helping the Duh. For numaroul 'nnltl.

DIME DIALOGUES, N0. 4.

The Front King. For tan or more "none.
Martin: in Life. Three main and two fun-lee.
l‘lllth, H» and Charity. Far three little girls.
0m u: Jenn. For twe male: uni one female.
rill Jay. A Floral Far-:1. F nix lilt‘e girl».
,Tne Enchnnted Primer. fl mule , erel {annulu-
» -rto Whom Hmoril Due. 7 main, 1 female
}_ " lpnile Client. Inner-uni male-,onl (Emil?
. miogy. A Dilcuulon. For twenty main.

 

The Gen teal Cook. For twe melee. ‘
Masterpiece. For two mulee end two 1.951..

e Two Rom: For two melee.

The Snma. 9 are For twu mulee.
Showlag the White Fe 4 malea, l {'th
Tin Betth Call. A Reciutlve. For on. main.

 
      

  

1‘

 

The Stuhh‘etown Volunteer. 9 mlln. I fem).
A Sun. from “ Paul Pry." For fourlnelu.

'l‘m Churn-n. For three main and one tom-10.
“(‘2’ Cinch and Broom. For ther lilile girle.
The liiuht Way. ACollaquy. For two lm’l.
What the Lndvrr Sayl. Ffir Ive nuclei.

The Reward of Bali-valence. liar lulu unit
The Leltel’. For two main.

DIME DIALOGUES. N0. 5.

.Throe Gee-m. For echonl or arlor.
’ “mum. A " Three Per-an" " a re.
F-li d the Curtain. For main and funnier.

l" KP! PI Society. Five boy: and a teacher.
tunginatiom Dav. For-everal female chmcterl.
I. "-1! in “Trey.” For several malel. ‘

h' 5‘500' Boy- ' ‘fibunni. For ten bnyl.

A Tuna. Seven] melee and (cunnin-
now Net to Get an Auwer. For two femalea.

now. The s. A. M 1 ml i‘erulu.
“I5 P00! uldirW$lum Fur-fit: lulu.
W lie. TelL Fen whole shoal.
wnmu" Nth Bevel fen-in andl tw- ruled.
, i- .ee Gnu,“ , *
ew. Ir
Anna-eh- .0 .0 hello

mitten. Hale end 
melee.

'l‘ho (‘rlmn of Dreu. A Collnqny. Far ta. A“?
(A

Putting An M". A colloquy. For t» ed
The 5 night Mnrk. Foranerel by,“
Two lllcll of Life. A Colloquy. i‘or tn [ilk
Extmrt from Marine Fallen).

Ma—trv-Monry. An Acllnlz Charade.

i'l‘he Six \" tuun. For nix \‘ounuladlu.

'The Iriahmun at Home. or two main.
iFushlmmhle Requirement... lnr till-«frie-

ili Bury of P: (Eyel). For eight or leu hull-{Me

 

 

DIME DIALOGTFS, N0. 6.

The Two (‘nuaulorm Fur Elm main.

The Valarie: of Folly For a number o'bllll‘
Anni Bet-y’e Benz. Fur fen-nice and ewe min
The Libel Suli. I'or two funnie- nld m In“

 

Sn Cl: Mr {buy-
cm‘hu'fiiuau .;o‘ruI lea-:1! link who
when” Ienwe-elee. ,

\

 

l'
w

 

azurfi x. .

 

110va um. Thus. in sad “"0 famine
Amino-nun. Fur Inc litilo‘zlrh. -

Ned’n pro-«u. For (umber.

Jud not; For tench“ an: “:ornl Icholnn.
Tnii n: drum. For (our 1mi- folkl.

Band by invo. For m. box-I.

Mistaken idomlly. Two mniu and throajemlll.
Couldn’t rand English. For 3 unqu and l iOBIlll.
A mu. Vonuvinn. Fur nix link girls.

“ Sol-l." For thru boys.

'Dh'ne 11-h»! mdQ-Wuol. .
. f , mun Humans, No. 29.

And; mm. Im- live uni-Ind I.th
City much and country luau. Fwfimflfl.

V
The filly «i'upnln.

V w
I

and on. ho .

For two chin and what.
NM on- llm-pl Fur {our male ell-nae“.
merirn. For nnlmroun CMPMMI“.

[hean on. Two humid nnd lhrn 1min.
A euro 10: gond. Onu lmiy and two Kenn-Inna.
’i‘h unduioup who-m. For Inn uni-I.

DIME DIALOGUES. No. 21.

For several. 1

A Illuflllfll donation pnrty.
For Linn muiu and

Out of duh! out of danger.
thru (om-let.

Lima Red Riding Hood. Fur two children.

"-m sh: mgde iu.n Yrupuo. A dual.

Thu honu on the hi. .9 For {our (cumin.

Edda)“ among]. Fur two males.

Woth and wullh. For (our fund“.

Wmtl'nii. Eu u'll'll.

Mnrk lintinn’ralum. For four min.

CereiiA. For uvoml ehlidron.

Tun much for Aunt. Mullldn. For thug form-i

Win again-L vi c. Thu: femulu union. 1...].

A sudden ruovery. For ‘lhrec main.

The double Mmtuum. B421 ionr felnn‘ln.

Countilu chlcklnl unit-n, they wan latched-
Far {mu m.

DIME DIALOGUES, No. 22.

The Dark Cupid: or, flu miunk-I of A morning.
[For limo auntlemu x Ind twu indlss.

Thu: Na‘er-dI>-\va3l; 07,: brothu’n lumn. For
two nul I nnd two felnnlu.

High an: r tha new nmnid For two glrll.

Strung! ndvomurun. For Mu boya.

Th. king‘- Iuppur. For four girls.

A practical axnnyllflculnu. Fol-two boy;

Momluur ’l'hiem ‘in Amman; or, Ynniuo u.
Franchlnnn. For four hnvn.

anfv": diplomacy. 8 female: nnd ‘ incidnt nlh’

A Franclnnnn; or, tlu aulwmbd Aunt Fat bu
lull-o And on autism...

 

 

’l'itnn ‘I bnnqnn. For A number of girls

Bay: will be hays. Fur two in 1 1nd on girl.
A rnlny any; or, the Irhnoi-gu philowplnn.
For threa young lndlu.

God in low. For n number ofulmi u.

'i‘hl way In mlnnged. For 2 mill fund“.
Flur'lnngo. Vuloul ulnunclen, whit. 1. (0M

W IQ.
Thu litlie donor. For two tiny girl»
lu'ullrtvan I. Fur nr lm_' ,
A May day. ‘or three liuio r m,
From Ihu mhihuc to thu ridicu oun. For H mm.
Hun um rm. For 6" boy.

   

DIME DIALOGUES, No. 23.

Bhodn. Hunt'l rnmady. Tu "- --Iiu. i mule.

HMII Schmidt’noc-nnmanni. For two mniu.

Churv Md Gxulnbio. For no Mm ban.

The pllnnlonl dmhnnn. For Ii: fem-don.

Do“ ll. In}! For six main.

Company nunnon And home impoiltonou. For
two mule», (Iva {amnion and two childron.

Th - glad nluyl. Fur two llnlo boys.

U nfonumm Mr. lirowu. h‘or l 1mio,0 fun-ion.

A bear cmdeu. Fur lhru main, two but)“.

The busy bun. Fur four Lula Klrll.

Checknmlu. For numnnnl durum

School‘llum Fur two mu. girl-

Dnuth Irene. ‘2 prinrlpnl ell-rum! and Ilium!“

DrouI Ind gold. San-l ell-noun, lulu-ad b-
m- a.

Curran-.11 Miiir. Fol- lhm malu, two In.“

iznomncn vn. 'uuico. For :icvon lulu. ' '

 

Tho uni out. For No girls.

Thu a Idle" 1:! libel-Iv. For ninc ynnnzlndlcl.
Tho I'llree grntu. For lhrn hula gin-ll.

'l‘he nmlio Aims Ir. Fur nun "mien.

A strange mm. For 1hr» girl;

An unjust nun. For four main.

Tho Ilmp girl’l victory. i mnle, 8 fermion.

The psychomnfilu. 9 gultlemau. ‘2 lldlel.
Mann in no word fur it. Far {our indien.
Whim-iqi. A u nnbnr nfciunrut’s, bath nxel.
Blaned In flu pomnkam Seven young girls. |

Podium nil. or four hull”.

DIME DIALOGUE, No. 24.

The six 1mm men. For nix boyl.

ilnu you hunrd lhu nrwui '

'l‘hv Iruu queu-n. Two young Klrln.

A flight minake. 4 mules, I 10min, lad ov-
urnl nuxillnrln.

Lilly and hnly. Ten imi- follow.

The old had young. I Kantian-n. I mm yi'

Tim: penal curd. 3 Indie: mad 1 {antiwar

Mother Goon and liar how-rho d. A J ‘
uhool luncy dren- dhlo_ne And tlovutic.

DIME DIALOGUES. No. 25.

The social-3 nf lb. doiectnbiu and in: minor-
shins. Far twn imlles and two zenllumrn.
What null would hum. 6 little boys & lunch".

Bun him thrnngh tho clouds. Fnr four Indial.
Tho iii-Ind in need. Fur four main.

Tin hon". For xwaiva Hula mril.

In_donrn uvi out [-‘ur flvn um. My.»
Dinghu. For on. main mil fnnr {unnlw
Tim punnd nf flenh. For thru boyll

Bern. of tho poddlm. 7 mind cumm- l

 

'Good vary. a; l numb" of My.
‘L hud- For n numbn- or, liqu ‘lrlp.

The firm nu n! wulth. For a who]. school.

Hmnutcr. For nulnerouu riurltun.

PM. younelf in his pinto. Frr two boys.

Little whu hand). For (our imiu giril.

The tutu-unto". I‘or flv- bnu.

Crnbtm’l wooing. Scnrnl zhnnclen.

Interrin Ill: bull nflli lurccu. M III--

A cracked  nun nni‘lu. On. (Imbal-
nn one n v. ,

Huww“bvu'hln"ymg hum. Tickli-
ud’dm -

With-thou boobmddbym m'hfiflfll hardy-H- In"

“an udynéfwiu, Wanna-uh

 

lmqmmmog

WJEQ‘L .-

\

 
    

  
  

 

  

 

 

DIME POCKET NOVIEIJS.

PUBLISHED'SEMl-MGINTHLY. AT TEN CENTS EACH.

l---llawke e Hurry. By Oil Coomrs.
9—iieud 8 not By Albert. W. Aiken.
B—The Bo Miner-I. By Edward S. Ellis.
4~illue D (Iii. By Capt. anne Reid.
5‘Nut Wolfe. By Mrs. M. V. Victor.
fl—Tho White Trucker. Edward S. Ellla.
—The0utln\\"a Wli'o. Mrs. Ann $.51: hens.
“#The Tull Trupper. By Albert W. iktsn.
9 —Lightninz Jo. lly Capt. Adams.
lO—The Inland i’lrnte. By Ca .t. Mayne Reid.
ll—The Bo Runner By Oil names.
12‘81‘", t I: Trapper. By E. S. Ellis.
lB—The French lipy. By W. J. Hamilton.
lay—Long Shot. By Capt. Cnmstock.
15 —The Gunmuker. By James L. Bowen.
l6 ~Red lland. By A. G. Piper.
l7—lien, the Trapper. Bv Lewis W. Carson.
1H ~Wild Raven. By Oil Cnomen.
9—The Erector Chief. Br Seelin Robins.
—The l ’nr-Killer. Bv Capt. Comaiuck.
vWiid Nut. Br “'m. R. Eyaler.
~Indlnn Jo. Br LewlsWflarwn.
40ld Kent, the Runner. Edward S. Elli»
~The (Due-E ed 'I'rn per. Capt. Comatmk
r-Godbold, ti‘ie Roy. 3- N. C. iron.
—The Black Ship. By John 5- Warner.
ifllugie E e. Bx Warren St. John.
RAImiiun Im. By Edward S. Ellis.
9—The Scout. By “'urren St. John.
0 71‘}!!le Eye. Hy \‘v'. J. Hamilton.
i i'l'he Myatic Cunoe. By Edwavd S, Eiilfl.
2 r'l‘he Golden llurpoon. By ii. Slarbnck.
lig’l‘he livqu Kink. By Lil'llL Ned Hunter.
4—0“ Lute. lly E. W. Arch-Ir.
BIS—Ruiuholt, Runner. By Oll Coomes.
Bil—Thu Boy Pioneer. Bv Edward S. Ellis.
8? By J. H. Randolph.
By Harrr Hazard.
By 'm'ninn Balknnp.
Br Ed. S. Ellis.
Paul Prascott.

Ffifllfi~°

Na

 

an—uutannnnn a..-“

araon, the Guide.
- ilcurt Enter.
etzol. the Scout.

40A i he
41 —»-Wild

lingo Ilunter.
Nut. tho Trapper.
42 aliynx-eu . lh- i‘:m| Bibina.
43 -'l‘hc wa te Outlaw. ih'llnrryHaaard.
ILL—The I'm: Trailer. By Frem-rlrk Dewey.
45—The Elk Klmz. lly Capt. Ciilll. Hnward.
46—Adrlun, the Pilot. Br (Ynl. l‘. inzrallam.
47—The Mun-hunter. B\'.\lurn O. Rolfe.
ADI—The l’huntom Trucker. By F. Dewey.
49~Moeeu~lu Bill. iiv l’aul iiibbs. .
504“...- Wolf Queen. Br (‘harles Howard.
51~Tom Iinwk. the Trailer.
527The Mud Chief. Bychna. "award.
—The Hint-k “'oli’. By Edwin E. Ewing.
54—Arkunlna Jack. By Harry Humrd.
55—Rlut-hbeurd. By Paul Bibbs.
564.1‘he River Riflea. By Billex Muller.
57—Ilunter "am. By J. Edgar mu.
53—(lloudwood. liv J. .\i. Merrill.
Eli—The Texna lluwkp ByJoa. E. Bager. .lr.
60AMerrile-a lint. Br (Yapt. Chas. Howard.
61 “ad Anthony":- Scouts.
62—1‘he Lnuklean Trapper. Wm- KEY-i"-
68—-'l‘he Fiorit‘ln lit-nut. Jon. E. lludgrr,.ir.
(ht—The l-lnnd Trapper. Chris. Howard,
65—“70li5Cnp. llv (‘quCham Howard.
86—Ilnttling Dick. B ' Hurry Hazard.
Hhar Jaye. liy liiagnr Max Martino.
ilnnd. llv i-‘rwdvrici: Forasi.

'ollow llunter. B)‘ Chas. Hnward.
70—-The Phantom Rider. By Mar" 0. Rolls.
71—Delnware Torn. By Harry Hazard.
72—8llver Rifle. lle ‘apt. Chas. Howard.
73—The Skeleton Spout. Maj, L. W. Carson.

By E. Rodman. v

 

74—thfle Rifle. Hy ('npi- “ iiruin " Atlanta.
YES—The “'ood “' itch. By Edwin Emermm.
?670ld Ruii’. the Trn er. “ Bruin " Adama.
77—The fleurlet Fhouiiizra. Harry Hazard.
THAThe Border Riflomnn. L. Vi . Carson.
79—0utluw Jnek. By Hurry Hazard.
80~Tizer-Tuil the Seminole. R. Ringwood.
fil‘llenth-Deu er. By Arthur L. Mraervr.
2—Kenton, the Hunger. By Chas. Howard.
83—‘The fl enter lloraemnn. Frank Drwey.
R4—The '1 rec Trnp ra. Seelin Robbins.
fiB—Kuleolnh. lh‘ T. Senmn Shielna, 17. S. N.
86~The lluuter Hercules. HarnSt. George.
“T'il’hii lluntor. By Capt. Chas. oward.
884The lndiun Scout. By Harry Hazard.
R9vThe Girl Avenger. By Chna Howard.
90—. The Red llerntitean. By Paul Bibbs.
91—Scur-l‘nce, ihe Slayer.
92'1‘lie Antelope Boy. By Gen, 1.. Aiken.
93—1‘he Phantom llunter. By E. Emenon.
94~Tom l’intie, the Pilot. B - lil. Klapp.
95~The Red ll izard. By Ne Hunter.
96—1‘ho Rh'nl Truppera. By L. W. Canon.
97—11“, h‘uuuw Spy. liy Cant. Chas. Howard.
9am...“ Dick. 1;..- Jon. E. iimlgor. J.
997 Colonel Crockett. By Chas. E. Luaallp.
1007 011i Hour l’uw. By Major Max Martin.
‘01 Jigdluu‘. liy Joa. E. Badgerflr.
102 “ iid Rube. Br Vi". J. Hamilton.
108-»1‘he lndiun llI‘Itera. By J. L. Bum-n.
104* F'earred Eagle. By Andrew Dearhnrn.
lii5~N iek Doyle. B)’ i’. Hamilton Myers.
10871‘he Indiun Spy. Bleoa. E. Bridger_.ir.
10 oh Ileun. iir lngnldabv North,
0 The “'oud King. By 0!. E. Badger, Jr.
7 The lit-ulped Hunter. By Harry Hazard.
0. N la. the Seout. By W. J. Hamillnn.
o Tenn: ’1‘] er. By Edward Willptt.
he Croat-ed nivea. By Hamilton.
7 Tiger-lion", the 'i'rnvkrr. By Howard.
r The Munlu-d Avenger. By lngraham
7'1 he l’euri l’irutea. By Starburk.
wliluek I’unther. ily Joa. E. Budge-r. Jr,
Ahdiel, the Avenger. Ed. Willem.
1110. HI? Cree er. By red. Dewey.
9A'l'wo-liumlod . at. “3408.13. Hndzer-
0~Mud Truil Hunter. By Harry Hazard.
121, Black a Ink, Hr Frrdvrirh Whittaker.
122* Kit Bird. B} “I J. Hamilton.
128- The S enter Ride". By Geo. Gleason.
l24-Ginnt ete. My W. J. Hamilton.
i25~The Girl Cn Iain. By Jon. E. Badger.
l26—"nnkee En I. Br J. R. “'nrcesler.
I27" fiilvernp u r. B\' Edward Willctt.
I237Squutter Dick. liv Jna. E. Badger.
129—The Child Spy. By George Gleason.
i30—Diink Cont. My Jon. E. Badger.
Mil—Red Plume. ByJ. Fulnley Handerann.
182—01319. the Trailer. B)’ Miro 0» Rollo.
NIB—The Lmut Cache. J. Stanley Henderann.
Hill—The Cunnibul Chief. Paul J. Pro-ion.
185 Knrnlbo. ByJ. Stanley llendenon.
136* Scarlet Moeonnin. By Paul Bibba.
IST—Kidnnpped. IsyJ. Stanley Honduran.
[BR—Maid oi the Mountain. By Hamilton.
“iii—The lioioto Seouta. By Ed. Willa".
l40—The Border Rene? e. BY Bldg".
l4I—The Mute Chief. y ("D Clnrk.
Pill—Boone, the llunter. By Whittahr.
1487Mountnin Kalle. Bv Jos. E. BadgerJr.
lWThe Red Foniper. 3' “J. Hamilton.
I457The Lone Chief. By 108. E. Bndmr Jr-
]464‘The SIIVr-r Bugle. Liam. Col. "I! “on.

Human-lunati—

A?

l47—Chinza, the Cheyenne. By Edward S. Ellis. Ready

i48—Tho Tangled ’l‘rail.
l49—Tho Un~een Bland.
LEO—The Lone Indian.

l5l—The Branded Brave. B

152—Blily Bowlegs, the Sem uole Chit-f. Read '
By Seeiin Robins.

153—1110 Valley Scout.

By Major Max Martina. Ready

By J. Stanley Henderson.
By Capt. Chas, Howard. Ready fiarch 23d
PaulBibbs. Ready A 111 6th.

Read

pril 20th.
Ready ll ay 4.

154—Red J aeket, the Huron. By Paul Bibbs. Ready May 18th.

BEADLE AN]! AIDA ““

“aim-hers, 98 William Street, New YOl’Ia