. The back-woodsmen; or, Tales of the borders; a collection of historical and authentic accounts of early adventure among the Indians. had marked as hisnights resting-place. This he fortunately found,though after a great deal of trouble, and, exhaustedwith his days adventures, had little difficulty in com-posing himself to rest. He had lain for only a few moments, his mindalternately occupied with hopeful anticipations of safeand happy return, and despairing fears of beingagain captured by the Indians, or falling a prey towild beasts, when he was aroused by the cracking ofbushes and a noise li
. The back-woodsmen; or, Tales of the borders; a collection of historical and authentic accounts of early adventure among the Indians. had marked as hisnights resting-place. This he fortunately found,though after a great deal of trouble, and, exhaustedwith his days adventures, had little difficulty in com-posing himself to rest. He had lain for only a few moments, his mindalternately occupied with hopeful anticipations of safeand happy return, and despairing fears of beingagain captured by the Indians, or falling a prey towild beasts, when he was aroused by the cracking ofbushes and a noise like that from short strokes on theground made in rapid succession. The cause of thisnoise he soon perceived to be a herd of deer, which,bounding through the woods, swiftly approached him,one of them springing over the log under which helay, and the others leaping between him and thethicket. After they had disappeared, he again laydown, only to be aroused by an incident equally un-expected, and, as it proved, far more a slight rustling in the bushes, he raisedhimself on his elbow and looked in the direction from. spencers captivity. 57 which it came. His consternation was no less thanhis amazement when he saw the two savages, oneof whom had seized the horse by the bridle, look-ing in every direction, endeavoring to discover hisretreat. Recovering his self-possession in an instant,the boy was not slow in comprehending the wisely concluded that, if he waited for the Indiansto find him, they, out of rage and mortification, wouldtomahawk him where he lay; and he therefore im-mediately left his hiding-place, and, falling on hisknees, and begging their pardon, gave himself up. I think, says Mr. Spencer, writing of this inci-dent many years after, in his interesting narrative ofhis captivity,—I think that I can now see the hor-rible savage, my master, grinding his teeth with rage,and, with a look of fiendish malice that almost frozemy blood, raise his r
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, booksubjectindian, booksubjectindiancaptivities
