Evansville Journal, Volume 11, Number 15, Evansville, Vanderburgh County, 3 April 1845 — Page 1

I I BY W. II. CHANDLER. THE UNION OF THE WHIGS FOR THE SAKE OF THE UNION. AT 2,00 PER ANNUM, IN ADVANCE. VOL. XI I EVAISVIIL,E, INDIANA, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 1845. NO. 15.

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, From the United Service Magazine. A RECORD OF- INDIAN WARFARE.

- . BY PERCY B. ST. JOIIX. " , Somo Taw years previous to my visit to the new republic of Texas, a small tribe of Wacco Indians had descended from their usual haunts to seek a new hunting ground, and avoid the attacks of their -"enemies, the Com-j auche3, With wiiom-they had long had a dead-1 ly fud. . Wiih great 1 is'.e and judgment, the Waccos had selected the jum iion of a small stream wiih Dickenson's . Biyou, Galveston county, Texas, for the site of their encamp ment, it havingthe double advantage of being picturesquely situated, and also easily defended, as well as that it iusuted them a constant supply of good water, and lay close to the high road from Galveston to Houston, by way of Virginia Point. The distiict being very thinly peopled, vast herds of deer and buffalo abounded in 'he woods and prairies, especially near the river:?, "where limy could conveniently water. Tiie Waccos being, as they siid, informed by dreams that in those parts the greatest plenty of game wr.s to be found, Htul wishing also to be near lite settlements of the while men, with whom they desired to trade for blanket?, liquor, &,c,

built a small village towa-ds the head of Dick's Creek, r.nd resided there for some time. The' serious effect, however, usually attendant on the establishment of an Indian camp on a hunting-ground soon became evident, here us in other places, and game began lo grow scarce. The activity and perseverance of the ahoriginies in the pursuit of game is not easily damped. They are equally sagacious in finding their prey and in the means they use to destroy it. They can discern the footsteps of the beasts they are in chase of, although imperceptible- to every other eye, and can follow them with certainty through the pathless foiest. They generally goto hunt, fasting a wold which they do tut understand in the European sense. of eating unusual dainties oil a particular day, but actually as' signifying not to eat at all and are, it will readily be believed, only the ' more eager after their prey, neither ihickets, ditches, toneuts, pools, nor rivers, stopping them. If is not, therefore, to be wondered

at, if the-buffalo and deer

grad ually began

to disappear from around; in addition to which, the white men settling themselves on the bolder of the river, certain disagreeables arose,1 which induced the Waccos the more rapidly to 'change lliefr residence, and take up their domicile in some more favored spot, where the animals, which iiCord thern alike Food, clothing and amusement-were 4o Le found in greater pk-ti!y. " The Indians, on bteitking up their camp, for reasons hereafter to be explained, did not destroy their houses.

As yoTf approach the soirrces of Dicken-1 son's Biyou, a small creek bordered on each 1 side by a narrow sirip of foiest, falls into the former river, leaving between the two a small tiiangular prairie. To this spot, where the deserted Indian village stood, I took my way when hunting in that part ot the country, in order to enjoy the pleasure of being for a brief spice within the wigwams of the red men.' ' Cross;ng Tod's Creek (a limpid pure stream, which supplied the log-hut in which 1 resided with watei) by a natural bridge,! sauntered along the narrow path, through a pine. grove, and soon icached the open prairie. Tiie morning was exquisitely lovely; already (it was March) the rtiairic sent forth delicious odors Tiom numerous varieties of wild flowers, the air was rilled with sweet perfume,-the dew'-diops sparkled yet fiom the tree?, while thousands "of bcccaficoes, or rice birds, and ths elegant red bird, flew around me, mingling their notes with others even niore harmoniou?. A bracing walk of two miles brought me suddenly upon one of those lovely spots which forcibly remind one of minor Swiss and Italian scenery. By skirting the edge of the timber, I had inched w the bank of Dickenson's Creek, at avjot where one of its numerous tributaries le'll'f'j

and swelled its waters. I he river here rafr'

in a narrow channel, some twenty feet below the surface of the prairie; not "'so the tributary bayou, which, taking its rise some few wiles distant in ihe plain, and being much

enlarged by recent rains, came tumbling from a height of fifieen feet into ihe water below. Across the cascade hung the bouhs

of several buhy trees, and irnmediat ely at

Ihe edge of the water, turown across in the

form of a bridge, was a huge pine log, placed

there, no doubt, by the Indiaus- who former

ly inhabited these districts. Knowing that

the deserted villago lay on the other side, and impatient to gaze even upon the remnants of anything Indian, I prepared to cross the stream. Slinging my gun behind me, so as to leave-both hands i'ree, and aiding myself by the branches which hung overhead. I commenced my assent; for, he it known, the bank of the stream on which I stood, was some feet lower than that which I wished to gain. The length of the pine was about thirty feet, and though the gulf beneath me had not the sublimity of Niagara, or even of the St. Anthony Palls, yet theru was a sufficient vacuum between myself and solid ground to render the idea of a fall altogether unpleasant. 1 Creeping, therefore, most cautiously

along f, I had almost gained the terminus, when my eager eyes caught sight of tiie In-1 dian encampment, and I paused, even iu this position, to gaze upon (he scene. Surtouided on all sides,?ave the entrance, by a rude species of stockade, and sealed upon a gentle slope, appeared some twenty or five and-twenty, Wacco huts, ' arranged round a square, the entrances all opening towatd the centre. In shape they forcibly reminded me of a beehive; but in theirsilence

and desolation, they nowise resembled the habitations of these busy creatures. Facing

village, stood what I took to be the chief's wigwam, or, perhaps, the general councilchamber. Having stood Eome minutes in silent contemplation, I cautiously quitted the log, and advancing a few yards, stood amid the dwelling-places of that piimitive people, whom both history and fiction have invested wiih a halo of romance, and proceeded to examine the mode in which the huts were built, and entered for that puipose the most perfect-looking I could see in the encampment Six or eight poles of some pliable wood willow, I believe had been cut in the neighboring forest, which were fixed firmly in the ground, and bent until the met in an arch overhead; when they were firmly lashed together, leaving a room about eight or ten feet square and proportionally high; some, however, were larger, according, I supposojo the exigencies of the family for whom they were constructed. Other thinner and more pliable switches being passed round the hut, a species of matting of plaited rushes, found in abundance along the water edge, was laid over this, in addition . to the bark of birch and other trees, which was carefully laid on the roof and fastened by pegs. Over all this, when the camp was inhabited, they placed deer and buffalo skins; but these, of course, had been removed by

them, as far too valuable to be left behind skins, furs and venison hams being their articles of commerce with the vhiies. The wigwams were utteily devoid of rh'inneys or windows, all cooking being performed in the open air. and light .being admitted at the entrance, which was not embarrassed by anything in the shape of a door. The cooncilchambcr bore evident maiksof advancement in the art of building since the introduction

of European tools; for it was formed of

square posts, fastened firmly in the ground, and withothers placed transversely, on which the mailing, and then the bark, h id been secured wiih a regularity, tasie and care which I could not sufficiently admire. The sides were, to a certain height, formed of mud, moulded into a wall, and the temaining portions, of the sa me nature as the smaller lenls.

lis length was about thirty feet, its breadth hTieeu, and, as on a subsequent occasion I

had reason to know, afforded an excellent substitute for an hotel, when 1 encamped ihree days in it with a parly of hunters. In the ccntie were evident signs that here a fire

had ofien been made, round which, doubtless,

many a pipe had been smokcd, and many a big talk held. The roof, in which was a small aperture, gave confirmatory evidence. Not a remnant remained of furniture or household utensils of any kind, nor any sign, save the buildings, that the foot of man ever trod the spot ; for grass and .weeds overran it on all sides, and doubtless the deer and other game often took shelter in the houses of their

most destructive enemy. In fact, at my en

trance within the interior of the stockade, my ears were attracted by the rushing sound

of numerous rabbits -making their escape.

I he scene fioui the threshold of thecoun-

cii-ciiamuer. was sulncieniiy picturesque. On each side of a gentle slope, in a semicircular row, were the Indian huts, remind

ing one, combined with the silence which

reigned around, of the tombs of the dead, to

which they certainly bore much resemblance;

beyond was the picturesque watei fall, the

little stream skirted by thick trees and almost impenetrable underwood; while ou my lefi was the river and a heavy timber, the

stately trees o f which were gently shaken by

the light breeze. I he solitary charm of the

scene was broken only by the murmcringof

tue water, fall, or the chirping of the feath ered songsters which flewabout in thousand: in the warm sun. Several beaten tracks

marked the way by which hunting parties

weio in the habit of starling on their expeditions to scour wood and wilds, plain and

forest, h.ill and dale, for the game which constituted their almost only nourishment. In the rear of the camp were certain small fields, which yet retained the stalk ot the maize, and very likely sweet potatoes had been also planted by the women, who in almost all primitive states of existence appear to be the sole cultivators of tiie soil. That which, however would have made the scene complete the presence of the owners was wanting; and, afief some Louis spent in toaming through the desolate village, and speculating on what had been there enacted, I once more crossed

the pine-log, and iiondering on the destinies

of the red man, returned with slow steps to

was a thorough toper, and yet he carried it well withal, at five-aud-fifty being hearty and hale as many a man of forty. His son Ezekiel, or, as he was commonly called, Zick, unfortunately added to all these characteristics that of being an arrant bully. Secure iu his rifle, bowie-knife, and huge stature, he scorned the most distant attempt at courtesy of manner. It will readily, therefore, be believedthat in a new country, where women were scarce, it was not very easy for Zick to find a partner. Now young Shingle's highest ambition was a log-hut of his own; but as he could not raise the money to buy a n'gger help, who would wash, bake and brew, a wife was an indispensable requisite to begin housekeeping. Years, however, passed, and Zick found not his m-'te. His sister, too, was unmarried, from no fault of her own, however, but from the dislike all the neighbors entertained of having Zick for a brother-in-law. At length the Indians located themselves in the spot above described. The consequence was a great increase in the difficulty of procuring game. The Shingles, therefore hated the Waccos, whom on the priuciple ever actuating their class, they looked upon, tiespite their natural right, as inteilopers. Both old Shingle and Zick had henceforth to go

tuitlierantl tare worse, lhat is, to procure

game they-had to scour "new regions, and,

being lazy, their family was forced io be content with a less ample supply of provisions.

A deadly hatred was, theielore, nourished in

secret against the Waccos, whom, however,

they blinded lo their dislike by an outward

show of friendship, waiting until a favorable opportunity should offer itself for wreaking

their vengeance upon their innocent foes. Suddenly, however, a change came over the spirit of Zick. Among fho maidens who dwelt within ihe wigwams of their enemies was one who once seen was not easily forgottcn. Peoria was the datightcrof a great O CD

chief, and destined lo be the bride of one e

against a tree. In its place stood the Leaping Panther, bis eyes flashing fire, his deer skin wrapper thrown back, his tomahawk loose, and his hands holding the rifle of the now helpless hunter. ?'My white brother is very good," said the Indian, scornfully, "but the Forest-Rose has long feet; she can walk." "A pretty prime superfine scoundrel," muttered the discomfiited Zick, and then he added aloud, "You have the vantige, Ingian, you may depend, and it looks wickedly ugly lor me., .What chop shall we make! You keep the rifle it's an up-hill one and I'll keep the gall." r-. "The Leaping Panther has many medicine guns, hut he has no squaw. The ForestRose must come." "It's an etarnal pity,'" mutteredZick, "but he's got his dander up, and l u guns 1 can't catch him nohow. Ingian, give me the gun here's the gall. J reckon we won't quarrel for nothing." "The white man's life is in my hands," said the Indian, proudly, "but he has smoked in the wigwam of my fathers. Go! There are two paihs, one of peace,one of war. The war-path leads to the big wigwam when the great light goes to rest, the wampum belt will be with the pale faces." Zick took his rifle, yvhicli the Indian had first discharged, and the odds being still against him, suffered both Leaping Panther and Peoria to disappear. "A riglar ugly customer that, you may depend, and a pretty keule of fish I have got locook,I conclude. Well, I must be active ; tliiin lngians 'ull be a'ler scalping every soul of us afore long. Once they begin, they hold onmost especial fast, you may depend." Ziclc was right. Once the Waccos had a quarrel with one white man, there was very

little doubt that it would spread loall around.

A"are that his neighbois were all burning

for an excuse to attack the Indians, Zick

hurried home, told old Shingle to got his

qual iu reuown. This giil, Zick havingouce horse out and start one way, while he caught set eyes upon, determined should become his a grey old mustang, and dashed on ;o Austisnuaw, and lost no opportunity of pushing nia, where be knew a dozen men could be

himself into her good graces. Henceforth raised in an hour for any wild harum-scarum he was ever within ihe Wacco- inclosure, purpose whatsoever. The recent retreat of joined in their hunting parties, smoked the Santa Anna, and the dispersion of the Texan pipe in the council hall, ventured a compli- volunteers, had spread overt the land a irost ment to the girls, and, in fact, became a re- of wUJ and untamable spirits, lo whom figl.tgularspy upon the movements of the Indian ing, especially with Indians, was a perfect L'irl. A while wife and a black help beinir treat. " . - ...

equally unattainable, a red skin squaw was , m. tiiefigiit. a,". deckled upon. That same afternoon old Shingle's log-hut

Early one morning Zick tracked his mis- presented a more ouimated and bustling Hp-

tress lo a grove near the village, round which p'earance than it had shown many a day. the hunter lingered until Peoria had had While every chink and fissure had been

time to perforin her matutinal ablutions, when sjoppeH up 0 prevent the sight from giving

hearing tier light slep about to leave tbeshel- the Indians a mark faun without, a rousing ter and seek the camp, lie advanced into the fire had been set ou foot, round which snl

thicket and sto'id motionless before her.

Leaning on his long rifle, and taking also the

precaution ot supporting Ins baciv against a tree, Zick looked the maiden Pull t,i the face. 1

in conclave sixteen men, armed lo the teeili and presenting the .appearance of rude bush-

fi'diltng heroes of the rust water. I he lasi

had just entered, and the number was com-

Boih were silent for a few minutes; the girl plete. Each man had his rifle, powder-horn was the first lo speak in her own tongue. and bowio-knife, and not one but seemed "What does Long-Rifle want wiih a red- able to use these articles. Zick recapitul i-

skin giil?" ' ted the causes for warfare, of course making

"Long Rifle thinks the Forest-Rose more out a most especial good case for himself beautiful than " Zick was at a loss fora Still many had iheir doubts as to the wisdom

simile, but he looked unutterrable things. of attacking ihe Waccos, and making ene-

lbe girl kiughed. and said, "My white mies of a numberous tiibe, unless it could brother is very tall, but his words are few." be charly made evident thai they intended

"Well, I jist arn't the chap for a long lock- themselves to break the peace. The major

rum," replied the hunter, i elapsing into bis jty sided to this view, and accordingly, some

own rich lingo, "it goes considerable agin hour and a half previously, a young, but acthe grain; but forshootin,' orlreein'a'coon, tive and shrewd leather-slocking had been ot sich like matteis, I'm a Yankee, that's despatched to spy out the intentions of the all, and they're ginerally allowed to stump supposed enemy. His return was waited the universe in thim things." for with impatience, as it was considered dc-"Long-Rifie can shoot his eye is very sirable to attack the Waccos, should it be quick," replied the girl emphatically, the so decided, before sun-down, matter being one ever held among her peo- "I conclude Stevens (ihe spy was so callpie of the highest importauce. ed) has got into some almighty fix," observ-

"Well, I arn't available of any in these ed Zick. "He must be a plagv sight quick-

parts can chaw me up; or if - he does, he er nor I think him, if we set eyes on him a-

must be a knowin old shaver, and rise con- (Tain."

siderable airly of a morning; but. that arn't "By Jack tiers, man alive," said a Ke li

the chop just now. Long-Rifle can wipe it tuckian hero, who wa3 intent upon mulding

up considerable hard, you may depend ; but small rifle bails, about the size of peas. Foiest-Rose, do you see I must blart it out "Stevens 'ud bang you iu tu tus in out witmy wigwam-is empty, 1 want a squaw, a ten them Ingian varmints. He's pretty prime

wife, and 1 can t altogether say that I ve seen superfine when he's about il and here he

ly warj not for an instant to be mistaken by the experienced borderers and woodsmen who composed the present daring band. Instantly the party was de.vided into two companies, that of eight led by old Shingle himself, and that of seven by Zick. The first, it was decided, should cross Dick's Creek, and following tiie right bank, attack the Indians, whom Stevens reported as intrenched in their village, iu the rear, while Zick and his parly should make an effort to cross ihe bridge over the liitle stream befere mentioned. By this time the bouse itself was on fire, old Shiugle grimly smiling, though none but Zick knew the real reasonof iiii coolness and self-complacency. The-Truth was, the log hut of tiie Shingles was woiideilully out repair, and and a new building, erected by the joint effort of the assembled ptrly, was a veiy desirable prospect. While, therefor?, the others admired the coolness and self-possession of the old hunter and his eagerness for the fray

Zick muttered to himself, "I can see as far

into a millstone as h:in as made a hole in it,

and the governor's about the oldest 'conn ever I tasted."

Jeremiah Shingle, or, as upon the present occasion he was more appropriately called Capt. Jeremiah, being desirous that the Indian scout should not discover the road he was taking, led his band along the outhouses, amongst wh;ch he leaped I'kmii -the back window of the burning log; rightly judging that the Waccos would think them employed iu eudeavoiiug to get the flames undtr. Having cleared the piernises, the old mm entered a wood-path, leading direct to th creek, which was to be mouiried a. short distance by means of a huge flu, and only abandoned when the water becomes too shallow for navigation. ' Leaving this party, we must follow I lie tor; tines of Capt. Z'.ck, who, heading his men, inarched across ih;i open prairie, keeping away from every grove and limber, test and Indian mignt be lurking about to pick off the uttweaty. A beaten track now the road from Virginia to Houston served as a guide, and after half an houi'a shatp svalking, tho party were assembled

within rifle, or even musket shot of the rude

pine-log bridge, which, on the morning above

mentioned I had crossed with so much difficult). A hah was now determined on, and a council held, at which various opinions were haz.nded. Afier a brief consulta

tion, It was decided lo be madiiep to at tempt scaling this in ' face of an enemy, though all fell if that once could be m istrred, a position would be obtained, from which the village could be completely commanded. At tengih, aftera lew moments ttiojgfit, Zick spoke. "Well, 1 vidh i may be shot, its agin na-

tmc 'for me'to back tmi.- h is, you may de

pend, a coiisiocruble ol a touch-and-go soil

of business, but you all keep a sharp look-out,

and I'll circumvent llie vaim:n'. Mind you siioot eveiy inch of red-skin you catch sight

ot, and you "II give them too much work, you

in iy depend, tor them to mind me.

Accordingly, having seen his followers en

sconced in tiie most lavoraole position pos

sible, on tiie extreme verge of the tvood,

Captaiu Zekiel Shingle cocket his rifle, kee-

rng tiis eye on tho opposite side onhesiream advanced from out of the cover. Zick had

calculated bis distance to a nicety; he knew

that where he stood not one of the inferior

guns ot the Waccos could reach him. He

Todviile. By diligent inquiry, and careful cross examination of various parties,! at

length learnt the rights ofthe story connect

ed with ihe desertion of tho Wacco village; and, as it is a singular instance of the eventful nature of border life, we here the tale un

fold. "

II. THE SIIIXGLE FAMILY.

One of the earliest settlers in Galveston

county, under General Austiu, wa3 Jeremiah

Diungie, ins wile, daughter, and grown up son. Now tiie male Shingles were a desperate set; could hit a cent at a hundred and fill v paces, wield an American axe of the

most huge calibre, and lay a tree, a nigger

or an Indian low in "a'most half less than no time." They were citizens of the free and enlightened republic, which boasts itself the smartest nation in all creation, and, like most Yankees Iransplautcd from their native lo

calities to the rank soil ot Texas, were lazy,

reckless and rude beyond the conception ol anything European, They disdained the culture of the fertile earlh, thousands ofacres of which they owned and after erecting a

miserable Shanty, in winch more wood was

expended than would have sufficed to build

an hotel of the first magnitude, the father

and son shouldered their rifles, with which wandering the woods they laid low as much

game as sufficed to keep the family in food,

clothing and powder, and, above all, the real

any one comes up to my cipner aiore ' is

tleie ZiiCK stopped. I A hurried sound ofiootseps was heard, a

"Long-Kifle was speaking," replied the banging at the door, and in lied Josmii bie-

girl quielly. vens, his rifle in his hand, his hair streaming

"Well, I tell you what, Peoria, or Red Rose, behind, and his face flushed with fast rua-

don t get my dander up; 1 feel most particu-1 ning.

larlv uglv, I do. Don l you cipher me. Skin "A pretty close shave Fve had," said Jo-

is skin, whether it be white or black, red or siah, as soon as he'd recovered his breath, pink, and, do you see, if you will just take "I war nigh losing ray scalp, and that's a

halt my wigwam, it shall be the warmest in fact."

these parts, that's a fact. I'm about a right "What is it then Steve?" enquired old

up an' down hunter, a real first chop of a (el- Shingle, 'I conclude war.

ler, and can shoot more deer, trap more lur- 'War! aye to the knife and a pretfy con-

kevs. and send a ball furthet than a'most or I siderable lonsr knife, too. Fve shot one of

many about these diggens." ihe varmint, and here's as close a shave as "My brother's skin is white, but his heart ever you seed," continued he raising his arm

is red; the skin ot l'eoria is red, and her and exhibiting the track of a ball along In

heart is very red. A brave waits for the side, which had, however, lorn hi3 hun ting Forest-Rose; he hears her voice, and it is shirt, without wounding him in the slightest

very sweet:7 loegree

"W'ell. I tell von what. girl, vou make me! The door of the loc-hut was now pushed

t . ' j i n

feel ugly but we'll settle this in tu tus. I violently open, and a bundle thrown into the

Jumping Jim " middle of the room. Before, however, the

'Ihe Leaping Panther," interposed the messenger could be seen, he had plunged

girl proudly. . into a thicket, which came up close to the

"Well, 1 do feel ryled and, kinder sore, house. Next minute a dense volume ot

dial's U fact. What's in his name? I know smoke and flame from the little barn coniain-

be's a'most an almighty villain, and he'd bet- ing the family supply of Indian corn, told ter clear out next hitch."" how quick and terrible was the hand of Iu-

"The Leaping Panther is a gieat warrior." dian vengeance. Not a sauld stirred lo put

"Well. I reckon he's pretty considerable t out. old ShinrMe bavin" made a sign for

... i 7 -- -- o - D

smirt, but that s notlnn.' 1 say, reoria, my no one 10 move.

wigwam is emotv. I want a sauaw, I take a "The women am safe oft "cried he, "and

fancy to you, and the Red Rose comes with the old house may go. Wood's almighty

me

the bridge, at the contrary extremity of the Mouongahela whiskey. Old Jerry Shingle

stood, therefore, still scaning the borders of

ihe creek wiih a careless eye. I ue mancevre

succeeded; after a short pause, during which

Z;ck advanced not an inch, but teigned rath

er to retreat, some tweuly dusky forms leap

ed on high, a rapid but useless discharge of

fire-arms took place. Seven cracks of the

western rifle was beared ere the last Indian

had fired, and lhat that one told fatally was

plain, for with a wild yell a Wacco warrior fell forward, and plunged headlong into the waters ofthe fall. Dining this time Zick

had rushed forwaid, and was lying down behind a thick bush, within ten yards of the

bridge.

"He's a mighty mettlesome chap, I conclude," said S eve, "though so he he's considerable of a bully, and 1 shouldn't just cipher them lngians making a hole in him. By Jaqueis, there's Leaping Panther I saw his phiz for half a second; and he's seed Zick you may depend. Our boss had" better keep a smart cover." 'Dun myould father," said another, "hut there's a siiootiu'-iron a pee pin1 through thirn bushes. They'll shoot Zick, you may depend, and we'll be pretty considerable streaked. Your rifle, Steve,'s about the bestgoiu' try your luck." . Stevens, while the other wa3 speaking,

had been putting a new cap on his rifle, cleaning the nipple, pricking the touch-hole, and usiir'otherprecauiions lo ensure a steady

and sute shot; this done be levelled his gun,

afiershoutingto Z ck lo keep-almighty cose.

The low behind which the "boss" as a chief

in anything is ofien called by Brother Jona

than, was lying, barely sufficient to keep nun

covered. In no way in which he could lie

was it possible for him to reduce his huge

bulk into anything like the proper compass; in one place his knee, and in another his chin

were slightly visible to the. Indians. Zck

bavin" turned nearly ou bis back to be able

to calcil a glimpse of his companions, when S'.evenscrieJ to him, lie auemp'.fd losqueeze

himself still mote flat, and then lay waiting

uaticutly the result. Meantime, a gun had

several times been pointed at him by one of

the Indians, but it was evident that, without

advancing out of cover, no fair shot could oc

had: the pun was therefore withdrawn

but be sure tnat

stood upon itsextreme veige, and fook sleady aim at the unconscious -Zick. At twenty paces, the Indian musket, w is certain death. Stevens watched him with intense interest; -fie allowed him to lake aim, and sure of his copper bullet, commonly used among tho Mexicans, fired just as the Indian was about lodraw the nigger; the aim was perfect, the pan was shivered, t lie mnsket flew from its owner's hands and he loosing his ballance, slided down the pin-log which he contrived -to keep, without falling into the chasm below. In an instant he wasbeside Zick, who, wiih a huge bqwie knife in his hand, sprang to his feel, and closed with his antagonist.--The Indi m was wellkuowu to the borderer as both strong and brave; his tomahawk, his -only weapon, was not thrown butfiimly grasped. When near enough to render aim (lorn ' either party dangerous lo both, and therefore ' uesless they paused lo look one upon the other; it was for an instant, when they rushed foiward, the Indian aimiitga blow with ins huge tomahawk, Zick with his long-knife, both failed each succeeding' 'in catching the -others wrist. A fierce struggle for mastery now took "place, Zick striving, while he stWLkept possession of his antagonist's right aim, to loosen his own, and pui an end to the contest by means of his dagger. The exertions of -both were terrific, bo;h being almost equally matched as lo ineic physical strength; Zick w;is ihe taller of tiie two, but this availed him little,' has advesary,' having a rare suppleness anil vigor, btsuies the expeiience o. niHiy war paihs. Z.ck's face was 'to his friends, behind him was the log, close to which the contest was . taking place. The Indian appealed earnestly 'to push him towards this, in the hopt of. tiipp ng him, and while seeming to throw' his hole eueigy in- ' to i lie clloi i, Ijejiiiseugaged h;s tomahawk. Zick knew the uueuing a:in of many of Irs.,' ftiends, Stevens iu 'particular, as well as their " expuiieucu, and with a rapidity of thought ' which is gained by acting in such scenes, he saw thai, wiiii- the io..iauavk in his enemy's hand, and his own bowie-kn Tu useless, that -, death was hieing him; the instant, theiefore, .

that the Indian had his tomahawk free, and.

raised it wiih the war-hoop ol victory lo-

biaiu his victim, he flung himself back oil

the ground, dexteriously ensconcing hint-

elf in his old cover; the effort disengaged -

his hand, but he had no time to profit by the

adi'autage as his advetsary stood over him with

s huge and heavy weapon, i he cracks of

the western rifle satisfied Zick that he had

not miscalculated upon his friends, and the Indian fell dead, one piercing Ins back", the '; second Ins head, and a thud his uplilted

ami. - . . : . - Sttyeral volleys from the rear of the Indi- . an Village? proved that ihe foulest was hotly cairied on iu that tliiectio.i, though the shiiip ears of the - borderers satisfied them ' l Et.it no advantage in position had been as yet gained, while the rapid filing of musk ei made ii evident thai the Indians had ino.e chance of shooting with cl7m:t iu ihatquar-1 ler. Presently, Stevens detected the nb- ' sence of a rifle among them, eight instead of nine following in a tappid . succession An ominous and meaning gl.ihr'e, and a firm and savage grasping of tlieirknives, revealedthe feeling which the supposed deciease in their numbers excited in the whiles. Slill no opportunity appeared for giving vent to their feelings: in that direction not an Indian showed iiimseif. Meanwhile. Zick was ' not idle. Drawing himself along the ground ' and diagg'uig his idle alter him, he advanced -

sull neaiei lol.ie loot ot I lie budge, and at last gained the cover of a bush wnence. he could securely ake aim at any who showed themselves on the opposite side.. S, evens and his Irieuds immediately rushed forward, as if for a chaige, and actually advanced to within Indian musket shot. Twenty warriors rose and took aim, the firs! of whom Zick laid low.v Astonished at the nearer proximity o f

their huge enemy , the Waccos concealed

themselves without firing; Zicl; having evi-,

dently changed the; locale of ins conceal

ment without being discovered, elevens

ook advantage of th'13, and while his com-

ades fired a volley, rushed forward and ens

conced himself beside young Shingle.

"Well, that was considerable smart," ex

claimed Zick, -"and I reckon we'll make

them feel ugiy in tu lie then proceed

ed to mi fold to Ins companion a notion,

which Stevens approving of, it was determined immediately to execute. '.Tightening

lis belt, Zick quilted his -friend, who im

mediately commenced his portion ofthe 1csk

whic'i consisted iu keeping up wliai lie call-.

ed an everlasting smoke, aud blazing away

at every conceivable' point where an Indian could be imagined to tie. Meautime Zick

crept through the bushes lo the edge ol the

upper portion ot the bill, over the very vergo

of which was the bridge. Here he was per

fectly out of sight of any but those nlid

should venture to lise above the bushes, a

course of proceedings very iiubkely while

Stevens kepi -his position. Ihe water. ofthe stream was not oyer "his knees, and ho crossed triumphantly, to the gieat admiration of his friends in tha' wood, when he had

caused completely, to forget hisfauhs by the (Tail tntrv of his conduct in tho fight, iliv-

With these words, the young man caught

the Indian girl in his arms, threw her on his brawny shoulder, and carrying his silent victim as if she had been a child, turned for his rifle, which, while speaking, he had leaned

nto. j...i ,i. ;,.k, n Mj can liavfi though btevens could not

a Drooer raft of vonr folks to set us a going 1 other efforts would be made direct

agin. Let's look at the bundle, and then j iug his companions to send a vohey among JtPr.u lnn" " the bushes which concealed the Indiaus, he

ti.u .ji j u- - J,r, .,. reserved his fire. Quick as ligl teumg

j. ue uuuuie proveu iu oc a. uu"" i , , i . i i -T rows tied up with wampum, a signal of dead- warrior rushed forward to the p. ne-log bridge

. i . t - i i . . -i

in" ".lined tiie tiesireo spoi, no was iweivo

feci below the Indians, between whom and

im was an almost impenetrable ticket of

dry bushes, reed and brush, growing out of

Ihe almost peipenuicuiar ohiik. Jjeposning , his rifle securely, ho took out his tobacco-

pouch, took therefrom a fl nt and steel, and sat himself down. Within reach were am

pie materials (or lighting a fire; wood as dry as tinder, and Spanish moss in abundance The noise of the watei fall, as. well a Stevens rifle, completely drowned any sl:ght noise he made & in three minutes after his crossing or

er the whole was in a blaze. A dense coflann Concluded on fourth page.

i i

J.