Bellies I'Vtuatit ' iPriaifcd in the United States of Aiueric?! BLACK SAMSON. % ftorafilK tf <®lir Juittttrftg. BY SAMUEL FLETCHEH. 'SfcTOROX OF "THB BLOODT FOOTPRINT." " BSAKB-BTX," ETC., sra Copyright, 1909, by James Sullivan All Rights Reserved* Published by TITTi ARTHUR WESTBROOK COMPANY Clf-.vlau'I, Ohio, U„ S, A. BLACK SAMSON. CHAPTER L HiJ of the story which we are about to record, ©ccurrwl some years before the breaking out of the Ameri¬ can Revolution, and while that portion of our country which now comprises the greater portion of the Western States, was a vast wilderness, inhabited by savage beast# and still more savage men. It was at the close of a beautiful day in the early autumn, when two individuals, one a white man and the other a negro, 'were seated under a gigantic elm on the banks of the Kentucky River. The white man, Ben Lober, or Limping Ben, as he was commonly called, on account of a sort of a limp or rather pitch in his gait, (for Ben was anything but lame-, and could go over as much ground in a day as any other man,) was one of your genuine pioneers, who enter the wilderness with ax and rifle, to cleai the way for the more peaceable and less adventurous characters who are to follow. His dress was in keeping with his profession, made prin¬ cipally of deer skin. . He carried a rifl® and the usual implements of hi* calling, The nsgro,- Black Samson, as he was called, from his great size and powerful frame—being six feet three inches in height* and well proportioned—was dressed much aftet the same fashion, hu% his garments were almost in tatters,. 10 BLACK SAMSON His moccasins were completely worn through, leaving fcolea of his feet bare. He bore about him all the evidences of having come 4 great distance, and of having passed through many hard¬ ships. He, too, had a rifle and a hunting knife, but "his powder- horn was empty, and his last bullet had been fired long ago. " Wal, Sam,"" said the hunter, " I'm glttdto sefe you ag'in, anyhow, though. I didn't suppose that the red varmints had killed and roasted yOU, bein' as you had a black skin, unless they couldn't help it, for somehow or other they take to men of your cot of'; but I thought, of course, they'd made away with that scapegrace, Clem Scuyler, long ago, till I heern to the contrary from his fatlierj t'otlier clay. And tarnal glad I wa9 to hear it, too, for 1'kirid ft like the lact, thciugli he is a little obstinate and 'headstrong, and not half cunnin' enough for one that's goln1' to live in tha woods among people as cunnin1 and clecateftal the In¬ dians. But if I could only hev him in traiiun* awhile, X could make somethin' of him yit, I reckon." 41 Good Lord!" said Samson, who had been waiting im¬ patiently for the termination of this father lonjg-\tfindo4 speech of the old hunter, that he might put in a Word, 44 does old massa knotv dat Massa Clem's taken prisoner'?" '• Yes," said £ober,u and he's qomfe hfer^ and's "over al the fortf and that arnrt the worst on't, 'for he brought a a gat with him; or rather, I ought to say there'sf a gat tome with liim, for 1 believe Tie didn't knoty she wtls ftlong tiirifc was too late to send hei1, back ag*in,' 66' he had tp let her come!" ^ Golly 1 it ain't Miss Kate, 1 hope Tf said" Samson,. u Yes, Kate is what the old man called fcer,'r'thirfk^" ^aid the hunter, "and a tatn&l smart crftter she^mUst'be tOOj'by till accounts, if what they tell on her's true.1' " You may well say dat, if it'jsf Kate "Wiolrerfcoh' you Ttaeati/' pUf in the darkey, **But how Od airtH ol» Imassa hear fbout Massa Clem anr me beia* prisoners f" " W&V, vou s«« ha got a Jotter froaa a Preacli tofiSaw5 BLACK SAMSON. li was "with the Ingins when .you was tuclepris'ners/or soon after, tellin' him all about it," said the hunter,lt and the old chap says that when he got the letter he read it "out loud in the room where the gal Was sittin'. While the letter was bein' read she didn't make no remark, but whea it 'was finished, says she "'"Well, uncle, what do you'mean to do about it?' "'Do ?' says lie,' why, I shall go to Kentucky and sea if I can't get Daniel Boone and some of his backwoodsmen to asssist me in effecting the release of my son,' ,l< When do you mean to start ?' asked she. "' As soon as I can find two or three chaps, to go with me,' says he. " Wal,'a day or two after that the old man was eiandin' in front of the tavern with a couple of chaps, talkin*- about the expedition, and ti'yin' to pursuade them to go with him, when a young chap came up, rather small in size, bat tarnal good-lookin',, and rather, smooth-faced for a mae, but with a great swagger, and smoking a loiig-riine. After passinT the compliments to the squire and the other two men, be listened a few" moments to the conversation, and then says he: " ' That's jist such a painty as I'd like to join, if the otke* two gentlemen have made up "their minds ti go I' "4 What, you?' says the squire, starin' at the boy, for he did't seem nothin' more. ' Why, you wouldn't stand one dayts travel in the woods.' "1 Well, try me,' said the chap, giving a long puff from his Gigar and looking as cool as a cucumber, ' Try me, and if I give out, leave me behind, that's all!' 44' Well,' thinks the squire to himself, ' there's pluck, - anyhow, and sometimes these slender chaps stand Jiard- sliips,better than stouter-lookin' ones,' so he finally agreed to accept his offer.. With that the other tyo joined in, and the whole four agreed to set put the next mornin', " The next dayA accordm' to app'intment, everything waa ready, and the squire took Jeave o^f his wife, and inquired after Kate, saying he mpst haye a kiss from her before ha went; but Kate was nowhere to Tie found, bo lie liad to g® 32 BLACK SAMSON. without bidding her good-bye, and it wasn't till iheyVl ff'vt \o within a few miles of the foi't that he discovered that the young chap that had formed one of his party, and ha*l «tood the Journey like a hero, was none other than hi® ciece, Kate "Wolverton! u But the poor gal give out at last, and now she's lyia' at the fort, completely worn down." "Well, I s'pose she's safe at. de fort, anyway?" said 8&mson. "I don't know about that," said the hunter. "There ain't no place very safe in these parts jest now, especially for them as comes here to build forts and make settlements. If a chap comes here like me, with a gun on his ahouldor, to hunt and trap, and falls into the Indian's wnya, he may git along putty,well, purvided he has his wits about him, and don't do nothin' to provoke the redskins agin him. Bat the moment you commence cuttin' down the treen, and puttin' up a house, and plowin' up the s'il, tlieri they set you down as an enemy right away, that's come to steal their land from them, jist as other white men have done afore, and if you keep your foothold, you must fight for it. "As for makin' friends with this people, it's all humbug. They'll only be friendly .so long as they are in your power, and until they think they have a chance to git the upper hand of you ag'in. "They hain't forgot that the hull country was once their'n, and they think that it belongs to them yit, by right, and that in killin' the whites they are only killia' people that stole their lands from them and drove them from their homes. *' But, now I think of it, you haven't told me yet, Sam, how you and the lad come to be tdken prisoners. Afore you commence, take another swaller of the critter, for after the tramp that you've had, you must be putty well used up; and this dried buffalo meat takes a good deal of eoakin' to make it digest well." Black Samson was not slow in accepting the invitation of the hunter, and after satisfying his thirst he commenced* narration, as recorded in the next chapter. BLACK SAMSOST. CHAPTER II. •" Well," said Bam, " as yoti know, it was just about dis dine last year when Massa Clem and me went-out on® mOrnin' after dat awful great bear what'was seen prowlin' about de tent. It wasn't long afore we lit upon bis track, for de Wound dat be got de night afore, though it didn't lame him much, bled considerable. We'come up with the critter about noon; dat is, we got sight of him, but not near, erio'ngl? to git a shot at him. ' " But 'as he didn't seem to be in much of a hurry, and limpin' a little, we gained on him considerable, and after' a while we came widin sliootin' distance, when Massa Clem, let drive. But he was in too much of a hurry, and missed the critter, I reckon, for the noise only seemed to make him start off at a quicker gait.. "Den I draw'd up and was "a goin' to fire, when Massa Clem cotclied hold of my arm, sayin': "' Donrt fire, Sam. I must kill dat aninial!' " But afore he could load ag'in, the bear was out of reach and in de woods. So dare was nuffin' for it but aaudder tramp, an' tryin' to git a shot at the Critter as he went dodgin' behind trees and gittin' lost in de bushes. "Jus' den I diskivered suffin' I didn't jus' like, an1 6avs I: "' Massa Clem, dare's suffin'" here beside bear track3. Dare's Ingin tracks, too, if I don't miss my guess, an' de feuotter'we turn about de better, for if dare's one'dare's fifty of de varmints, and dare tracks are leadih' in de. samp, way dat de'critter's taken !' D—h de Ingins !' says he..' 1 I'm a'goin' to hab dat bear, In gins or no Ingiris !' ' " on he goes. as if de debble was afl©r him, an' it was 14 BLACK.. BAUSON. as much as I could do to keep in sight ob him. Putty Boon he fired ag'in, and tlxis time he -wounded the critter putty bad, for he turned and looked as if he me'nt to show fight, but den he seemed to think better of it, and off he goes ag'in dashin' through the underbrush. " Dis time I lost sight of Massa Clem an' de bear fcoff, for a few minutes. Den I heard de rifle ag'in, when makia1 my way through de bushes. I jus' come out in time to git a sight of de beat rollin' down a steep bank, an' Massa, Clem after him as hard as he could go. But when I come to de edge ob de bank—gosh! what a sight waa dare. " Dare was de bear lajin' dead, an1 dare was Hassa, Cle^rx wid more'n forty Ingins around him, fitin' like do. very debble. " He had wounded two ob 'em wid his huntin' knife,, but cley had got de better ob him, an' one ob de varminta was jus'a goin' to tommyhawk hill), when a big fellow, cl^it I know'd to be Big Buffalo, de head chief of de Shaw- nees, stepped up and held his arm an4 made them stop, au' Ka^sa Clem was soon made fast. 111 wondered why I hadn't heern the crack of M*s»a Clem's rifle when the savages fust tackled him, but he told me afterwards that he forgot to load ag'in arter he fired at the bear the last Aime !'* " Ha, ha, ha!" laughed the hunter, H Just like a young madcap, as.he is. I've told liim ltioi'e'n a dozon times to alius take time to load his gun ag'in artar firin' if there'# a possibility of doin' it. But it was jest a9 well for him that it wasn't loaded that time, for he Wouldn't a known no better nor to a fired an' killed one on the Ingins, aipt' then they would most likely murdered him to make it up. But go on with your story, Sam, I wan't to hear the eand on't." " Well," continued Samson, " fust off I was for poppin'- over one or two of the redskins—I coulcl a done- it jiw' -aa. easy as not. But then, thinks I, what good will it do ? Itll only make it wuss for Massa Clem, an' won't do me no good, Den I thought I'd make my tray back to jde fort Bqt what would da five or six men d»fc over my $houlder^ I madje,tracks for the hut. But I hadn't gone , more> a rod or two when I heard a cracklV in tlje bushes 6thind me, and turnin' round, there was the old she-bear after me at full speed I And sich a monster of a critter! Why, she was nigh onto as big as a buffalo ! 'VWell, there was nothin'.for it but to, turn, and, sjiow fight*. So, facia' round, I throw'd down the cub And aim, but, as bad luck would, have it, I only wooded her in the leg, and not bad enough to prevent hqr fiom ke^pin' on a> putty clever trot. So I was preparin' to give, b<|f another charge, when I found, like a tarnal fool, I'd ^pft all w>jr ammunition to hum! A thing I neyer-did afore; tyi all jbj life, and to think of tackljn' sxtch a cri(ter % knife would be worse nor madness. slags: bamsos* i. 19 w The old bear stopped a while to lick the dead cub, but •eon findin' there was no life in it, with an awful, growl she made arter mo full chisel, • " It was lucky for me-that the critter was a little lame, and that she stopped as long as she did to mourn over her deadvtsu1>, or it's more'n likely she'd'made a dinner out of me, instead of furnishing me a dinner or two. 1 " As it was, I went off at my best speed* and_ L ain't so very slow ne'ther. But I found that all I ^ could"do, the critter was gainin? on me. . I see now somethin' must be done; or I was a gone coon ! u Just then I remembered 4hiit aroUnd a high bank, About ar quarter of a mile off, there was a great hollow tree that had fallen and broke ns it fell. If I could only reach this before the bear, I believed I would be safe. u Sb for that I pu}lcd-with all my might. I just reached it in time. The openin' was £0 big at the butt-eand that I could almost go in standin' up, but kept growia' smaller and* smaller, so thafi it would be as much -as a feller could do to trawl out at t'other end 1 , " Now I know'd if I could only git into this log, the old bear Would follow arter me. And I was putty sartin that if she did, that in tryin' to git at me she would git herself bo wedged in that she couldn't git out ag'in. " It happened jist as I expected. I hadn't much more'n got fairly into the log, when the bear was after me, and she eafte with such force that when She reached about the middle of the log1 she was Wedged in so tight that she couldn't move J " So crawlin' 'out at t'other eand, I just^fa^ed about and Went in ag'in. ♦'The advantage now was'all orirny aide". i."My rear was safe, and both flanks '^protecfedj'&nd I' could take her in front. " So at her I went wifV iny- long' knife! The greatest trouble now was to find where to strike, for though she couldn't use her claws; they were mightily in the way, and so was her jaws, but I found the vital spot after a while, and that was the last of her\ *£0 BLACK SAMBOS. * And would you believe it, a steak or two off of th« Jiind quarter waa all I fever got of that animal. She wa* -wedged in so tight that she could -never be got out, and I g'poBe her bones are there till this day !" k< Did you go back and git de cub ?" asked Samson. " Of course I did," said the hunter, " Jjut not, till I went hum arter some more ammunition, for fear the old he-bear might be prowlin' about." " Den drawin' a critter into a holler log's what vou call eircumwentin7 'em ?" remarked the darkey* i " Ha, ha ha!" roared Lober. *' Wal, that's putty fair for a darkey; but if you must know, eircumwentin' a feller's fightin' with your wits instead of your hands. But now I've spun a yam for you, can't you give us one of your jiigger songs, Samson ?" *41 don't feel much like singin' after dat pesky long tramp," said the black, " but if I had the ol' banjo here I'd try." " If that's all you want," said the hunter, " here's an old fiddle I guess'll do as well. So jist git your pipes in order while I tune up the instrument." Samson, seeing that there was no helo for it, now struck Hp: O hab you ebbcr been To de Carolina State ? 'Cause if you haben't been dare, You ain't seen noffin' great. Dey grow de biggest pine-trees, And grow de biggist corn, And raise de finest darkey gals Dat ebber was born. O hab you ebber been To de Carolina State f 'Cause if you haben't been dare, You ain't seen noffin' great. Where de darkeys are so plenty, An' grow so awful tall; You can't hardly see de w&&e folfea Bey look so mighty small t BLACK SAMSOH". 21 .Where workin's only pi ay in' De whole ob cite year though, An' we're dancin' all de while When dare's noffin' else to do. O hab you ebber been, &c To de Carolina State Den come along wid me, And see de finest darkey gals Dat ebber you did seei We'll chop de wood, an' hoe de corn. An' when de work is t'rough, We'll dance in de pine woods when dare Is noffin' else to do. O hab you ebber been , To de Carolina State ? ' 'Cause if you haben't been dare, You ain't seen noffin' great!. . How much longer the song of Samson would have been we cannot say, for just then it was cut suddenly short by the report of a rifle that rang through the forest. Both men sprang to their feet and seized their firearms. After waiting in silence for a moment, the hunter said ': " I don't see fos we need be alarmed. If I ain't mistaken, that's the report of Bob Fifer's rifle. It's jist like him to try to skeer a feller when he's comin' to see him! But if that's Bob, he'll be here in a minit. I hope it is Bob, for he's jist the feller for this business we waft talkin' about, for if there's any man that knows how to circumwent an login, it's Bob Fifer." _ And Bob Fifer it proved to be, who, without ceremony, stalked into the room. He was a stout, father short, broad-shouldered man of about fifty, dressed, like the ethers, in deer akin, and car- Tying a heavy rifle. " Well, old boy, how are you ?" he said, addressing Lo- ber. u And I'll be darned i if here arn't Samson, the black scamp I've hearn vou tell po much pbout { I conclude it BLACK 8 AM SON. must be him, for I don't believe ft wotild be easy to fin«t black meat enoiigli to taalio another aa biff as that one ln After the two hunters had1 bantered es^h other for * •while, Lober infoi-med the flew* cometf what he had learned from the negro of the Capture of himself And his young master; of Samson's escape, and of his own determination to make an effort for the liberation of his young friend, asking him to join them. As he expected, Fifei* entered heartily into Vhe scheme. He agreed with Limping Ben that for Suck an enterprise three were belter than &'dozen, and fearing that the father of Clement Scuyler would insist upon joining them, were he informed of their project, they concluded hot to inform • him of it, or even to let him know 6f the escape of Black Samson, for fear he might exercise his authority oyer him, as his master, to go with himself. This being decided upon, it 'wasl. determined that they should set out as soon as Black Samson had sufficiently re¬ cruited, and he could be fitted out with a new rig, though Fifer thought that Samson had better take his old clothea "with him also, in a sort of a knapsack, as he Jnight' 'find use for them, but in what way4 he did not fcfc that time exjtfaim BLACK; SAMSON CHAPTER IV. . The fort at which the father of Clement Scuyler and hii fciece had taken, refuge was on the Kentucky River, about a mile or two from where Limping Ben had built,his hut, and not far from where the Kentucky piver enters th« phio. ' j The fort was an outpost for the protection q£ settlers r who wer§ following in the wake of Daniel Boone, who, with af^y followers* had cut his way into the wilderness." ASj Lober had said, " though there wasn't much safety for such critters anywhere in that wilderness, and they'd tetter stay to hum," yet it was true she was more, likely to £nd protection there than anywhere else in that region. The whole garrison did not at' present amount tp mors than ft dozen men or so, enough to repel an ordinary attack fron> the savages, but not a sufficient number for carrying $19 war into the enemy's country $ or„ even to follow up an advantage in case they should repel an attack. They could not, therefore, spare any men to join, old Mr. Scu3rler in the expedition which he was anxious to form .for the purpose of effecting the liberation of. his son* so ;that he was compelled to await the arrival, of T Captain ;B,ox?net whq was expected in a week or two, with a party qf fifty pr sixty emigrants, from among whom he,hoped to be able to find & sufficient number willing,to joiu him. In the meantime, Lober, with his. two companions, .set pijfc in hopes of. being .able to accomplish |the object of their expedition before the other party ,«hould be ready t® ftart. ^ The enterprise in which the Jittie party had embarked .was one .that not only required no waall doorae and, 24 BLACK SAMSON shrewdness in the management, but "was attended swithn<* little danger to those engaged in it, for, besides the large party of Indians by. whom Clement Scuyler was held a prisoner—for a prisoner he was, in fact,- though they pre¬ tended not to consider him sucli—there were numerous small parties of savages roving about that did not belong to any of the principal tribes, but made up of stragglers and renegades from all the various tribes, and who, although often quarreling among themselves,, all agreed on Qne thing—hatred of the pale-faces. But this prospect of danger, instead of being an objec¬ tion to Limping Ben and his friend, Fifer, was, one of the greatest inducements that could be held out to them t:> engage in the undertaking. For the first day or two their journey was by water,, in » canoe, paddling their way up the Ohio River, and thpy had not proceeded far before they were made aware of the presence of enemies by the report of a rifle, ana the whiz¬ zing of a bullet rather nearer the ears of Bob Fifer than was agreeable, for dropping the paddle which ho happened to be plying at the time, he seized his rifle, sayiflg: " That's a compliment that no gentleman should ever de¬ cline to acknowledge." The words were hardly out when two canoes put out from the shore with three men in each, and commenced a chase. . Limping Ben now got his-rifle in readiness, and lie and Bob Fifer firing at the same instant, two of the savages of the foremost canoe were put beyond the power of ever firing another shot. The remaining Indian put back juat in time to save his head, for Samson now took up his gun also and let drive, bul the savage by this time had got put of harm's way,, and the Indians in the other canoe, taking warning from the fate of their brethren, wisely discontinued, the chase, and our voyagers were not molested again that day. • But paddling-np against the current was toilsome wort, and as they thought that the place to which they were going could be reached sooner au4 With less trouble, by BLACK SAMSOJT. 25 taking a short eut through the wood* than by following the" river, they concluded to make the rest of their journey Vy land. i So, at the close of the second day,'after putting their1' canoe in a place 6f safety, where it could be found again in Case'of need, "they struck a light and kindled afire to roast a leg of venison for their sjupper. ' . > , •* 'They bad provided themselves with a good iupply of] whisky—temperance societies had not come into fashion as yet—but our friends were not drunkards, and only indulged in the critter just so far as to set their blood coursing through their veins a little faster, and so loosening -their tongues as to make them swing a little easier. • ' '' " I wonder," said Fifer, "if them tarnal redskina that we peppered so the other mornin' mean to foller lis ~ ' " Guess not," said Limping Ben. " I think we circum-' wen ted them 'putty well. I don't believe'they like! the smell Of our powder well enough to keep up the" chase; but, anyhow, it's well enough to keep a sharp look out, for it's'no ways likely they're the only varmints we'll her to encounter." ' ' " Ho, ho t den shootin' Ingins down's anudder way of; eircumwehtin' dem, is it V' asked Black Samson. * Circumwentin' 'em's gettin' the upper hand on 'em by your wits, no matter how you do it," replied Ben. , ' The three men, having -refreshed themselves with a hearty supper,, and the evening being a fine one,, they now stretched themselves on the grass before the fire, or rather took a half-sitting position, leaning against a pespendicu- lar moss-covered rock, by the side of which they intended to pass the night. , They were just in the condition and humor for listening to a jarn, or story, or song, or anything to pass thie time. "You know old Grey Wolf, the Seminole chief, don't .you ?'* asked Bob Fifer." u Sftrtin," said Ben; " he that carries what he calls the Medicine Rifle." " Did I ever tell you how he come to have that are rifle iutked Fifer. 26 '^AMSOI*. " Never]™ said Ben. " Well, tatkin' about circumwentin' Ingins put* in« In 'mind on't. Tou must know, tlien, Grey Wolfs % great friend of mine, and if we can only git him to lielp us in this affair of1 ours^ -we'll "be putty sure to succeed. But about that are rifle: ** I appose you know that! came Into ttlese parts a year pr two afore you did* and tliat I was the only white man to [be found in many a long day's journey, and I know'd darned well that if X lived here at all, I" must keep on gcod tarms with my neighbors, flic redskins, seem11 hadn't none (others. -Sol made up my mind to pick no quarrels with them ©u suay account, and to bear as much from them us it was possible for human nater to bear. " J hadn't much, more'n got my tent up afure Xt had a [■visit from a lot ou 'em, who looted mighty Savage at me, but didn't do tne ho harm, texceptin' helpin* themselves to »uch of my traps as they happened to take a fancy to. "L'arnin' by this what they were up toj I began to see tnat unless I expected to be robbed of everything I hact^T! must hide my goods where they would be safe from these believers in a man's right to help himself to whatever1 he took a fancy to. " I scarcely ever came back to my hut, after bein' away* a day or two, but I would find it had been entered ancl rum¬ mage^ by the varmints'; but havin', as I said, got iota the habit of hidin' my most valuable traps, I didn't lose much fcrorth mentioning 1 " After awhile some of" the head men among them kind a tuck to me^ and especially the head chief of that! band of Seminoles that hunt 5n these parts, Grey1 Wolf, lie prided himself ott being the best shot in the whole country. And he is a putty fair marksman for an Indian,"that's a /act. f *' After awhile he would sometimes Ask met6 join them in. their huntin' parties, havin1 diskivered that X wai'tk jmtty fair shot. * I waa w«ll enough acquainted with Indian natef to &LACK SAMSON, 27j know, tbat nothing was surer to get their ill will than t®i beat them in anything they prided in. So 1 took pains always to let him make the best shot,4 and.as he kaow'd that.I wa3 no mean marksman, it puffed him lip wonder* fully to think that he could not only beat all the Indiana at the rifle, but the great white hunter too. "I was a little younger than I am now, and & little fool- isher, too, I s'pose, and X didn't jist like this bein' crowed over, even by an Indian 1 So I was silly enough, one day, to take it into my head to let him see that a white man was a leetle superior to a red man, anyway. " I had made a pretty fair trade with a lot of pelts at the nearest settlement, and bought a .new rifle that I took % fancy to. "Grey Wolf saw the gun, and wanted to have it tried at a sliootin'-match afore the whole tribe, " Well, I consented, land was fool enough, as I said, to let my pride git the better of my judgment. " A wide open space was selected for1 the sport, where the whole"tribe would Jiave a chance to witness; the tri¬ umph of their chief, as Grey Wolf felt confident would take' place. M The mark was a* white spot marked on a large tree, at a long range. " Several of the chiefs stepped up and fired, some .hitting the tree, but all missing the mark. Grey Wolf then, with « confident air, took eareful aim and fired. "The ball just touched the- outer edge of the White circle. A putty good shot it was too,, considering the-dis¬ tance. "It was now my tarn. I took -careful aim and .fired. .The ball entered ihe ring so exactly in the center that you [couldn't a come nearer with a pair of compasses. " The moment the thing was done I see my .mistake. |Grey Wolf looked daggers at me, and j snatching up my rifle, examined it as if to find in.it some magic power, aad muttered something about medicine. 44 He insisted that the thing should be tried (ever again* 25 BLACK 6AM80JT. To thia I gladly consented, making up my m/nd to mi* the mark this time. «Grey Wolf and myself were the only two who fired bow. His -was the first shot, and it was no better than the other. "I then fired with as much carelessness as I. possibly coald, but, as bad luck would have it, the shot was about as good as the first^nly making the hole a little larger. " Grey Wolf was now almost frantic with rage and dis¬ appointment ! 111 endeavored to pacify him as much as I could, by fa¬ voring his idea that the gun had magic qualities that I was not aware of before, or was what the Indian jj would call a Medicine Rifle! " This quieted him a little, but did not quite satisfy him, and he parted from me with a growl that promised me £o good; and the look that he gave the rifle, as I went away, satisfied me that he me'nt to have the gun, though he should take my life in gitting it 1 "One morhing, a few days after this shoo tin'-match occurred, I saw Grey Wolf, with five of his tribe, approach¬ ing my hut. "I knew what-was in the wind now, and prepared myself to meet it, or circumwent the savages, as you would call it. " So, instead of waiting till the Ingins should reach my hut, I went out to meet them in the kindest manner possi- r ble, telling Grey Wolf that I was very glad to see him; that I wanted to try that sliootin'-match over again, when he should take the new rifle while I should use my old one. We should then find ©ut to a certainty whether the rifle was a medicine one or not. If he beat me this time, the rifle should be his, and I should have his old one in ex¬ change. " This proposition acted on the chief like a charm. His look changed from a frown to a smile in an instant, and with a sort of approving grunt he accepted the offer. "The eatne ground was selected for this trial of skill u BLACK SAMSON. 2$ "had been chosen before, and the "whole tribe, 99 on. the other occasion, were assembled to witness it. "Grey Wolf again was the first to fire with my new rifle. He made a much better shot this time thkn. on the former occasion, while I was "careful to" hit the tree but not the mark. " Several shots followed with about the same result so that the Indians were all satisfied now that my success oa the former occasion was tin account of having a better rifle, and not to superior skill. "The new rifle now became the property of Grey "Wolf, and is the Great Medicine Rifle so much talked about. It is a putty fair gun, but no better than the one that the old ehiel had afore, or than this old shootin'-iron that I carry now. "I guy the Indian's rifle to one Of the other chiefs that 1 wanted to make a friend on, and here the matter ended., " Eves since that time old Grey Wolf has been my sworn friend, ai*d has made me presents of beaver skins enough to pay fo* the rifle two or three times over, and once he saved me from being roasted alive by the cussed Shaw- nees." " How Vas that ?" asked Limping Ben.. " What, didn't I never tell you about that roastin' affair?" saH Bob. " Never a bit of it, Bob," said Ben. " Well, fclwn you must know," said Fifer. ■" It was just after the massacre of the first settlers down there on the Ohio. "The Indians had, they thought, wiped out-the settle¬ ment, kiliin' all but one' youug lad, who made his escape to spread the news of the'horrid affair. But when, the savages catae to reckon up their losses, (for the little band of whites fought desperately), they-found that-there was one more of their number missing than they could count gcaips of their enemies. , ■ , _ " This wastn't accordin' to ah Indian's notion of: right. The account must be balanced; they must have one mow go BLACK SA.MSONV scalp, and as wins was the only one of a white man >(Wf Sn the country, they -were determine# to have it to maku up the complement. " So I had the honor of a visit from them one morning, before breakfast, howling and shouting worse than a seb of devils. I see there was no use makin' a fitss about it, so I just let'em tie me and drag me out One on 'em, jist ®ut of kindness, I s'pose, was goin' to knodc me iu tlia head, but the head chief stepped up and prevented him, saying something in Indian, which I knew meant torture I 41 "Well, to make a long story short, I was taken to their village and rigged out for the torture, or rather unrigged, for they stripped me almost naked. Then they drove two stakes into the ground about two feet and a half apart. About a, foot from the ground they tied another stick across these two, and above this again— a little above the height of a mau1a head—another stick. Then they took me and holding me on the lower crosa- stick, they stretched my feet out, tying one on 'em to each of the corners where it crossed the upright stick, and they did the same with my hands to the upper cross piece! " When they had got tye fixed to their likin', they then gathered a quantity of dry leaves and brushwood and piled it up round me, while the whole village was dancin' and yctlin1 like demons 1 " Th^y had just lighted the brushwood, and I was be- ginin' to choke with the smoke, when I noticed a great hubbub in the village, and all the savages turning from me in another direction, and before I had time to guess what was the matter, a party of strange Indians came rushing up to the stake where I was tied, scattering the burning Vush in ersry direction, and putting the cords that bound my hands and feet! "It wasn't till I had been carried some distance from the village that I learned my deliverer was none other than my •Id friend and enemy—Grey "Wolf I w He had gone to gpay me a visit at my lodge, and not finding me there, and -seeing from certain signs that the party of Bhawnees had been ^t my hut, be suspected th* BLACK SAMSON. 31 object of ibe visit. He selected & number of hia best young ■ men, and following after them, just arrived in time to save me from a piost horrible death. " The old chief is still my firm friend, and, as I said afore, in case of need, x*ay be of service to"us in our present undertaking. " There, I've spun -you a putty long yarn> and I reckon it's your turn now, Ben Lober." Limping Ben, -being thus called Upon, Remarked that he acknowledged himself in his friend's debt, and that he, would try to 9pin a yarn if it Wasn't so late. As it was, he would do the best he could, and "that would be to sing % ne'v song he h»d just learnt. Called "THE DARK AKD BLOODY ground/* He makes his home Where the wild beast's roam, And savage men abound; Where his friends have bled, 'Till the streams are red, On the Dark and Bloody Ground! Yet the streams are rare And the forests fair, As can on earth be found; And wild flowers bloom, Shedding rich perfume, O'er the Dark and Bloody Ground t With toil oppressed, He sinks to rest, Where savage foes surround, And beasts of prey, That shun the day, On the Dark and Bloody Ground I _eutucky, in early times, was called the Dark and Bloody flreund, ia eonsaquoaea of the many horrible Iadiaa massacres, •enmittod t&era. BLA.CK 6A.MS0N. He knows full well That the Indian's yell, Ere the morning breaks, may sound. And his life-blood stain, "When he wakes again, T^ie Dark and Bloody Ground 1 But hopes has lie,, This land to see, ..With richest harvests crowned; ( When this teeming shore. Shall be called no more The Dark and Bloody Ground! i . . v*Ph£tw«-'white men now retired to rest in a tent, m«da of boughs, against the side of the rock, leaving Samson to rnount guard until he should be relieved by one of the others, each taking his turn at the watch, BLACK gAMSOW. CHAPTER V. The nigh* passed oyer without anything having occurred to disturb the slumbers of the party, and just as the day dawned, Ben Lober, who had been the last on the watch, was preparing to retire to his tent, when something attract¬ ed liis attention in the grass at a short distance Off. The morning was rather misty, and objects could be seen dis¬ tinctly only that were very .near. But' Ben's eyes were keen, and long practice enabled him to- see tilings 'in ah'# woods that would not be noticed by one4 unaccustomed' to forest life. After watching it for awhile, without appearing notice it^he was satisfied that it was the head of an Indian, who, crouching in the Jong grass, was closely watching him, probably supposing himself unobserved. Limping Ben was too old a backwoodsman to exhibit any alarm at this discovery, Or to even do anything that would lead the savage to suppose that he was discovered. BeD also knew very well that if there was one. Indian, there was in all probability more, and he would like to know the number of his enemies before deciding how to act. It might not be a very difficult matter to shoot-this sin-, gle man down, but in doing so he might insure his own destruction, and that of his friends. Besides, lie-had laid it down as a rule, as he had cast his lot in the 'miclst of this people, to gain their good will as far as possible, and never to shed their blood if it could possibly be avoided. After j* moment's reflection, thinking it would be wott enough to know the extent of the danger, ho made a move that let the savage know he was discovered, when a whisper was heard, and in an instant twelve savages ruse «p /rem the grass and appioached the tent. 54 BLACK eAMSOX^ Lober bad already given his companions the sign agreed upon to warn them of the approach of danger, and th« ether two men came out from the tent, rifle in hand, but -without showing any signs of alarm at seeing the savages, and awaiting their approach as calmly as if they "were-ex¬ pecting a visit from their best friends. The hunters soon found that the Indians, -who now ap* proaclied, wera a party of the character to which we nava already alluded, wade up of the offscourings qf all the ya-1 rious tribes, that inhabited that region Qf country, and not acknowledged by any, but claiming to belong iq this one oz that one, as the -occasion might seem to require, or make inmost to their advantage, The leadet oi this gang was a Creek,, who had been bapi^bed frqm his ^ribe. He was a pompous, bragging, blustering fellow (for there a?e such charaet^rs ampng the redskins as veil as rmong the 'whites), who gloried in the terrific name or Rlazing; Thpuder 1 The party, though formidable in numbers, were not par¬ ticular^ well applied with arms, there being tyuttwa riflea iu possession of the^whole party—these being one ia the Lauds of {he chief, and the other carried by a savage vrh«> sreinc4 to.be second in command, ' T^e others were armed with bows and arrow•, and the never-filing tomahawk and scalping "knife. Blading Thunder seemed rather taken aback at first, oa finding that his sudden appearance had failed to strike ti rvor into the hearts of the three strangers^ but assuming a Leighty, commanding air, he said: I " What has brought my two white brethren and thfir black servant into the country of the red ■ men I Hair® they norland enough to grow their corn and raise thair eafcik; I" " W;etame to hunt and fish+" said Lober, "and to breatha th« uee aii oi the forest," *' Andhaij our brother received permission to hunt U *u* Awe^ts and fish in, our waters T demanded the chief. 3SLACK SAJISOJT. 35 ** Tfr« gieat chief of the Shawnee*, who bwns this land, Iipows we are here.'* said Lober.'' " ' '* These hunting grounds belong to me and my people !* Tcplied Blazing Thunder, straightening himself up' with Assumed dignity, K and no one has A tight td fish in thesd w&ters or hunt in. these forests" Without permission from the great chief, Blazing fliunder t" ' •* "You and the chiefs of the Shawnees must settle that between you, then !" said Ben Lober. " ' " The Shawnees have no greater chief than Blading? Thunder!" replied the Indian, a little nettlfed at nbt .being- able to impose o» the hunters, but still attempting (to fcarry out the imposition. 4i JLefc us lay our weapons aside," he continued, "andre¬ tire to yonder tree, where We can have a talk: and settle the matter. Friends do, not hold council' together With arms in their hands." k ' The hunters saw plainly that this proposition of Blazmgf Thunder's Was only a trick of the wily savage to get "them in his power. For, although they • Were ^iily three to twelve, he did not like the look of their rifl&s, and' ha «fJouId see plainly enough that these" men would make -H desperate resistance. Lober therefore replied that he did not sed thfe%feeeBSity for afiy more talk, but if the thief had anttliing lnore t® »ay they would hear it now, and he hoped that his'speefeli would be "short, as the f were in a hurry to pfcdceed dia thfeii* journey. Blazing Thunder, finding that Ms trick did »o*i aiiawe* the purpose, now changed his tactics andas&ut&e&imor# threatening attitude, saying: u Does not our white brother see that we are xftftpy^iulft his men are few, and that they areourprisohets whea W», see fit to take them ?" At the same time he gave assign tit* two' of .thti s&mtesi ®f his followers,1 which he did not mean should beobservea Iby the honters. But they were too well accustomed W Watch the slightest motions of the'Indians to? !e* sue# «siovement escape their observation; but, determining t* 36 ET.ACK 6AV«C3T. /nmain cb the defensive nnni *be very I wt mvment. thef [appeared «.o take no notice of it, only grasping tlxeir nflo# a little tighter. v( The two Indians to whom the chief hail beckoned, now inoved slowly up to where Black Samson was standing, a* if to get nearer to the speakers, in order the better to hear ^vliat they were saying. . | ' / All-of n sudden thay laid hands on the daikey, one grasping at his rifle and the other trying to possess liim- aelf of his h unting knife ! Now Samson, to look at him when not excited, was about as harmless-looking a mass of flesh as you wolild be likely to meet anywhere, and he was just as good-natured as he l6oked, but let his temper once be aroused, and bis ■whole person, and character was changed. His figure, large as it was, seemed to expand to almost double its usual size, and he exhibited the strength of four ordinary jnen. The moment the hands of the Indians touched him, Hi* jspiang round with the quickness of lightning and had th« two savages, one in each hand, by tlie back of the neck, and with.giant strength—first holding them out at arm's length—he brought their two heads together tritli a ■violence that fairly made them ring again; then, shaking them very much as a cat would a mouse, he pushed them from him with 6uch force that they lay on the ground as flat as if every bone in their bodies had been broken, i This movement of Samson's was so rapid, and so unex¬ pected, that both white men and Indians were taken by surprise, and the latter were prevented by it from carrying cut a part of their plan, which was, for the two having rifles to feave fired on the two white men, while the others should close in with their knives and tomahawks and finish: the work. As it wa% one of the Indians took aim at Bob Fifer. Fortunately, the gun flashed in the pan, but Samson, hear¬ ing tlie click of the lock, rushed, on the ravage who hold the rifle, and, seizing him by the scalp-lock, he spun him gr JuqBl % place. CHAPTER "Vt pimping Ben and his friend, Bob Fifer, wesre not fnis-j taken when they concluded that Blazing Thundejt' medita¬ ted making them another visit.v The t cunning say age was deeply mortified at the failure of, hia lastfattempl. to get; the scalps and rifles of the three hunters, and tie Was de-l termined to make another attempt, under such cireumstan^ ces as to render a failure almost , an impossibility/ For this purpose, when he had^ gone ji, ctfnsidei'able disi) tance, he halted and called a ^council to defcide Upon .tliSJ be$t course to pursue in order to accompli theltl object/ B«me of the boldest^of the gang were fo£ turning j-TgUfa "back and attacking thTliunters^ac once, $>ufc fliig jplaijt mufi with .but little favor, for tlwy Jiad now only" one rill*} Jolty BLACK SAMSON". . finjc? that pot; in very good order; besides,. the wonderfut featg of Black Samson had inspired them -with a wholesome dread of .that individual. They fc&id lie was not $ man, but & great "black demon in human jforrji; that no gullet, or arrow would eater .hid flesh, unless it Was possessed of some charmed influence. The' two men who had first been so severely handled by him, declared that when he had hold of them, the fire fashed fyom his eyes and blazed out of his mouth and nos¬ trils, find that hisliands burnt like heated iron. As this statement was in strict accordance with the St?-- perstitious notions of the savaged, it was believed by fell present, and it was decided to proceed no further in tha- matter until, they should consult Blind' Beaver, a Grc:-n .Medicine man, who resided in a cave at a distance of a fb\* miles. To the cave of this great blind medicine matt they ac¬ cordingly directed their Inarch. This great blind medicine man, as he Was called, was es¬ teemed a great seer fry the Indians, aud, with hid wif-\ lived in a cave whore he was supposed to hold communion with departed spirits—very much as spiritual mediums, aa they are called, are said to do" in our day. Jiik^them, too, he would go into a trance, or sleep, pa be called,it, and utter Jiis^flyuce^oi:..benedictions while la , that state. ' The oilman, being blind, could no longer hunt or Ssfe, BO. that he was dependent for his support on the presents received in. consideration for his" warning or advice, I being* as \ve_have said, held in great veneration by kia people, he was by no means allowed to puffer. 'In fact,.for aii Indian, lie miglut be considered wealthy, No one ever thought of consulting him without bringing ]iim sotofcthing, and Blazing Thunder thought it necessary to till a young deer to present as an offering before coa- ■Ultingjum. ' To do.lhis, however, in a forest where game abounded, lid not jcauec very great dslay, and. the ,day ,waa jnot fa* •50 BLACK SAMSON". .spent when'tfie party reached the cave 'of the Great Modi- 'cine man. < >, Clouded Face,- that being the name given to the seer by his red brethren, was sitting with his back to the entrauc* of the cave when Blazing Thunder, with, two or three of his party came in, laying down their offering. " The mind of my son is troubled/' said the prophet, •without being spoken to. " Clouded Face can see a great 'black spirit crossing his path, for though the outward eyes' of Clouded Face are darkened, his inward sight is,clear as the light of the sun. My son must beware of that great black spirit. It may do him-great harm!" 1 " May not this great black spirit be destroyed and re¬ moved from my path ?" inquired Blazing Thunder, *' The great black demon may be removed from the path of my son," said the prophet, " but there is great danger in attempting it, and the safest way would be to keep out ©f the demon's path ?" "I would utterly,destroy him," said Blazing T1 under, " for Be has already done me much harm I" " Listen to me, then," said the seer. Let some one on whom he has laid hands follow him, or go wheri he has . been, and get a piece of his dress, or something that has been about his person. 0 If, 44 §hoyM be a portion of his ■ dress, let him wrap it ronndftbe,baU that he puts in his gun; could he obtain a bullet from his pouch, better still, for he is protected by other powerful spirits, and nothing can kill him that has not once been liis, or has touched his body 1 Then let the wadding of the gun be of grass or leaves on which he has trodden. Beware that nothing is omitted, for should that be the case, the life of the one , making the attack will be greatly endangered I" This communication came from the blind prophet while lie was in what he called a dream, but what modern spirit¬ ualists would call a state of trance. The Indians, having accomplished the object of jtheir visit, took their departure, satisfied of tlie truth of what they had heard. They were now convinced that Block Samson was either a demon, or tinder the protection of 41 powerful enchantment, which could wily be defeated by pursuing the course recommended by the blind prophet;1 but the difficulty was in procuring the means of putting bis ®dvide in practice. How were they to get anything belonging to Blaclc Samson. At last it occurred to Blazing Thunder that, by return*! ing to the'place where he encountered* the hunters, he' might find something. It might be a few hairs from his head, a scfap from some portion of his dress—-anything that he had touched would.answer. ' He was determined to make the attempt, at least, for tha more he reflected on the matter the more was he mortified at his late discomfiture. To think that twelve men should bo defeated and put to shame by a party of three ! or by a single-man, in fact— for the two white men were little more than quiet specta¬ tors—it was too humiliating, and he was determined to obtain revenge or perish in-the attempt! Limping Ben and his companions soon found such a spiace' as they were in search of, where they could not very easily be taken by surprise, and where the advantage would be on their side, should they be attacked by superior num¬ bers, and here they concluded to remain long enough to enable them to ascertain®$hOfc!ffer or not it was Blazing Thunder's design to make another assault on them. They had hardly got things arranged to their satisfac¬ tion, when it became evident to them that their motions were watched, although no Iudian had been seen." But the print of a moccasin had been seen by Bob ,Fifer in the neighborhood of the camp and pointed out to the others, i On examination, several others were found, but the hun¬ ters were satisfied that they had alt beek ifiade by the same person; so that it was evident that they had beten visited by only one individual. But that one might have been sent th'efe "as" a spy, and and was'perhape, one of a large party who "were watching iot a lavoralile opportunity to attaek theta. They, there- black sambo*. fore, judged it bwfc tt> renaAii. - «i«k pr*ser"* *«lrtori* for »while> trv see What naigt t be the rest,!;' Early the next toorci* g BlhCS" Ramjaois state <3 hi £ at thQ door of the tent tightening his aeer-Bkin belt), when the strap broke, and he threw the piece from him, at tlie fiftm* time going into the tent for something to mend the strap. He°Tiad hardly .entered the tent -when* the figure of an Iiuliaft rose from the long grass, and cautiously looking ttfotmd him- to be sure that he wa9 not observed, lie went to where the piece of strap was lying—'which S&insod Bad thrown away—and snatching it up tvitll a grin of satisfac¬ tion, disappeared ia the forest1. The huntei's remained !d their place of security a day ok two longer, but nothing occurring to render it pro-bablo that the Indians intended to attack -them, and too fresh moccasin prints being discovered, they concluded fo con¬ tinue their journey. Their way bow led through' a narrow valley, thickly wooded along its borders with low trees and underbrush, »ad they had proceeded but a short distance when they were startled by the report of a rifle, but making a report unusually loud, while, at the same time, a horrid yell rang through the forest, and a party of savages sprang Wpon! them from the bashes oA either side. But if the Indians expected to take the hunters *hy sur¬ prise, and dispatch tlieni before Cliey sliould have time to defend themselves, they were mistaken. I cannot say how it might have been with Black Sam* son, if he had been alone; but Limping Bea and Bob Fife* were too well acquainted with tlfe character of tha men they had to deal with, and the nature of the busineal they were engaged in, to be eaught in such a trap. Although »seeming to move on in a careless and indif¬ ferent manner, they were, in fact, constantly on fhd watch for an attack of this kind, and the moment the savages made their appearance their rifles were brought to their ehoalders, and the foremost two Of the party were stretched* upon the ground before tha echo of their jreli had died away m the forest BLACK SAMSON, 43 Thus ±he Indian?., instead of,the hunters, were taken by surprise, and were at first staggered by the reception they had met with, but hoping to surround the little party be- feyft they could reload their rifles, the, remainder of tUa savages came rushing on with tomahawks and knives. Black Samson, who had reserved his shot, now fire4 and wounded another of the savages, though not mor¬ tally. The Indians seemed surprised that Black Sanson re¬ mained unharmed, the shot they had fired being evidently intended ior him. The hunters, now taking a position- where they could not be attacked in" the rear, defended, themselves with their rifles as clubs, proving that they knew Jb.ow to use them in this way as well as any other, and for a long time they kept the tpBoIc troop at hay, occasionally knocking one over. But tlie contest was an unequal one, and it is hard to tfll how it might have ended, had it not been, for tbe wonderful strength and agility of Black Samson, and the dread in which he seemed to b& held by the Indians. Four of the strongest of the, savages, headed by Blazing Thunder, scfe upon liira»ia,icfnce, but the first blow from his jrifie reduced the number t4 ithree, while the second mad a them but two, when, seizing the arm of Blazing Thunder, while aiming a blow at his head, he snatched the weapon from his hand and buj-ied it in the skull of the chie^ while his remaining opponent fled in terror, uttering ^ horrid -yell, ae if it was some fearful dempn he had been encoun- itering. The remaining savages, seeing their chief slain, and Black Samson at liberty to pay his . respects to them,, new- beat a hasty retreat, seeming to think it wa& no use con¬ tending against devils! ■ Limping Ben and Bob Fifer were both slightly wounded by the knives of the Indians, but nothing to speak of, while Samson came off without a scratch. It was afterwards discovered that the reason why the savages bad not fired a second shot was that the rifle had buf *t, severely wounding the man who fired! '44 BLACK BAMSOSr. The thot had been intended for BlatJTc Samson ! The Indian had loaded it according to the matruetiotMi «vf the blind prophet, wrapping the ball with the piece of the buckskin belt which the black bad thrown away, and ramming it down with gra3S which the negro had trod upon. , The gun had been overloaded, and the priming-was, wet, the consequence of which was that the piece .burst and mounded the man who fired it, instead of the man be in-r tended to kill. " Darned narrow escape, that 1" said Bob. Fifer, when' the savages had fairly gone, "and if them tarnal Ingin* iadn't taken Black Samson for a devil, it would A gona lard with us; and I'm switched if I ain't very much of tha rune opinion as the Indians, and I'm glad he fights on our side I" M Do you think dem varmiftts will trouble us ag'iii 1" asked Sams«n, ; " Not a bit of it," replied Ben Lober. " "When, one ani* inal's got hi3 head cut off, you needn't be much afeerd of its tail!" " That gang's broke up, and the pieces'll hev to join itself On to some other set of cut-throata, and afore they can do that we'll be out of their reach." Although the hunters feft 'certain they would not fee troubled again very soon, thcrjr concluded it was best to liurry on, not knowing but the remainder of the Indiana might meet with some other roving party who could bo induced to join them for the purpose of renewing tho attack. Their journey, however, was uninterrupted for the re¬ mainder of the day, and just as the sun was going down they entered one of the most beautiful valleys that was ever spread out to the gaze of mortal eyes. Through the midst of it wound a magnificent .stream, one of the many tributaries of the Ohio, whoso banks were lined with noble forest trees of every variety ©f. fyjm and shade of foliage, while, for miles, rich meadows stretched ©ut, with here and there a clump of towering -OAks or elm '■ v Large droves of buffalo were grazing upon it iii undis¬ turbed security. • It needed but to have here and there a farm-house peep¬ ing up from among the trees to give it the appearance of a country under the highest state of cultivation. ! The three men, accustomed as they were to seeing'naiure in her grandest as well as most beautiful forms, gazed for awhile in mute admiration on the magnificent scene befora them, its beauty doubly enhanced by the mellow light thrown upon it by the last rays of the setting sun. But hardly had our travelers fairly entered this beauti¬ ful valley, when they were startled by a sight strangely ai variance with the scene we have just described. By the side of a grove they came upon the ruins of a but that had been recently burnt, some of the embers still smoking, while all around were scattered the mutilated bodies of men, women and children—whites who had been murdered by the savages I , • ' . " Oh, I remember now," said Limping Ben. " This is the beautiful valley diskivered by Daniel Boone, and this is the party of emigrap^ts jthat came out to settle on it, and they've all been murder/ l^ell, a lovelier land never came from the hand of the Almighty, and yet, while there's"- such dean's in it as this, Hain't much wonder folks call it Tbjs Dabs and Bloody Ground I" CHAPTER VIL The next day's journey brought our party within a short distance of the place where Black Samson had left liia young master, Clement Scuyler. Whether the ShaWneo ■encampment was still there or not, was a matter of unc©r« tttinty, but which did not remain an -uncertainty long, foe Samson, who sent to ascertain whether the Indiana, 4G BLACK SAMSON. -wer© $till there or pot, returned with. the answer that ttyey werq, though, lie thought in smaller number^ than when ho left, as there did not appear to be.near so many wigwapaa. " The devils have sent a party off on some murdering expedition!" said Fifer. The Indian encampment waa iiya valley of considerable extent, almost free from trees, but " nearly surrounded by a dense forest, and but a short distance from the Qhio River. Blaqk Samsonk who was pretty well acquainted with the locality, having secured, a place of concealment for him- solf and friends, where they could watch the movements of the Indians without being observed themselves* the pprty now hqld a sort of a council in order to decide upop,,the Vst course to pursue in order to accomplish the object they had in view—the liberation of ypung Scuyler. After talking the matter over for some time, the plan fixed upon was the oqe recommendec! by Bob Fifer^ who, having been longer among the savages, waa supposed to be b'ttqr acquainted with their character and habits than either of the others. Fifer'a reason fbr wishing Samson to bring his old clothes with bini was now explained. His plan was %o hav? him dress himself up in this old tattered dress,, and, Reaving hie find behind him, just enter the encampment as if nothing had ha ppened more than if ho had returned of his own free, will, after having beei* on a long journey. If any questions should be put to him on the subject, ha tnight say that he had got lost in the woods, and had only now found his way back to the camp. His tattered garments and woe-begone look, which he could'easily put on, would help to confirm this story, •wlrfch would be much more likely to b« believed than if he should appear in a better suit. After having fairly established himself in the camp, he could find aa opportunity to let his friends know the stjite of affairs there, and they would take #ieir measure# accordingly. 47 l^oKoTwing these 3irections^ 'Black Samson rigged him- ieelf Gj) & VhS old tetters that lie Wore frhdif be .presented himself before Limping Ben* on his return, and shearing- b'is fate and putting t?n '&*wob-begoiie countenance," he set out for tire tenctunphieiit.- It.trtra about noon -when 'Saftsoh,uitttireA afe we hatfe de» escribed; with a sfowWd weary step sauntered into "the In¬ dian camp. ~ : Samson found' ttiat he "was correct in supposing tli&t there were fewer Indians in tire camp than when he left it, brit he found ^odng BcuylerV ient still'fhere, and Clement tiimseTf sitting "at the door. , ' ' Scuyler at first started on seeing hik old Servant return 80 unexpectedly, but recollecting hhnself^ and'assuming something of the Indian^ indifference, he simply motioned fdr him to sit clown' by his. side, *and desired him to tell why he had been away so long. '' By this 'time seVei®al of the savages had collected around 'this "tent,'evident!^ anxious to near Samson's story. 11 The "first thing that Samson did was to' make signs to thd savages that he wanted something to' eat, pretending that lie'was'almost starved.. This he did the better to »act the character he tad assumed. The food was brough^ him, and having Satisfied his ap¬ petite, he -stated that on, leafing the encampment "he had gOt lost in the woods, and! had been Wandering about ever eince," eride&vbriugto find his way back. For Several days he had taken the way that led. him fuHher land further olf, until happening to strike the river, and noticing ■which "way the cui'fent rah, he turned about, and afteif inany days of'toilsome' travel' lie" had at last, to-'his' great'delight, Touched the etibampment. r "iliis slor^,r which hiS iattered' garhicnts and^hkggard -leiolci 'feetemed"fo' confirm/'^as Tepesitedr t6 the Indiana etandiiig-about by one of their own interpreter#, and wa# niiou Cleinent and Samson Were left to th e m selves , the 'iaegto giaVe his young master at faithful feebburitr of ill thafc had transpired since they parted, and informed him of the believed. 43 BLACK BAMSOK. project on foot for his liberation, and whew the fHends were ■who were engaged in it. They wished to learn from himself how to proceed before venturing any further. ' Samson also gave young Scuyler a piece of information that startled and alarmed him not a little. That was, the arrival of his father and his cousin, Kate Wovertotl, at the fort, near the lodge of Limping Ben Lober. " My God!" said he, "what if the party of savages who fcave left should be intending to make an attack ott that fort? " Yes, yes, I muBt make my escape at all hazards, and go to their assistance t But bow to do it is the question f Although seemingly free, I am closely watched, and for your little party, with all the aid that I can give them, to hope to accomplish my deliverance, would be all fofty i"1 g " I guess they mean to do it by cireumwentm'' de Iixgins," said Samson. "Well," said Scuyler, "if my friends have any plan by which tbey think they can get me off without coming to an open fight, I am glad to hear it. But it's only fair that they should know the risk they run. "There are Still over a hundred warriors here, and as cruel a set of cut-throats tlicy are, too, as ever took a scalp. But no matter, make my escape I must, or perish in the attempt 1" After Samson had remained quietly in the encampment for a day or two, in order to" allay the suspicions of the ear ages, in case there should be any, he managed to make lis friends a short visit, informing them of the condition of things at the encampment. Limping Ben and his friend, Fifer, had no doubt, when tbey heard Samson's report, that the massacre of the emi¬ grants in the valley through which they had passed a few days before had been the work of the party of savages al¬ luded to by young Scuyler, and that their main object was to attack and destroy the fort where Squire Scuyler and Ids niece had taken refuge. The. two hunters being as fully convinced of this As feeing Bcnyler was himself they asw the necessity of it- BLACK SAMSON". &) I footing his rescue as soon as possible, in order that they might .b&fcten to the assistance of their friends. After several consultations, and various plans having been talked over, it, was finally decided that the two hun¬ ters should, remove to some convenient place further do' t the riverT—agreed upon by the whole party—where they would conceal"themselves in the woods, near the shore, und await the . arrival of young Scuyler and Black Samson, who must "vyiatch. an opportunity for making their escape by taking possession of one of the cauoes belonging to th« iavag^s.. . . Should they be pursued, as in all probability they would,, the Indians, not supposing that they had any frieijds near to assist them,-would not be likely to follow- in yery great force, and the two hunters, being on the look¬ out fqr them, would be able to come to their assistance as soon as they should land, or before, if necessary. , ... By pursuing this course they believed that the Indians would . be taken by surprise, and they four would be a match for any party that would be likely to come in pursuit. This plan seemed to young Scuyler to be as good a one as any he could think, of, so that it-was agreed upon.; but the difficulty w^s for Scuyler to elude the vigilance of his keepers long enough ©give him a. Sufficient start to afford him a fair prospect'of success; few that he would, be pursued as soon as he should be missed he felt satisfied. He thought at first of making the attempt in the night, but, unfortunately, he was more closely guarded then than at.other times—one or more of the Indians always sleep- rag in the tent with him. . ,.He finally determined to go off openly at mid-day, as if -pimply, intended to take , a stroll along, the river. He go, without liis rifle, in order not to excite suspicion, taking e^ire, however, that Samson, who was not so closely watched, should 550 there before to make sure of a canoef placing his rifle in the bottom of it. ,.f So far, everything succeeded .to their wishes. Scuyler reached the river without being followed, where he found £0 BLACK SAM90ET. Black Samson awaiting liis arrival ■with tho carvoo, a««I «feryt1un« ready* So, stepping into the boat, they puahed off end were soon out in tlie Jmiddle of tlie stream. But the next moment a sliriil whoop from, the shore rang in their ears, and looking up they saw an Jiulj.uf* ■standing on a point of rocks which jutted out ipto^tha beckoning $iem to return. The Indian, seeing that his call was unheeded, dtsaj> jxyu-fd in tlie-fprest^ 41 Now, Samson," said Scuyler, " we must pull for -dear life, fpr they will be after us in less than no time !" " :Ut chap'll hab to go back to de camp fus' an' tcU d«t Test afore dey can come down to cle yiber," Baid Samson,. ■" an' afore dat we'll hab a putty ^oqd start, I reckon." . • Samson w'as r ;ht. Thesavrgc liad to return to the eo-„ •cam^ment and give the qdaxm before the pursuit could bq <;Qimn,enced, and this would give the fugitives the adxaBL~ tage of a pretty fa,ir start. Bufeihe4istociv«l, £4 feLACX BAHSCXr. farther up the stream, made their appearance, and out- two Iriends were surrounded. The odds -was now too gseat for even such a giant as Black Samson, and it is hard to teU how the struggle Would have ended had not the report of a rifle just at that moment rung through the forest, and the Indian nearest to young Scuyler fell to the ground. . This shot was almost instantly followed by another, add af second savage instantly fell dead. All the others now fled, not knowing the extent of the danger, and Samsoji and his young master were left by themselves. , " We was afeared we wouldn't git here in, time !'*■ snid Limping Ben, as he and his friend, Bob Fifer, niadfe their appearance, leisurely trailing their rifles after1 them, "We seed you doublin' the p'int, and the other boat after you, atd kiiow'd you'd hev to land afore you got to the place we agreed upon. But knowin' the way Black Samson there has o' handlin' of redskins, says 1 to Bob Fifer, if them's all the Ingins they've got to tackle, we may as well stay where we be, for Samson alone can settle their hash for them in less than no time, " But then we thought there wouldn't be no harm to come and look on and see the fight, and lend a hand or see fair play. So, when wet see them other six chaps coinitt' up, says Bob, that ain't exactly the fair thing.-' X gticsa Tit let drive. So let ddve he did, and popped one over1, while I followed suit and did the same thing for another, and that, it seems, has frightened all the rest," "Do you think we are likely to have another attack from Use savages ?" asked Scuyler. " Guess not," said Fifer, " but we'd better change' our quarters*—move further off. No knowing what the devils may do when they find out,how few we are 1 No doubt some of 'em will be prowlin* round afore long to find out. Can't move too soon. Guess we'd better take that canoe of your'n and follow the river for a spell. Git alo*g fb&ieg that way.* BLAC£ SAMS02T. Following tlila advice, the four tne(n descended the steep bank, and entiling the canoe, "were soon rapidly descend¬ ing the river. CHAPTER ?m. Out yoyagej's followed the course of the river until nighfc- fa.ll, when they reached a small island,, where they .con¬ cluded to encamp for the night. This little rocky inland, which covered only a surface of a few hundred, square feet, and contained just trees enough to form a comfortable shelter, they thought, would be safer frgm an,attack of the savages, should they make one, than any place they would fee likely to find on the main¬ land, while it-afforded facilities for defence that, could not «asily be .found elsewhere—wbilc'the-island, being so snjallj to take them by surprise would be next Jo impos¬ sible. . . Eere, then, they felt secure for the present, and restjvas a thing they very much needeclr after the toilsome day (they had passed through. - . One "would suppose that, after'the scenes.of excitement, toil and danger that these men had passed through—two of them ,at"least—that they would be inclined to take a tong^testing spell at once, without ever thinking of spend¬ ing, half,the flight in spinning yarns and singing songs, But the backwoodsmen are a light-hearted set, thinking ho more of the perils paid dangers of their calling than* the farmer or mechanic does of his daily toil. i ' Their lives being liable to be cut short afc any monietifc, they,seem determined to make sure of aU, the enjoyaseat they can get-out Qf it while it lasts, 'an bo me;Tv while wea may, There ^a-no w-ff^in^;' Life is but a summer's To-morrow we ssay s 50 BLACK SAMSON. BPeuis fo be their motto. Such, at leaf t, -was the case wV our party, with the exception of young Scuyler. Although naturally Kght-heavted und reckless as any of the party, lis anxiety about the fate of his father and «ousin rendered him unfit to join in the frolicksome humor of his compan¬ ions; yet, »ot wishing to cast a damper oVer their high spirits, he took care not to check their mirth by intruding any of his own doubts and fears, and did his best to ap¬ pear to enter into the spirit of what was going on. " Why, Samson," said Limping Ben, " the way you fc&n- filed that monster of a savage, Pipe-Nose, was a caution to tmbelieverfc'. Bob and I had jist rounded the knoll that brought you and Clem in view, when we seed you tacklin' the varinint. Bob draw'd up an' was a goin' to fire. Hold on a mfiriVfust, says I, and less see what the black imp means to do, when we see you take him up in your thumb land finger' arid throw him over the rock, jist as a lady ■would pick a catapillar off her dress and fling it out the ■winder P'" ' | " Oh, golly 1 Massa Lober," said Samson, " I should t'ink you'd bust your wind-pipe a tellin' such awful whackers as dat 1" ' "Positive fact!" continued Lober, addressing Scuylerf and not minding the darkey. " But that was nothing to the way-he* handled the chaps that Blazing'Thunder brought'agin us the fust time. Why, in the^fu&t place, h'® took two on 'em up as a child would a couple ot dolls, an' arter smashin' their heads together, throw'd them on the ground as stiff as pokers; and then, catch in' up another by the scalp-lock, be whirled him around with his forefinger a spell, and then flung him up in the air, when off he went like a balloon, and he's goin' up yet, as far as I know on, for I never see him come down 1M "Oh, Massa Ben, dat's too bad!" said Samson. " Not a bit," continued Lober. " Served him right; jist vliat he desarved 1" u That's what he calls circumwentin' Ingins, I believe I" J>ut in Bob Fifer. ' " Talk in' about circumwentin'," paid Limping Ben," pots BLACK ^SAMSON1. 37, me in mind of low I circumvented an login dandy oust,- and if I hain't never told the story aforevril; tell itnow; and if I her told.it afore,. I'll tell it over ag'in^for a, goocj, etory never loses notliin'in being told over ag'in,,butrather Improves every time, to. my tliinkin' 1" * ' ,t.' . ( " Dat's a fact, 'specially when, Massa LobertejliS; it 1" pu$ in Blacfc Samson. ;" Shut up them great black jaws of your'jisaid Limjv ing Ben, " or you shan't have another Ingin for ;yoi}r sup* per for a month!" "But,'' continued,Ben, "what I'm a"goin'to tell's a sober fact, without none of your trimmin' nor fixin' up to set it off.. ... s ' "Shortly arter I come into these parts I wastrapplh' oa one of,the large streams that run into the Ohio River:. After I'd been there*some time, as bad luck woi^ld, hev itj I found I was right in the neighborhood Of a :lai;ge lndiaa village. " It wasn't long afore I toad a visit from two or jttiree of the chiefs, and though they looked rather sulky at me for trapping on their ground without- askin' leave, they didn't molest me, seein', I suppose, I was a harmless witter, and, besides that, beinr alone, I s'pose they thought I couldn'i do them much harm. Yit, still I didn't feel exactly safe, for they didn't seem ^inclined to be, very friendly, and if one of thein; should take it into his*head to knock me over, I didn't.belive that his punishment would be very severe. Now, I s'pose you know that the outlandish sort of an " animal that you call a dandy is to be found sometimes in an Indian village as well as in the cities of the white folks. The nature of the critter is very much .the saine . iu, boih places, and your Indian dandy'is held in greater contempt by his dusky brethren than the other .is by his,white friends.. " These Ingin dandies are generally, the pet SQtts.oi strne great chief. You'll see them strutting njfout tl'te 'viHiie'e, ' dressed in the richest of furs—-a Irsaulifully triuiflted ermine 58 BLACK BAMSON. rftp, -with leggings and moccasins to uiatcli, and & feather fan iU l»is liund. « Your don't see no scalp-locks danglm' from tlie legging* of these chaps—for if an IngiiJ wears Ornaments of that kind, he's got to win them for himself, and you don't find these chaps takin' to the war-path. Not but they would, like-to have the scalp-lccks if they could get them, for then they would pass for braves, but they ain't got the pluck to try to take 'em. " The okl-chiefe and braves hate these daudiea. worse nor p'ison, and wouldn't be cotched sittin' on the same seat with one on 'em., ""^"hII, as it happened, there was one of these witters in triage Tm speakin' of. They called him the- White Butterfly, " I noticed that this White Butterfly was disposed to buzz about my ears a little'more than I thought was Agree¬ able, and thinks I to myself, it ain't for no love of me that he comes to my lodge so often. "Who knows but h$ would like to git iny scalp if he could do it without much risk, to ornament Iiis leggings with^ his people, and, as T said afore, although I had no quarrel with them, they •wouldn't punish him much for takin' my scalp) if he could only git it. " Well, says I to myself, if that's your game, I must see if I Can't circumwent you without bringing down upon my l*c&d ihe wrath of the hull tribe 1 " I noticed the varmint skulking about several times just abont the time when I was in the habit of taking a snoozej but as I always slept witlji one hand on my rifle, and the other not far from the handle of my hunting knife, I s'pose lie thought it wan't quite safe to disturb me. " One mornin' I happened to sleep a little later than common, bein1 jagged out the day afore. I had just woke up, without movin', when I thought I heard a faint noise, ai» of somethin' crawliu' towards me. and jist half openia" BLACK SAMSON". 59 my eyes, "without stirrin' any part of my body, what should I see but this login, White Butterfly,, erawlin' up towards me, tomahawk in hand! ■ " ISTow, thinks I, the time's come- for me to act. So, makin' bdieve sleep, I gave a deep snore, and let my hands fail from my sides a3 if I was as far gone as one of the seven sleepers. " Slowly and cautiously the Ingin came crawlin' up. He had got within striking distance, and had just raised his arm to give the blow that would have put me to sleep forever, when—spiingin'- up as. quick as lightnin'—I snatched the tomahawk from his hand, and the next mo¬ ment I had him under me, with my knee on his breast, and my left hand on his throat! . ' " Nothin' would a been easier for me now than to settle the varmint's hash for him, but I know'd a trick worth two of that. I know'd that, na matter how much the In- gins despised such characters, they would, avenge their death all the same as if they were the best men among them. " So I was determined to see if I couldn't have' my re¬ venge on the poor miserable critter, and at the same time turn the whole thing to my advantage into the bargain. " I know'd that the greatest insult you- can put upon an Ingsn. warrior is to call him a woman, or tell him he acts Tike one., Actin' on this idee, 1 tied the critter's hands aad feet till I could get things ready. And it wan't novery 'fiard task nuther, for he was jist as big a coward as he was a fool, ancl cried like a baby when he found it was all over with him. , • " I had a squaw's' dress,..that I had bought to" send to fome of my friends in the settlements. It cost me a putty handsome sum,.too, and I hated deucedly to part, with it, but then I know'd I could git another. So, untyin' tjhe feller, I stripped off his suit of men's clothes and slipped on the squaw's dress, and rolled up the other and put it in » basket for him to carry home with him. " When X had got him- all rigged up, makin' him take CO BLACK SAMSON, tfce basket en his arm, i took him by the hand and together Ave started for the Ingm Tillage. > t" "When we reached the village it was putty -well x>n in the day. and men and women were loungin' around. -A more chop-fallen critter than "White Butterfly was, when we came to the village, you nevei laid eyes on, and all the people seemed to wonder what was to pay when they sea me leadin' a woman in among them. " Without sayin' a word 1 marched right tip to the tent of ihe principal chief, and when he comb out ,to see what I wanted, I told him that one of their women had lost her way and come to my tent, and that, for feai that she should not he able to find her way home, I had brought her bach. " The old chief at first thought I was in earnest, and was about to thank me, when, lookin' into Butterfly's face, and seem' who it was, he burst out a larfin! u White folks have got a notion that Ingins is all as sober as deacons, but that's a mistake, for a merrier set- when they hain't notliin' on their minds to trouble 'em— I never see, and when it was found out who it was I had brought back in a woman's dress, the whole village- squaws and all—was in one roar of laughter. , "They all thought I had sarvedhim jist right. ' The old chief shook me by the hand as if I had done 'the whole tribe a great favor in bringin' such a wprthless.member of the community into disgrace, and the poor.'cTevil wai obliged to wear the dress of a woman and do 4he work of a squaw ever afterwards. While, as for me, I was always treated with the greatest respect from that time." "Rather a long yam," said Fifer, "A potty strong one though, I think I" said Samson. " The next thing in order's a song from Samson," sail Lober. "Golly! you won't s'pect me to sing widout music?" said Samson. " Dat ol' fiddle ob your's almost as good aa a banjo; if you had dat here I s'peck it would do, but you left it behind." ELAGK SAMSON. 61 " '."Masie or no music, you must sing," said Lober, laying Bis hand on the shoulder of the negro. • " Well, if I mus'sing I mus'," said Samsonj. §a lieta goes." J" SPONTANEOUS COMBIXSTIOK," ; Dare libed a chap in our town, His name was Peter G-illet; -He lobed to empty ebery glass, ' But neber lobed to fill it J Be courte,d up a yellow gal; ... Was just as fond of whisky, And when dey went to sparkin', tho', . But didn't dey git frisky ? An' dey would sit and drink and smoke, . And smoke and drink together, All cozy by the fireside * ■ In cold and stormy weather. And all de folks dat know'd Pete said,' -What made him sucli a sticker, It wasn't 'cause he lobed de gal, . t But 'cause lie lobed de liquor! ,And eberybody said dat dey Would drink demselfs to deff, sir, For all dare breff was alcohol, And steamed out fru dare breff, sir I « An1 as dey went to light dare pipes, , - . Dare breffs one night took fire, An' like a flash of powder,, den, Dese two did boff expire I H You needn't' t'ink dat what I tell■ Is only stuff and fustian, Dey died of what de wMte folks call Spontaneous combustion ! - €2 BLACK SAMSON. Ap1 -when dey come to look for dem,. Dese darkeys warft no more dare, Aa'-all dc muss found wtfs jus' Two grease spots on de floor dare I The above will serve as a specimen of the manner in ■which Black Samson and, his friends amuseft themselves till a late hour of the night But were we to give all the jams that were spun, and the songs that were sung, we should have no room for anything else. $o we must leave them where they are for the present, while we look after some of the other characters of our narrative. CHAPTER IX. Young Scuyler was correct wlien he gave it as his opin¬ ion that the massacre perpetrated in the valley, through which the hunters and Samson had passed, wac *.he work of Big Buffalo and his pa^ty. That chief, with about sixty or seventy warriors, had left the encampment where young Scuyler was found, for the purpose of .destroying the fort at which Squire (3cuyler fend his niece were staying, • -Passing through this valley on his way, he unexpectedly came on a party of ten or twelve emigrants, who, attracted by the accounts of the beauty and fertility of ihc locality, were intending to make a settlement there. This little party, although making a stout resistance, were finally overcome by greatly superior members, and men, wom«n and children, ware brutally murdered, and their bodies mangled in the most horrible manner, while their horses were taken to serve as beasts of burden for the Indian army. As the taste of blood is said to increase the desire .for more, in a wild beast, bo one outrage committed by a sav* 33LACK SAMB^ST. 63 age, instead of satisfying liis thirst for "blood," only atimu-* la^es hf m to commit more and greater outrages. So Big Buffalo, elated by the success of this adhicremcnt,^ Lurried on to'reach the fort before the little ^p&i'ty there should have time to receive* reinforcements, And' lie had learned from ■ sbme pretended friendly Indians—Imkmy about the fort—tliafc Boone, who had' gtme' into thesetUe- ments, was shortly expected to1 return at the hea'dof a*coa-j si derabl e body of emigrants. ' " The garrison at the' fort," as. we liate- before stated;: con¬ sisted at tliis time of only1 abbufc A dozen'iiieri, aiird'waa not particularly well provided with ammunition—all'of which, •facts at ere known to Big Buffalo—so that' his ability tor re-, cluce the place, could lie only reach it, in time, seemed' to him a matter of certainty. Amongv other tliirigs, Big Buffalo had' loamed' of tba arrivSl at the fort of Squire Scuyler and his' ni£ce,'andhe ' liad "det ermined' that whatever might be done- with the others/these two inust be taken alive. Fortm.e seenmd to favor the savage, for he reached! the fort b0fore the arrival of BOone with 'reinforcements, and immediately surrounded'tlie place. Hie 'garrison* tuifortunately^w^re not only short of am- tnmtftibn, but of provisions also, and'were- ifc'n&Vfor the fear'lie was in'of the arrival of Captain Boon®, and his fcarfy," Big Buffalo could haveJ accomplished1 his object of reducing the garrison by starving" ft out-;1 but this would notHiave suited the impatient nature of the India's warrior^ • had then* chief been disposed to adopt It. So an'inimedi- ate attack was made on the block house' by; the,Indians endeavoring to get near enough to ^efc iton-firc, severalof their sharpshooters at the same time endeavoring':to reach those inside by aiming at the"port-holes. .. The first; assaMnts„ were sent reeling' back ' liy^ a^vOTIep from the "house, that put it out of the powerof three or four of their number of renewing the attack., ■'* Thia repulse, however, -produced but- a. temp&rstfycheck 'On tie operations of the Savages, ^ndthey' co'efiiiieneed gomjf more systematically to Work to*r«duee tha place, by 04: BLACK BAJcIBON forming a sort of breastwork of earth and branches of trees'^ from behind which they could ann iheir rifles without ex¬ posing themselves too much to tlie fire from the fort. To be sure, it was rather an unsafe operation, and several lost their lives in carrying on thq work, but it was completed at last, and another assault wns made by the savages, tbougli still with considerable loss. But they had evidently made some impression on the garrison, or their ammuni¬ tion was giving out, foi: on making another attempt fewer shots were fired against them, and several of the Indians succeeded in crossing a sort of ditch—by which the block house was surrounded— and reaching the outer door of the fort, but they only reached it to be tumbled over into the ditch. » > The situation of the little garrison, in the meantime, was deplorable enough: Although numbering twelve men be¬ fore the arrival of the elder Scuyler, and the two men who came with him, several of the men, including the com¬ mander, were laid up with the fever and ague, and conse¬ quently unfit for duty. ' >■ ■ K At the request of the commander, Scuyler took his place, and under his management of the defence it would have been a much harder job for the Indians to reduce the place than they had calculated on, had the ammunition but held out. As it was, Big Buffalo began to see the ne« ccssity of accomplishing something decisive pretty soon/or the game would be a losing one. The only hope for; the garrison was in holding out until the arrival of Daniel Boone, who was hourly expected, with a fresh supply of men and ammunition. Big Buffalo, seeing that the reduction of the place was likely to take more time than he had calculated on, now dispatched one of his fleetest runners to the portion of his men that he had left behind to come to his assistance, and enable him to be an overaratch for Boone and his party, should they arrive before the reduction of the fort. " Boone and his party did arrive at last, but only in time to behold the smoking ruins of the fort, and the mangled bodies of his friends strewn about in every direetioa. EXACK sAipoisr. 65 . .JfOh, God T' said the stout-hearted pioneer, tho iearf streaming down his weather-beaten face as he gazed on tliS horrible scene before him, hi» d^ap¬ pointment Several other shots wei'f. fired with no better, c-ffofit. Black Saulson with foolliardiness all the whila staorflrg as immovable as a statue, and as if he had been pet up- there txi be shot at Tlig savages were all now satisfied tUat he was in reality .the black demon spoken of by the bluid prophet. '' No bullet will reach h'"msaid cne of the largest most daring of the aarAgid, u Vfq »aurJt Cry, liim w U'a V*c tomahawk and knife ( BLACK SAMSON. " Do you, not see he carries 110 rifle himself, and he doest Jr4>t leaf any }'* saying, he sprang toward® Black Samson, who AwcUed Jiia approach without moving a muscle; but tho the Indian came within a contfopient distance, he sprang ^ioa him with the quickness of a panther, wrest¬ ing the tomahawk from his hand and grasping'him by*i!<.;*, throat, he faiily cleft his skull in two with his own toma- Ihawk. Another Indian, who came to the assistance of the •first, b£ shot dcwn with one of his pisfols. But our friend, Black Samson, had no notion of setting himself up to he shot at He knew very well tfmt a sjtrny shot might knock him over, bat being by no means free from superstition himself, he began to be half inclined to the opinion that Jie was bullet-proof. Big Buffalo and his friends were for a moment com¬ pletely staggered by this achievement of jBIack Samson'*, but the bullets pouring in upon them from different direc¬ tions, soon brought them to th^ir senses, and entering the thicket toe fight became a general one. Several of the Seminoks were killed and others >vounded, butjw V°*'cy'T Blapte Samson made his appearance, the Indians would tfy his approach as from something too powerful for mortals to contendwith. ]^0W and th.en he would succeed in cornering one of the Jndia^up'apd compelling him to figtytt but in most cases the fetray^le W the part of the Indian was only to "make hia escape fio^a the terrible black demon. '.... jUl thi» -while the rifles of Limping Ben and,' Bob Fifer" wex^jdpjng execution &moi,g the enemy, while the JndiaW wilder Grey Wolf were not idle. Young Scuyler, tpqV V»s. ji? the hottest of the fight, but his anxiety, a^oufc the fa,W hey c6uld see no way of accomplishing this at present, unless they could do it by exchanging-the thief, Big Buf¬ falo,.^ ftieti), and.it;' war inof likely that, in the present temper.o£ the savages, this could be done. They thought it best, therefore,' to wait:awhile, in1 £ope$4 that sonjethiag might turn up to their advantage. "Thd savages bid n6t been so badly Beaten but ther£ was t possibility of their renewing -£he Straggle. Daniel Boone, •who now took the command, judged it safest to fortify tbeir positions, in order to guard against an attach; should ifte savag*fea venture to make one. In the meantime, ha expected reinforcements from another party of emigrants ■who were to follow the one led by himself. Th6 anticipated attack came sooner than th^y expected, and before" they had completed their defenses. "Big Btiif-Jo, not receiving the tiecessaVy reinforcements, atfd nofc'hearhag anything1 from his 'runner, after waiting1 a considerable while, began to" fear that some accident' had happened to him,land sent anotherj who "reacli^d the camp of bis friend^ in safety. \ , The encampment was* immediately brolien up, and the whole party, headed by a renowned chief, called Waying Plume> on ac90unt of the long feathers attached to his 8calp'-loclc, set oui to join their Mends under Big Buffalo. Fortunately for thte white men, this party did not arrive ontil" two days after the defeat of that chief. B^ad they* arrived two days' sooner, the battle would, in, all probability," have terminated very differently. .Although Boone and his party had not, as we have said, ccmjW'eted their arrangements'for defence, stilt they were in^amilch bettet1 position to receive "the enemy than they ■Would have been had they remained in. their old location the valley. . ; - ' The'Indiaris "were now so overwhelmingly superior m numbers that they seemeA to look upon the extermination ©f Buone and his little aro»y as a matter of course, and £0 BLACK 6AMBON. their attack was made as if they expected to crush thtfr adversaries at a blow. Tlicy evidently expected to take the 'whites by surprise, supposing that they labored under the impression that they had been so badly beaten that they -would not dars to show themselves again. In one sense the whites were surprised, and that was at the numbers making the attack, for they had not learned of the arrival of the reinforcements which the enemy had received. The Shawnees, too, were surprised at finding the others so well prepared to receive them, and at the warm recep¬ tion they met with. They now also learned, for the first time, that Daniel Boone, who was well known and respected by the savages throughout the whole region for courage and braVery, commanded the force opposed to them,' Boone had taken his position so as to makd any attempt o'f the savages to dislodge him a disastrous f&ihire, while it was such—with the disposition which he had made of his men—as in a great measure to counterbalance! the su¬ perior numbers of the enemy, so that the first attack of the savages was repulsed with great loss to "them. This repulse, however, only mortified and exasperated them, while the great chief, Waving Plume^ was enraged to think that so many braves as he now led should tyave beett repulsed by such a little handful of men, ' ' He was envious of Big Buffalo, and" lie was ar#t>itiofts of accomplishing what his rival fahed' to do. , ' Could he but succeed in this, their positions' would be reversed, and he would become the head chief even if the other should be released, or should succeed in making hit escape. So the first attack had hardly proved a failure when another one was made, more desperate thau thft first; but without success. Thus attack was mads aftei attack the Indians growing mort and more furious v< ith each success'?4, failure, whila BLACK SAMSOST.; S,J the Jittlp, .band of white, men and their .allies git ill lield their ground with admirable coolness find courage., >(,■&£ Ifist.the savages, gained .a temporary advantage, sur« Tpundjjig:, portion of the emigrants who had incatf* ■taously ventured too far beyond thelines. Here was an opportunity for Black Samson , to exhildt his prowess, and he,_with his twp friends—Bob. ^ifer and Li piping Ben—rushed to the rescue. The fame of Black.Samson's exploits,,and his supposed supernatural power., had spread throughout the Indiaa camp, and the savages, wherever it was possible, avoided coming in contact with him. But in-this case there was no escaping, and the odds in numbers was 'still in the enemy's favor. « Samson having been-so long,among these Indians, knew them all by sight individually, and he recognised in the leader of this party the famous chief, Waying Plume. "Let me take care of dis one," he said, pointing to the chief. "I want to hab him to keep company wid his brudder, Big Buffalo." "Waving Plume was in the act of scalping one of hjs vic¬ tims, when he was interrupted by the, sudden appearance of our hero. . " .". . • . Tl),e first thought of Waving Plume,'brave as he was, was. to make a hasty retreat, when tile terrible den\pn, fis he considered him, stood before him. * But there was no time for flight now, so he faced "about and showed fight. ^"othing wrould have been easier for Samson than ti> have shot the Indian clown, for he was now. a I'm ed with a in additionv to his other weapons; but this ivould not have suited his purpose. He was determined to take the Indjjm alive ! , ■ ... So closing in with him before he had an opportunity so fire, a hand-to-hand scuffle ensued, in winch the greatly "superior strength of the black soon triumphed over he Indian, who was brought senseless to itie ground Ly a 1)H/W over the head from tne bubt r of qiie of- Samson 3 '82 black bambonT J Upon seeing the fall of their chief, hit followers fled, .leaving the whites victors of tuat portion, of tha field.' • "IVhy didn't jou finish, the varmint ^ asked Jampipg Ben, as Samson came lugging in the chief, yrfyo pqw began to show signs of returning animation. I " 'Cause I wanted to hab two ob de biggest one? J could git to swap off for Jlassa Clem and Hisse Kate. Guess 'dey'll t'ink it's a putty fair trade, don't yqu ?" » To accomplish this object liad been Samson*^ struggle 'throughout day, shrewdly supposing that the Indiana would gladly exchange their two prisoners for the re- Inowned chiefs, Big Buffalo and "Yfaving Plume. • The fight still continued for several hours, but Bbone, ■with his party, now acting on tlio offensive, drovs the enemy in every direction, till night setting in, put aa end to the conflict. As, excepting in the case of paving Plume, »a <£'i&fter had been shown by either party-^many having been slain on botli sides (among the rest; a brother of Daniel Bqone,) this battle had proved a most 'sanguinary onea affording another reason for calling the portion of the country W •which it occurred " The Darlf (tn(J BloOcly Ground 1" CHAPTER aTV. . As it wa« not the intention of his captqrs to inflxc ppo# .young Scuyler the punishment they supposed he deserved Ipntil they arrived at their village, on the borders cf 1jh« great lakes, he was not treated with any greater severity than being closely guarde4 during the day, and securely bound during the night; though, latterly, since the rever¬ ses which the savages had suffered, they w-ould occasion,* ally leave him all night tied to a tree. Since Kate Wolverton h.ad been discovered to b? a girl, she was given in charge to two or three squaws^ who had accompanied their husbands on thii? expedition. She still wore bar male attire; fn fact, having none other with BLACK SAMSOar. S3 'Xftoygh closely watched, her limbs were free. She. had learned thai her cousin 1vas a prisoner, but was not allowed ♦o visit him; nof did he know to a certainty that slie was a prisoner, though Strongly suspecting- that such was th« casa,, The squaw tp whose charge -Kafe was more particularly entrusted, was an old woman, the mother of Twilight, the wife .of LIghtfootj who was the son of Waying Plume. Now, it so happened 'that Twilight's jealousy was ex¬ cited .by seeing hei* husband locking, as she thought, ad¬ miringly on Kate Wolverton, and secretly 'determined to fid herself of sd dangerous a rival, _ Her first plan was to engage her mother in the scheme so fa? as "to connive at the girl's escape. But this she foijind would not do the old woman was true to her trust. . So the found, whatever was to be done, mtist be done byher- Belfj.and without exciting the suspicions'of her mother. The Indians returned to their camp,, after their late dis¬ astrous encounter, weary aad disheartened, and. • threw themselves on the ground to take what little repose they eoulc^ get, not knowing but that they would be attacked in .the,morning. Scuyler'had been tied to a tree when the Indians set out in the morning, and there he still remained, while Kate Wdlverton was In the tent with. Twilight and her mother. It was past midnight. Everything was perfectly quiet in the camp. The only one awake was Twilight, ijnless it might be Scuyler, His situation was not a very Comforta¬ ble one for napping. ^ t , Even Kate was asleep, when she felt a. gentle hand laid on, her shoulder, which awoke her. She saw by • the light Of the moon, that streamed through an opening in the tent, the ,young Indian woman leaning over her with her fingers ©rt her lips, to indicate silence/and then risihg, beckoned her to follow. 'The two women passed out into the open air .and proceeded but a sfaorfc distance, when Twilight, pointing in-the direction of Ihe camp.of the white men, utterad ,tka M "BLACK" 8 A1T60H. wordli go V* and leaving her companion, hurried back to the tent. The first impulse of Kate was to make all haste to tha camp of her friends, but after proceeding a short distance she stopped as it" a new thought had occurred to her. She listened. There was no sound to disturb the Still¬ ness of the camp but the hard breathings of the weavy savages. Kate, without letting the savages know it, had taken pains to mate herself acquainted with everything that was going on in the camp, and she always knew the place of young Scuyler's confinement, though never daring to ap¬ proach it. She now cautiously bent her steps, in that di¬ rection, and reached the place without being discovered. Without saying a word she oommenced untying the cords that bound the prisoner "Who are you?" asked Scuyler, seeing that it was not an Indian who was releasing him, " and what do you mean to do with me ?" " I am i friend, ana was a prisoner like yourself," replied Kate, in an assumed voice. "But be silent and follow me." When the cords were all removed, Scuyler for a moment had to cling to the tree for support; hi3 limbs,having been tied 'so long, lost all feeling. In a few moments, however, they so far recovered as to enable him to walk, though' with difficulty, when he followed Kate, who led the way to the place where the Indians had tied the horses which, they had stolen froin the emigrants. Untying one of these, she assisted Scuyler to mount, and after lead¬ ing the animal a short distance from the camp, she got up behind her lover without letting him know who she was, and with the best speed they could make they bent their course to the camp of the white men.' Tlie morning was just beginning to dawn, and Black Samson and Limping Ben were about retiring iuto the camp—having been on their posts as sentinels—when their ears caught the sound of horses1 hoofs approaching. » sound so unusual startled the two men, and they waited BLACK SAMSOX. S$t an»rtousTv to Icurn what it could mean. In a moment & Lorst-, ;ng two riders, emerged from the wood at a littl© .and. .approached at a rapid trot. _41 V* lu> the deuce can lliey be ?" said Lober. " They ain't enemies, fax* they're both white men." u By de Lord Harry, if dat ain't Massa -Clem !" said Samson, clapping his hands with delight, as the horse and his riders drew near; "bi.t who'de debil is dat little chap lie's got on behind him V By this .time the travelers had reached the place where the two men stood, who instantly assisted them to dis¬ mount. i " "What, dat you, Massa Clem ?" said the blaclc, thrown ing his arms around the young man in an .ecstacy of de¬ light, and then bursting out into a fit of laughter upon looking into the face of the other rider. " Ha, ha, ha! de Lor' preserve us, if he hasn't brought Misses Kate along wid him P " Cousin. Kate!" exclaimed Scuyler, in astonishment. •" How; stupid it was in me not to have found that out be¬ fore. But it wasn't I who brought her, she brought me. So, then, it is to you, Kate," he said, turning to the girl, " that J am indebted for my liberty, and, in all probability^ my life ?.'r. . • . „ Kate made no reply, but hung her head and blushed deeply. •• The first inquiries of both was after the fate of Squire Scuyler, and they were rejoiced to hear that he was living, and rapidly recovering from a severe wound received at the capturing of the fort by the Indians. "It'ink Miss Kate knows how to pircumwent logins "bout as well as ypu," said Black Samson, addressing Limp¬ ing Ben, v •. - «The gal's a trump!" said Ben, "and if she was a man she'd makea first rate hunter," which, in the opinion of : the-backwoodsman, was. as great a . compliment as fo® - «ould pay anybody. 8G BLACK 8AHS0ST. CHAPTER XV. Fearful was the rage and disappointment of the Indian*, on waiting tip on the morniag after the battle, to find that tlieir prisoners had made their escape. No ond, of course, knew anything about it On examining the ground about the tree to which yoilng Souyler had been bound, the prints of a* small foot "were discovered, which were* immediately recognized as such as were made by the foot of their female prisoner. They now were satisfied that Scuyler had been liberated by the fclrl, and that they had gone off,together; and Ending^hat that one of their horses was missing, the whole matter waa explained. Their wrath was now concentrated on the unfortunate old woman under whose charge, Kate had been placed,'and it was with difficulty that her daughter could prevent tier from being tomahawked on the spot. Since the capture of their two principal chiefs, tha In¬ dians bad hoped to recover them; if 'other means»shouTd fail, by au exchange, or " swap," as Black Samson w&uld call it. , This hope waa now gone. The advantage was all on thd ride of thqir enemies. Such being the state of the case, ifc was.decided to call a council for the pui^ose of forming some plan for effecting the rescue of the two chiefs. Lightfoot, son of Waving Plume, was a young man wto had not yet accomplished anything to raise him in the es¬ timation of his people, and he was burning with a clcsir* to do something to Tender himsefj^famous. Filial duty also urged him to action, for, ahoula he suc¬ ceed, he would not only acquire the reputation of being 4 great brave, but, at the same lime, save the life of hi* father. For two or three days alter the occurrence which wt have been describing* everything was apparently quiet in the camp. The Indians did not show any disposition to BLACK SAMSON'. 8T I*?new the attack, nor did the other party feci themselves sufficiently strong to follow up the advantage, tljiey ha,d gained. 1 ^ - Each party had scouts on, the alert to watch the motions of the Other, but that was about alh "While things were in this state, the little army under Boone was suddenly thrown into a s^ate of alarm at mid¬ night, a few days after the battle, by a blaze that "burst front one of the tents in ijlie Indian's quarter, lighting up the whole camp and the surrounding forest. The tent, t>eing contracted of birch bark, made a great flauie, A great rush was made for the spot, 211 ordw to ascertain the cause of the fire; but a great noise, which almost im¬ mediate^ arose in another direction, of men striigglir,^ ■with each other,, jingled with yells and. execrations, drsjw off their attention from the burning hut to the scene of tka strive. ISFow, when. Samson had made prisoners, of the two chiefs, he had given them in charge tn Grey "Wolf, who, after binding them securely, had pu^. a guard over them, and they were strictly watched day and night.11 Lightfoot and his confederates, in pursuance of their platt forthe rescue of the chiefs—having ascertained these facts—had taken their st;eps accordingly- Lightfoot, with five or six of ta<5 most during of his followers, h,ad fpund means of secretly entering the camp of the emigrants. One jof the party had, been. dispa,tpiiecl to. fire one of the tents/as far as possible from the pne in which the chiefs wtre confined, in order to-draw the attention o " *Gre$ Wolf and his party .off in that direction while tliey, xa the meantime, c^uld dispatch the guard and liberate their friends before the trick sh,ould lie discovered. They were well aware that what they did must' be done quickly, and they were very near succeeding. _ ; The guard was killed, and-the* bonds of the prisoners ■were cut, aad they sprang, to their feet, ,while tomahawks ■were put in their Muds, but here, the, advantage ended. - Black Samson;, knowing how much depended on the se¬ curity of thar prisoners,: and' not haviaot verv trtcafe e&nti- "88 BLACK: SAMSOIT. dence.in,the fidelity of the Indian having them in clinrj^ resolved to keep an eye over them himself. Fox this purpose he had scoured a tent for himself ai near to the-one.ia which the prisoners were confined as he con* veniently-could. This tent he still occupied after the ei- - cape of his friends, although, after that, he did not think his staying there was of so much importance. , The paind of Sain son had dwelt so long upon this subject that, at the first alarm, instead of rushing to the burning tent, Sis most of the others did, he made for the tent of the prisoners; and they were his shouts which first called at¬ tention to the true scene of danger. Seven or eight stout men were rather too many for even Sumson to grapple with at once, and h$ shouted loudly for help. Meanwhile, he had clutched Waving Plume with his left hand, while with his right—in which he flourished an old broadsword, he was defending himself against the rest. But Samson was not long compelled to contend single- handed against such odds. Grey "Wolf, with several of his followers, were soon upon the spot, while Limping Ben and Bob Fifer were not slow in coming to the aid of their friend. The tables now were turned and the Sliawnees strove to make their escape. But every moment made escape more difficult. Se^ral •if their number had already fallen by the rifles of Limping Een and Bob Fifer, while Black Samson had finished Wav¬ ing Plume and several others, and Grey Wolf bore off the seal]? of Big Buffalo as the trophy of hi? victory. The only one who escaped was Lightfoot, who bore back to his friends the news of their disastrous defeat. Great credit was given to Black Samson for the part he had acted in this affair, and the Indians'were moie and more'confirmed inifce opinion that he was either a demon himself^ or under the protection of some powerful spirit. l* How happened it, Samson, that you went to the tent where the prisoners was, instead of the one that was BLACK BAM BON. 89 *>r.rnin* wlien the fire broke out ?" asked Limping Ben, C«ie morning after the affray. 'Cause,1* said Samson, " I fought dat are' fire was only a trick of dem debils to circumwent "us, and blind our eyes by makiii' bcleb dey was goin' to set de camp on fire, when dey only wanted to get de prisoners off. So, when I sees de blaze, says I, ' 110 you don't. You ain't agoirt' to cheat dis are child in dat way; dat ain't where de danger am !® 80 I takes down de old sword dat Cap'n Boone gub ilia tudderday an' makes fur de tent ob de prisoners/ De fust t'ing I see was de.guard layin' dead at de door ob do tent, and a lot ob fellers, as still as mice, a cuttin' de straps ob de prisoners, an' in a moment dey was on dare feet 7 but dey'd been tied so long dey couldn't hardly stan' at fust. Lord I but didn't dey start when I jumped in amuug dcm. an' eotclied dat big one. dey call Wavin'Feder-by de t'roat, an'gib de shout dat called de rest ob' you together; an' didn't dis chil' flourish dat old sword, though ; an' didn't I circumwent de debils, thougli ?" ' " Fact!" said Fifer. 411 knock under to you, Samson." "And so do I," said Limping Bdn. "If there's a man livin' that know's how to circumwent an' Ingin,/it's Black Samson 1" . CHAPTER XVI. There being no further necessity for longer delay, Boone and his party now pulled up stakes and set out on their return to the place where they had left their friends., , Ttiey reached the ruins of the fort without meeting- with any adyenture Worth speaking of, but when.:titey came to look for their friends they were not to be. found. Yet there were no signs of any battle having 1 taken place.. Could it be possible that the whole party had' been made prisoners and earned off by the'Indians ?■ • This did not seem probable to Boone; who, knew ihe character of the men he Lad left behind, \yhe«v:l*e. pet.-tut j« pursuit of B:g Buffalo They were just snth men as he $6 BLACK SAMSOJT. ■would select for the most daring deeds, and the very la«t to surrender or desert ft post that had been entrusted to jtheir charge, While Boone "was puzzling his brains to account; for this Btrange disappearance of his friends, Bob Fifer called his attention to a column of smoke rising above the trees in the direction of the river: . 44My cabin, by hokey!" exclaimed Limping Ben. "I'll he darned if pome of them are mongrel parties of redskins, made tip of the odds and ends pf all the tribes that go ilucvin' about, hain't taken possession of my mansion, without so much as sayin' with your leave, sir. If I don'i *tyel them in a little less than no time, then my nam« ami itenjamin Lober, Esquire!" - u Maybe our friends have jetired there to escape soma threatened attack of the savages,M remarked Boone. "HI settle that p'int soon, apyhow J" said Limping Sen, starting off in the direction of his lodge. ' Lober was not long absent, and on returning remarked : « "The varmints are there. The place is surrounded, but I guess they hain't accomplished jnucli yit, and I rather guess a little pepperin' from our rifles'U make a scamperin* among 'em." The whole party now moved along aa stealthily as the Indians themselves, and took the direction of Lobcr's hut, Limping Len leading the way. On arriving at the place they found it as Limping Be« had said, surrounded by fifty or sixty savages, made up of deserters from the various tribes who laid claim to thai ^irt of the country, and not acknowledged by any. . ■ The Indians did not seem to be under any apprehension from an attack in the rear, not having made any provisions for it, so that the first intimation of danger in that Quarter was a, volley poured in upon them from the rifles of Boon® and his followers. » ' The scattering road6 hy this volley was quite equal to what Limping Ben had predicted. All was confusion and alarm in the Indian camp. And this confusion was not a little increased when an answering volley came from th# BLACK SAMSON". 91 tfttle party who were cooped up in and about the hut, who, tearing the rifles of the friends who had come to their res- Cue, took the opportunity to let them know that they were still alive and full of fight. A load cheer was sent up by the party outside, which ■Wai heartily responded to by their friends-at the"hut. -%e Indians, now attacked on both sides, made but a feeble defence, and were soon scattered, leaving more thaa half their number on the field in dead and wounded, ■while Boone and his men, being determined to put it out of their power to do the like again, pursued them for several miles, killing all they could overtake, so that there was no reason to apprehend another attack from that gang-, at least. The person whom Boone had left in charge of the party, which remained behind whew he started in pursuit of Big Buffalo, informed him that the very next day after his de¬ parture, they had been visitecf 'by several suspicions-look¬ ing savages, but who pretended to be friendly. A day or two afterwards others came, who gave evidence of their friendship by stealing several articles; yet, as>they did not attempt any acta of violence, this .was winked at -for awhile, though.it was thought best to keep a sharp watch over them, and one of the emigrants, who had been specially charged with that duty, returned to the camp one morning—after having been out on duty several houi s— with intelligence that a large body of Indians were collect ting in ^ the- neighborhood, evidently with hostile inten¬ tions. ' i After a short consultation it was concluded to change their present exposed location for one that could be more easily defended, and which would at the same time'afford a place of greater security for the women and children of • the party. LoberTa hut. being ready built, would furnish this—while the ground on which it stood was better adap¬ ted for putting up such works of defence A3 it might be necessary tq. construct in a hurry. These had hardly, been completed when the savages made their Rjjpearance, and this, time in. na very peaceable 02 BLACK SAMS02T. manner, bot bedaubed with war-paint and bowling like devils. They were evidently disappointed at finding tbe little party of emigrants so well prepared for a vigorous defence, having, no doubt, expected to be able to capture or massa¬ cre the whole party before the return of Boone from his expedition against the Shawnees. As it was, the little party of eirigrant9 had so strongly fortified themselves; that, as yet, the savages had made no impression upon them, while they had lost several of their number from the rifles of the besieged whites. Such waa the state of the case when Boone, with the remainder of tlieir friends, came to the rescue. Tbe country now seemed pretty well cleared of hostile savages, and Boone, with his party, commenced rebuilding the fort which had been destroyed, preparatory to* laying out forms and beginning a'settlement. As for Clement Scuyler and his father, they had seen enough cf forest life to feel a desire to return to civilized society. Yet they could do no less than to remain a few dnys longer to assist their friends in erecting a place pf temporary shelter, and in this work our friend, Black Sam¬ son, entered with a hearty good will. "While this work was going en, the whole party were collected or,e night about the watch-fire, when Clement Heavier took occasion to relate to his father—who had now nearly recovered from the effects of his weund—the ■wonderful achievements of Black Samson, and how much |ir was indebted to his fidelity, skill and bravery. " Come heve, you black scamp I" said the old man. " Do yon hear that ?* Yes, maspa," said the negro. '•"Now bear what I tell you," continued the squire. From this moment you're a free man I "What more I mean to do I'll tell you some other time." " What, or massa ain't a goin' t> turn his poor boy out oh jWits Y* said Samson, the tears stalling to his eyes. M Don't trouble yourself about that," said his master; BLACK SAMSOST. $3 "only remeinbv* that, from this moment you'rea free man i» - Samson, unabie to suppress his feelings, retired, weeping Jike a child. • /■A few evenings after this, Squire Scuyler, with his soi1 and niece, were seated in the moonlight at the door of the hut, when they were startled by a Voice of some one-at a short distance singing. - The voice was soon Recognized as that.of. our friend, Black Samson, and turning* in the direction from whence the sound came, they saw that individual in the wood, but evidently unconscious of being observed. He was capering about like a child, at vhe same time working his hands as* if playing on a banjo, keeping time to a negro melody which he seemed to compels as he went along. ,The first words that could be made ouV by the listeners were: " Ha, ha, ha, he, he. he! Dem niggers slabe yet—dis nigger free!" Here the song was interrupted for a moment, as if the Singer had got stuck, as he would say. But after a mo jnent'e pause, the song was resumed: Won't de folks stare, tho1, /When dis chap goes back j Out ob de way, daW, Git off ob de track! Ha, ha, ha, he, he, he 1 Dem niggers slabe yet—dis nigger free i Dare's dem are field hands— ■ Dey's all berry well, Guess, tho', dey'Jl find I've Got suffiit' to tell! ■* ' Ha, ha ha,' he, he, he I ' > Dera niggers slabe yet-7-dis nigger free ! $4 BLACK. SANSON. Long-sided. Charley, De chopper ob wood; iRen. Pete an' Bilbo, f ~An'l)an berry good. Ha, ha, lift, he, he he 1 ^ Dem niggers Stabe yet—dia nigger fre« I Dare's de ol' coachman, All stuck up wid pride; Den dare's de footman, Jiist like him beside I Ha, ha, ha, he, he, lie! Dem niggers slabe yet—dis nigger 1 Dina, de cook, is A berry nice gal; So is de waitinMnaid, Cherry-lipped Sal I IJa, ha, lia, he, her he 1 Dem daikey'g slabes yet—clis darkey free! Den dare's de chamber-maid, Slender and tall, Light-hearted Polly, De best ob deb all. Ha, h&, ha, he, he, he J Gosh, how I wish, tho', dat dat gal was free! 4< If we should be so fortunate as to reach home in safety, me shall see that our friend Samson's wish, as expressed ia the last verse of his song, shall be gratified," said the elder Scuylct to hid companions. It may, at the first glance, appear to the reader that'all the toils and dangers of Clement Scuyler and his friend* were now at an end; that all they had to do was to return quietly to their homes, enjoying themselves by the way. But if such be his opinion, he is greatly mistaken. They bad many a long and weary aula yet to travel over BLACK SAMSON. 95 ft ■ park and BLoody Ground!" inhabited by savages and "Wild beasts, before they could reach the nearest white set¬ tlement, where they might consider themselves beyond the reach of the savages, and where they might hope to obtain any of the ordinary means of conveyance for assisting then oil their way -home. h Their path lay, too, through dens© foists—through sWamps, and over rivers, while all the - shelter they, would have at night, or during storms, would be such its could be tastily provided when required. t _ But of this kind of life they had all had considerable ex¬ perience—Kate Wolverton not less than the otheire. So, bidding adieu to Boone and the emigrants^ our party Bet out cheerfully on their return home, Limping Ben aadBob Fifer volunteering their services as'guides and ek^rt as far as. the nearest frontier settlement. - A horse was provided for Kate "Wolverton, oil which she rode when so disposed, dressed in th& costume of fiia Indian, maiden—as the one best suited for traveling in the woods. Black Samson took upon himself the special care of Kate Wolverton, clearing the way for her, and carrying her on his shoulders over streams and bogs, when it might expose Her to inconvenience or danger by remaining on,' horseback. When a stream had to be crossed, too deep to f&rd, a raft was made'on which the party was* ferried over, under the direction of Samson and the two hunters, the hbrse swim- tning over. . . , As the day drew iio a close, and th» party had selected a place to encamp for the night, Samson would exert all his taste and skill in erecting a tent of boughs and Iblanketa for his mistress, stretching himself on the ground by the ■watch-fire, at a short distance off; to be ready at a mo. inentVwarning," in case his services should-be required. „ ■ i Not that the other members of the party were less, vigi¬ lant; but Samson had taken his young mistress especially .under hi^ charge, and they knew she could not be in better jjands, 'while it was all in accordance with the young ladjr'a wishes 96 BLACK SAMSON. CHAPTER im The journey of our little party homeward was & lcHg and toilsome one, but not.abounding in that kind of incident that would be interesting to the reader. We shall, there¬ fore, pass it over with the single remark that they stood it like heroes, and none better than Kate Wolvertori, reach* 5ng home in fine Bpirits, but considerably fagged out bj the journey. Great was the rejoicing at the.Scuyler plantation at the safe arrival of the master and his son, bringing with then] their favorite, Miss Kate, whose mysterious disappearance had thrown the whole community into a strange state of Excitement for a long time, and had not yet subsided. Day after day the plantation was visited by neighbors and friends, who came to welcome the travelers home, and to listen to the story of their strange adventures. But the greatest lion among them was our friend, Black Bamson, especially with the people of color., Among the darkeys Samson was a real hero, ecliusing even^his name* sake of the olden time. . - Samson was not in the habit of making any boast of his exploits when in the presence of white folks, especially if either of the Scuylers were within hearing. .But .when in the company of those of his own color, he gave looset rein to his imagination, not allowing any scruples of conscience to restrain him from making out a good story for want of stretching. To hear him at such times, you would think the success of the whole enterprise was owing mainly, if not altogether, to his skill, courage and bravery. He never, would say anything to the prejudice of Maaaa "Clem, as he called young Scuyler, simply remarking.* * M -ftlassa Clem done berry well; but den, he's only & bojr, aa* what can you s'pect of a child V' BLACK BA3ISOK. 97 As for Limping; Ben ancl Bob Fifer, he would say: " Dem's well enough for circumwentin Ingins, but when it comes to de izghtin' dey ain't of much account!" Night after night Black Samson would sit in the negro quarters and relate his adventures to an admiring eet of r listeners, and: his stories lrad one great merit—they always improved With the telling. If at one time he told of the killing of a couple of Indians, at the next it was half a