IO94 
 B43fc 
 1850
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 5L 
 
 FOREST ROSE 
 
 A TALE OF THE FRONTIER 
 
 BY EMERSON BENNETT 
 
 Author of "Prairie Flower," "Lent Leoti," "The Bandits of 
 
 the Osage," "Kate Clarendon," "The Traitor, or the 
 
 Fall of Ambition," Etc,, Etc. 
 
 NEW EDITION 
 
 Revised by the Author 
 
 Published by 
 
 H. E. GILLESPIE 
 
 Bookseller Stationer 
 
 LANCASTER, OHIO 
 
 The Eagle <5^^OT& Job Print
 
 PS 
 
 10 
 PREFACE TO REVISED EDITION 
 
 A distinguished American author, in a preface to 
 one of his works, remarks, in effect, that in his view a 
 writer of fiction is entitled to all that is possible; and 
 though hi the main we agree with him, yet at the same 
 lime we think that the Novelist should always endeavor 
 to confine himself to the probable ; for when he goes be 
 yond probability, he destroys that charm of naturalness 
 which every author should study to produce, and puts 
 himself in danger oi being set down by his readers as a 
 kind of modern Munchausen. 
 
 The chief beauty of fiction, in our humble opinion, 
 consists in its representation of scenes and incidents sc 
 like to nature and facts, that the reader can feel, as it 
 were, that they are realities; and whether or no he be 
 lieves the narrative to be a true record, taken from real 
 li^e, matters little, so long as there is nothing set forth 
 by which he can prove the contrary. We all know that 
 events do really happen, of so strange, mysterious, and 
 miraculous a nature, that, without the most positive and 
 reliable evidence, we would hardly believe them possible, 
 setting probability altogether aside: and therefore, to 
 suppose that an author can, by any ingenuity, place his 
 characters in any entanglement, from which he can 
 plausibly deliver them, and in doing so go beyond reality 
 itself, is to suppobe him capable of inventing what the 
 whole huraar race, together with all circumstances com 
 bined, have never been able to produce. 
 
 120204G
 
 We know that, with the twenty- six letters of the 
 alphabet, we can spell any word in the English language 
 and tiiat 1? this language we can express any thought 
 or ide;? that may enter our minds all that is required 
 beine; different arrangements and combinations of the 
 same primitive letters; and so an author may extend 
 fiction to all that is possible, and yet not transgress the 
 limits of re?lity; for all. that he can so imagine within 
 the bounds prescribed, has some time or another happen 
 ed; and the only difference between his narration and 
 facts, is, that he has taken a little here and a little there, 
 and put these parts together making, not anything 
 wholly new, but only a new combination of the old. We 
 have been led into these remarks from the fact, that, i:i 
 the pages which follow, there are scenes set forth of so 
 mysterious and miraculous a character, that the reader, 
 if he do^s not declare them downright impossibilities 
 wi'l not hesitate to assert that the author has gone far 
 beyoid probability, and let his inventive faculties run 
 away wilh his judgment. Now we will candidly admi: 
 that we have gone beyond probability that the contest 
 between t^o Indian scouts, or spies, and a whole tribe of 
 Eu-ofcs, rTunbering over five hundred well-trained war 
 riors, it Mount Pleasant, or Standing Stone, and the final 
 escape of the two hunters, is an improbability; and a=? 
 sur;h wo \7onld never have laid it before the public 
 notwitHstsndrag our legitimate right to do so. if we 
 chose had it simply been an invention of our own; but, 
 gentle reader, all the improbabilities you may meet in 
 "Forset Rose," are facts facts handed down by tradi 
 tion, and now recorded in the historical collections of the 
 time and places referred to. In truth, we have never 
 written a story, in which our inventive faculties have
 
 fceen so little exercised as in the present instance; for, 
 with the exception of altering the names of the prin 
 cipal actors, to suit our own convenience, we have fol 
 lowed tradition to the very letter, and introduced noth 
 ing but what really took place in the localities and dur 
 ing the period occupied with our narration. 
 
 IP closing; these prefatory remarks, we would re 
 turn our grateful acknowledgment to the public for the 
 very liberal patronage bestowed upon our humble labors, 
 not only in this instance, but in nearly every other. It 
 is not twc years since "Forest Rose" first appeared as a 
 caiu^dat' 1 for public favor, at which time an unusually 
 lar?p. edition was piinted, which is now exhausted, with 
 unfilled coders in the publishers' possession from vari 
 ous portions of the Union. When an author finds hu 
 humble endeavors to please thus appreciated, it is rath 
 er a pleasure than a task to send forth from his solitude 
 the brain-children of his creation. In this respect, we 
 feel that we have been very fortunate and acknowledge 
 it with -gratitude, 
 
 EMERSON BENNETT. 
 
 Philadelphia, September 1, 1850.
 
 BIOGRAPHY OF EMERSON BENNETT 
 
 (By L. S. Wells.) 
 
 The subject of this sketch, the author of Forest 
 
 Rose, was born in Monsontown, Mass., March 6th, 1822. 
 
 After his father's death, at the age of sixteen, young 
 
 Bennett with the family moved to New York City, where 
 
 he entered an Academy. 
 
 About this time he wrote a poem "The Corsair," 
 which appeared in The Odd Fellows' Journal attracting 
 marked attention. 
 
 Later, he lived in Philadelphia and Baltimore, but 
 in 1842 moved to Cincinnati where in reality hisi career 
 as a writer, actively began. 
 
 He chose subjects pertaining to Pioneer Days in 
 which an interest was just beginning to awaken, and at 
 once his books came into popular demand, edition after 
 eition being sold following close in sales to Mrs. Stowe's 
 Uncle Tom's Cabin. . 
 
 His stories originally appeared in The Cincinnati 
 Daily Commercial and later in book forms. In 1848, he 
 wrote his most popular romances "Forest Rose" and 
 "Leni Leati" which reached a sale of over 100,000 cop 
 ies, a phenomenal one for those times. 
 
 Among his other popular books were "Waldo War 
 ren," "Viola," "Clara Moreland" and "The Artist's 
 Bride." 
 
 In 1850, Mr. Bennett returned to Philadelphia and 
 never again lived in Ohio, but gave his whole time to lit 
 erary labor. 
 
 His romances (about 100) and his short sketches (a 
 greater number) appeared in the Philadelphia Evening 
 Post and Robert Bonner's New York Ledger, most of 
 which were later published in book form. 
 
 Twice in his life he projected and published a maga 
 zine which met the usual fate from authors, who make 
 such experiments. Each lived a short life, although his 
 ability as a writer was unquestioned. His style is above 
 the average of that period and his books, are remarkable 
 for their classical, yet clear language and are most valu 
 able contributions to Pioneer history. 
 
 In these, he keeps close to facts as shown particular 
 ly in his delineation of that hero, scout and pathfinder, 
 Lewis Wetzel, as set forth in "Forest Rose." 
 
 It was such authors as Emerson Bennett that caus 
 ed that great historian, who in the last weeks of his life, 
 unable to read, had a friend thus entertain him. 
 
 One day the reader saying to him "What History 
 shall I read you now" to which he replied "read me fic 
 tion, it may be true, as to histories, I know they are 
 lies." 
 
 L. S. WELLS. 
 Centerburg, O., Jan. 5th, 1920.
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 The Settler. 
 
 Near the south-eastern angle of what is now Bel- 
 mont County, in the State of Ohio, a large creek loses 
 rtself in that beautiful stream from which the State just 
 mentioned takes its name. This creek is called the Cap- 
 tina, and its head-waters are to be found some thirty or 
 forty miles back among- the hills. But is has tributaries 
 not far distant from the Ohio River; and one of these 
 flows through a pleasant valley, and near a little knoll, 
 which rises in the form of a cone, and resembles the an 
 cient mounds, of which there are so many to be found in 
 this region ov country. Whether this knoll is a nat 
 ural or an artificial one, we do not pretend to say; but 
 it is enough for our purpose to state, that on its suramjit 
 a rude lor cabin was erected as early as the year 1789. 
 
 The family who occupied this solitary cabin, con- 
 sister of six persons-- a father, mother, two sons, and 
 two daughters hut one of the last named relationship 
 only by adoption. The surnames of five of these were 
 Maywoocl the adopted still retaining her own appella 
 tion, which was Rose Forester or, as she was more fre 
 quently termed, in the way of familiar endearment, 
 'Forest Rose." 
 
 The elder Maywood was a native of Virginia, and 
 had been, at one period of his life, quite a wealthy plant 
 er. The father of Rose and himself had been bosom com 
 panions. Quite intimate in youth, they had grown up 
 friends in The true acceptation of the term. They had 
 married at nearly the same period, and had settled down,
 
 2 THE FOREST ROSE. 
 
 side by side, each with a fortune sufficient to give him an 
 3asy independence. 
 
 On the breaking out of the war o* the Revolution, 
 May wood had two children, both sons, of the ages seven 
 and four, and Forester one. a sprightly little daughter of 
 three years. Both were patriotic men; and feeling that 
 chelr country stood in need of their aid, both volunteered 
 their services in her 'lefense. Forester received the ap 
 pointment of colonel, and Maywood that of Captain, and 
 both served with distinction in the same regiment. Gov- 
 arment being embarrassed for fands to pay the soldiers, 
 or even to supply them with the necessary clothing and 
 provisions, these two noble patriots mortgaged their 
 plantations, and put vhe amount received into the quar 
 termaster's hands, to be used for the benefit of the regi 
 ment. 
 
 But to be brief with what will be of but little inter 
 est to the reader. At the battle of the Cowpens, fought 
 in 1781, Colonel Forester fell mortally wounded. Only a 
 month bafore, he had heard of the death of his wife; and 
 now he was about to die and leave his only daughter an 
 orphan, and penniless: for he well knew that his estate 
 would go to pay his debts. It so chanced that Captain 
 Maywood was near him when he was shot from his horse; 
 and regardless of anything but the life of bis friend, the 
 gallant captain alone raised him in his arms, and bore 
 him through a terrible fire to the quarters of the surgeon, 
 who, on examining his wounds, shook his head gravely, 
 and said that he Bad not many minutes to live. On this 
 Captain Maywood burst into tears, and wrung his hands 
 in grief; but the dying man was more composed, and 
 Jjade his friend to remember that he was a soldier, and 
 that such was the fate of war. 
 
 "For the sake of my child," continued the dying col 
 onel, "and more than all, for the sake of my country, 
 which needs the aid of all her sons, I would wish to live. 
 But God his willed it otherwise, and I will strive to be 
 resigned. In a few minutes more I shall be with my angel
 
 THE FOREST ROSE. 3 
 
 wife in another world, and there will be none but you, my 
 friend, to act the part of a father to my sweet little itose. 
 In your charge T leave her, knowing you will care ten 
 derly for her, lor the sake of him who for the last time 
 now addresses you. Farewell, my friend! and may God 
 preserve you to behold the dny. when the stars and stripes 
 shall wave in triumph over a land of freemen." 
 
 These were the last words of Colonel Forester. Five 
 minutes after ho had pronounced them, he was a corpse; 
 and his friend stood beside him, weeping at the loss of a 
 noble commander, and a bosom companion. 
 
 At the close of the war, Captain Maywood returned 
 to his family, of which little Rose was already a member. 
 He found his own affairs in a rather embarrassed condi 
 tion, and that t.he estate of his friend, which had just 
 been settled, barely left Rose a few hundred dollars. He 
 immediately effected a sale of his own property; and on 
 taking up the mortgage, and settling some other debts he 
 had contracted, he found himself possessed of two thous 
 and five hundred dollars, besides three slaves, family ser 
 vants, whom he had reserved. He now removed to Rich 
 mond, both for the purpose of giving his children a good 
 education, and to engage in some mercantile pursuit 
 hoping thereby to retrieve his lost fortune. But he was 
 not calculated for the business he had attempted; and in 
 the course of a few years he sold off his stock of goods, 
 paid his debts, and found himself worth nothing. 
 
 His affairs being now represented to the general 
 government, Congress made him a grant of one thousand 
 acres of land, located in the section of country to which 
 we have called the reader's attention in the opening of 
 this chapter; and which, at that period, was known as 
 Washington County, being the first established in the 
 North-Western Territory, by proclamation of Governor 
 St. Clair. 
 
 Thither Captain Maywood removed with his family, 
 in the fall of 1789, and at once proceeded to erect a cab- 
 In on the lif.tle knoll already mentioned.
 
 4 THE FOREST ROSE. 
 
 At this time there were very few settlers in this sec 
 tion of the country, and none between Captain May- 
 wood's and the Ohio River; but as a treaty had been made 
 the January previous, at Fort Harmar, between Gover 
 nor St. Glair and the sachems and warriors of the Wyan- 
 dotte, Chippe~va, Potawatomie, and Sac nations, in which 
 the treaty at Fort Mclntosh was renewed and confirmed, 
 little trouble was apprehended from the savages, and in 
 consequence verv little j>ains were taken to guard against 
 them by the bold pioneers who chanced, at this precise 
 period, to venture into the wilderness. 
 
 At all events, Captain Maywood made no provisions 
 against a surpriso not even raising a block-house for de 
 fense. He \vas a bold, fearless, energetic n>an a true 
 patriot but rather self-willed, self-confident, and short 
 sighted in regard to certain things. He had somehow 
 imbibed the idea or else he promulgated it for the pake 
 of argument that the Indians were a very magnani 
 mous, and consequently, much-abused race of being, who 
 always acted on the defensive only; and that, unless mo 
 lested by the whites, they would ever remain peaceably 
 disposed toward their white neighbors. To prove his 
 sophism, he would cite William Penn and his followers as 
 examples; and always concluded by saying that any per 
 son might venture into the wilderness, and pass a long 
 life in quietude, provided he did not become the aggres 
 sor. 
 
 In vain his eldest son, Albert an intelligent youth 
 of twenty tried, to reason him out of his foolish theory, 
 on the ground that the Indians, having been long at war 
 with the whites, and never having received a just com 
 pensation for their lands, would look upon all the latter 
 race as aggressors, and treat them accordingly. As to 
 William Penn and his followers, he admitted they had 
 succeeded in settling in an Indian country without shed 
 ding blood. But how had they done so? In the first 
 place, every circumstance had been in their favor. They 
 had appeared among the Indians as a peaceable body of
 
 THE FOREST ROSE. 5 
 
 men the first vhite men which many of the savages 
 had ever seer. They had come loaded with presents to 
 the Indians whom they called together in council, and 
 then purchased the lands of them at a stipulated price, 
 which price they had promptly paid. Besides all this, 
 they were a p'-'-ulSar people, in dress and manners, and 
 the Indians had come to regard them as a distinct race 
 of beings all of which was very different from a single 
 white settler, of the period in question, coming among 
 infuriated savages : who would draw no distinction be 
 tween him and those who had preceded him. 
 
 The argument of Albert, as we have said, produced 
 no effect upon the mind of his father, unless it were to 
 render him more obstinate that ever. Whether he had 
 any faith in his sophism or not, certain it is he took every 
 means oT putting it to the test, by leaving himself and 
 family totally defenseless. He not only refused to erect 
 a block-house, but forbade his son the privilege of doing 
 it also. 
 
 The cabin built by Captain May wood was in the or 
 dinary style of the early settlers being composed of logs, 
 with a puncheon* floor, and clapboard roof. It contain 
 ed very little furniture besides such as was manufactur 
 ed in the forest. On the outside, at one end, was the 
 chimney, built also of logs, with the hearth and jambs 
 of stone. At the opposite end stood a couple of beds, 
 supported above the ground by cross-bars, one end of 
 which rested on the logs, and the other on crotches driv 
 en firmly into the earth between the puncheons. A few 
 pots and kettles, with some pewter dishes, a puncheon 
 table, several three-legged stools, a couple of rifles, and a 
 smalt mirror, formed the principal part of the household 
 stock. 
 
 To people accustomed to refinement, as the May- 
 woods had bet^n to a great degree, a home like this, in 
 
 * Puncheons were planks made by splitting logs to about two and a 
 half or three inches in thickness, and hewing them on one or botli sidefi 
 with a broad-ax.
 
 6 THE FOREST ROSE. 
 
 the \vildernest5, might be supposed to furnish but few 
 attractions. y^t there was no complaint. All strove to ac- 
 eommodate themselves to their circumstances, and view 
 their change of fortune with that pholosophy necessary 
 to render life aereeable. As for Albert, he rather liked it 
 than otherwise, as it gave him ample opportunity to hunt 
 through the surrovnding woods an occupation of which 
 he was extremely, wo might say passionately, fond. 
 
 During, the winter succeeding his settlement in this 
 section of country, Captain Maywood employed much of 
 his time in felling the trees around his dwelling; and 
 being a strong, athletic man, he made considerable pro 
 gress; so that on the opening of the spring of 1790, sev 
 eral acres had been cleared and burned over, ready for 
 tilling. 
 
 Meantime settlers from different parts of the country 
 began. to locate themselves in the vicinity. At first it 
 was thought that the treaty of Harmar would render 
 :hem safe from the encroachments of the savages; but 
 the report of some Indian nvjrders on the Muskinguni un 
 deceived, the .11, and they immediately proceeded to con- 
 struck block-houses for protection. Nearly opposite the 
 mouth of Captira Creek, on the Virginia shore, a fort 
 *Puncheons were planks made by splitting logs to 
 about two and a half or three inches in thickness, and 
 hewing them on one or both sides with a broad-ax, 
 wa? b'-iilt, which was named Baker's Fort, in honor of its 
 founder 
 
 Mawvood, however, true to his theory, contended 
 that such precautions were not only useless, but detri 
 mental as the savages would regard them as so many 
 tokens of defiance, and would in consequence assail them 
 at the first favorable opportunity. He laughed at the 
 fears of the settlers, and they regarded him as little bet 
 ter than one insane. 
 
 Time wore on, a year passed away, and still Captain 
 Maywood and his family remained undisturbed al 
 though it was well known the Indians had again dug up
 
 THE FOREST ROSE. 7 
 
 Ihe war ax, and were committing depredations in almost 
 overy section of the country. 
 
 To such a degree! were the settlers, of what was then 
 termed the North Western Territory, annoyed and 
 alarmed by the increasing hostility of the savages, that 
 General St. Clair now received orders to form a strong 
 military body, and march from Fort Washington (Cin 
 cinnati) up toward the lakes, and establish forts some 
 thirty or forty miles apart along the whole route, in or 
 der to overawe the Indians, and render the country se 
 cure against a r-rmtinued repetition of bloody depreda 
 tions. 
 
 Acting und^r his instructions, St. Clair proceeded to 
 organize an army; and in the spring of 1791. he left 
 Fort Pitt (Pittsburg), and arrived at Fort Washington 
 on the 15th of May; from whence, owing to several hin 
 drances, he did not depart on his expedition till the be 
 ginning of the autumn following. 
 
 Advancing his troops by slow marches, he establish 
 ed Fort Hamilton and Fort Jefferson on his route, and 
 on the third of November encamped on a branch of the 
 "Wabash, in the present limits of Dark County. His army 
 at this time was more than two thousand strong, exclu 
 sive of sDme six hvndred militia But notwithstanding 
 this, he was assailed on the following morning by an 
 overwhelming body of Indians the grand combination 
 of several nations led on by their most celebrated chiefs 
 among whom was Teoamseh. Black Hoof, Little Turtle, 
 Captain Pipe, Simon Girtj-, and others and after a des 
 perate resistance of several hours, was defeated, with a 
 loss of more than six hundred men, including a great 
 number of the best and bravest officers the country has 
 ever produced 
 
 This signal defeat of a grand army of the whites, 
 was a glorious trumph to the Indians, who in consequence 
 became more bold and bloodthirsty than ever; and even 
 carried tneir outrages into the very heart of some of the 
 strongest settlements, causing the greatest consternation
 
 S THE FOREST ROSE. 
 
 among the citizens throughout all sections of the coun 
 try. 
 
 The spring succeeding St. Glair's defeat, is the per 
 iod that the actior of our humble narrative really begins. 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 The Lovers and the Presentiment. 
 
 Albert Maywood was now a young man of twenty- 
 two, with a large, vigorous frame, peculiarly adapted to 
 forest life. In personal appearance he was rather pre 
 possessing Fis countenance was open, frank, and cheer 
 ful; and his clear blue eye had a peculiar fascination for 
 such as could call him friend by which we mean to pay, 
 that its expression varied with his feelings; and to those 
 who disliked him, or whom he disliked, it gleamed with 
 a sullen sterness calculated to awe, and excite in them 
 a secret dread of the owner. Pie was of an ardent tem 
 perament quick to anger, and quick to forgive pro 
 vided a suitable apology for an offense was offered and 
 in case he fancied himself in the wrong, he was ever 
 ready and willing to confess his fault. He was intelli 
 gent, and had received an education far beyond what was 
 usual with young men of that period, even when passing 
 their lives in the old settlements. 
 
 But Albert cared little for book-learning after his 
 arrival in the wilderness. Two things now seemed to 
 absorb his whole thoughts; and these, strangely dissimi 
 lar as they may appear, were his rifle and Rose Forester. 
 Hunting \\ith him had become a passion, equaled only by 
 zhe passion he felt for the poor orphan. To range the 
 woods all day his rifle his only companion, and return at 
 night, to sit and talk with Rose, was to him the -very 
 acme of delight the soul of enjoyment. In vaiu his 
 father had sought to force him to manual labor to make 
 him a farmer to get his aid in clearing and tilling the 
 land. No! he would hunt, and supply the family with 
 meat; but, like the Indian, he disdained to touch a hus 
 bandry implement. At length the captain gave up the
 
 THE FOREST ROSE. 9 
 
 point in despair, and Albert was allowed to havf:: his own 
 way. 
 
 Whether Albert's passion for hunting was a judic 
 ious )ne or rot, certain it is that his passion for Forest 
 Rose, as he lo'/ed to term her, was anything but unwise, 
 or in bad taste; for not all the settlements on the frontier, 
 at that period, could match her in prettiness, intelligence, 
 sprightliness, and sweetness of temper. She was small in 
 stature fccing scarcely five feet high with one of those 
 open, ingenuous, playful countenances, that ever seern to 
 send a ray of sunshine to the heart of the beholder. Her 
 features wero t'iny arid regular, with a clear complexion 
 and dark, sparkling eyes; and there was such an air of 
 cheerfulness in her whole countenance, that even the 
 most morose could not but experience a sweet pleasure in 
 looking upon her. If Albert loved Rose, Rose loved Al 
 bert, and bot.h loved from opposite principles the for 
 mer, because the object of his affections was physically 
 weak and needed a strong arm and the latter, because 
 :;he could loofc up to the being of her choice and feel in 
 him a protector 
 
 And this Icve of opposites. by the way, not only 
 physically but mentally, is the strongest and most ezidur- 
 ing of all earthly passion, let who will argue to the con 
 trary; for where two persons come together of equal phy 
 sical and mental capacities, there is a certain feeling of 
 equality and independence, on both sides, that tends to 
 destroy the peruliar harmony that must otherwise pre 
 vail where one finds in the other the attraction that she 
 or he has not By a righteous law of nature, man loves 
 what he can fostor and protect : woman, what can cher 
 ish and protect her. 
 
 Tt was toward evening of a warm, pleasant day in 
 May, that A;beit returned as usual from his hunt; for 
 seldom was he away more than a day at a time as his 
 enjoyment consisted as much in rehearsing to little Rose 
 the adventures he had met with since seeing her, as in 
 going through the adventures themselves. Reaching tho
 
 10 THE FOREST ROSE. 
 
 I)row of a hill which overlooked the knoll on which bis 
 father's cabin stood, as' also the valley of the Ohio and 
 the distant station, ho cast himself down upon the trunk 
 e-f a fallen tree. 
 
 The sun was about half an hour above the horizen; 
 and although his rays could not penetrate to where our 
 hr.ro was sitting, owing to the thick foliage of the trees 
 over his head, yet this did not prevent him from enjoy 
 ing the beauties of the light as it softly fell upon the 
 landscape toward which his gaze was not. directed. Be 
 fore him, down the valley, a distance of some two hun 
 dred yards, the hill on which he had paused was cleared 
 of trees and l.ri.sh, and his father and brother were now 
 engaged with two heavy yoke of cattle in turning it up 
 lor fall sowing. At trie bottom of this hill, rising up out 
 of the valley like an artificial mound, was the little knoll 
 already mentioned, on which the cabin stood; and the 
 T and being cleared all around it so that the creek could 
 be seen gliding by on the other side, and burying itself 
 in a thirket about a hundred yards further down it had 
 a very pleasing and picturesque effect. Nor was this ef- 
 lect less pleasant, from beholding a light blue smoke curl 
 slowly upward from the rude chimney of the cabin, and 
 spread itself out in the rays of the dying sun, which 
 poured a golden flood 'of light into the opening, and 
 made the little creek .^listen like a belt of silver The hill 
 on the opposite side of the valley had been partially clear 
 ed and a large jorn and potato patch was in sight, with 
 the tops of these vegetables just peeping above the rich 
 soil, and giving it a greenish cast. Beyond and around. 
 on every side, like the framework to a picture, the dark 
 green fores' with its noble trees of oak and ash, beech 
 and marie, elm and sycamore shut in the scene, and 
 gave to it that sylvan beauty which the mediative poet 
 so loves to contemplate. 
 
 And Albeit ^ as a poet in feeling, though be had rever 
 penned hi* thoughts; and as he sat and gazed upon the 
 landscape before him, he cradually became lost 'n a
 
 THE FOREST ROSE. 11 
 
 dreamy reverie, of which little Forest Rose formed no 
 unimportant part. 
 
 While thus lost in contemplation, he fel! a hand 
 ijghtly touch his shoulder. It was a period when it be 
 hooved every one to be on his guard against lurking sav 
 ages; and with a bound that would have done no dis 
 credit to a practiced vaulter, our young hunter sprang 
 some several feet from the log, and, wheeling, brought 
 his rifle (which, while sitting, had rested on his knees," 
 to his shoulder, read tc fire upon the intruder, in the 
 ?vent of its proving to be a foe. 
 
 A light, merry laugh was the response to this war 
 like demonstration of the hunter; and instantly bring 
 the breach of his rifle to the ground the young man 
 sprang forward, exclaiming. 
 
 "Why, my little Forest Rose ; how you startled me' 
 How cama vou here?" 
 
 "By the simplest method in the world, Albert," re 
 plied the other gaily. "My little feet brought me here " 
 
 "I understand all that, my little rogue; but what I 
 want to knov is. \vhy your feet brought you here?"' 
 
 "Simp'.y because I willed them to do so." 
 
 'Pshaw " 
 
 "Ther5, there, Albert don'_t frown now, and I'll 
 answer your question, not as you put it, but as you meant 
 it, I came here expressly to surprise you." 
 
 "But how did you know I was here?" 
 
 How? Ha, ha, ha! Come, you get wiser in your in 
 terrogations every minute. How should I know you were 
 here?" 
 
 'T mean, how came you to see me? for I saw nothing 
 of you." 
 
 "Why, I had just been up to speak a word with fath 
 er, about some seeds for our garden, and though I might 
 as well run up to the top of the hill, seeing I was more 
 than half way. and take a view of this pretty land^ape 
 when, just as I had got here, who should pop out o' the 
 voods but Master Albert, large as life. I hid behind a
 
 12 THE FOREST ROSE. 
 
 tree, and waited till >ou seemed pretty well absorbed, 
 in contemplation, and then stole softly round, just to give 
 you a gentle surprise. But I say, Albert, what news of 
 the woods?" 
 
 "None, Rose, nore " 
 
 ' What! have yov had no adventures today, Albert?" 
 
 "None at all unless sitting upon a log may be call 
 ed an adventure." 
 
 "Wny, surely, you have not been practicing that all 
 day?" re.ioined the other with a laugh. 
 
 "Ay. but I have. I have not been three miles from 
 home; and what is mcro, I let a deer run by me without 
 even lifting my rifle. The most active feat I have per- 
 forzned is the cne you have just witnessed." 
 
 "But how is this, Albert?" inquired the dark-eyed 
 Rose, with a slight shade of uneasiness perceptible on her 
 usually sunshinny countenance. "Are you not well. Al 
 bert'" 
 
 "Why, yes, I believe so that is, I am not sick; but. 
 somehow, I feel depressed in spirits, as though some 
 thing of solemn import were about to happen. I do not 
 know why it is; I never felt so before." 
 
 "I have felt so twice," returned Rose, her dark eyes 
 .filling with ters at the recollection. "Once, the night 
 V>efore my own dear mother died; and the second time, 
 the day of the dreadful battle in which my poor father 
 perished." 
 
 "Poor Rose!" said the other, tenderly, 'do not weep 
 for somohow when I see you weep, it makes me feel 
 womarish myself. Do you think then, Rose, that my 
 peculiar feelings today are an omen of some impending 
 calamity?" 
 
 "God forefetid! : ' replied the other, earnestly. 
 
 "I have half -thought so myself," pursued the young 
 man, uneasily. "Oh! I do wish I could persuade father 
 not to live so exposed, and so defensless. The savages 
 are making encroachments in every direction, and who 
 knows but they will be this way next! Good heavens!"
 
 THE FOREST ROSE. 13 
 
 pursued the young man, earnestly, "wliat if I should 
 return some evening and find you all murdered. Oh! 
 the thought is horrible! it is appalling even to imagine 
 it!" 
 
 "Then vTiy do you leave us, dear Albert, and so ex 
 pose yourself, alone in the woods, far from any habita 
 tion? Oh! if vou -Jid but know the painful anxiety it 
 causes me, when you do not make your appearance at 
 the usual hour! Who knows but you may be killed in 
 the forest, either by the wild beasts or savages? and 
 then what would become of poor Rose Forester " 
 
 This was uttered in that artless, almost childish 
 simplicity of manner and tone, that a fond sister would 
 naturally use in addressing a dearly beloved brother. 
 And the response of young Maywood was in keeping; for 
 he drew the fair creature to him and imprinted a kiss 
 upon her ruby lips. 
 
 "Nay, dearest," he said, "do not be alarmed on my 
 account! I have no fears for myself." 
 
 "But T have for you," returned the other, "and for 
 you only.' 1 
 
 "Bless you, my little Rose!" Then musing seriously 
 a moment, he added: "But you must not remain here, 
 Rose' If father Avill persist in living thus exposed, I 
 must provide a place of safety for you; for somehow it 
 seems a? if on your welfare my own existence depends. 
 I will tike you over to Baker's Fort, on the opposite side 
 of the river, where you will be comparatively safe." 
 
 ""What! and leave my adopted parents my brother 
 and little sister behind? and you you alao, Albert?" 
 
 "But f will go with you, Rose; and will try and per 
 suade Mary and mother to go also." 
 
 "Well, if they consent, I will, but if not " 
 
 "Ah, Rose, promise me that you will consent, wheth 
 er they do or not." 
 
 'To go with you, Albert?" 
 
 "Ay."
 
 14 THE FOREST ROSE. 
 
 "But but " said the 'other, hesitatingly, and look 
 ing downward, while the warm blood mounted to her 
 templos, and made her look in truth the "Forest Rose." 
 
 "But what?'' asked the young hunter, eyeing her 
 fondly. 
 
 "But you know we are not really brother and sister," 
 was the timid reply, "and people might think strange of 
 such a proceeding." 
 
 "Ab f I see," rejoined the other with a slight start 
 of surprise. "I see! I have overlooked one thing." 
 
 Then gazing upon her fondly, while he gently took 
 her hand and seated her on the log, he continued speak 
 ing; as it' from his train of thoughts, rather than in con 
 nection with what had gone before: 
 
 "But why sliould it not be, dearest Rose? ay why 
 should it not be? We have been playmates from child 
 hood, and know each other as well as we know our own 
 solves. The time has come when you need a protector; 
 and who shall fill that place but I? For years, Rose, I 
 have lovod you for years I have fancied that niy love 
 has been returned. Why then should we longer put off 
 the rlay of our union? Nay, let us at once be united 
 in thoso holy bonds which will bind us to each other for 
 life. Thf.-n, wherever I may go, you can follow, without 
 a" blush of shame. What say you, my Forest Rose shall 
 I name the day?" 
 
 "As you will/' replied the other, modestly, but 
 frankly, raising her dark eyes, moist with tears of joy, 
 to those of him \vho addressed her. "You know I love 
 you Albert; and if our kind parents will consent, I know 
 no raason why the solemn ceremony may not be perform 
 ed r.ov- a? well as at a future time." 
 
 "Let this then seal the pledge between us!" cried 
 Albert, in an ecstasy bt delight; and again his lips were 
 pi'ossed to those of the fair being by his side. 
 
 For a fow minutes longer they sat conversing, when, 
 suddenly looking up, Albert said:
 
 THE FOREST ROSE. 15 
 
 "See! the sunlight is withdrawing from the landscape 
 bofore us, and night is approaching. Let us descend to 
 our humble i:ottage." And as they went down the hill 
 together, he continued: "But, Rose, I forgot to ask you 
 the news of the day, Has any one been over from the 
 fort? Or has any s-tranger called at the cabin?" 
 
 "No one," answered Rose, and then immediately 
 added: "Yet stay! there was a stranger here soon after 
 you left in the morning. At first we were somewhat 
 alarmed, taking him to be an Indian, but on close inspec 
 tion we discovered he was a white man; though he was 
 completely covered with skins, and his face was tanned 
 as dark as an Indian's. He carried a rifle on his shoul 
 der, and in his belt was a tomahawk and knife." 
 
 "\Vhat did he ws,nt? demanded the other quickly, 
 and with a shade of uneasiness. 
 
 " He merely asked for a cup to dip up some water 
 from the creek." 
 
 "Did he seem to examine the conditions of the 
 house?" 
 
 "H looked at everything closely, and completely 
 stared me out of countenance." 
 
 "Why did you not mention this before, Rose?" 
 
 "Why. I have not thought of it since the man went 
 away. IJut why do you look so concerned? Is there 
 anything remarkable in what he did?" 
 
 "No; but somehow I fear he means mischief. There 
 are a great many white renegades among the Indians; 
 and I forr he may be one of this class, sent out as a spy, 
 to find some defenseless place where a few scalps can be 
 procured without much danger to the assailants. There 
 are numbers of those scouting parties about; at leat>t it is 
 so reported." 
 
 "You alarm me!" said Rose, shuddering, and in 
 voluntarily drawing closer to the other. 
 
 "Did he seem to arrive from, or go toward the fort?" 
 inquired the young man.
 
 16 THE FOREST ROSE. 
 
 "No! when I first saw him, he was coming down the 
 opposite hill, and he went up the creek." 
 
 "Where were father and William?" 
 
 "At work on the hill-side, plowing." 
 
 "Did he not go near them?" 
 
 "No! and now I remember, he seemed anxious to 
 a /old their observation though I think they must have 
 seen him." 
 
 "This looks suspicious, and must be seen to." re 
 joined Albert, uneasily. 
 
 By this time the lovers aad reached the little knoll 
 on which stood the cabin; and bidding Rose go in, Albert 
 continued on to the creek, where his father and brother, 
 having Quit work for the day, were watering the cattle. 
 
 Between the captain and his eldest bcrn there was 
 not that harmony of feeling that one could desire to see 
 between father and son. This was owing in a great 
 degree to Albert's indolence, as regarded anything like 
 labcr, and his passion for hunting thus throwing all 
 the work of the farm upon the shoulders of the elder 
 Maywood ind his younger son, a stout youth of nineteen. 
 There was no quarrel, however between them no actu 
 al disagreement, unless it were on the subject of the 
 block-house, already referred ;.o; but, at the same time, 
 there v/r.s a certain reserve and constraint of manner 
 toward each other, when they met or were together, that 
 was anything but pleasant to the other members of the 
 family, particularly to Rose and the mother of Albert, 
 \\ho de?ired above all things, to have a perfect harmony 
 of feeling between nil parties. 
 
 As Albert approached his father, who was standing 
 on the bank of the creek, watching the cattle drink, the 
 hitter merely turned his head sufficiently to see the for 
 mer, and then without speaking, again fixed his eyes 
 upon the water. 
 
 "Good evening, father!" said the young man, in a 
 bland, and rather deferential tone.
 
 THE FOREST ROSE. 17 
 
 The captain grunted a good evening, but without 
 again turning his head, or changing his position in the 
 slightest degree. 
 
 "Did you see a stranger here today?" inquired 
 Albert. 
 
 "No, 1 have no time to see strangers," was the rath 
 er suily reply. "It is enough for me to do the work of 
 the farm, without entertaining strolling vagabonds. T 
 must leave them to such as have leisure to play the gen 
 tleman." 
 
 "You seem in a bad humor tonight, father, and your 
 vords contain a good deal of bitterness," replied the 
 young man. reddening. ''I know you allude to me as the 
 person playing the gentleman; though I am not so certain 
 that the task 1 perform is easier, or more gentlemanly 
 than vours. It is different, and more to my liking, and in 
 my opinion, full as profitable. The skins I have sold the 
 past year, have brought many a little luxury for our 
 family, which otherwise we must have done without." 
 
 "Well", returned the other, in the same cold man 
 ner, "you know you are at liberty to do as you please; 
 and so I suppose you will continue your profitable oc 
 cupation.' 
 
 "I certainly shall until I see fit to change it," re 
 plied the other, with some asperity, vexed in spite of him 
 self. "1 know I am at liberty to do as I please, for I am 
 of ere, and my own master; and, if you feel annoyed at 
 my remaining here, I will take little Rose, and start for 
 a settlement, where she will be in safety, at least." 
 
 "Ah! why do you mention Rose in particular'" de 
 manded the captain, sharply, turning full upon his son. 
 "What have you to do with her?" 
 
 "Musch: we are engaged to be married." 
 
 "Indeed 5 And how long since was such an engage 
 ment entered into?" 
 
 "Some half an hour." 
 
 The captain made no reply to this, but turning to
 
 18 THE FOREST ROSE. 
 
 the cattlo, commenced whipping them out of the water, 
 with a spirit that showed that his mind was not in a 
 very tranquil or enviable state. 
 
 "I suppose I can have your consent to the union?" 
 pursued Albert, following his father down the stream 
 toward a log barn that stood just below the knoll, where 
 the rattle were to be unyoked and fed. 
 
 "Why, you know ycu are independent of me and 
 can do as you please," was the reply: "Though I own I 
 am a little surprised at her choice. But it does not 
 follow that sensible girls will always fancy industrious 
 young men otherwise your brother might have been a 
 dangerous rival." 
 
 "Fither!"' exclaimed Albert, with a degree of ener 
 gy thai" amounted almost to fierceness. "Father! I re 
 spect you btit I cannot, will not bear these slurs. 
 Eithei ycu must address ni-.- as a father should a son, 
 who h?s been guilty of no dishonor, or I -will go away, 
 never re ruturn. I am sensitive, and you know it; and 
 your sarcasm is harder for my proud nature to bear, 
 than Avould be a blow from your hand. I do not despise 
 labor, nor those who toil; but the life of a husbandman 
 is uncongenial to my nature, taste, and education, and I 
 will not follow it, sr. long as I can make a living in a 
 more agreeable way. It is folly to suppose that each 
 person ci\u pursue the same occupation with equal zest. 
 What suits one does not another; and God has wisely 
 provided man with as many honest ways of living as 
 there ore varieties of dispositions end likings. I traverse 
 the woods, and kill deer, bears, panthers and sometimes 
 a buffalo: and I find a ready market for their skins with 
 the traders who make their annual and semi-annual 
 rounds at the larger settlements, and wtih the pro 
 ceeds r purchase tea, tobacco, salt and such stuffs for 
 clothing as are useful in the family. All these things I 
 bring home reserving nothing for myself but what is 
 absolutely necessary such as powder, lead, and the
 
 THE FOREST ROSE. 19 
 
 like. This! is labor; and I do not see why it should not 
 bo considered as useful as plov/ing, planting, or hoeing. 
 Nor is this all. While you and my brother supply the 
 family with vegetables, potatoes and grain, I supply them 
 with the best meat the forest affords. Now say, father, 
 do I not do my share?" 
 
 "If you think so, I suppose it is all right," replied 
 the other doggedly, 
 
 Tho young hunter turned away, with a vexed and 
 rather grieved expression of countenance; but after 
 having gone a few f.teps, he suddenly stopped, and return 
 ing to his father, earnestly inquired: 
 
 "You say you did not see a stranger here today?" 
 
 "I have said so. Shall I declare it mere positively, 
 and for the third time? or will two declarations to that 
 effect be deemed sufficient? " 
 
 "But there has been one here father," pursued 
 Albert, chafing at the other's manner and language, yet 
 striving to keep down his hasty and rising temper, "for 
 Rose told me so." 
 
 "Well, \vhnt if there has! I see nothing remarkable 
 in it." was the cold response. 
 
 ' Nothing remarkable, perhaps, though there may be 
 something dangerous in it, judging from what Rose said 
 of the fellow's appearance and actions." 
 
 "You are always fancying danger," replied the cap- 
 ta'n, entering the rude barn to bring out some feed for 
 his cattle, which he had by this time unyoked and turned 
 loose in a picketed yard, where stood also some fifteen or 
 twenty cows, with half the number of sheep, and foui' or 
 five horses all of which had come in, as was their cus 
 tom, to be out of the way of the wolves. "Yes, you are 
 fancying danger," he repeated, as he reappeared with a 
 few ears of corn and an armful of hay, "But what dan 
 ger do you apprehend now?" 
 
 "V'hy, I fear this fellow may be a white renegade, 
 acting c,s a spy for the Indians; and something tells me
 
 20 THE FOREST ROSE. 
 
 that danger is lurking near.'' 
 
 "Pshaw! I have no fear whatever. We have been 
 here over two years now; and if the Indians meditated 
 an attack, we should have had it before this." 
 
 "It does not follow, father, for there are no Indians 
 in this quarter; and our cabin being retired, as one may 
 say, from their usual war-paths, they may not have 
 discovered us. But depend upon it, when they do, in 
 nocent blood will be shed, unless we take the proper 
 precautions to guard against it. Oh! father suppose a 
 party of scouting Indians should come down upon us 
 suddenly, while you and William were at work in the 
 field, and murder mother, Rose and sister Mary! Oh, 
 my God!" he purrued, shuddering at the thought, "it 
 would be awful, awful!" 
 
 "Yes, we can suppose a great many awful calami 
 ties." returned the other; "but since we are supposing, 
 why is it not just as easy to suppose we shall not be 
 molested at all by far the most reasonable, in my 
 opinion, and certainly the most agreeable, supposition of 
 UIP TWO. But what do you propose? for I see you have 
 some proposition to make." 
 
 "Why if you would but act upon my suggestion, we 
 could very soon have a block-house erected, contiguous 
 to the cabin, on the same knoll, with a picketed passage 
 from one to the other, and a heavy door to the former; so 
 tbat. in rase of surprise, the females could retreat within 
 there, and be safe till alarm might be given, and assist 
 ance procured." 
 
 "Harping on the same old subject yet, I see," re 
 turned the other. "I tell you, Albert, it is all foolishness, 
 and I will not hear to it. People may laugh at me for 
 my thoory regarding the savages, as much as they please; 
 they may call me insane, if they like, as I have heard 
 *hey have niore than onue done already; but I have put 
 my theory in practice, tried it for two years and over, 
 and I see less reason to change it now than ever. People
 
 THE FOREST ROSE. 21 
 
 said we should all be murdered within six months; but 
 we aro ::11 living yet, aiid likely to continue so, so far as 
 the savages are concerned." 
 
 "God send we may!" returned Albert; but somehow 
 I have iny fears. At all events, if you will take no pre 
 cautions for safety, I shall take the liberty of removing 
 Fo<58 t > seme fortified place and that so soon as she is 
 my wife." 
 
 "Of course you can do what you please with your 
 own wife," rejoined his father; "and if you are afraid to 
 remain here, no doubt it will be a prudent move." 
 
 "For myself/' replied Albert, his eyes flashing with 
 : ill-s'ippre?sed auger, "I have no fear; but the man who 
 wantonly risks the life of a wife, mother, and child, to 
 gratify a foolish caprice, I hold responsible for their safe 
 ty; and if harm befall them, through his wilful negli 
 gence, J shall consider their blood upon his head!" 
 
 Saying this, and without waiting a reply, Albert 
 strode away, ascending the knoll, and in no very amiable 
 mood, entered the humble cabin. 
 
 "I can do nothing with father," whispered the 
 youug innn to Rose; "but tomorrow early I will set off 
 on the stranger's trail." 
 
 '.'Ah! dear Albert, I fear to let you go for you 
 might fall in with the enemy, if enemy it is, and be kill 
 ed or ^i-ptured." 
 
 "Fear not, my Forest Rose; for the lessons I have 
 had from that daring hunter, Lewis Wetzel, have well 
 prepared me for the duty I shall have to perform. Fear 
 not for me; but do not venture out of doors cftener than 
 is absolutely necessary during the day, as somehow I 
 have a strange presentiment of danger." 
 
 The entrance of the captain here put an end to all 
 further conversation for the time being; and, carefully 
 putting away his rifle the young man prepared him 
 self to partake of the frugal repast which his mother 
 . now announced to be ready.
 
 22 THE FOREST ROSE. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 The Hunters. 
 
 The wilderness, like the ocean, has its grandeur,, 
 beauty, and sublimity. The boundless expanse of woods, 
 and the boundless expanse of waters, inspire much the 
 same feeling of awe in him who is alone in the depths 
 of the one or alone on the bosom of the other. Both 
 speak, in a voiceless language, of the great Framer and 
 Maker; and man, alone, in solitude, with no human be 
 ing near, is strikingly impressed with his own littleness 
 and insignificance when compared with the mightiness of 
 what surrounds him. 
 
 Probably there is no spot in the universe where man 
 can be placed so calculated to inspire him with lofty con 
 templation as in the depths of the great primitive for 
 ests of America. Here he is literally alone with nature 
 and nature's God; no human habitation near; no jarring 
 sounds -jf human discord to distract his thoughts or dis 
 turb the quiet harmony of all around him. 
 
 Thus at least thought our hero, as ne stood leaning 
 against a laige old beech tree, with the barrel of his 
 faithful rifle resting in the hollow of his left arm and 
 the breach on the ground, surveying a scene almost 
 matchless for quiet beauty and solemn grandeur. It 
 was a level tract of country, covered with giant trees 
 that had stood for centuries, whose huge trunks seemed 
 to rise like pillars of a great temple expressly to support 
 the Gothic canopy of leaves overhead, through which, 
 thou&h broad noonday, scarcely a single ray of the warm 
 meridian sun penetrated. At this precise spot there was 
 little or no undergrowth; and the eye could range 
 through long vistas or avenues of trees, in every direc 
 tion, till lost in the distance. Occasionally, from the 
 boughs of a mighty tree, depended a long, beautiful grape 
 vine, as if for tasselings to those green coverings of 
 nature, or as figured gateways to those close a vista. 
 
 Tt was just the season of the year, too, to make-
 
 THE FOREST ROSE. 23 
 
 everything look beautiful. The leaves varied in their 
 shades of green, and many colored blossoms mingled 
 with thorn, as if to show how far the works of nature 
 cat* surpass the art of mail in all that is most fascinating 
 to the eye. Dark green grass had sprung up, covering 
 the .;arth with a soft carpet, and biding the decaying 
 leaves of the old year; and lifting their pretty faces 
 above the -^reen blade, were te:i thousand wild flowers, of 
 ;a!l varieties and colors. In fact, the spot had more the 
 appearance of an enchanted ground the abode of fairies 
 than of an absolute wilderness of terror, where steal 
 thy savages lurked, and wild beasts prowled. 
 
 Save the deep, solmen roar of the forest, which none 
 who have heard can ever forget, all would be still for a 
 time; and then some feathered songster would pour 
 forth ite artlf-ss strain, and a thousand others would join 
 in, as if in chorus. Then there would be a fluttering 
 among the leaves, and hundreds of bright plumed birds 
 would shoot, through the air, as if to change places with 
 one another Then for a moment all would be still 
 arain. Then tap, tap, would sound the wood-pecker, 
 and suddenly more than fifty squirrels would dart along 
 the ground, in every direction, and up the trunks of 
 trees, where they would pause to look around them 
 half in fear and half in defiance and then would quick 
 ly disappear into the tree-tops, perhaps to repeat the 
 same scone a few minutes later. Then hop, hop would 
 come P. rrbbit, with his ears erect, ready to catch the 
 slightest sound of danger, and halting, ever and anon. 
 wouM suddenly dart away and disappear. Then the 
 forest would roar louder, and the breeze would freshen, 
 and the leaves would rustle, and the birds would flutter, 
 and sing, and the squirrels would chirrup and dart down 
 the trees, and away in every direction, and up others, 
 and the whole wood for a short time would seem alive. 
 Tnen all would gradually die away, and nothing but the 
 deep, far-off, solemn roar would be heard, like the dis-
 
 24 THE FOREST ROSE. 
 
 tant sound of the ocean waves, or some mighty cataract, 
 filling the mind with a grand, exalted solemnity. 
 
 For more than a quarter of an hour Albert stood 
 motionless, as we have described him, watching the 
 movements of the animal and feathered tribes, listening 
 to the various sounds, but with his mind dwelling on 
 other and more serious matters. He had followed the 
 t7-ail of the stranger to this place a distance of six or 
 eight miles from the cabin and as it still led off further 
 i?ito the great forset he had come to the conclusion that 
 it might be that of a peaceable hunter and consequently 
 had resolved to pursue it no longer. 
 
 Although living in the wilderness for a couple of 
 years, Albert had fortunately escaped falling in with 
 hostile Indians; yet he had more than once been in com 
 pany with a celebrated Indian hunter from whom he 
 had learned much valuable information, not only in re 
 gard to the customs and habits of the savages, and the 
 manner of trailing them, but also in regard to the gen 
 eral science of the forest if we may be permitted the 
 expression for that it is a science, and no trifling one, 
 we think none who have been familiar with a thorough 
 bred woodsman, witness his movements or ever heard him 
 relate his adventure, will seek to deny. 
 
 Tn this way, and through constant practice also 
 Albert had become, in appearance, habits and knowl 
 edge, what he professed to be an accomplished hunter, 
 so far as the term mav be expressive of one who had 
 never been engaged in stratagem or deadly conflict with 
 the native red man of the woods. 
 
 He wore a, green hunting frock, the skirt of which 
 reached a little more than half-way from the hip to the 
 knees. To this, unlike most hunting-frocks of that 
 period, there was no cape, with fringe of different col 
 ors but around the neck, along the edges, and around 
 the wrists, was a narrow binding of black, fancifully 
 set off with devices of beads, which, having been'
 
 THE FOREST ROSE. 25 
 
 wrought there by the fair fingers of little Rose Forester, 
 had a value in the eyes of Albert far beyond that of 
 mere ornament. The coat, too, fitted the handsome form 
 of the wearer neatly, and displayed the outlines of his 
 straight, tall symmetrical figure to the best advantage. 
 Around his waist was buckled a dark leather belt, on 
 v.-hich were distinctly worked initials of his name with 
 beads, and by the same fair hand that had placed them 
 on his ooat. A sheath to this belt, on the left side, con 
 tained a long knife, with a buck-horn handle, pro 
 truding ready to the hand. Over the coat, and under 
 the left arm, hung the powder-horn and bullet-pouch. 
 The breast of the coat was made rather full, and con 
 tained a large pocket, in which were carried flint, steel, 
 spunk, jerk, corn-bread, and such other little notions 
 as might be found useful in case the young man should 
 take a fancy to camp in the woods a thing he rarely 
 did. and for reasons already mentioned. Buckskin 
 breeofct" 3 , with leggins and moccasins of the same com 
 pleted his nether dress; and a cap, made from the skin 
 of some wild animal, with the hair on, covered his head. 
 
 Wh:le standing there, lost in a kind of reverie.. Al 
 bert felt a hand upon his shoulder; and, as may natural 
 ly be conjectured, he made a bound forward, clutching 
 his rifle almost convulsively, and, with all the dexterity 
 he was master of, turning it upon his supposed enemy. 
 But the latter had taken care to place the trunk of the 
 beech between himself and the other, so that nothing of 
 his person was visible; and as Albert, more rash than 
 wise, ran around the tree to get a sight of him, he avoid 
 ed being seen, ny moving around the trunk also, in per 
 fect time with the other, as the center of a wheel re 
 volves with the circumference. In vain Albert went fast- 
 er or slowed turned back suddenly, or suddenly darted 
 ahead he could only get a glimpse of the garments of 
 his strange antagonist. What he did see led him to be- 
 iieve it was an Indian; for he appeared to be covered
 
 25 THE FOREST ROSE. 
 
 with untanned skins, worn with their hair outside. A.t 
 length, wearied with his attempts to get a full view of 
 the stranger. Albert poised his rifle, and commenced 
 backing slcwly toward a large ash. Just as he reached it 
 he saw what he fancied the head of the other protruding 
 beyond the tree, as if to get a glance at his own position; 
 and, already to take advantage rf the least thing in his 
 favor, he fired on the instant. 
 
 But instead of a uroan, as he had expected, a low, 
 quiet laugh Mas the response to his skill as a marksman. 
 The next moment the stranger deliberately stepped from 
 behind the tree, and holding his cap in his hand, pointed 
 to the bullet-hole in the crown, and said, with a laugh: 
 
 ''Young man, you're some at a shot; but you've got 
 a heap to larn afora you git to be master o' the woods." 
 
 The speaker was a large, muscular, bony-framed man. 
 from thirty to fi/e-and-thirtj years of age. He was some 
 two inches taller than our hero, being not less than six 
 *eet in height, and of a build which, without being in the 
 least symmetrical, gave indications of great physcal 
 strength and considerable activity. His shoulders were 
 board and a little rounded so that his head was thrown 
 forward beyond th- line of the perpendicular. His arms 
 and legs were rather long for beauty; but the latter were 
 none too long for service, as on more than one occasion 
 they had demonstrated to his satisfaction, when a pant 
 ing and blood thirsty foe was in pursuit. His skin, nat 
 urally dark, nad been so tanned by the constant expo 
 sure, as to give it hue not much removed from that of a 
 native Indian when seen without paint. His features 
 were bold and coarse. The face was long and rather 
 thin, with a large nose, and prominent cheek bones. His 
 hair and eyes were black the latter rather small, keen, 
 and intelligent. The whole countenance had a singular 
 mixture of frankness, deceit, good nature, and ferocity; 
 and these conflicting expressions clearly indicated his 
 character the good prevailing toward his friends the 
 bad toward his foes. His attachments were strong and
 
 THE FOREST ROSE. 27 
 
 lasting, and his dislikes were bitter and vindictive the 
 former belong to his own race or color, which vvas 
 white the latter to hi& mortal foe, the red man, to 
 whom he was never known to show mercy. 
 
 The custom of this singular personage was in keep 
 ing with his peculiarities being a mixture of the whites 
 and savages. Ho wore a hunting frock of coarse stuff, 
 with trimmings of wampum, and sleeves of panther skin, 
 with the hair outside tKose which originally belonged 
 to it having evidently been worn out, and these coarsely 
 sewed on as substitutes Around his waist was a wam 
 pum belt, through a couple of slits in which were stuck 
 a knife and t.Le handle of a tomahawk the steel in both 
 bases being bire. To this belt, also, were attached sev 
 eral Indian scalps trophies of his victory over his mor 
 tal foe. His logs were encased in skins, rudely sewed to 
 gether, with the hair outside; and on his feet he wore 
 the usual moccasin of the hunter. The only parts of his 
 person which were completely bare were his hands, face, 
 and neck, a portion of his breast, from which the coat 
 was thrown bask, as if for greater freedom and expan 
 sion. There was apparently little in his appearance pre 
 possessing or attractive; but no sooner did young May- 
 wood hear his voice, and get a distinct view of his per 
 son, than he sprang forward, with hand extended, ex 
 claim: ng: 
 
 "Why, Lewis Wetzel, who in the deuce could think 
 of its being you 1 I was certain some painted scoundrel 
 of the woods was after my scalp " 
 
 "You put it in a powerful unsafe place, then." ob 
 served the other, giving the young man a good-natured 
 grip with his horny hand "A powerful unsafe place, I 
 
 tell ye leanirg up aein that tree thar, with all the 
 
 idees inside ont'c, traveling the Lord knows whar. Why, 
 o.f you'd bin a red nigger now, I'd bin as sartin to hev 
 had that thar top-knot hangin' to my girdle afore this, 
 as I am to he/ a hole through this here wild-cat," point- 
 ing to hid cap, whi^h was little more than the skin of one
 
 28 THE FOREST ROSE. 
 
 of these animals, stuffed to resemble life, with an open 
 ing in the lower side just large enough, and deep enough 
 to admit the owner's head a few inches. "It won't do, 
 lad It won't do," he continued, reprovingly. "Ef all 
 I've told ye, and showed ye, only comes to this, it 'ud be 
 best you didn't know nothiti,' and then maybe you'd hev 
 sense enough to stick to the settlements. You may shoot 
 well, bet you're powerful near-sighted, and hard 'o 
 hearin', whei- tha's danger about." 
 
 "But I was not dreaming of a surprise : " returned 
 Albert, ''and so of course was not on my guard." 
 
 "No, you warn't dreamin' of a surprise, maybe but 
 you wac o' suinthin' else which I toll ye, Albert, won't 
 do in the .woods. Now I seed you for ten minute? afore I 
 touched ye; ;md half o' that time I had Kill-nigger here 
 (holding up a long, beautiful rifle) bearin' right on ye, 
 afore I could see your face. 'Spose now I'd bin a Shaw- 
 nee, arter scalps or you'd a bin one o' them animals 
 yourself why. you'd a bin cold meat long afore this." 
 
 "But how ha.ppened you to find me, friend Wetsel?" 
 
 "Why. partly in the way o' business, and partly by 
 way o' accident. I's ft shapin my tracks over this a-\vay, 
 when, at Ooonav Creek, 'bout five mile off, I fell on to the 
 trail of a small party of the inimy; and I followed on in 
 the hopes o' gitting a chance to raise thar hair; but so 
 fur I've been disappointed. About two hundred yards 
 from here I lost thar trail; and while hunting for it I 
 spied you; and makin' you out to be Albert May wood, I 
 thought I'd just: drop down and take you along arter 
 Id had a HUle sport first bein' as how the trail leads 
 \our way." 
 
 'My way' Good heavens! what do you men?" oriert 
 Albert, in alarm, seizing an arm of the other, and look 
 ing earnestly into his face. 
 
 Why, it's jest so, and thar arn't no use to deny it," 
 replied "VVetzel, cooly. "I've follered the varmints from 
 Coony Creek, as I said afore, and they've come straight 
 iiere; and if they've gone straight on they'll not pass far
 
 THE FOREST ROSE. 29 
 
 from your house, one side or t'other." 
 
 "By heavens! then let us follow them with all 
 haste!" cried Albert, greatly excited. "Something tells 
 me they have gone down to murder our family. Oh, Cod! 
 if such be the case I shall go mad! Come, come we 
 mvst not stand idle here, and our friends in danger! Lead 
 the way, Lewis lead the way quick, in the name of 
 humanity!" 
 
 The other immediately set off on one of those pecu 
 liar Indian lopes, for which he was remarkable; and 
 which, though he did not appear to run fast, required all 
 the cthoi's agility to keep him company. On reaching 
 the spot where the trail was broken the two hunters 
 commenced an eager search for it. The cause of its be 
 ing broken was apparent at a single glance to one as 
 \voll skilled in Indian stratagem as Lewis Wetzel. A 
 long grapevine hung suspended from a large oak; and it 
 was evident that the savages, either knowing they were, 
 or fearing they might be pursued, had each in turn used 
 this as a swing to set themselves several feet in advance, 
 without leaving the print of a moccasin upon the earth. 
 A.I the orestrit party had to do, therefore, was to beat 
 around a circle of less than fifty feet in diameter till 
 they found it. 
 
 With men as eager on the search as were our hun 
 ters, this did not occupy many minutes, and Wetzel soon 
 exclaimed: 
 
 "Here it is. as I'm a white gintleman, and the dev 
 ils head off jest as I feared." 
 
 "On, then, in the name of God," cried young May- 
 wood, almost wild with excitement. "There is no need 
 of our following the trail any longer, since its direction 
 is so clearly indicated. On, on to the cabin in all haste, 
 and God send we may be in time to protect its inmates!" 
 
 Both started off again at the same rapid pace; and 
 though difficult to hold conversation, a short dialogue 
 was maintained between the parties.
 
 30 THE FOREST ROSE. 
 
 "I have been fearful of this for the last twenty-four 
 hours " pursued Albert, soliloquizing aloud, as much as 
 addressing the other. 
 
 "Why so?" Asked Wetzel in some surprise, partly 
 turning his head, for he was somewhat in advance, but 
 without ir. the least slackening his speed. "How could 
 you be fearful of a thing you didn't know nothin' about?" 
 
 ' In the first place, I had a presentiment of It." 
 
 'A what." demanded the other. 
 
 "A presentiment." 
 
 "What's that?" 
 
 "A forewarning of the mind a dread of a calamity 
 that comes over one with almost the power of reality." 
 
 "Yes. yes I've got the idee now, clar as a niggar's 
 trail what runs rough-shod! Go ahead." 
 
 "I say, in the first place, I had a presentiment, 
 which lasted me all yesterday, so as to destroy my pas 
 sion for hunting: and on conversing with little Rose in 
 the evening I learned there had been a stranger to the 
 cabin during the day, whose appearance and actions, as 
 described by her, led me to think him a renegade, act 
 ing as a spy for the Indians; and this morning I set 
 off on his trail, which I followed to the spot where you 
 found me." 
 
 "I'll bet ten scalps to a pint of whisky," returned 
 the other, "that the same chap you've trailed is in this 
 here party; for thar't a moccasin among 'em as toes 
 out-^rd, a thing a native don't never do." 
 
 "And how many do you suppose there are in this 
 par'v?" inquired Albert. 
 
 "I mode out four three Injins and this other devil." 
 
 'Then I have hope," said Albert, "for the party be 
 ing small, they would hardly venture an attack in broad 
 daylight." 
 
 The conversation ended here, but the hunters still 
 pursued their way with unabated zeal, and at the same 
 rapid pace.
 
 THE FOREST ROSE. 31 
 
 Aboul a mile from where they set out, the ground, 
 which had thus far been level as a floor, gradually be 
 came rough, broken and hilly, so that tLeir speed was 
 somewhat impaired. Still their progress was by no means 
 slow; and in a little over an hour, all panting from fa 
 tigue, rbey ascended the hill whereon Albert and Rose 
 had met the previous evening, and which, as the reader 
 will remomber, commanded a view of the valley in 
 \\hich Captain Maywood had located his dwelling. 
 
 As the two hunters burst through the bushes simul 
 taneously to the clearing, where there was nothing to 
 obstruct the vision, both uttered exclamations of horror 
 at the same moment; and, reeling like a drunken man, 
 Albert staggered against Wetzel, who, catching him in 
 his hugp arms, gave a friendly support to his half- 
 fainting form. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 The Living and the Dead. 
 
 The sight which greeted Albert, on emerging from 
 the forest to the clearing, was one well calculated to 
 affect him seriously, evep had he been an entire stranger, 
 with no interest in the scene before him beyond the 
 natural sympathy which one human being feels for an 
 other when overtaken by some awful, heart-rendering 
 calamity; but with one so deeply connected with what 
 he now beheld, it was a sight to ireeze his blood and de 
 prive his limbs of power to support him. The cabin and 
 the barn were heaps of smoking ruins, and lying in front 
 of the former, scalpless and gory, he could distinguish 
 two forms, which he at once recognized as his father and 
 brother. The sight sickened and made him faint; and 
 for a couple of minutes he reclined in the arms of Wet- 
 zol, who gazed gloomily upon the scene before him, but 
 without uttering a single word. 
 
 Albert was the first to speak. Starting upright 
 with a sort of spasmodic effort, he stretched his hands
 
 22 THE FOREST ROSE. 
 
 before him, and in a voice that seemed to issue from 
 the very depths of his soul, ejaculated: 
 
 "Oh, God! my presentiment is realized and all I 
 love on earth are murdered!" 
 
 Saying this., he bowed his head in bis hands, and 
 sank down upon the earth , as one who could no longer 
 endure the sight and the terrible agony it caused. 
 
 Wetzel drew his rough hand hastily across his 
 eyes, and then, with a rude attempt at consolation, said: 
 
 "Don't give up everything afore you're sartin, 
 Master Alnert. it's may be not so bad as it looks; and 
 it's not onlikely these here hell-hounds hev took some 
 prisoners and the women may be livin'. Come, cheer 
 up! a T id let's go and see." 
 
 "It is possible!" cried Albert, wildly, springing to 
 hip feat, as a ray of hope flashed through his mind that 
 his mother and sister, and last, though by no means 
 least, his Forest Rose, might have been spared and taken 
 awa} r captives. "It is possible you are right, Lewis, but 
 we will soon know; and if wrong in your conjecture, I 
 have but one favor to ask." 
 
 "What's that?" inquired the other, as the two start 
 ed down the hill together. 
 
 "That you will turn Indian fcr the once, and send 
 my spiiit after theirs." 
 
 "What!" cried the other, with flashing eyes, 
 "you'd die without revenge on these here imps of Satin?" 
 
 "No, no. Lewis I had forgotten that. Yes, I see 
 I must live to avenge my murdered friends." 
 
 'In course you must, lad in course you must; 
 and count on me to help ye; and here's my hand, Mas 
 ter Albert, with my honor pledged, that not a single one 
 of all the cusses shall escape to tell thar doin's." 
 
 "So help me heaven!" cried Albert, seizing the ex 
 tended hand of the hunter; "I swear to pursue them, 
 without mercy, till either they or I have ceased to exist." 
 
 By this time the party had reached the foot of the
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 33 
 
 hill; and ascending the knoll, Albert came upon the 
 bloody remains of his father. He was lying on his 
 face, deo,d, with the scalp torn from his head, present 
 ing a horrible spectacle. On turning him over it was 
 found a bullet had penetrated bis heart doubtless sped 
 from some covert foe as he was leaving his dwelling. 
 
 As Albert gazed upon his mangled remains, and 
 remembered the last conversation they had held, to 
 gether Ihe evening previous, he could not avoid the ex 
 clamation: 
 
 'Alas, dear father, thou art the victim to misplaced 
 confidence' We parted ^almost in anger but God for 
 give thee all thy faults, as I do;' and he turned away, 
 with ? burst of grief, only to let his eyes fall upon the 
 gory corpse of his brother, who had also been shot and 
 scalped. 
 
 This last sight seemed to unnerve him; and sinking 
 down upon the earth he took the cold hand of the dead in 
 his own. and gave way to a paroxysm of sorrow and 
 lamentation. 
 
 "I can go no further," he said to Wetzel, who stood 
 bv his side, gazing upon him compassionately neither, 
 as it would seem, from some secret dread of finding their 
 worst fears confirmed, having as yet ventured to search 
 among the smoking ruins for the remains of others of the 
 family. ' 1 CMI go no further; I can bear to see no more; 
 and vet I am in an agony of suspense. Go you, my 
 friend look among the smoking pile, and tell me what 
 you POO." 
 
 And as the other turned away, he continued in a 
 kind of soliloquy: 
 
 "Oh, ray mother! rnv sister! and little Rose! 
 where are you now? on earth or in heaven? Oh. God! 
 support me to learn their fate!" and dropping the cold 
 hand of his. brother, he again covered his face, and 
 rooked to and fro, in agony of grief beyond the power 
 of language to e-xpress.
 
 34 
 
 In a few minutes Wetzel returned and stood silently 
 by his side, his coarse, weather-beaten features wearing 
 an expression of heavy gloom and heart-felt compas.- 
 sion. For several moments young Maywood did not ap 
 pear to notice him, but kept rocking to and fro, and 
 moaning piteously. Then suddenly looking up, he ex 
 claimed* 
 
 "Well! well! well! speak are they there?" 
 
 "Pe a man," returned the other, evasively, "and 
 come with me and get your revenge." 
 
 "But you did not answer me," cried the other, 
 springing to his feet, seizing Wetzel by the arm, and look 
 ing wildlv into his face. "You did not answer me. Yet 
 I am answered by your evasion. All gone all murdered 
 oh, my lod' my f3od!'' 
 
 "I don't think all be gone," rejoined the other. 
 
 "Ha! say you so? Who has escaped?" 
 
 "Can't say; but come here and look for yourself;" 
 and Wetzel led Albert to the smoking cabin, and pointed 
 among the charred and burning logs to a couple of hu 
 man bodies that lay side by side near the center of the 
 space that had been occupied by the dwelling. 
 
 "My mother and sister I" groaned the young man, 
 again lowering his eyes and shuddering. 
 
 Then looking up suddenly, he added: 
 
 "Put, Rose! Rose! where is she? I have seen 
 nothing of her!" 
 
 "I'm in hopes she's escaped," said Wetzel. 
 
 "God be praised! Oh. God be praised! Quick my 
 friend! quick the trail the trail!" 
 
 The other sprang down the knoll, near the creek, 
 and the next minute his voice was heard exclaiming: 
 
 "It's here! it's here! The varmints have gone down 
 stream." 
 
 "Well, well but what of Rose!" 
 
 "I don't see nothing of yes, here's a white gal's 
 mark, as I'm a gintleman."
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 35 
 
 Albert uttered a cry of joy and rushed to the spot. 
 
 "Where? where?" he eagerly demanded, examining 
 the ground. "Ah, I see it now! Yes, you are right; 
 these are her foot -prints and she is a prisoner. Come, 
 Jet us away to her rescue!" 
 
 "But the dead ?" hesitated the other. 
 
 'Ah! yes. I understand.'' replied the young man, 
 solemnly; "we cannot leave them thus though we have 
 no time to spare from the living. Ha! yonder I see a 
 spade that has escaped the general wreck! With this 
 we must dig a grave and bury them." 
 
 "It'U be too hard on your narves, lad let me do the 
 burying business," returned the other, considerately. 
 
 "No! there is no time to spare, Wetzel. If you will 
 be kind enough to bring down the bodies, I will throw 
 out the earth here;" and without waiting a reply Albert 
 stuck his spade into the ground where he stood, and pro 
 ceeded- to dig a grave, with the same eagerness he would 
 have raised the earth from the body of a buried comrade, 
 in whum the 3park of life was supposed to be yet linger 
 ing. 
 
 But his mind was a sort of chaos, and distracted be 
 tween the living and the dead. He knew that all his 
 family father, mother, brother, and sister had been 
 murdered, and ..hat he was now at work upon their tomb. 
 Yet somehow it seemed to him he could not realize the 
 awful calamity; for one had escaped; and in that one his 
 foul was centered, and all his thoughts bound up. He 
 loved nis parents ; his brother, and sister but, as we have 
 before shown, he loved Rose more than all. Had she fal 
 len, as he at r'irst believed, life would indeed have been 
 i blank; but she had escaped, and there was something 
 for him to live for yet. He deeply grieved for his fam 
 ily but his thoughts were divided between the living 
 and the dead and thus the blow was softened of its 
 crushing force, and he was able to bear up under it. All 
 apparent weaV.noss and irresolution had left him, and his
 
 36 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 features had assumed the severe expression of stern re 
 solve. For ten minutes he labored with the spade as a 
 man whose life depended upon his exertions; and by that 
 time an excavation was made large enough to contain the 
 bodies which Wetzel had already brought to the spot. 
 
 "Now go!" said ihe latter as Albert leaped from, the 
 hole. "Go 1 it's too much for you I know it is and I'll 
 put the bodies in and kiver 'em up decent." 
 
 "Mo." answered Albert, sadly; "I should never for 
 give myself were I to shrink from performing this last 
 sad duty. I feel strangely, Wetzel; my head feels light; 
 but my nerves are steady: and therefore I will not turn 
 from the solemn task." 
 
 The tv/o hunters then proceeded to raise the dead, 
 slowly and solemnly, one at a time, and place them, side 
 by side, uncoffinod. in the rude grave. This done, both 
 uncovered their heads, and standing on the brink of the 
 last earthly home cf those wbo had been all suddenly 
 summoned to judgment, gazed solemnly down upon Lhefr 
 mortal remains. 
 
 "Alas!" groaned Albert, making a great effort to 
 be calm, but unable to subdue his emotions, bursting in 
 to tears. "Alas! here lie nearly all my friends, in a 
 bloody grave, with no chaplain nigh to say the last sad 
 rites that belong to the dead. Oh! my dear mother, and 
 father and 1-rother, and sister! must I then bid you all 
 farev-ell so soon, to behold you no more on earth! Oh! it 
 rends my heart and overwhelms me with sorrow." 
 
 "Come," whispered Wetzel, "we can't benefit the 
 dead, and surely the livin' hev got a claim on us." 
 
 ''Right, my friend!" cried Albert, starting at the 
 thought. "Poor little Rose is even now perhaps calling 
 on me to protect her. Farewell!' 1 he said, waving his 
 hand mournfully over the grave and turning away. "Fare 
 well, all' God rest your souls in peace!" 
 
 Wetzel seized the spade; and as Albert stepped aside 
 to give vent to his grief he threw the loose earth upon 
 the mangled bodies; and in a minute more they were for-
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 37 
 
 ever buried from human observation. Then touching the 
 other on the shoulder, he pointed to the trail, clasped his 
 rifle firmly, and said, in a low, firm tone: 
 
 "Come!" 
 
 Albert cast an eager, anxious look around him, and 
 perceiving that the grave was covered, he approached it, 
 and kneeling upon the soft, loose earth silently prayed to 
 the great Author of all for peace to the souls of the de 
 parted, for strength to bear up under his affliction, and 
 for success to crown his efforts in rescuing her he loved 
 from the bloody hands of those who had murdered his 
 relatives This over, he sprang to his feet, and seizing 
 his rifle, rushed into the thicket, where he was instantly 
 joined by Wet/el. 
 
 The trail here was broad and open, as if the enemy 
 had left it so intentionally; and after pursuing it a short 
 time through the thick brushwood which for a consider 
 able distance lined the banks of the little stream that ran 
 murmuring by with its pure forest song, as if no sounds 
 hut those of gent'e harmony had ever disturbed its toli- 
 tude, the old hunter suddenly came to a halt, much to the 
 surprise of his companion, who, pressing eagerly after, 
 was thus brought forcibly in contact with him. 
 
 What now?' demanded Albert, impatiently for his 
 thoughts were all with Rose 
 
 "Hist !' said the other. "Speak lower, or you'll nev 
 er larn to make a woodsman fit to trail In j ens. To tell 
 the honest truth, I don't like this here trail it's got too 
 poker'sh to suit an old hunter like me." 
 
 "Wnat do you see wrong?" 
 
 "Why, the red-skins hain't taken no pains to conceal 
 the way they've traveled; and that arn't Injen, unless 
 they want to bo followed, and then it's jest Injen, cuss 
 'em! and nothing else. Now the varmints knew well 
 enough they did't kill all your family for they've" seen 
 your trail leadin'off from the house, you may depind 
 und by that they know'd you'd follered off that thar 
 white devil, and in course that some time you'd come
 
 38 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 back, and findin' all your family killed, 'cept one, that 
 you'u naterly take off arter her; and so they've left this 
 here track open a purpose; and you may depend they've 
 got an ambush down here somewhars, and are making 
 desperate calkilations on geitin' your scalp. D'ye under 
 stand now ? " 
 
 "I do," replied Albert. "But what is to be done? 
 We can't, remain here, and of course you don't think of 
 giving up the pursuit." 
 
 "Give up thunder!" replied the other. "See here, 
 young man, you've heerd me pledge my honor on'L that 
 I'd not. rest til 1 e- r ery hound on 'em was dead; and ef you 
 (suspicion my oath or honor, you'll give a mortal offense, 
 and make me \OI\T inemy instead o' your friend " 
 
 "I crave your pardon!" returned Albert. "I meant 
 not to doubt your word or your honor in the least. I look 
 it for granted we could not give up the pursuit, and so 
 asked what we wore to do." 
 
 "Well, that's all right, that's all right," replied the 
 other, ail traces of angor disappearing. "I see you didn't 
 mean nothing' offensive, and I oaghten't to tho't so, be 
 ing's you're half dead about your folks, and this other 
 little gal. Now I've been arter the Injuns purty much all 
 my life so that this may be said to be my nat.eral voca 
 tion and I know thar tricks jest as well as I know \vaar 
 Killnigg.er's going to when I pint her; and so ef they 
 thinks ?.s how they i;an circumvent me, let 'em think so 
 i nd be ! thars no dou&t in my mind but they'll diskiver 
 thar mistako jest about the time they'll miss their cussed 
 lop-knots. Tsow I'll tell you what we ve got to do; we've 
 got to leave this here trail, and make a circuit and coma 
 in upon't again somewhar lower down that is ef we can 
 and ef we can't, we'll know purty sartin we've left the 
 red niggers above." 
 
 "Jiut this will delay us from finding Rose," said Al 
 bert, hastily, to whom every moment lost seemed an age. 
 
 And wouldn't a rifle-bullet do as much?'' quiotly 
 queried the other. "I tell you what 'tis, young man
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 39 
 
 you've got a heap to larn yet about the woods and In.'ens, 
 of you tiiink anything can bo dene by hurrying in a sar- 
 C'jnistanoe like this. We've got to take our time, and no 
 mistake; and we nrn't to let the devils know we're arter 
 'em or we shall lose all. So come, let's make a sarcumlo- 
 cation, as the chaps in the settlements say." 
 
 As he spoke Wetzel turned off from the trail, and 
 striking across the thicket ascended a hill to the right, 
 and oontimed along its summit for more than half a 
 mile, when he again descended the valley. In this dis 
 tance, short as it was, the nature of the ground changed 
 materially. The valley was still somewhat level, though, 
 it began to grow more uneven; and the swampy thnket. 
 in which our foresters had at first been buried, and 
 wherein Wet^l feared an ambush, had already ceased, 
 and ar almost entirely different under-growth, above 
 which grew a few maples and beeches, over-shadowed 
 the limpid waters of the little stream. A quarter of a 
 mile further on the ground beoame broken and reeky, 
 and the water had a rapid descent for more than a mile, 
 when it again passed over a short level space, and buried 
 .tself in the bosom of the Captina. The place in question, 
 where our two hunters descended to the valley, had not. 
 same advantages for an ambuscade as at the spot where 
 they had Quitted ;*: and moving forward cautiously, look 
 ing keenly at everything that stirred, and listening to 
 ever}' sour?d, they at length reached the creek, without 
 having perceived any traces of the Indians whatever. 
 
 ''Now one thing out o' two is sartin," said Wetzel, 
 in a low guarded tone, peering cautiously around; "ayther 
 those here vagabonds is atween this and whar we turned 
 off o'that trail, or else thev've turned into the creek and 
 *>roke it and then Old Nick himself, unless he seed 'em, 
 couldn't tell which way they've gone. They're cunning, 
 varmints, is these here Injens, I tell you, and no mistake. 
 Now it's perfectly impossible to tell whar they is now. 
 They made a broad trail .so as to be followed, you may 
 depend on that; but for what p-irpose we've got to find
 
 40 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 out. It's likely they've come down so fur, and got into 
 iho stream, and gone back again, and put off t'other 
 way, jest 10 blind us. But I'll soon find out. Do you jes 
 stay right here now, and I'll go up and reconnoitre. E* 
 you hear Kilnigger speak, jest take car' of yourself; for 
 you may depend on'r I'll be number one amongst, the 
 critters, sure." 
 
 "But i will go with you," said Albert, eagerly. "Shall 
 it be said that I stood idle, with Rose in danger, and al 
 lowed another to go forward to her rescue alone? Never, 
 Wetzel, never!" 
 
 "Now this sounds all very brave, and the like, I 
 'spose; but it 'ltd be powerful foolish to put it in prac 
 tice jest at this time. No, no I know what's best; and 
 so do you stay hereabouts, ready to come ef you're want 
 ed. Depind upon it, I'll do my indlvors to disgiver the 
 Tarmints ouietly; and ef I fnd 'era I'll let you know in 
 rome way or other." 
 
 "Put they might tomahawk poor Rose, if she is with 
 them." 
 
 "'fey., and they mought do the same thing ef you was 
 along so wl'at's the odds! N&. ef I fire on 'em at all, 
 it'll hev a good effect -case why thar'll be sartin t.o be 
 one of the red devils less; and only hearing' one gun, and 
 ttinkin' it was the chap they was ambusin' that's you 
 d'ye mind! at least two of the three that's left will set 
 out to chase me. "I'll run. in course -load as I run 
 :>nd I'll lay ein both cold, jest as sure as I'm a white 
 gentleman, and they're the red imps of Satan. Mean 
 while, you can crawl around, pick off t'other skunk, and 
 then we've got 'em safe, and the gal in the bargain. D'ye 
 understand now ?'" 
 
 "Yes go on I will remain here." 
 
 The other moved cautiously forward in the direction 
 of th j sv.amt'y thicket, and in a few minutes he was lost 
 to the eje of young Maywood, who awaited the result of 
 his adventure with all the impatience of a lover over 
 whost. 1 m'stress hung an awful uncertainty. Minute after
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 41 
 
 minute w?nt b>, -mil still no Wctzel made his appearance; . 
 and when a hali' hour had elapsed the suspense to our 
 hero amounted to an agony little short of a new calamity. 
 At last he was just on the point or starting Oi'f in pur 
 suit o? the ether, \\hen Wetzel suddenly emerged from 
 the thicket without any of that caution he had hitherto 
 used 
 
 "Well, what news?" inquired Albert, eagerly. 
 
 "Whv the scamps hev gone, sure enough; but 
 
 which way, the Lord knows better 'an me. I found fhar 
 *rail agin, and tollowed it into the creek jest as I sus 
 pected, ai/d thar's an ind on't." 
 
 "What are we to do then?" 
 
 "Well, I thought as hOAV we'd go down below here a 
 bit, and maybe we may find whar they've come out. Sar- 
 tin we can. of they've come out this here way at all; and 
 ef they haven't, we'll have to take up stream and try 'em 
 that ~.vay; they're orful cunnin'. cusses." 
 
 ' This is vexatious," rejoined Albert, "and harrowing 
 to one's very soul. Alas! alas! poor little Rose! I fear 
 I shall never behold thy sweet countenance again!'' 
 
 Don't vo for to bein' discouraged this airly or. the 
 journey," returned the other; "fir it's likely we'll be days 
 on the sjiroh afore we find 'em more likoly, I may say, 
 nor that we'll find 'em sooner; but patience and perse 
 verance '11 do wonders sometimes. Thar's one consola 
 tion, however, that when \ve do find the scamps, thar'll 
 some of 'em git a taste o' cold lead right sudden, unless 
 they've got sharper eyes and be quicker on the trigger 
 nor we is So, ccme let's be a movin' again for the 
 sun's travelin' wes'ard right smart." 
 
 Albert nec"1od no second invitation to be on the 
 move, and the tv. o ngain set off together at a much fast 
 er pace than heretofore. 
 
 "You keep this side o' the stream, and youi eves 
 right keen, and I'll take t'otter," pursued the (.-Id hunter; 
 and as he spoke ho <?prang across the creek. 
 
 In this manner our two friends followed the creek
 
 42 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 down to where it emptied into the larger one, without 
 discovering a single sign of the broken trail. Then a con 
 sultation was held as to what should be done next. At 
 the precise point where the stream they had followed en 
 tered the Captina, the latter was so shallow along the 
 shore as to permit a person to wade it for a considerable 
 distance; and observing this, a thought struck the old 
 hunter that it might be possible to find the trail at the 
 place where the water became deep. Acting upon this 
 idea, he lert his companion, and went down fctream sev 
 eral rods further. 
 
 The result, was all he cculd have hoped; and a shout 
 of trumph announced his success to Albert, who bounded 
 away to join nim, with an answering cry of delight. The 
 trail was again discovered, and our friends, elated at 
 their good fortune, set off to pursue it, with renewed en 
 ergies and spirits bounding with hope. 
 
 But little effort was now required to keep OP th* 
 track of the enomy; for doubtless feeling secure, they 
 had made no further attempt to conceal their course. But 
 though our friends hurried on, no Indians were brought 
 in sight; and the sun went down just as they reached the 
 mouth of tho Captina, where it empties into the Ohio. 
 Then the trail showed that the Indians had crossed the 
 stream with their prisoner; and satisfied of this fact, our 
 adventurers secured their powder horns to the rifles, and 
 holding the latter above their heads dropped quietly into 
 the water and swam across. 
 
 On reaching the other shore they again found the 
 trail, which they hastily followed for something more 
 ihan a mile; but darkness coming on. they thought it the 
 v,*isest course to encamp where they ware, and renew 
 their pursuit with the first light that would permit them 
 in the morning. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Following the Trail. 
 That ni.^ht \vas a sleepless one to Albert. It was
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 43 
 
 necessary, in order to keep off the wild beats which 
 prowled around, that a small fire should be kindled; but 
 our hunters not knowing in what proximity they might 
 be to the savages they were pursuing, made this in the 
 center of a dense thicket, a small circle of the brush-wood 
 being cut away for the purpose. By this means the light 
 was prevented from reaching beyond the thicket so that 
 it was almost impossible their discovery should be other 
 than accidental. 
 
 Albert now produced what little food he had with 
 him, ;;f .vhich both partook sparingly, reserving at least 
 one-half with which to break their fasts on the mori-ow. 
 This clone, Wc-tzel sat a few minutes before the fire, con 
 versing with nis companion in low, guarded tones; and 
 then, wi'h the readiness of one habituated to the woods, 
 and acciistomed all his life t.o danger, he stretched him 
 self upon the earth, and in less than five minutes was 
 sleeping soundly if, in fact, that sleep can be called 
 pound from which the sleeper is aroused by the least un 
 usual noise 
 
 J'ut Albert, as M e have said before, could not rest. 
 A thousand maddening thoughts were chasing one an 
 other through his brain. He thought of his friends, his 
 relations, those vho were so near and dear to him, but 
 who had suddenly been summoned to another world by 
 the murderous weapons of the savages. All, all were 
 gone butchered in cold blood; and to his excited fancy, 
 it seemed as if thcv came up before him, one by one, and 
 called on him to avenge them on their inhuman destroy 
 ers. Then the thoi glit of Rose or rather he reverted to 
 her distinctly for in fact she was never absent from his 
 thoughts; and he pondered over her awful condition, 
 wondered -where she was, and strove to imagine vhat 
 must l>e her tvelings. She had doubtless seen her friends 
 murdered, her home destroyed, and was now a captive 
 herself, in barbarous hands reserved, it might ha for 
 even a worse fate than those who had gone to their last 
 account. And would she not think of him she lo'^d-p
 
 44 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 who was even now on his way to her rescue to whom 
 ter heart and hand were pledged and mourn him as one 
 lost to her forever? Perhaps she might even now be suf 
 fering some barbarous treatment, and vainly calling on 
 him *.o protect her upon him whose heart's blood would 
 readily be spilt in her defense but who, under the pres 
 ent circumstances, and at the present time, could render 
 her u r , aid whatever. 
 
 As these thoughts rushed through the mind of Al 
 bert, he felt he could not endure the suspense of waiting 
 tor dayiight, which would only come after the lapse of 
 many hours, each one of which to him now seemed an 
 age of torture; and he arose from his sitting posture, and 
 walked to anri fro before the fire, occasionally glancing 
 at his companion, and envying his sleep, yet wondering 
 how he could pass to forgetfulness under such painful 
 and exciting civciiinstances and immediately after hav 
 ing witnessed such horrble events. But he overlooked 
 .he fact that Wetzel had rot the same interest in the 
 bloocJ tragedy that he had himself for no relatives of his 
 hao fallen there, and that besides, such and similiar 
 scenes were with him of every day occurrence, and con 
 stant intercourse with acts of violence blunts the sensi 
 bilities. 
 
 After pacing back and forth some half an hour, in. 
 a. state of mind easier to be conceived than described, Al 
 bert began to part the bushes, with the intention of pass 
 ing out of the thicket. Scarcely had he touched them for 
 this purpose when Wetzel sprang into a sitting posture, 
 and, with the force of habit, laid his hand upon his rifle, 
 v/h?le he glanced hurriedly around him. 
 
 What is it?" he asked, seeing all was quiet, and no 
 cause for alarm "What was it as woke me so sudden?" 
 'I think you haA'e been dreaming," replied Aloert; 
 "for T have heard no noise, other than the distant howl 
 of a pack of wolves, and what I made myself in stirring 
 the bushes here." 
 
 That's it," rejoined Wetzel, "that's jest it, young
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 45 
 
 man, and nothin' else. I'm al'ays ready to fight Tnjens, 
 awake or asleep: and when I heard you stir them thar 
 bushes, I must hev thought one of the red hellions war 
 close by. Hope I didn't skoer ye much, Master Albert; 
 good night;" and thus, with a sort of apology, as it were, 
 ior h?ving been disturbed himself; this remarkable hunt 
 er fell back to his place on the ground, and the next 
 minute was in the lai;d of dreams. 
 
 Albert now gave up his intention of leaving the 
 thicket, and stretching himself upon the earth, he strove, 
 with right good will, to initate his sleeping companion, 
 well knowing how necessary to his movements on the 
 morrow, was a present rest to both body and mind. But 
 his etforts ro sleep were fruitless; and he rolled to and 
 fro, got up and stirred the fire, threw on new fuel, -jc- 
 tasionally walked back and forth; and thus he passed 
 the night, hailing the first streak of morn with all the 
 gloomy delight that may be imagined of one in his situa 
 tion. 
 
 The morning broke bright and clear, and the sun 
 rose with a golden halo, as beautiful as thougi' he were 
 to shine upon an eternal paradise, instead of upon a 
 world of sin, sorrow, lamentation, and woe. Liong before 
 he showed bis welcome visage over the hills, however, 
 Wetzel and his companion were stirring; and first look 
 ing carefully to their weapons, and repriming their 
 rifles, lest the heavy dew had too much dampened the 
 powder, tney made a frugal breakfast on the remaining 
 stock of food, and by the time it was light enough to gee, 
 both were prepared to set out in pursuit of the foe. 
 
 The fire of the night had completely dried their gar 
 ments; but the bushes were so loaded with dew. that on 
 coming out of the thicket, they found themselves nearly 
 as wet as before. But the weather was comfortably 
 wa^m though, had it been otherwise, this would have 
 been a matter of little or no consequence to men bent on 
 so stern an errand as was their's. On coming out of cue 
 thicket into the more open wood, they again found the
 
 46 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 trail without difficulty, and set forward with renewed 
 energy. As the sun rose above the trees, and poured his 
 golden flood through their dew-gemmed branches, and 
 kissed the bright flowers and blossoms, and made they 
 lay Dare their merry hearts, as it were to his coming 
 and as a thousand birds in concert sung their morning 
 hymns, in strains of matchless melody Albert for a mo 
 ment felt something like a softening ray penetrate his 
 own gloomy soul; and he could not but picture to him 
 self how delightful would have been this scene to him, 
 had he witnessed it the morning before, when all his 
 friends were well, and enjoying the blessings of rosy 
 health. Pur, now, alas! a weight of woe lay upon his 
 heart, and nothing in nature, hoAvever beautiful or en 
 chanting, could awaken a single emotion of pleasure; 
 though it would not be too much to say, perhaps, that he 
 felt the presence of the All-pervading Spirit, and that it 
 calmed in some measure the tempest within, and aided to 
 revive a nope, which is to the mental, what heaven's 
 great luminary is to the natural world, and without 
 whi-ih the soul of a man would be buried in a rayless 
 night or gloom Nor was the morning, with its loveliness, 
 and "balmy breath," without its effect on Wetzel, who af 
 ter pushing on some time in silence, suddenly looked up 
 and said: 
 
 "Well, this help's a powerful nice day to begin with, 
 and makes one feel as if he could foller them vagabonds 
 a'most as much for pleasure as for revenge But the cuss 
 es is travelin' fast, and we haint got no time to lose." 
 
 "Ai:d how do you know they are traveling fast? ' in 
 quired Albert. 
 
 "Know it by the tracks. Don't you see, row, that them 
 steps is wide apart and little Rose's, here, oneommon so 
 for a female \voman but that for all, it takes threo of 
 hern to make tvf- of thar's, D'ye understand now?" 
 
 .\h! yes." sighed Albert, "I understand. Alas! poor 
 Rose!" 
 
 "Hope they won't tire the gal out, and tomahawk
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 47 
 
 iier!" observed the other. 
 
 "God forbid " exclaimed Albert, almost beside him 
 self with the thought. ' Do you think there is any Jtng- 
 er, Wet/el?" 
 
 "Why, with them cusses, a woman's never safe, in 
 course and sich things hev bin done afore now. Some 
 times, ye see, when they think they're follered, they put 
 ahead like the d 1; and ef they happen to hev prisoners, 
 and they can't keep up, why, sooner nor let 'em go, they 
 drive a hatchet in thar skulls, far off thar scalps, and 
 leave 'em behind to fatten wolves and turkey buzzards 
 on." 
 
 "Good heavens! you alarm me, with the horrible 
 picture you draw." 
 
 "I can't draw pictures," replied the other, taking 
 the matter up literally; "but I can jest tell a backwoods 
 native truth with any white gintleman as ever trod this 
 here 'arth, and sot heel on any red nigger's wind-pipe 
 I can, by !" 
 
 "For heaven's sake! my friends, let us hurry for 
 ward; for somehow I begin to anticipate the worst." 
 
 'well, taint best to git skeerified, Master Albert 
 for that won't help things a bit. "I've bin in a good many 
 tight places myself; and amongst other things, I've 
 lamed its best not to cry afore you're hurt. It's nateral 
 for one to go to trouble, I'll allow; but I've always found 
 it best to let trouble come to me; for it al'ays comes as 
 soon as I want to see it. But about pushing ahead! I 
 don't see no objections to that; so we'll travel jest as 
 fast as sarcumstances will let us." 
 
 The hunters now quickened their pace, and moved 
 with what speed they could through the dense forest, 
 which seemed tc darken at everp step, till it became like 
 twilight, owing to the matted covering of leaves over 
 tead, between which the rays of the sun, now full above 
 the horizon ,were unable to penetrate. The trail of the 
 Indians was now due westward, with little or no devia-
 
 48 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 tion from a straight line which led Wetzel to infer 
 that they were aiming direct for their tribe, or the ren 
 dezvous of some large party already on the 
 war-path, from which they had been sent out as 
 scouto I tins was ;.he case and every circum 
 stance seemed to confirm it, it was necessary 
 to overtake them before they reached the main party; 
 and as Wetzel thought of the possibility of failure, his 
 dark eye grew sullen, a frown gathered on his brow, 
 and his face expressed an anxiety unusual with one 
 so schooled in maintaining, under all circumstances, a 
 sort of equal outward composure. 
 
 This change in his countenance did not escape the 
 anxious eye of his younger companion, who turned to 
 him occasionally with the same feeling of helpless de 
 pendence with which the lost mariner consults the com 
 pass on which his only hope is placed. 
 
 "What is it, Wetzel?' he inquired anxiously. 
 
 The other explained his fears in his own peculiar 
 way; and the effect on the already half-distracted Albert 
 may DP readily imagined. 
 
 'O, God!" he groaned; "poor Rose! what will be 
 come of her? But we must go faster, Wetzel faster! 
 Oh, that I had wings to fly to her aid!" 
 
 "Yes, them 'ud be powerful convenient to all on us 
 in sich a case," replied the other. "But we hain't got 
 wings, ye see; and so we'll hev to do the best we can 
 with our feet; and ontil we can git into a leetle more 
 open wood, I don't see as how we can make much im 
 provement on the rate we're goin'- I tell you they must 
 be travelin' fast for, d'ye mind, we ain't come upon 
 their last night's camp." 
 
 "Say no more!" cried Albert; "say no more, or the 
 thought will drive me mad; and my poor brain aches 
 already." 
 
 Aftor passing through some three or four miles oi 
 this dense, dark forest, which by the way was almost
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 49 
 
 level the ground again became broken, the wood more 
 open and the trees of smaller growth so that occasional 
 ly our friends could get a glimpse of sunshine, and were 
 enabled to increase their speed materially. The sun was 
 now more than an hour above the eastern norizon, and, 
 to the best of his judgment, Wetzel decared they had 
 advanced some five or six miles since leaving their last 
 night's encampment; but what was very singular, in his 
 opinion, they had not yet come upon the encampment of 
 the enemy. 
 
 "By heavens!" lie exclaimed, "I do believe the cusses 
 must hev traveled in the night; and that's powerful sin 
 gular for Injens, onless they knowed, or had strong 
 suspicion, they was followed." 
 
 Our pursuers now came to a steep, rocky hill, re 
 sembling an artificial embankment, with an end, if we 
 may so call it, presented toward them. The trail led 
 directly up this; and on reaching the summit they were 
 surprised to find it a narrow ridge, of not more than a 
 dozen yards in width, which gradually sloped off to its 
 base on either side, and run back a distance of not less 
 than three miles, completely destitute of trees, and only 
 covered with a low, scrubby fern, and some wild flowers 
 and grass. The sides were like the top, covered only 
 with low shrubs; but in the ravines, formed by the hills 
 on either side, tall trees had grown up; their tops ris 
 ing some eight or ten feet above this embankment, 
 with others still behind them, as it were, layer after 
 layer, each one rising higher, as it rose upon the retreat 
 ing hills presented a singular vista, and one both pict 
 uresque and beautiful. That this embankment was ar 
 tificial seemed evident though if so, it was hard to ac 
 count for the huge rocks that lay exposed at fhe point 
 \\here our hunters had ascended, looking as if they had 
 recently been revealed by the washing of the rain. 
 
 Under favorable circumstances Albert would have 
 paused to contemplate the singular scene now presented
 
 50 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 to his view; but in the present instance his mind was too 
 much occupied -with graver matters to think otherwise of 
 it than as a means to accelerate his progress. 
 
 "We can gain on them here," he said, "and it be- 
 hoovps ns to lo our best." 
 
 "That's true," replied his companion; "that's true;" 
 and he immediately started off on his peculiar Indian 
 lope a mode of running in which he was greatly fa 
 vored by his long legs. 
 
 Allert was naturally quick en foot but it made him 
 pant excessively to keep up with Wetzel, who at the end 
 of the embankment (for we must so call the ridge), a 
 distance, as we have said, of three miles, and which 
 was made in less than half an hour showed no more 
 signs of fatigue than a deer a name, in fact, by which 
 he was, even then, designated among the Wyandottes or 
 Hurons the Indian of it being Oughscanoto and which 
 had been fastened upon him on account of his great 
 fleetness not one of the nation ever having been suc 
 cessful in their effort to overtake him when once he had 
 the start. 
 
 The termination or western end of the embankment, 
 wae much like the eastern, save that it descended into a 
 deep ravine .which was neither more nor less than the 
 meeting of the two ravines on either side of the ridge, 
 and \vhicb the latter had made two by separation, as an 
 island divides a stream. Into this ravine our friends 
 entered cautously for it was very dark and gloomy 
 being covered with a thick growth of hemlocks, through 
 which it was with no little dificulty they could force 
 their way. The ground was now descending and moist 
 under their feet; and after having gone some few rods 
 a small rivulet was spied trickling down the hill to the 
 right; and almost at the same moment Wetzel, who was 
 in advance, uttered an exclamation of delight. 
 
 "Here's thar 'campment," he said in an eager, but 
 guarded tone; "and I'm jest as glad to find it as a hun-
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 51 
 
 gry nigger is to eat his dinner. I'd jest like to give a 
 raal Injen whoop now; and if thar's any of the var 
 mints in this quarter to let 'em know we're comin' arter 
 'em, all right and tight, but then I knows it won't do, 
 for it might 'danger the gal and spile our journey." 
 
 "No! no! for heaven's sake, make no useless dem 
 onstration of either delight or disappointment, my 
 friond," responded Albert, hurriedly, as he joined his com 
 panion. 
 
 The last night's camp of the enemy had been found, 
 sure enough; and a few brands of their fire were still 
 burning, around which they had stretched themselves 
 to rest. As Albert came upon the ground where little 
 Rose had probably passed a sleepless night, like him 
 self, he cast around eagerly for the spot, with all the 
 ardent feelings of a lover. But he had not long to 
 search. A stake .driven firmly into the earth at the outer 
 edge of the closed circle ,with the leaves and earth con 
 siderably pressed down around it, gave forth the painful 
 intelligence, not only of the unhappy spot, but of the 
 fact that she had been found. And as if to furnish still 
 further evidence of both, a small piece of ribbon that 
 she had worn in her hair and which had been presented 
 her by Albert, together with a short strip of deer-skin, 
 were found just in the edge of the bushes. Albert seized 
 both eagerly, and with all the wild, frantic devotion of 
 a lover, he pressed the former to his lips a dozen times, 
 repeating the name of her he loved in the most endear 
 ing terms, and then carefully placed it inside his vest 
 ments, next to his heart. A small piece of jerk was also 
 found, which, tearing in half, Wetzel eat one part and 
 handed the other to Albert, who refused it with a jesture 
 of loathing. 
 
 "Well, ef you don't want it I do." said the hunter; 
 and the next moment it had disappeared. 
 
 "Ah! dear Rose, your captors shall pay dearly for 
 this!" said Albert, looking at the stake to which she
 
 52 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 had been bound. 
 
 "We've got to find 'em first," observed the old 
 hunter, "and so let's take a drink here, and be on the 
 move agin." 
 
 After quenching their thirst at the little rivulet, 
 our friends set off again with renewed hope. The trail 
 led down the bed of the ravine; but after pursuing it a 
 short distance a new obstacle presented itself to a hur 
 ried progress. The little rivulet also flowed down the 
 ravine; and in the distance of a quarter of a mile a dozen 
 others joined it; so that it soon formed quite a stream 
 large enough, at all events, to admit of the Indians again 
 Tweaking the trails a precaution they had by no meani 
 neglected. 
 
 "Ten thousand cusses on 'em for vexatious varm 
 ints! ' cried Wetzel, with a degree of passionate impa 
 tience Albert had never before seen him display. "Oh! 
 ef I only had 'em under the muzzle of Killnigger here, it 
 'ud just be a sort o' everlasting satisfaction to blow 'em 
 all to thunder! "Well, well, we must do the best we can 
 under the sarcumstances; but ef ever I do git whar I 
 can draw a b^ad on one on 'em, you may depind on seeing 
 fun, or I'm no gintloman. Now, we'll hev to do jest 
 exactly as we done afore you take one side, and keep 
 your eye skinned, while I take t'other. It's maybe we'll 
 be as lucky as we was afore, and it's maybe not thar's 
 
 no tellin' nothin' about the capryces o' sich a set o' 
 
 vagabonds as them, no how." 
 
 Acting upon Wetzel's suggestion the hunters now 
 divided as before, each taking an opposite side of the 
 stream. Tn this way they followed it for more than a mile 
 without discovering any further traces of the Indians, al 
 though every spot favorable to their coming out of the 
 water had been carefully examined. They now held a 
 short consultation, and resolved to continue on a mile 
 further, and if they still found no signs to retrace their 
 steps and examine carefully all the way back. The bed
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 53 
 
 of the stream, so far, had been hard and rocky; so that 
 it was impossible to tell, by any signs they would have 
 left behind, whether the enemy had followed down it 
 or not; but a mile or so further on the ground changed, 
 became more level, and the bottom of the rivulet, or 
 creek, (for this was one of the head brandies of Will's 
 Creek), grew soft, and then muddy. As soon as he came 
 to this Wetzel examined the bottom closely, for some 
 distance, and then, in his peculiar way, said: 
 
 "You may skin me for a painter Master Albert, ef 
 these here same cussed red-skins haint sarcumvented us 
 
 most powerful they hev, by ! Now, we've had all 
 
 this here tramp for nothin', I'll bet Killnigger again a 
 raccoon skin; and we've got to tramp it all back agin, 
 sure." 
 
 Albert fairly uttered a groan in dismay. 
 
 "By what do you judge?" he asked sadly. 
 
 "Why, ef they'd went along here in this soft bottom 
 some of thar footprints 'ud be stickin' thar yet; but 
 thar aint, as it is, not even a shadder o' one." 
 
 "Ah me!" sighed the other, dejectedly; "I am be 
 ginning to get discouraged." 
 
 'Taint no use. though, for nothin' never comes o' 
 givin' up the chase. Ef it warn't for the gal, I'd look 
 upon all this here as a heap o' fun; but for her sake, I 
 hate to lose time, for fear they'll git her into hands more 
 difficult to git her out on. Howsomever, we've got to go 
 back, and thar's no use o'standin' to think about it. So 
 come, let's trudge!" 
 
 It was with a sinking heart, and feelings too pain 
 ful to be described, that Albert turned to retrace his 
 sters. The day was wasting away, and already the sun 
 was half-way to the meridian ,and they had in reality 
 not got beyond the encampment of the Indians, thus 
 giving the latter several hours the start. Besides, there 
 was no certainty of finding the trail for even hours to 
 -come, if they found it at all; and by that time the sav-
 
 54 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 ages might be secure against so small a foe. And then 
 
 horrble thought! what might be the fate of the being 
 he loved, and the only friend, as it were, now left him 
 upon the wide earth! All these thoughts rushed upon 
 Albert, and he foil a sickening, disheartening enervating 
 sensation come over him; and weak from excitement and 
 loss of rest, it was with the utmost difficulty he could 
 k^ep his feet, and drag himself back to the camp. Nor 
 when he reached there, was there anything to revive his 
 spirits for not a sign of the broken trail had as yet 
 been discovered. It was plain to be seen where it en- 
 tere' 1 the water; but where it had come out was a secret 
 which baffled even the forest wisdom and sagacity of 
 Lewis Wetzel to divine. 
 
 "I own it gits me," said the other, at length. "Yes, 
 I own it gits me. I'm clean used up, sarcuvented,. and 
 no mistake. I hope I may marry a Huron squaw, ef I 
 aint jest as puzzled a white gintleman now as any you 
 could pick up in the old settlements of Kaintucky I am- 
 
 by ! Reckon we'll hev to go down stream again, 
 
 Master Albert, and trust to luck. I don't see no other 
 way; I don't, on the honor o' a white gentleman." 
 
 Alas: then there is no hope!" groaned the despon 
 ding Albert. 
 
 "Well, I can't say that, exactly though it does look 
 sort o' doubious, I hev to acknowledge. But afore we 
 start I'll examine this here trail agin, to be sure thar's 
 no mistake." 
 
 Saying this, Wetzel got down on his hands and knees 
 at the spot where the mocassin prints entered the water; 
 and after loooking long and steadily he arose, and merely 
 bidding his companion await his return, he disappeared 
 into the thicket. Albert, more dead than alive, threw 
 himself down upon the earth, in that peculiar state of 
 mental stupification which makes one perfectly reckless 
 of consequences, and, so he escape his present misery, to 
 care not what follows. In this mood and position he-
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 55 
 
 :had remained some ten or fifteen minutes, when sud 
 denly his ears were saluted with a whoop that made him 
 bound to his feet and clutch his rifle with a nervous 
 grasp. The next moment he heard the low, peculiar 
 laugh of Wetzel; and soon after the old hunter came reel 
 ing through the bushes, holding his sides, and seeming 
 ready to drop to the ground from excess of mirth. 
 
 "In the name of heaven, what is the matter, my 
 friend?" cried Albert, running to him in alarm, and fan 
 cying this singular and untimely levity must proceed 
 from a sudden touch of insanity. "Speak to me, my 
 friend! speak: or I shall so distracted myself.'' 
 
 But the earnest manner of Albert only seemed to in 
 crease the paroxysm; and instead of making him any 
 direct answer, Wetzel laid himself down upon the ground, 
 : and rolled over and over, still laughing in that low, pec 
 uliar strain. Albert was frightened; and while he stood 
 looking on, considering whether it were best to roll his 
 friend into the creek, and give him a good wetting, or 
 take some other means to restore him to his senses, the 
 latter so far recovered as to speak. 
 
 "The fools! the asses!" he said; "we the fools and 
 they the asses ha, ha, ha!" and again he rolled over in 
 a mirthful convulsion. 
 
 "Mad!" cried Albert. "Oh, my God! he is mad." 
 
 "Not a bit on't," rejoined the old hunter, gradually 
 getting calmer "not a bit on't, Master Albert. Do I look 
 like mad, you simpleton, when I'm so tickled I can't 
 stand up? Can a fellow laugh like I've done when he's 
 mad? Not a bit on't." 
 
 "What, in heaven's name, is the matter with you, 
 then?" 
 
 Tickled, that's all tickled a'most to death. O, 
 my sides! You see we've been fooled, and" I've Jest dis 
 Kiverod how. Now, would you b'leve it, only two of 
 them cusses acterly come down to the creek here with 
 the gal; and then instead of going into the! water, they
 
 56 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 only made b'lieve; and taking the gal up in their arms- 
 they made the tracks back'ard, cl'ar up to the camp; and 
 then all did the same cl'ar up to the 'bankment, whar 
 they jumped one side and started a new trail." 
 
 You found the trail, then?" inquired Albert joy 
 fully. 
 
 "In course I has in course; and I found, too, whar 
 one o' the cusses, in makin' a long step back'ard, stepped 
 on a greasy place and slipped down in the mud; and I 
 jest got a idee how foolish he looked gittin' up, and it 
 sot me to laughin' as ef I'd never seen nothin' afore to 
 tickle me Hut it's over now the trail's found ant! 
 I'm the white gintleman as can lick any six red niggers 
 that ever drawed breath." 
 
 Having recovered the trail, our friends now set off 
 in fine spirits, compared to what had bean their feelings 
 for the last few hours. Considerable delay had been 
 occasioned; but as if to compensate for it the present 
 trail was broad and open, and could be followed rapidly 
 the savages doubtless feeling satisfied that enough had 
 been done to completely baffle their pursurers, should ' 
 they have any. Our friends now gained upon the foe 
 perceptibly who, under a feeling of security, most prob 
 ably, had slackened his pace materially, as could be dis 
 cerned by closely noting Ihe steps, and their distance 
 apart, as had been done on a previous occasion. 
 
 Toward night it became certain to our hunters, by 
 igns unmistakable, that the Indians could not be far in 
 advance; and in consequence they displayed the utmost 
 caution in all their movements. They had by this time 
 reached a large tributary of AVill's Creek; and." the trail 
 led along its banks, through a dense, dark forest, where 
 nothing could be seen fifty yards in advance of the eye. 
 It now became evident that the Indans would encamp in 
 the vicinity; and fearing to follow too close upon them, 
 it was agreed between our friends that they should re 
 main where they were till night, and then keep along :
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 57 
 
 the bank of the creek till they saw the light of their 
 camp fire, so sanguine were they that the party sought 
 
 could not be far off. This plan they put in practice 
 resting themselves upon the ground till the sun had fair 
 ly set by which time it was so dark under the matted 
 
 i foliage of the trees that objects a dozen feet from the eye 
 grew misty and indistinct, and ten minutes later could 
 : not be discerned at all. 
 
 The hunters now set forward again Wetzel, as us- 
 . ual, taking the lead, but treading the earth so lightly 
 as not to make the least sound- In this way he had ad 
 vanced something like a mile, with Albert close behind, 
 stepping in his very tracks, when all at once he stopped 
 and taking the other by the arm, whispered: 
 
 "Hist! we've got 'em. Don't make no noise, on 
 your life. Yonder I can see the fire-light." 
 
 Albert looked through a little opening there was be- 
 : fore him, and at a distance of not more than a hundred 
 yards beheld the ruddy light of the fire upon the dark 
 green leaves and boughs of the trees above it the fire 
 itself, and those around it, being concealed from his view 
 ' by a little hillock that intervened, 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Camp of the Enemy. 
 
 "Now don't disgrace your larnin', lad! "said Wetzel, 
 In a low, emphatic tone. "You've got to be guided by 
 me in all things, or else we'll hev our jarney for nothin', 
 
 onless it be to lose our own scalps." 
 
 "Well,, what do you advise?" inquired Albert, with 
 the eager impatience of a lover who is about to rescue 
 frort; peril the be:ng he above- all others adores. 
 
 "Why, we must reconniter the inemy carefully; and 
 then ef we find 'em all snug and right we'll " 
 
 "I see!" interrupted Albert, hastily "we'll rush 
 upon them, shof/t down the first we come to, liberate the 
 girl, and "
 
 58 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 "Git your brains blowed out for bein' a fool!"" 
 
 interrupted Wetzel, in turn. "No master Albert sich. 
 may be a lover's notions o' fightin' Injens but any 
 body that's fou't with 'em as much as I hev, knows a 
 heap better. No, no, young man you don't understand 
 it yit, it seems, and that's the reason I want you to do- 
 jest as I tell ye, and nothin' else." 
 
 "Well, out with it; for I'm dying to see my own. 
 Forest Rose." 
 
 "Yes, and it's maybe you"ll die afore ye see her, ef 
 you don't make lower speeches. "You forgit tha's a ii:emy 
 nigh, with sharp ears, don't ye? No, when we've diskiv- 
 ered that all's right, we'll jest lay back in the dark and 
 watch till moruin', and then we'll fotch every red-skin 
 thar." 
 
 "What! and leave poor Rose another night of 
 agony?" 
 
 "Yes, for that we can't help, ef we go right to work; 
 and ef we don't, it'll be all the wosser for all on us. The 
 fact o' the matter is jest this, and nothn' else: Ef we at 
 tack the Injens now we can't kill more'n two on 'em at 
 a single shot,, and the others will take to kiver, whar 
 they'll be ready to do us jest sich another turn when we 
 p;it vithiu the light of the fire, as we'll have to do to 
 fotch the gal clar of 'em. We can't foller Injens in the 
 dark, in course case why we're not owls, or wolves, 
 and can't see. Well, to say the least on't, they'll git 
 away from us, and ayther set off to get company or else 
 they'll prowl around for a shot. This, ye see, won't do, 
 no how for we want every scalp the red niggers hev 
 r?ot- -and Killnigger here is fa'rly itching to go off half- 
 cocked. Ef we wait till daylight I've got a plan that'll 
 fotch 'em all, and no mistake. Dye understand now?" 
 
 "Of course I must be guided by you, and your obser 
 vations are plausible; though it is hard to think of re 
 maining all night in sight of the enemy, and poor 1 Rose, 
 wthout striking a single blow, either for revenge or in.
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 59 
 
 her defense." 
 
 "It is hard, I'll allow it's powerful hard for me and 
 you both but it's the only way, you may depind on't, 
 
 to sarcumvent the redskins. And now that all's 
 
 settled, we'll go forward and reconnoitre." 
 
 Wetzel now took the lead, as usual, cautioning his 
 young friend, who came close behnd, not to forget him 
 self, when he came in sight of the girl, and betray his 
 presence to a watchful enemy, as everything now depend 
 ed on prudence. 
 
 We shall not stop to analyze the feelings of our hero 
 as he moved with the stealthy pace of a crouching pan 
 ther, about to spring on his prey, toward her in whom 
 Iiis very existence, as it were, was bound up. Suffice it 
 to say, that his heart beat almost audibly, and that sever 
 al times he was forced to stop to still his nerves, lest his 
 trembling steps should give out a sound that might betray 
 him to everlistening ears. Although the distance from 
 where the light was first discovered, to the brow of the 
 little hillock, where could be had a full view of the camp, 
 was considerably less than a hundred yards, yet so slow 
 ly and cautiously did our hunters move (carefully part 
 ing each bush, and, when past, easing it back to its place, 
 so as not to cause the least sound) that some ten or fif 
 teen minutes were consumed before they reached the de 
 sired position. But this was at last effected, and without 
 alarming the enemy. Creeping to the brow of the knoll, 
 which, fortunately for their purpose, was thickly cov 
 ered with shrubbery and heavy foliage, they laid them 
 selves flat upon the ground, with their heads only on a 
 level with the summit, and, carefully parting the tang 
 led bushes, peered into the camp of the enemy. 
 
 Notwithstanding all the reiterated charges of Wet 
 zel to Albert with regard to caution, no sooner did the 
 latter get a full view of what was before him than a cry, 
 half of rage and half of joy, rose to his lips, and was only 
 suppressed by a master effort; yet not without a sound
 
 60 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 something like a smothered groan, which, fortunately, 
 a light air stirring the leaves, and the preoccupation of 
 the savages, together with a feeing of security, prevent 
 ed the latter from hearing. Instantly Albert felt the 
 revere pressure of Wetzel's grasp upon his arm, and a 
 T ow, emphatic "Hist!" sounded in his ear, putting him 
 doubly on his g-uard for the future. 
 
 But the sight he beheld was well calculated to throw 
 a more experienced hunter than himself, provided he was 
 similarly circumstanced, off his guard. The scene we 
 shall row proceed to describe. 
 
 A fire had been kindled under a large beech, whose 
 dense foliage united with that of trees of small growth, 
 whose limbs and branches interlocked formed a Com 
 plete canony, through which not even a star was visible. 
 In front of the beech, and between it and the fire, a 
 stake had been driven firmly into the earth; and to this 
 stake little T?ose Forester was bound, by a strip of deer 
 Fkin being fastened to a ligature which passed around 
 her alkies; thud depriving her of the use of her feet, 
 while her hands were left at liberty. She was, in conse 
 quence, sitting upon the ground, with her bark to the 
 stake. Her features were pale and grief-worn, and alto 
 gether she bar! a very forlorn, hopeless look. She had 
 cried till her eyes had become dry, and were now, in con- 
 seouence, swollen, feverish, and red; and yet she was 
 moaning still uttering those low, mournful, choking 
 sounds and sobs, which proceeded from a seemingly in 
 curable sorrow, when nature has become completely ex 
 hausted. Her glossy, raven hair, usually arranged with 
 great taste and care, was now disheveled, and swept down 
 Her pale fa--e and neck in utter confusion, occasionally 
 swaying back anc 1 forth as the night breeze blew heavier 
 or lighter. Her dress a check calico, which had been 
 purchased of some traders, and presented her by Albert, 
 and which he' 1 o\vn skill and fair fingers had made and 
 iittec! neatly to her figure was now torn with brambles^.
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 61 
 
 and otherwise materially disarranged, though by no 
 means so as to expose her person improperly. On her feet, 
 when setting out on rhis painful journey, she had worn 
 light moccasin slippers; but these had long since given 
 tut; and her feet had been shockingly torn, and cut and 
 were DOW swollen and bleeding, causing her great physi 
 cal pair. Altop ether, she was a pitiable object; and 
 when we tako into consideration the horrible scene she 
 had witnessed in the murder of her friends her iong, 
 --edious march through a pathless wilderness iier pres 
 ent painful condition, and the seemingly hopeless and 
 itioro terrible future that lay before her some i'aint idea 
 of her own feelings, and those of her lover (who now he 
 ft eld her, tut whom she imagined far away if, indeed, 
 he were living at all) may be formed by the generous - 
 minded reader. 
 
 The captors of Rose were four in number, three of 
 whom were Indians, and the fourth a white renegade, as 
 nad been conjectured by Wetzel. They were seated in a 
 half circle near '.lie i.ro, so DP tr face- their prisoner, aa-l 
 consequently wici their bad's tow; rt! our friend?, who 
 thus, at the most could only get a view of their side faces. 
 
 They were a hideous looking party, the Indians 
 themselves being nearly naked; and what little covering 
 they had consisted of untanned skins, with their liair side 
 out, belted around the waist, and reaching a little beiow 
 the hip, with leg-gins of the same below the knees,, and 
 coarse moooasions on their feet all the rest of their per 
 sons, their brawny chests and arms, being as nude as na 
 ture made them, save the thick coats of coarse black 
 paint, which had been daubed on in streaks to suit Indian 
 fancv, while preparing for the bloody war-path. They 
 wore no ornaments whatever, if we except a few gaudy 
 feathers attached to their long, dirty, greasy-looking 
 scalp-locks The renegade was costumed, if we may use 
 the word in this connection, like his companions, with 
 thi* difference, that his person was more generally cover 
 ed, and that he had totally avoided the use of paint
 
 62 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 doubtless taking it for granted that his own villainous 
 features would have terror enough for his foes without 
 the assistance of art. He was a low, square-built man, 
 pome thirty years of age, with red hair, and a counten 
 ance every woy repulsive; and from his general appear 
 ance, Albert judged him to be the same person Rose had 
 described as stopping at the cabin, and procuring a ttrink 
 of water, and whose trail he had followed on the day 
 when he so opportunely fell in with Lewis Wetzel. Un 
 like the Indians, the renegade wore a cap of the skin of 
 some wild beast but this was now lying on the ground 
 beside him. Each wore a belt around his waist, in which 
 were stuck the usual accompaniments of Indian warefare. 
 the tomahawk and scalping-knife. Their rifles were eith- 
 <r lying across their laps or the ground beside them; but 
 otherwise they were totally unguarded, and seemed un 
 suspicious of danger. And. withal, they were in rather 
 an agreeable mood; for they talked and laugned in low 
 tones a.-; they tort- off pieces of jerk and devoured them 
 with the greediness occasioned by long fasting. 
 
 Wetzel who was familiar with all the tribes of the 
 Northwest Territory at once recognized them by their 
 war-paint and dialoct to be a scouting party of VVyan- 
 dotts detached from a larger body which he feared 
 might now be in the vicinity. He understood a smatter 
 ing of the Hviron language; and from now and then an 
 expression he could overhear his fears were in a p.reat 
 measure confirmed . though he took care not to mako it 
 known to his companion who was already sufficiently ex 
 cited by what he beheld 
 
 After chatting laughing and eating some timo in 
 their own peculiar way one of the warriors arose, and 
 detaching a gourd from his girdle, proceeded to the 
 creek to fill it, and leaving his rifle behind. The idea 
 now flashed across the mind of the old hunter that by 
 stealing after tbe indian, giving him a deadly blow, and 
 then waiting where he fell till another should come to 
 look t<)T him, lie might in this way make himself master
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 63 
 
 of the party. But a little reflection convinced him that 
 ft would be safest to wait till morning as a single mis 
 take would spoil his plan and there was no certain de 
 pendence to be placed on Albert, who was not only 
 voung, inexperienced, but moreover, a lover, and under 
 circumstances calculated to destroy his coolness and 
 make him piecipitate and rash. Therefore, the Indian 
 was allowed to fill his gourd unmolested; but as, on his 
 leturn, he passed \vitliin ten feet of where our friends 
 were concealed, and in plain, open view, it required no 
 smal' effort., on the part of Albert, to avoid giving him 
 the contents of his rifle, over the barrel of which his 
 fingers worked convulsively. 
 
 But he restrained his eager desire, only to find him- 
 seft shortlv after put to a much severer test; for on the 
 return of the savage to his party, with the gourd, a tall, 
 athletic Indian arose, and after taking a drink, stepped 
 around to Rose and reached it to her. By this change in 
 his position his face was brought fronting our friends, 
 with the fire between him and them, and shinning full 
 upon his person : and now it was, to the horror of Al 
 bert, h^. beheld two scalps tanging at his girdle, which, 
 by the hair, he recognized as those of his own late dear 
 mother and mister. He groaned, for he could not help it; 
 but a pressure on the arm from Wetzel warned him that 
 he must not indulge in even this mode of giving vent to 
 his griefs, while so near the authors of all his sorrow. 
 But he was destined to oe tried still further. 
 
 Rose took the gourd from the Indian, and drank 
 freely, and then handed it back to him, whereupon he 
 gave a satisfied grunt of pleasure. Then he offered her 
 some jerk, but she waived it away with an expression of 
 loathing. 
 
 "Ugh!" grunted the savage, who could sj>eak a very 
 little English. "Must eat! Not eat him die." 
 
 "fiod send I may die!" exclaimed Rose, "rather than 
 live in such company. Why did you not murder me along 
 with my friends?"
 
 64 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 Injun no want to kill Forest Rose," replied the sav 
 age, eithei from a previous knowledge of her soubriquet, 
 or a remarkable coincidence, calling her by this, to Al- 
 b-Tt : dear appellation. "No! him make fine squaw for 
 warrior for some day chief. Hoe corn, bring water, 
 cook meat, take -^aie pappoose. Eat him good!" and he 
 again offered her the meat. 
 
 "F will not touch it,'' said Rose, firmly. 
 
 'Then mv Vill take scalp!' cried the other, sud 
 denly ra'sing the hatchet as if about to strike. 
 
 "Hold now, none o' that!" cried the renegade, sud 
 denly, springing up and advancing to the other, at the 
 same time that Albert, laboring under the most intense 
 eicitement, was about bringing his rifle to bear upon the 
 savage, with the intention of firing, let what would be 
 the consequences. "None of that, I say! she's my prop 
 erty, by right of discovery and, by ! I'm going to 
 
 keep her!" 
 
 Hin; no eat me scrtre no kill," replied the Indian; 
 and then he said something in Huron, which our friond.s 
 did not understand, and walked back to his place at the 
 fire. 
 
 A.S a precaution, after witnessing the scene just de 
 scribed, both Lewis and Albert brought their rifles to 
 bear upon the savages, so that any demonstration of vio- 
 1 ence toward little Rose might meet with a summary 
 punishment. And wnen Albert got a full view of the 
 renegade, as he took the Indian's place by the side of 
 Rose, and boheld two more scalps at his girdle, which he 
 doubted not were those of his father and brother, it re 
 quired all the self-possession he was master of to pre 
 vent liira pullit.g the trigger and sending him to his last 
 account 
 
 "Why in h -1 don't you eat something?" ne demand 
 ed of Rose, in a crair^e, bullying tone. "D'ye want to 
 starve yourself to death?" 
 
 'I have no desire for food," replied the other faintly; 
 'and as for death, I would rather die than l:ve."
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 65 
 
 "But you hain't touched scarcely a morsel for 
 more'n twenty -four hours; and that's the reason you're 
 uo weak, and lag behind so. It won't do. I tell ye you 
 must eat something or " 
 
 Here the renegade put his mouth to the ear of the 
 other, and concluded the eentence in a tone too low to be 
 heard by any but the girl herself. But the communica 
 tion, whatever it was, was evidently a startling one. for 
 little Rose uttered an exclamation of horror, and the 
 words : 
 
 'Oh! that it would be worse than death a hundred 
 times! Bring mo the food. I will eat it if it kills mo." 
 
 "Now you lalk sensible,", was the renegades reply; 
 and he placed the meat in her lap, and moving away, 
 ;oined his companions; and from the communication he 
 made to them, and the biugh which followed, it was evi 
 dent that the captors of Rose were making themselves 
 merr T at her expense 
 
 Some half an hour more elapsed, during which the 
 Indians sat around the fire, talking and smoking, when 
 the leadui of the party signified it was time to camp 
 down. All immediately arose; and while one went fot 
 more fuel, another stirred the fire, a third examined the 
 priming: of the rifles, and the fourth, the renegade, pro 
 ceeded to fasten Rose beyond the possibility of escape. 
 For rhis purprse he made her place her hands behind her; 
 and then, with a stout thong of deer-skin, he tied her 
 delicate wrists together, so that she could make no use 
 of her hands whatever. To this thong he then tied an 
 other strip of deer-skin, which he made fast to the stake, 
 thus literally binding hor hand and foot, as though she 
 were some bold, intrepid warrior, instead of a weak, de 
 fenseless girl. 
 
 Having at last arranged everything to their satis 
 faction, the savages laid down upon the earth, one on 
 either side of Rose (for in the category of savages we 
 mvst plac-o til 3 renegade, though not an Indian), and the 
 othor two a little further off, and on opposite sides of the
 
 65 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 fire. Thus disposed, sorr.e half an hour more elapsed, by 
 which time all gave evidence of being asleep, or at least 
 in that peculiar drowsy state, or slumber, whereby the 
 Indian gains rest when on the war-path. All this time 
 our friends had been watching them intently; but mak 
 ing a signal to Wetzel that he now had something to com 
 municate, Albert carsfully withdrew on his own side of 
 the hillock, and the old hunter as carefully followed. 
 
 When a sufficient distance from the camp had been 
 gained, to admit of his speaking without being over 
 heard by the enemy, the former said, in a low tone: 
 
 "Wetzel, my friend, be the consequences what they 
 may, poor little Rose must be liberated before morning. 
 I cannot endure the thought of her passing the night in 
 such a horrible manner. Great heaven! only think 
 what she must have suffered, and is suffering now?" 
 
 '"I don't like it any better'n you do," replied the oth 
 er, grave'y; "but it'll never do tc try to git her away with 
 all them thar cusses piled up around her, you may de- 
 pind, on the honor of a white gintleman. Ef we oou'd 
 <:reep in upon 'em. and kill 'em all, it 'ud be all right; 
 but it can't be did. I've tried Injens afore, and I knows 
 exactly how they sleep, with one eye or t'other al'ays 
 open, the rod varmints! No, Master Albert, we'll hev to 
 wait, sure thar's no other way in reason, and every 
 thing else is again, natur', cl'ar." 
 
 "I tell you, Wetzel. it must be done! ' rejoined Al 
 beit, emphatically. "It will be a risk, I know but pres 
 ent circumstances demand it. I had counted on your 
 assistance; but if you refuse to aid me, I will venture 
 alone. Poor Rose must and shall be liberated if it 2osts 
 my life." 
 
 "Thar, that's It if it costs your life," returned, the 
 other caustically. "Them's the words exactly ef it costs 
 your life; and 't will cost your life or hern, or I don't 
 know nothin' about pale and emaciated she look, my 
 friend; 3 r ou saw how she was grieving; and you heard the 
 words of the renegade that she had not tasted food. Oh!
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 67 
 
 if I could only let her know I am here! Would to God 
 I could take her place! Come, my friend, th?nk serious 
 ly there is ro way I can make Injens. Boy. you're 
 aythcr niad or a fool, and that ain't much difference 
 atwixt 'em, as I look at it. S'posen you git killed, or the 
 gal gits killed, or both on you gets killed, will you be any 
 better off than you is now 7 Ef you gits killed who'll be 
 left to tike care o' the gal? Ef she gits killed x who'll 
 you hev to take car' on !<nd make ye happy? No. Master 
 Albert, you're excited, and don't know when you're well 
 off. You've got no more injen judgment in ye now nor a 
 greenhorn jest from the settlements. But howsomcver, 
 ef you've made up your mir>d, I ain't a goin' to stop you, 
 so go ahead; but if ye gits into difficulty, don't blame 
 me." 
 
 "I see : T ?ee!" said Albert, sadly. "It cannot be done. 
 As you say, Wetzel, I am excited, and so distracted I hard 
 ly know what 1 am about. Alas! poor Rose! poor Rose! 
 If I coijld or.ly let her know I am here it would be some 
 thing gained ; for then she would have hope to sustain 
 her tnrongli this nigbt of suffering. As it is, I fear she 
 may faint and riie. You see no way of making my pres 
 ence known without endangering our plan?" 
 
 "It's risky business," replied the other, "a powerful 
 risky business; but ef you're set upon it I'll do 
 what T can for you. The gal I don't believe's asleep 
 though she pretends to be and it's possible you mought 
 make a sound that 'ud be comprehended by her, without 
 vakin' r ,he cussed varmints that's about her though's I 
 said afore ir.'s a powerful risky business, and a miss 
 mo iphl ruin everything. D'ye know any familiar sound 
 atwixt ye, that a sleepin' savage might mistake for a 
 animal, and she know the difference?" 
 
 "I have often sat with her, on a moonlight night, 
 besi'le a rivulet, whose soft murmurs sounded sweetly to 
 the ear, arid imitated the gentle whip-poor-will," replied 
 t'ie other, eagerly. 
 
 "That in ought Jo -though the bird ain't so com-
 
 68 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 mor> horo as 'tis in someplace; but I've heard 'em; and 
 so ef you try anything, better try that." 
 
 It was now arranged between our two friends that 
 both should creep back and examine the camp, and if all 
 were quiet that Albert should leave his rifle with Wetzel, 
 and, making a stealthy circuit, should come up behind 
 the beech, and guardedly sound the mellifluous notes of 
 that sweet songster of the night, whose music consists in 
 repeating its own melodious name; while the old hunter, 
 with both riflas in his possession, should keep a close 
 watch on the savages, and be ready to do his work of 
 death in the event of an/ sudden alarm. 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 The Signal and Surprise. 
 
 The camp was found all quiet, as our friends had left 
 it. The swarthy savages were stretched upon the ground 
 in the same position, as though they had not stirred hand 
 or foot since settling themselves down to sleep. The fire 
 was still burning brightly in the center, its ruddy Maze 
 Mghting ur a small circle of the dense forest, and giving 
 bold relief to one side of the swarthy figures on the 
 ground, and burying the other in shadow. For a consid 
 erable distance around the trunks of the trees were re 
 vealed, standing like rude columns in nature's temple to 
 support the heavy canopy of dark green leaves above. 
 Near the fire they stood minutely revealed; but as they 
 retreited from the vision toward the outer circle they 
 grew more and more dim, till at last they were lost to the 
 eye, and blended with the surrounding darkness, wnich 
 formed a background to the picture. Altogether the 
 poene was highly picturesque with the trees the fol 
 iage the dark waters of the creek, faintly seen on one 
 ide the sleeping savages the stake, and the poor pris 
 oner girl lying bound all heightened in effect by the 
 ruddy light of a flickering fire- -and would have made 
 a desirable study for our own bold, indefatigable, and 
 talented Indian artist, Stanley.
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 69 
 
 Rose was lying on her side, in a very uncomfortable 
 position, with her hands drawn behind her, and her head 
 partly resting against the stake, the only pillow she had 
 to support it fiom the damp earth. Her face was inclined 
 from the fire, and her features were in shadow, so that it 
 was impossible for our friends to discover, from their 
 point of observation, whether s-'he was asleep or awake: 
 they judged tho latter; though, if asleep, they knew it 
 must be a li^ht and troubled one for occasionally she 
 moaned piteously, and uttered a long-drawn, sobbing sigh, 
 like a child that has cried itself to forgetfulness. Each 
 moan and sigh went to the heart of Albert like a dag 
 ger, and made "\\ etzel tremble for the result of the young 
 man's experiment, lest, under the excitement of a recog 
 nition, all danger for the moment should be forgotten, 
 and <tn unguarded act either put them in the power of 
 tho savages or warn the latter of the presence of an en 
 emy, and thus destroy his own plan of killing all and, 
 it mi^ht be, also, result in something serious and fatal to 
 those whose interests he had so generously taken to 
 heart. 
 
 "Well, this comes o' having a lovyer on the trail," he 
 said, mentally. "They ain't fit for nothin' when thar 
 partikelar gal is in danger but to blunder in and spile 
 all a cool-headed feller has fixed to help 'em. Now I've 
 give advice, and what's the upshot on't? This here youth 
 won't take it., and he'll hev to hev his own way. Well, 
 ef he gits killed tain't my fault; though I'd hate to lose 
 him most powerful, for thar's a heap o' fellers nought 
 be spared much better nor Maywood." 
 
 Wetzel now cautioned his friend, partly by signs and 
 partly in whispers, to use the utmost care, and in no 
 ^ase to let his feelings get the better of a cool judgment. 
 The other promised compliance; and then, with a beating 
 heart, slowly and silently withdrew. The old hunter now 
 brought both rjfles into such a position that he could dis 
 charge them in quick succession, with fatal aim, should 
 there change to be an alarm; and then, with compressed
 
 70 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 lips, and a secret dread of consequences, he waited in si- 
 ence, with the senses of seeing and hearing both active 
 ly employed. 
 
 Minute after minute of almost breathless suspense 
 went by, and yet no sounds but the solemn roar of the 
 deep forest, the rustling of the leaves to a gentle night 
 breeze, tbe occasional snapping of a spark, or crackling 
 of the flame, and now and then a sigh or a moan from 
 the poor prisoner, disturbed the silence; and nothing was 
 seen to move, save now and then a leg or an arm of some 
 savage who stirred in his sleep. 
 
 At last the suspense became almost painful; and the 
 old hunter was forced to admit, much against his Avill, 
 that it had an effect upon his nerves, such as he had sel 
 dom experienced in all the trying scenes through which 
 he had passed, and their name was legion. And a little 
 episode in his life, which it may not be improper here to 
 relate, will show that for coolness and intrepidity he had 
 few equals and no superiors. 
 
 He was a native of Pennsylvania, though his par 
 ents were foreigners, who had removed to that State at 
 a period when Indian depredations extended further Jilast 
 that? at the date of our story. When quite a youth Lewis 
 and his brother were captured by a party of Indians and 
 taken off into the pathless wilderness. One nigbt the 
 savages, thinking their prisoners would be secure with 
 out binding, made them lie down, and then laid them 
 selves down on either side of them, so that it seemed im 
 possible for the boys to stir without awaking their cap 
 tors. Lewis feigned sleop, and so did his brother, and the 
 savages went to sleep in earnest. As soon as the proper 
 moment arrived Lewis carefully arose, passed over the 
 bodies of the sleepers, and beckoned his brother to fol 
 low. The latter did so; and in a few moments these 
 mere boys (for at this time Lewis was not more than ten 
 years of age and his brother only a year or two his sen 
 ior) found themselves free, but surrounded by darkless. 
 in a trackless wilderness, full of lurking foes, both wild
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 71 
 
 beasts and Indians, without a guide, a knowledge where 
 to go, or a single weapon of defense. But, nothing daunt 
 ed, the voung Spartans held a council of war, in which 
 it was decided that, without a rifle to kill game, they 
 would be in danger of starvation, and that one must be 
 procured at all hazards. Lewis bade his brother await 
 nis return, and immediately went back to the camp, and 
 stealthily took from his captors two rifles, some ammuni 
 tion, and a few pieces of jerk, with which he returned 
 T,O his companion. They then actually held a consulta 
 tion MS to whether they should attempt to kill the sleep 
 ing warriors or leave them undisturbed; but wisely came 
 to the latter determination, and set out, taking a certain 
 star for a guide. After a long, tedious march, and a good 
 deal of suffering, they reached a settlement, where they 
 told their story, and were tlience forwarded to their 
 friends. 
 
 This was one of the first of Lewis Wetzel's adven 
 tures; but ever after he was the inveterate foe of the In 
 dians; and for many years pursued them with unrelent 
 ing hatred; while his name became famous on the fron 
 tiers among the whites, and a word of terror to the 
 savages. 
 
 But to return from this digression. 
 
 Five, ten, fifteen minutes elapsed, and yet no 
 sound of the v hip-poor-will Avas heard; and even the old 
 Imnter, a pattern of prudence, began to think that his 
 caution to Albert, not to be rash, was either a needless 
 one or that the other was following his injunctions to the 
 very letter, and consequently bevond the spirit of their 
 meaning. At length Wetzel began to grow impatient, 
 i-nd then unensy, at this long silence; and he had half de 
 termined to abandon his position, and go in quest of his 
 friend, Avhen the soft, musical notes of the whip-poor-will 
 Bounded clear and distinct through the arches of the 
 great forest; and so perfect was the imitation that even 
 the old hunter was more than half inclined TO believe it 
 was produced by the real bird itself, and not by his
 
 72 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 friend at all. 
 
 At the first notes one of the Indians, lying next to 
 the prisoner, raised his head and listened; but even he 
 was deceived; and, turning over, he again composed him 
 self to sleep. 
 
 For some minutes the sound had no visible effect 
 upon Rose, although it was evident she heard it; for 
 when the Indian moved she changed her position also, 
 and dropped her head from against the stake to the 
 ground.. The song of the bird ceased, and for some mo 
 ments all wa.s silent; then it commenced again, in a low 
 er, softer, and more plaintive strain, and gradually the 
 notes quavered. 
 
 On hearing this Rose raised her head quickly, and 
 looked hurriedly about her, and then turned her eyes to 
 ward the tree. Wetzel now heard a low "Hist!" and saw 
 the girl drop to the ground and tremble as if she had 
 seen some terrible sight. 
 
 At this the renegade started up on his hands, and, 
 after looking drowsily around him, fixed his gaze upon his 
 prisoner, and in a rough tone demanded: 
 
 "What in tho h 1 is the matter with you?" 
 
 "Rose made no reply; and after gazing at her for a 
 moment or two his head began to nod, and he dropped 
 down with an oath, in which he invoked eternal torments 
 on all troublesome prisoners; and before the words were 
 fairly out of his mouth he was fast asleep. Not so the rest 
 of the parry. The voice of the renegade had awakened 
 the Indians; and raising themselves up to a sitting pos 
 ture, they stared stupidly around; and then, while two 
 laid down again, the third got up and put more fuel on 
 the tire, stretched, yawned, and at last imitated his 
 more drowsy companions by again taking a horizontal 
 position before the fire. 
 
 Some ten minutes of silence elapsed, during which 
 the Indians appeared to have fully relapsed into the arms 
 of Morpheus, when again sounded the melodious notes of 
 the whip poor-will. This time little Rose raised her liead
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 73 
 
 slowly and carefully, and looked cautiously toward the 
 trunk of the giant beech. The song ceased; and i\ soft 
 whisper, which might almost have been mistaken for the 
 night.-bree"e playing among the leaves, bore to her ear 
 the enchanting words: 
 
 "Thy Albert is near, with other aid. Pretend to 
 sleep, and hope on till morning, when thou shalt be at 
 liberty once more with him that loves thee!" 
 
 The voice ceased; and bowing her head, in token 
 that she understood the words, Rose again laid down, and 
 the same deep stillness again reigned throughout the sol 
 itude. Albert carefully withdrew, and the whip-poor- 
 will was heard no more that night. In five minutes the 
 young hunter had joined his companion. 
 
 "You've done well," whispered Wetzel, "and 1 11 give 
 ye credit for': though I'll hev to own I was once't or 
 twice't most powerful skeery like on your account and 
 the gal's W'i've got nothin' to do now but wait, and 
 watch, and be ready to give these here rapscallions their 
 breakfast on lead." 
 
 Albert, after his communication to Rose, felt more 
 reconciled to his condition though the night, as might 
 be expected, proved long and tedious and he lay and 
 watched the camp of the enemy and the stars overhead, 
 with what feelings we must leave to the reader's imagi 
 nation. He felt faint and weary; for neither he nor his 
 companion had eaten anything since the morning before, 
 with the exceptions of the little the other had found and 
 devoured, as the reader will remember, in the last night's 
 encampment of their hideous foes. Besides, Albert had 
 not slept since setting out on the trail of the stranger, 
 and iie had passed over more than fifty miles of wilder 
 ness, and gone through a scene of horror that, of itself, 
 was enough to have laid him on a bed of sickness, had 
 his physical powers not been supported by extraordinary 
 mental excitement. And that same excitement served 
 r-im still though he felt that his body was fast giving 
 way to excessive fatigue. More than once, toward morn-
 
 74 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 ing, he found his eyes involuntarily closing, and nature 
 iast yielding to a xiull, heavy drowsiness, which required 
 unusual effort to throw off. Still he managed not to 
 ?leep, though his companion did, and for several hours. 
 Once he fancied that he had forgot himself, though only 
 for a moment, and this so alarmed him that he closed his 
 eyes no more that night. 
 
 The fire of the camp gradually hurned down, so that 
 distant objects faded to indistinctness; and the huge fig 
 ures of th sleepers became wrapped in a somber light, 
 ;hat only half revealed them, and left fancy free to con 
 jure them into so many demons of the other world. Once 
 one of the party, probably feeling chilled by the night 
 air, which vas V3ry cool, arose and stirred the fading 
 embers; but not succeeding in rekindling the fire, he sat 
 down beside it, with his hands crossed over his knees. 
 This at first gave Albert considerable uneasiness as in 
 case the savage waited thus till morning he might pos- 
 siblj discover his position before the proper time tc fire 
 upon the party should arrive. But his apprehensions 
 proved groundless; for, after sitting thus a few minutes, 
 the Indian began to nod, and soon after rolled over upon 
 the earth in a heavier slumber than he had probably ex 
 perienced through the night. 
 
 At last the stars began to pale, a slight rosy flush to 
 ascend the Eastern heavens far toward the zenith, and a 
 dull, leaden hue to take the place of the impenetrable 
 blackness of the forest. Albert now gently awoke his 
 companion, and both silently reprimed their rifles and 
 looked carefully to the flint, that there might be no mis 
 take at the perilous moment, which was fast approaching. 
 They then placed their rifles in rest, and drew back as 
 far a * vas possible, without losing sight of their foe. Once 
 settled, there was no danger of their being seen; for they 
 laid flat upon the rising hillock, face downward, with 
 their heads sufficiently raised to see over its brow be 
 tween the thick leaves and brushwood which surrounded 
 them aixl formed their ambuscade.
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 75 
 
 Ft. was now agreed between them that the renegade 
 and t^ie Indian with the scalps at his girdle should be the 
 first victims, as it was evident that these were the most 
 powerful and the leaders of the party, if, indeed, it could 
 be said to have any leader, or leaders, where all were so 
 much on an equality. This was resolved on as a matter 
 of policy, as well as to make sure that, if any escaped, the 
 scalps should not go with them as trophies of success; 
 and also to be certain that revenge should fall upon the 
 proper ones, in the event that all were not killed. Al 
 bert settled upon the renegade for his target and Wetzel 
 the Indian each being well satisfied with the arrange 
 ment the former, because the renegade had insulted 
 Rose, and the latter, because his mark was an Indiar, to 
 ward whom, as we ha,ve shown, he had a mortal hatred. 
 
 Once it had begun to grow light the day came on 
 fast; and every moment objects grew more and more dis 
 tinct; till at last avenues of no inconsiderable length 
 could be traced in the deep forest, with their columns of 
 trees supporting the green foliage-dome of nature. 
 
 Rose, who since the communication made to her by 
 Albert had scarcely stirred, now slightly raised her face 
 and peered timidly around, and then dropped ner head 
 and shuddered. Poor girl! it was now a matter of doubt 
 with bor whether she had beard the voice of him she lov 
 ed in reality, or only in a delusive dream, and she feared 
 the worst. One of the savages now partially aroused him 
 self, and perceiving it was light sprang up suddenly, and 
 with a gutteral ejaculation awakened his companions, 
 who immediately started to their feet also, and from some 
 exclamations they made it \vas evident they had overslept 
 the appointed hour for rising. 
 
 The important moment was now at hand; and Al 
 bert felt a strange sensation as he glanced along the bar 
 rel of his deadly rifle. He was about to pull the trigger 
 m a human being was about to shed the blood of a fel 
 low-creature for the first time, and send him loaded with 
 crime into the presence of his Maker. True, it was only
 
 76 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 doing ar\ act of justice, and that in self-defense; but still 
 he was coolly calculating on it, and the idea seemed hor 
 rible 
 
 "If it were only In mortal combat, he reasoned with 
 himself, "and my passions were fully roused, and my 
 blood hot, it would not seem so much like murder, and 
 ivotild not touch my conscience. Still, the villian deserv 
 es to die, and the blood of my kindred calls on me to 
 avenge them." 
 
 With this reflection, his lips compressed, and a stern 
 sense of duty came over him; he thought of Rose, and her 
 wrongs, and all pity left his heart, and conscience no 
 longer cbided him. As if to make matters still more 
 aggravating, the renegade now approached Rose and said 
 gruffly: 
 
 "Come, wench, stir yourself! for you've got a long 
 day's tramp before ye; and. by ! I'll have no lagging by 
 the way!" 
 
 Poor Rose looked up, and her pale face had in it such 
 a mournful appeal to mercy, that it must have touched 
 the heart of any who could feel the sense of pity. But 
 the renegade appeared totally unmoved; and as he cut 
 the cord that bound her wrists and ankles he drew back 
 his foot as if to bestow upon her a kick. 
 
 But if such was his intention, the foot, never accom 
 plished his design; for at the moment the tall Indian 
 stepped forward, so as to face our friends, and the click 
 of two rifles sounded in the ambuscade. The moment of 
 fearful retribution and vengeance was at hand, and the 
 measure of their iniquity was full to the brim. 
 
 Only one sharp report was heard, as the rifles simul 
 taneously belched forth fire and smoke, and their lea.len 
 messengers were already sped on their mission of death. 
 Two mortal groans succeeded, and two heavy bodies fell 
 to the oarth writhing in pain. 
 
 At the same instant the unharmed savages uttered 
 yells of surprise and terror, and grasping their rifles 
 bounded away to cover; while Wetzel leaped from the
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 77 
 
 thicket, and shouting to his companion to make sure of 
 his "game" rushed forward and huried his tomahawk in 
 the brain of the prostrate savage, whose limbs gave one 
 short quiver, and then straightened in the last throe of 
 death. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 The Meeting of The Lovers. 
 
 "It's the private and partikelar opine of a white 
 ginticmap. that you'll never trouble nobody agin " said 
 Wetzel, as he bent over the bloody corpse of his victim; 
 and swinging his huge knife around the top of his head, 
 he tore off the reeking scalp, which, after shaking in the 
 face of the dead, with a demoniac grin, he attached to 
 his girdle. "Quick!" he added, turning to Albert, "make 
 a sure thing of that white nigger, take the gal, and break 
 for kiver aforo ye git a bullet lodged in your body;" and 
 uttering a loud whoop of defiance he sprang behind the 
 beech opposite to the direction taken by the alarmed sav 
 ages, and commenced loading his rifle with great rapid 
 ity. 
 
 All this was the work of a moment, as it were, and 
 occupied less time than we have in describing it. But 
 Albert thought not of his prostrate victim, nor of the 
 concealed enemy. Lover-like, he thought only of Rose; 
 and rushing to nor both uttered cries of joy; and the 
 next moment, weak from loss of food and rest, and over 
 joyed at her happy deliverance, she staggered forward, 
 ihrew her delicate arms around his neck, and fainted in 
 his embrace. For some moments Albert himself stood 
 gazing upon her, overpowered with emotions too deep for 
 utterance, and seemingly totally at a loss what to do. But 
 the voice of Wetzel soon aroused him to a sense of danger. 
 
 "D'ye want to be killed in 'arnest?" cried the old 
 hunter again, "that you stand thar like a fixed target for 
 Injen bullets? Why don't ye take the gal up and tree, 
 and show you've got some sense in ye yit?" 
 
 Thus warned the second time, Albert no longer de-
 
 78 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 layed to place himself and her he loved in safety. Cast 
 ing a hurried glance around, and perceiving the dead 
 and ecalpless Indian, and the apparently lifeless rene 
 gade, weltering in his blood near his feet, he seemed for 
 the first time since the onset to comprehend what had 
 taken place; and throwing an arm about the waist of 
 Rose he raised her light form and darted behind the 
 beech, where the old hunter with a dexterity in load 
 ing equaled only by a few of the border men, excelled by 
 none was already priming his long weapon of death. 
 
 "Now you stay right here, and keep this tree atwixt 
 ye and the cussed red-skins, and I'll show ye a heap o' 
 lun,'' said thf: intrepid woodsman; and as he spoke he 
 sprang from behind his cover, and running toward a 
 thicket near the creek, in which he supposed the enemy 
 was concealed, he gave two or three loud whoops, and 
 discharged hib rifle at random; then whooping louder 
 Than ever, he turned and fled, taking a direction oppos 
 ite to that where our friends were concealed. This ruse 
 had the desired effect. The Indians, who had seen his 
 whole movements, an'i now believing him an easy prey 
 since his rit'lo, to their certain knowledge, was not loaded 
 - at once sprung from their covert, with yells of venge 
 ance, and gave chase. 
 
 Now it was that XVetzel displayed in full perfection 
 that wonderful skill that had already made him so fam 
 ous on the borders, both among the whites and Indians. 
 Darting away, with an agility that put the Indians to all 
 their fleetness to keep him in sight, but without giving 
 the latter time to tire, he poured the powder into his 
 rifle, rammed down the ball, primmed it, and then dodg 
 ed behind a tree, where he waited till his foremost pur 
 suer was in full view, when he threw his head round, his 
 weapon with the quickness of thought, and fired. The 
 savage gsve a loud yell of rage and pain, bounded from 
 ihe earth, and fell down a corpse, pierced through the 
 heart. The other, who was only a few steps behind, ut 
 tered a cry of dismay, and paused to gaze at his bloody
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 79 
 
 companion. But the taunting laugh of the old hunter, who 
 was already again darting away, aroused his fierce pas 
 sions; and with a demoniacal yell of vengence, he once 
 more gave chase, this time feeling sure of his intended 
 victim. The distance was now so much lessened between 
 them that Wetzel knew, if he ran in a straight line, the 
 savage would have a fair opportunity to hit him in the 
 back. Accordingly he took a zigzag course, whooping, 
 hallooing, jumping and dodging from tree to tree. In this 
 Avay ie completely foiled the attempts of his pursuer to 
 get aim, and in a i'ew minutes his rifle was again loaded. 
 Once more, springing behind a tree, he waited for the 
 savage to come up. The latter, thinking he now had him 
 at advantage, sprang forward with a yell of triumph, his 
 own weapon leveled, ready to discharge the instant he 
 should get a glimpse at the other's person. The same 
 moment I he s-harp crack of a rifle awoke the sleeping 
 echoes of the deep forest, and the yell of triumph was 
 changed to a yell of pain as the Indian recoiled and rolled 
 over upon the earth, discharging his own piece in the air. 
 The renowned backwoodsman now deliberately stepped 
 from behind his tree; and, after taking a quiet but hearty 
 laugh, he said iu his own peculiar way: 
 
 "J kiiow'd tharll be a powerful heap o' fun, and I 
 told Albert so. Poor fellow," he said, giving the dead 
 Indian a kick, and again indulging in a low, quiet laugh, 
 "you mought hev bin a powerful smart chap amongst 
 your own painted brethren, but you ain't o' no account 
 10 corne agin a white gintleman as knows how to handle 
 powder. You mought do to fight women and squaws, but 
 you never oughter tried nothin' more dangerous. You 
 never was a beauty, in my opine, and I don't reckon that 
 that little red hole in your greasy face helps your looks a 
 good deal. 1 don't. You wanted my scalp, did ye? Sorry 
 couldn't 'commodate ye, but the fact is, I want it myself 
 awhile. I'll take yourn, howso'mever, bein's you don't 
 need it more, and I've had a heap o'trouble in comin'ar- 
 ter it;" and bending down as he spoke, the old hunter
 
 80 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 severed .t from the head, and dashing off the blood, hung 
 it to his belt along side of the other. 
 
 Then he added, as a parting salute: 
 
 "Well, good-bye, red-skin; for 'taint likely wel'll ever 
 meet again, ayther in this here world or t'other. I've 
 heard folks talk about a Injen heaven; but ef thar's sich 
 a place as a Injen hell, I'd pertikerly advise sich o' your 
 friends, ef ye'/e got any, as want to find ye powerful sud 
 den, +o look thar first. Good-bye, I say, and good luck 
 to the animal as t'ars the greasy meat off o' your bones 1 
 hope he won't git pizened, is the worst wish I've got 
 agin him." 
 
 Saying this, the old woodman sauntered leisurely 
 away, and bent his steps toward the camp, stopping on 
 the road to scalp his other victim and give him a little 
 parting advice. 
 
 But to return to Albert and Rose. 
 
 Albert sow his companion set off, and the yelping 
 savages after him, not without many misgivings as to 
 what might be the result. He would like to have gone 
 to his aid -but he could not leave her whose life was 
 dearer to him than his own. All this time poor little 
 Rose was unconscious; but as he still supported her in 
 his arms, chafed her hands and temples, and called her 
 by many an endearing epithet, she soon began tu revive. 
 At first she looked around a little bewildered; but it was 
 not long before she comprehended all. She had been lib 
 erated from the savages, and by him she loved. He was 
 now with her. and his soft, blue eyes were looking mourn 
 fully and tenderly into hers, and the to her enchant 
 ing words. "My own dear Forest Rose!" were sweetly 
 trembling ou his half-parted lips. 
 
 "Albert, my own dear, dear Albert!" she murmured; 
 and burying her face upon his manly breast, she wept, 
 but they were tears of joy. 
 
 "Ah! my poor little Rose, I have thee once again!" 
 he returned, straining her to his heart, while the manly 
 tears of grief and joy, for the dead and the living, the
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 81 
 
 past and the present, united and made his vision dim. 
 ''Alas! poor Rose!" he continued, in a choking voice of 
 deep emr.tion '"God only knows what we have suffered, 
 und He alone is able to sustain us through our terrible 
 trials. Oh! my father, my mother, my brother, my sis 
 ter all all are gone!" 
 
 "Oh! do not, do not recall the horrid scene!" cried 
 Rose hysterically, shuddering, and clinging closer to the 
 other. "When I think of it my brain seems on fire; and 
 sometimes I have thought I were going mad. Perhaps I 
 shall get calmer soon, and then I will tell you all; bur di> 
 not speak of it now." 
 
 "I will not. Rose I will not for it is too much for 
 either of us in our present excited state and weak condi 
 tion. We both need food and rest; and you, above all 
 things, my little Rose; for 1 saw last night that you re 
 fused to oat, till forced by that accursed renegade." 
 
 "And were you present then?" inquired the other. 
 
 'I was; yon little hillock only divided me from the 
 enemy." 
 
 And it was really you then, that imitated the whip- 
 poor-will, as you -were wont in our happier days?" 
 
 "It was I, Rose. I could not bear the thought that 
 you should pass another nisht in hopeless misery, and 1 
 could not relieve you with any safety. I should have at 
 tempted it, however, but for my brave companion, Lewis 
 Wetzel." 
 
 "Ho, then, is with you? I thought T saw another, 
 but of late I feur to trust my senses. Where is he now?" 
 
 ''Gone in pursuit of the savages or rather, to with 
 draw them from us, he has set off into the forest, and bid 
 them defiance, and they have gone in pursuit of him. 
 Pray God that he be not killed or captured for then it 
 would be almost impossible for us to escape." 
 
 "Hark." cried Rose; "there is a gun. Oh, God! if he 
 should be killed!" 
 
 "No. thank heaven!" rejoined Albert, breathing more 
 freely; "I hear his shout and laugh, and the Indian yell
 
 82 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 of rage and dismay. It was his rifle we heard, and there 
 is one foe less to contend with." 
 
 We will hope so," said Rose, shuddering. 
 
 "I will load my rifle, at all events, and be prepared 
 for the worst, ' returned Albert; and he immediately set- 
 itbout this necessary precaution. 
 
 "When T first heard the whip-poor-will last night," 
 pursued Fiose, "it brought you so forcibly to my mind 
 that I felt as if my leart would break, for I truly thought 
 we should never see each other again. Little did I then 
 dream it was you in reality. But when it stopped, and 
 recommenced with that soft, plaintive trill, which I had 
 so often hearc vou make by way of variation, the delus 
 ion was so perfect, that, without a second thought, I 
 raised my head and looked around, half-expecting to be- 
 nold you standing near. Nor was I wholly disappointed, 
 for methought two soft eyes were beaming upon me; and 
 ttoon those sweet words of hope., that I shall never forget, 
 stole softly upon my ear, like angels' whispers. I heard 
 no more; but what T did henr gave me strength to pass 
 the night in comparative happiness; though somehow, 
 afterward, I recalled it as a dream, but still it seemed an 
 omen of good. Ah! f would our gallant and generous 
 "hunter we're hack safe from our fearful enemies! But 
 "how 3id you fall in with him, Albert?" 
 
 The other proceeded to detail the manner in which 
 they had met. while he had paused upon the trail oi the 
 renegade. 
 
 "Ah 1 " sighed Rose at the mention of the latter, "your 
 fearful presentiment and suspicion of that terrible man 
 were horribly vert'ied, for he is the same that called the 
 <lay before and procured a drink of water. But what has 
 become of him?" 
 
 "He has met his reward. His body is near, but his 
 soul is where man knoweth not." 
 
 'Re is dead then?" rejoined Rose. "Aye, now 1 re 
 member, methinks; lie fell near me, did he not? I have a 
 confused recollection of Hearing the report of a rifle of
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 85 
 
 hearing shouts and yells, and seeing you standing ueir- - 
 or rushing toward me, I cannot tell which for immed 
 iately after everything turned dark, and I thought I was- 
 falling to the ground. But what is that?" exclaimed Rose, 
 in terror, as at the moment a heavy groan sounded in her 
 terror, as at the moment a heavy groan sounded in her 
 ear. 
 
 Albert sprang from behind the tree, with his now 
 loaded rifle in his hand, and at once his eye fell upon a. 
 horrid spectacle. The renegade, partly raised upon his 
 hands, his face all covered with blood, which was stream 
 ing down from a wound in his head, was staring savage 
 ly amund, with his fierce, swollen, and blood-shot tyes, 
 that gleanu-r: like balls of fire. Though mortally wound 
 ed, ho was not yet dead, as Albert had supposed. The 
 ball had struck the cap of the skull, where it shuts down 
 upon the head, and both slivered and raised it, and had 
 then glanced off without penetrating the brain. He had 
 fallen to the earth, stunned, but had now so far recover 
 ed as to be able to raise himself to the position just, de 
 scribed. Besides the blood on Ms face, his coarse, shaggy 
 hair was clotted with gore, and his hands and garments- 
 were deeply dyed. On the ground the blood had pooled; 
 and in moving his nead one &ide of his face had rubbed 
 in it. and to it ;iad adhered such loose dirt as chanced to- 
 be rnderneath. At first his stare was wild and savage; 
 and it was directed rather toward his dead companion, 
 than his living foe; though the position was such that Al 
 bert 'ould soe the hideous features distinctly. 
 
 As Albert stood gazing upon the dying man, Rose 
 silently joined him; and the moment her eye rested on 
 the ghastly object before her, she involuntarily uttered 
 an exclamation of horror, instantly the renegade turn 
 ed his savage eyes upon the lovers, and a demoniac ex 
 pression made mote frightful his villainous countenance, 
 and in ev.ua mat ion of baffled rage and hate passed his 
 bloody lips. Then perceiving that the looks directed to 
 ward him were rather those of pity than malice, he ar-
 
 84 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 Uculated, "Water, water,'' in a rattling, husky tone. 
 
 "Waier y.>u shall have," replied Albert, perceiving 
 that the gourd used by the Indians was lying on the 
 ground at a short distance. "It shall not be said that I 
 refused a dying man his last request, though that man 
 was the ruthless murderer of all my kindred." 
 
 The words, and the deep tone of grief in which they 
 were uttered, seemed to touch the better feelings of even 
 this hardened wretch; for' instantly the expression of the 
 rount'3nance -softened , and Albert fancied he could de 
 tect a look of regret and remorse, as the other turned 
 aside his head and fell back upon the earth. 
 
 Bidding Rost? remain where she was, Albert, after 
 looking carefully to his rifle, went forward, picked up the 
 gourd, and, going to the creek, filled it with water. He 
 then returned and offered it to the renegade. The latter 
 partly raised nimself on one hana, took it with the oth 
 er, and drained it without stopping to catch breath, so 
 powerful was his thirst. Then looking steadily into the 
 face of the young man, with a gaze that the latter could 
 percer^e was fast growing glassy and dim in death, he 
 faintly gashed "Thank you; for forgive me!" and roll 
 ing over upon the earth, with a groan, expired. 
 
 "H's all over now," said Albert, solemnly, "and his 
 spirit has gone to oe judged for the deeds done in the 
 body:" and he moved away to rejoin his little Rose. 
 
 While conversing with her on the death of the rene 
 gade, a shout was heard, and looking up, both perceived 
 Lewis Wetzel within a few paces, approaching at a leis 
 ure ga.it. Rose at once sprang forward with an artless 
 freedom and the familiarity of an old friend, and taking 
 his hand in both of hers thanked him warmly, with tear 
 ful eyes, for his kindness in so gallantly and generously 
 comir? to her rescue. 
 
 "Well." said the other, not a little affected by her 
 manner, though he strove to conceal it under an air of 
 indifference, "I hain't did no more'n my duty. I'm oow- 
 <rful glad, thungh. tc see you alive and safe; for I's
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 85 
 
 .afear'd, one time, that you'd got cl'ar on us for sartin. 
 Howdomever, it's all right now, and the cussed red-skins 
 hev paid for their bloody doin's, though it can't fotch 
 back them as is lost." 
 
 "Alas!" rejoined the other, with a fresh burst, of 
 grief, "my father, mother, brother, and sister for they 
 \vere all those to me, though ties kindred were not be 
 tween us have all gone to their long home. It is a 
 lerrible trial, and may God give me strength to support 
 .ne through it." 
 
 "And are our enemies all dead?" asked Albert, join 
 ing the party. 
 
 "Ef you mean them as captur'd Rose," replied the 
 mtrepid woodsman, "thar scalps is here," and he pointed 
 significantly to his belt. "That is, I mean to say, all but 
 one. and him I see (nodding toward the renegade) has 
 got his'ii on his head. How';} this, Albert?" 
 
 ' It is the first human being that has ever fallen by 
 any hand scalp him, I cannot," was the reply. 
 
 O. well, it won't be long, ef ye hev much to do o' the 
 wood", afore ye git over them thar chicken-hearted no 
 tions, T can assure ye. Ef you don't want to s^-alp hira, 
 why T do; and though he's got white blood in him, he's 
 a savage by natur'. and oughter hev a place among 
 nis heathen friends;" and as he said this he strode for 
 ward to the object of these remarks, and in another 
 moment the fourth bloody scalp was making its circuit 
 through the air, preparatory to finding its place among 
 those that had preceded it 
 
 Albert and Rose both turned aside with a sickening 
 shudder. They had not as yet become sufficiently used 
 to the barbariou? customs of border life to witness all its 
 horrid deedrf with the eyes of a stoic. 
 
 "Nov ," said "Wetzel, with the satisfied air of a man 
 who has performed a very commendable act, "ef we can 
 pick up anything here worth eating we'll hev some break 
 fast: for somehow I feel jest as gaunt as a starved pig." 
 ITe then turned over the body of the Indian, and running
 
 86 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 his hand into a sort of wallet that was fastened to Ms 
 side, exclaimed, with an expression of delight, as lie 
 withdrew a dark bun^h of something, "Here it is here 
 it is jerk enough for all on us. Come on, and let us- 
 hev a feast." 
 
 "I thank you," replied Albert, with a feeling- of 
 loathing; "I have no desire to eat above all things, such, 
 food as that." 
 
 "Nor r,'' said Rose. 
 
 "What! you won't eat?" s*aid the old hunter, in as 
 tonishment; "then how in natur' do you expect to Mve? 
 You don't set yourselves up for them dar beasts as is 
 called camellions, and, as I've heerd folks tell, lives <m 
 air, do ye?" 
 
 "No." answered Albert, glancing at Rose, and for 
 the first time since the death of his friends, allowed ' a 
 faint smile to lighten the deep gloom of his countenance. 
 "No, friend Wotzel. we make no pretensions to live on air 
 though food taken from the murdei-ers of our friends 
 is repugnant to our tastes. At least, such is the case 
 with mvself, and J presume it is even so with Rose." 
 
 "It is," replied the latter. 
 
 "Well," pursued the old hunter, "it don't make 
 no difference to me whar it comes from, ef it's only fit for 
 a white girtleman to eat, and thar's enough on't to stop 
 up a big exkevation, as the settlement chaps say. Jest 
 you sit down somewhere and wait till I've put this here- 
 meat out o' sight, and I'll go out and fotch in a deer; 
 and maybe that'll suit ye better bein's ho-v I've got yome 
 salt along to season it." 
 
 "I thank you!" replied Albert, "that would certainly 
 be doing us a great kindness, and we will gladly await 
 your return."' 
 
 "Better crawl into the bushes then, up thar on the 
 knoll," rejoined the other, "for thar's no knowin' what 
 skulkin' varmints might be about, when you ain't sus- 
 pectin' 'em."
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 87 
 
 "I will take your advice," said Albert. But do you 
 really apprehend any danger from a lurking foe?" 
 
 "O, thar's no tellin' in these here woods, when the 
 red-skins git thar hatchets once dug up, whar to find 
 *em t or what'll bo the consequences. Since they licked 
 .St. Cl'ar so powerful they got to be a heap more trou 
 blesome nor they was afore, and we must look out for 
 .the worst. Howsomever, it's my opine we've peppered 
 al! the scamps that is 'bout here; but still it don't make 
 nothin' no dangerouser to be sort o' cautious-like." 
 
 Saying this, Wetzel picked up the gourd, and mov 
 ing away to the creek, sat himself down upon the grassy 
 bank and prepared to make his morning's repast; while 
 Albert p.nr\ Rose, agreeable to his directions, repaired to 
 .the knoll, where the thick underbrush screened them 
 Irom observation. 
 
 "Here," said the young hunter, in a low, tender tone, 
 "is ground \ mu<t ever hold sacred." 
 
 For what reason?" inquired the other, in some sur 
 prise. 
 
 "Because it was from here I first beheld, after her 
 capture, one whose life is dearer to me than my own; and 
 hecavse from here I took that signal vengeance upon one 
 -of her foos -mrl mine, which ever, the justice of high heav 
 en would seem to demand. It was from here I saw you, 
 .my own Forest Rose, a helpless prisoner; it was here I 
 turned the deadly weapon to set you free; and it was here 
 1 rushed, exultingly, to clasp you once more in a fond em- 
 orace and restore you that glorious liberty which God 
 (designed for all his creatures " 
 
 "Then to me it shall be ever sacred, also," replied 
 liose, in a tone of deep sadness and affection. "But, not- 
 withstarding, r would I were far from here now; for 
 someoow I like not this forest; and a continual dread 
 hangs over mo, lest we may not be able to get back to a 
 ^settlement without meeting with more savages." 
 
 "God forbid that SMch should be the case! though,
 
 88 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 like you, I admit I am not altogether without roy fearsi 
 We must try. howe\er, and guard against it. Wetzel is an. 
 old hunter, and will be likely to detect any signs of dang 
 er, and \ve will be guided solely by him. But for him, 
 dear Rose, I fear I should never have found you; certain 
 am I that, but for his assistance, I should have failed in 
 liberating the only being now left me to love, and per 
 haps have lost my own life also." 
 
 "Oh! that would have been horrible!" rejoined the- 
 other, shuddering at the thought; "and, next to God, dear 
 Albert, this noble hunter must have our undivided grat- 
 iludo. Oh! had you been killed," pursued little Rose, 
 with that charming, naive simplicity, and depth of feel 
 ing which never fails to touch the heart, and which now 
 brought tears to the eyes of her lover, ''what would have- 
 become of me of your own little Forest Rose, as you 
 were wont to call me? I should have had none to love 
 then, and none to love me, for, alas! all the rest of my 
 friends are gone the long journey of death;." and she 
 buried her tace in her hands to give unseen vent to her 
 emotions. 
 
 "Poor Koso!'' replied Albert, turning to her with 
 tearful eyes and an anguished heart; "poor Rose!" and 
 throwing an arm around her slender waist he drew her 
 fondly to him and imprinted a kiss of pure affection upon 
 her now pale lips. "My own Forest Rose," he pursued, in 
 a mournful tone of tenderness, ''we must be all in al' to- 
 oach other now; and T pray to Him who reigns on high 
 that He may give me strength and power to cherish and 
 protect tluu' -.is thou deservest! All my kindred now lie- 
 in a bloody grave; and on thee. angel of my heart, shall 
 henceforth be bestowed nry undivided affection. If we- 
 can once reach a settlement in safety we will have the 
 solemn rite performed which will bind us together for 
 ever; and then we will leave these frontiers if not for 
 life, at least until there shall come a time of peace, and 
 the ruthless weapons of the savage shall be buried, to- 
 \var no more."
 
 'THE FOREST ROSE 89 
 
 "There was a moment of silence after Albert had 
 ceased speaking; and then the voice of Wetzel broke the 
 stillness: 
 
 "Take car o' yourselves!" he said. "I'm goin' now, 
 Imt hope to he baok soon with somethin' you can eat. 
 Don't stray away now whar I can't find ye. I'll try and 
 kill a deer, for the meat : ll be good, and the skin on't '11 
 make Rose some nice moccasions." 
 
 "Don't be gone long/' rejoined Albert, "whether you 
 find the deer or not, for we are anxious to leave this 
 place as soon as possible." 
 
 "Stay till I come," was the reply; "for it's again 
 reason and uatur' to think o'travelin' any further with 
 out food. Again, I say, take car o' yourselves, and don't 
 leave your ambushment!'' 
 
 "!t eems as though there were something ponen- 
 tious in his c;iution," said Albert, solemnly; and. raising 
 his head above the bushes, he beheld the tall, ungainly 
 form of his late companion disappearing in the deep for- 
 est, with a gloomy foreboding he tried in vain to dispel. 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 The Recapture. 
 
 T*or some minutes after the departure of Wetzel 
 neither of the lovers spoke, both apparently employed 
 with thoughts of a very melancholy nature. Rose was 
 the first to break the silence. 
 
 "Ah, me!" she sighed, "what must have been your 
 feelings, dear Albert, when you came home and beheld 
 the reality of your horrible presentiment!" 
 
 "God only knows what I felt and what agony I suf 
 fered?" returned the other, in a voice husky with emo 
 tions of gric-f. "Before the ruins of the cabin I beheld 
 \he gory corpses of my father and brother stretched upon 
 the earth. The hoart-sickening thought then came over 
 me that all were dc-ad that you, Rose, you were dead 
 and I reeled like one intoxicated. Wetzel first gave me 
 liope that some might be prisoners; and we ran down
 
 90 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 the hill to ascertain; but ere I reached the cabin my 
 courage failed me. T feared to learn the truth. I sank 
 down, beside my father and brother, and it was not till 
 my companion assured me that all were not dead that I 
 could gain strength to lock upon the funeral pile of the 
 departed upon the remains of those so near and dear 
 10 ni'j Tlu-n I soon learned that you you, my own 
 Forest Rc c e had been taken prisoner; and the thought 
 that perhaps you might be rescued ga\e me strength to 
 bear up under the terrible blow. We dug a grave near 
 the creek; and after consigning the bodies to their last 
 earthly resting place Wetzel kindly buried them from my 
 sight. I knelt upon the soft earth and silently prayed 
 both for the dead and the living; and then arose and 
 followed my companion down the creek on the Indian 
 trail. Eu* if my feelings were terrible, dear Rose, what 
 must have been yours, who were an eye witness to the 
 horribTe butchery!" 
 
 "No one can tell my feelings," answered the other; 
 and even T have only an indistinct recollection of what 
 they were myself. T believe I felt worse afterward than 
 at the time; for it was all done so quick, and was so 
 horrible, that I became completely paralyzed with terror, 
 and felt more like a person in a frightened dream i lian 
 as one looking upon a reality." 
 
 "And how soon after I left was the attack made?" 
 "I judge it te have been an hour, though it might 
 have been longer. Father had been to the field, and Wil 
 liam also: but for some cause both returned to the house,, 
 and from there went down to the barn. That was the 
 last I evi'r saw of them till I beheld their bloody corpses 
 lying where you found them. They were probably on 
 their way back to the field, when they were fired upon 
 by a concealed foe, and instantly killed. Mother and sis 
 ter had put away the breakfast dishes, and were just in 
 the act of removing the table; I had taken some coarse 
 sewing, and seated myself near the door, with my face
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 91 
 
 turned from it: when suddenly we heard the reports of 
 rifles, followed by groans and yells that fairly made my 
 hair starul with terror. At the same instant a couple of 
 dark figures rprang into the room, and one of them, seiz 
 ing me oy The throat, raised his tomahawk as if to strike. 
 I shrieked aud closed iny eyes, as T then thought, never to 
 .open them again in life. Mother and sister shrieked also, 
 and then I heard a stiffling cry, succeeded by another 
 shriek; then a groan or two, and the fall of some heavy 
 body upon the floor. Then arose a series of hoirible 
 yells, and I found myself dragged from the building into 
 the open air. All this, as I cow recall it, was the work 
 of a single moment; at least, I cannot realize that it 
 lasted any longer. I now opened my eyes and beheld 
 the renegade standing over me, with a tomahawk in 
 liis hand, from the blade o? which fresh, warm blood 
 was -tripping. On seeing this, and the dead bodies of fa 
 ther and William before me, 1 believed that ail were 
 murdered; and sinking at hi3 feet I begged of him to kill 
 me alsc. 
 
 " 'N;;," he coarsely replied; 'you're a handsome wench 
 and will make a capital Indian squaw,' or words to that 
 effect. He then led or rather dragged me down the knoli 
 to the cattle yard, where he bound my wrists and then 
 made them fast to a stake, so that I could not escape. He 
 then returned to his companions, and I could hear them 
 yelling, whooping, and laughing for some minutes, when 
 they all came down together, with four bloody scalps 
 hanging to the bolts of the renegade and one other. 
 The lattei was in advance, and in his hand he held a 
 "burning brand. Approaching the barn, he cast ii into the 
 hay-loft. Instantly the fire flashed up, and. spreading 
 Tapidly, soon burst through the roof, and wrapped the 
 whole building in flames. At the same moment the 
 flames barst out of the cabin, and perceiving this, the 
 Indians s^t up another horrible yell of triumph, and dis 
 appeared into the thicket, the renegade'cutting my cords
 
 92 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 and hurrying me along with the rest. 
 
 "For some distance no pains were taken to conceal 
 our course, and this gave me hope that you might return, 
 and getting assistance from Fort Baker might follow and 
 overtake us. But this hope, faint as it was, was soon de 
 stroyed; for, reaching the most dense part of the thicket, 
 the Indians came to a halt, and had a long consultation 
 together in thrir own language. Then the renegade 
 lurned to ine and inquired what person had left our 
 cabin tnnr. morning and gone in the same direction he 
 had himself taken the day before. I replied, a hunter. 
 Ho then inquired if he belonged to the family if he had 
 gone to follow his trail and if he was expected soon to 
 return. These tjuestions I refused to answer, when he 
 struck me with the flat of hi.-j hand." 
 
 Tho villian!" exclaimed Albert, indignantly. "Oh, 
 tbat I had been there, to have felled the monster to the 
 earth! To strike you. dear Rose! But I am revenged 
 now, and so lot him go. But did you answer his ques 
 tions then. Rose?" 
 
 "jMo, and I firmly told him I never would; he might 
 kill me but he had not the power to make me speak. He 
 saw I was determined; and with an oath he turned to 
 the Indians, and again they held a long consultation. 
 From their gestures and the animated, almost angry dis 
 cussion that took place, I judged that a part were for 
 going forward, and the others for remaining where they 
 were, in the hope that you would soon return, when they 
 might either kill 01 capture you. 
 
 "At length the matter became settled; and the ren 
 egade informed me, with a savage grin of exultation, 
 that they had derided to await the hunter's return. This 
 alarmed me terribly; and I believe I suffered more in 
 that hour of dread suspense than at any other time be 
 fore or since; nt least I was more keenly alive to fear and 
 the horrors of ray situation. Every leaf that moved my 
 excited imagination converted into the sound of your
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 93 
 
 approaching footsteps; and a thousand times did I fancy 
 I could ?oe you in the agonies of dying by the bloody 
 tomahawk or murderous rifle. Gladly then would I have 
 given them my life to have saved yours." 
 
 "Bless you, for an angel, dearest Rose! bless yen!" 
 cried Albert, again drawing her closer to his beating 
 heart. "Oil, what have I ever done to deserve this pure, 
 holj'. unselfish affection " 
 
 Rose laid her face against his manly breast and 
 wept; her voice she dared not trust in reply. After 
 several moments of silence, broken only by her sobs, she 
 proceeded: 
 
 "At length, to my unspeakable delight. I saw the 
 party that had yielded in the agreement begin to show 
 si?ns of uneasiness and impatience. Then another coun 
 cil was held, and a single wa v rior was rent out on the 
 trail toward the burning buildings. In less than a quar 
 ter of an hour he returned, and his report seemed de 
 cisive of the matter in agitation; and instantly prepa 
 rations were mado for departure. The renegade now 
 told me I 'oiust. follow him; and he led the way to the bed 
 of the creek; and each or' the others, myself next in line, 
 entered the water single file. I now saw, by this precau 
 tion, that the party were as anxious to break the trail 
 as before they had been careless in leaving it open; and 
 It both gave me pleasure and pain pleasure, because 
 I believed you would now escape; pain, because I be 
 lieved tho.t the trail would be so broken that none could 
 follow it, and consequently that a long, hopeless cap 
 tivity or death was before me. But, like you, I prayed 
 to God foi strength to support me under my trials, and I 
 bore up with what fortitude I could. 
 
 "We continued in the creek down to the Captina, in 
 which I was made to wade a considerable distance along 
 the beach, when, the Witter becoming too deep, we landed, 
 and follow pd its windings down to the Ohio, where the 
 whole party swam across, dragging me over on a drift-
 
 94 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 log. 
 
 "But why pursue my story in detail! You follow 
 ed the trail, and consequently know all the strategema 
 used by the savages to prevent your finding them." 
 
 "1 do; and but for the superior knowledge of my 
 backwoods friend, I fear they would have been success 
 ful. From all appearances, they must at one time have 
 traveled very fast." 
 
 "They did; and it pained me to keep up with them. 
 At last my feot became so swollen and sore that every 
 step I took almost made me cry aloud." 
 
 "Poor Rose," sighed Albert; "I hope your troubles 
 are nearly over now. When Wetzel returns, and we 
 both get refreshed by food, I will make you some rude 
 moccasins, and we will then set out. for Fort Harmar, 
 making easy stages. Once there, dear Rose, it shall be 
 the sole aim of my life to make you happy." 
 
 To beguile the time, Rose now requested Albert to 
 give her an account of his own adventures, beginning 
 where he had left off, for a part he had already told her. 
 He \vai about to comply, when Rose grasped hir arm 
 in terror, ana in a low, trembling tone, exclaimed: 
 
 "Hark! f hear a noise, as of persons running. God 
 grant it be not Indians!" 
 
 "It giov-s louder, and consequently draws near," 
 said Albert-, in that low, breathless tone that denotes ex 
 citement allied to fear. "Keep quiet, Rose keep quiet! 
 Do not stir, on your life!" lie added, as slowly and cau 
 tiously he raised himself above the low bushes in which 
 he was concealed, arid peered eagerly around. 
 
 Nothing could he see; but the noise was evidenly 
 approaching from behing a thicket on the opposite side of 
 the creek; and deliberately raising his rifle to his shoul 
 der, he fixed his eye steadily in that direction, and await 
 ed the result. Every moment the sounds grew more 
 audible as the cause drew nearer; and Albert could feel 
 the hands of Rose tremble as she clung to his knees in
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 95 
 
 alarm. 
 
 "Down, down, dear Albert," she cried, "or you will 
 be seen and killed! Oh, for God's sake, do not expose 
 yourself!" she added, pleasantly. 
 
 '"Hist!" said the other; and as he spoke his eye was 
 already glancing along the barrel of his deadly rifle. 
 
 The next moment the bushes skirting the creek 
 were violently agitated, there was a heavy splash in the 
 water, and a noble deer bounded into view. Instantly 
 he recoiled in dismay for the rank smell of blood of his 
 foemen h;-.d reached him. But he was doomed. The 
 shriek of a female and the crack of a rifle, together 
 awoke the echoes of the deep forest; and bounding for 
 ward a few paces the noble animal reared himself on 
 his legs, staggered and rolling over upon his back, ex 
 pired. 
 
 "Nay, Rose, be not alarmed!" said Albert, now ad 
 dressing her in a gentle tone. "Providence has kindly 
 sent us a deer, and I have killed it. 
 
 "Thank heaven!" ejaculated the other, fervently. 
 "I was fearful it was our common enemy. But the ani 
 mal was frightened, was it not, Albert?" 
 
 "Ay, very much; but doubtless our friend was the 
 cause. I would he were here now; though, if witihn 
 sound of mv rifle, he will speedily return, well knowing 
 it would not have been discharged needlessly." 
 
 "You think, then, Albert, we have no reason to ap- 
 pretend anything serious from the fright of this animal?' 
 
 ''God forbid that we should!" said Albert, feeling, 
 from some unknown cause, secretly uneasy, though he 
 took good care to conceal his forebodings from the other. 
 "I will reload my rifle and then endeavor to prepare such 
 a meal as our limited circumstances will permit." 
 
 In a short time his piece was recharged; and, bid 
 ding Rose re-main where she was till all was ready, he 
 leaned the muzzle against a tree, and drawing his knife 
 at once fell upon the carcass of the deer. Having selected
 
 96 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 a spot to his liking, he rekindled the Indian camp-nre ; 
 
 and cutting the meat into thin slices, attached it to roast- 
 
 ing sticks, and so placed them that it would sooii he done 
 
 thoroughly. 
 
 Hunger, by this time, had become very acute with 
 both Albert and Hose; and the savory smell of the meat, 
 as it roasted at the fire, gave them a keenness of appetite 
 that neither had felt since the heart-rendering tragedy 
 already narrated. As soon as the steak was fairly cook 
 ed Albert carried a piece to Rose, who, on tasting it, ex 
 claimed: 
 
 "It is the sweetest morsel I ever ate." 
 "I agree with you," returned Albert, as he followed 
 her example. "Such," he continued, "is the effect of 
 hunger under peculiar circumstances. We now think 
 this delicious, without seasoning or bread, which at one 
 time we cculd not so have eaten. Those who have never 
 known hunger know not the value of food; and it is just 
 the same with everything else; by the loss of the bless 
 ings we have had do we only learn to prize them at 
 their true worth. It no other good comes of our trials, 
 I trust they will teach us not to repine without cause, 
 aa thousands do who have never known adversity. I do 
 not set up for a moralizer, nor do I believe in special 
 dispensations, but 1 speak truly, from my heart, when I 
 say I believe our adversities, if rightly viewed, become 
 ultimate benefits, either in fitting us more properly to 
 live here, or to go hence to the state that lieth beyond 
 human ken. God ordereth all things, and He alone 
 knoweth what is best; and though He may not change a 
 single law of nature to reward or chastise as a special 
 dispensation would seem to imply yet He may so place 
 us upon this great wheel of events that combined cir 
 cumstances shall throw around us a chain of afflictions 
 that, in the end. as I have said, will result to our good. 
 Therefore, let the moral be deducted from this, that 
 whatever is, is best,"
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 97 
 
 "Such," answered Rose, "I believe to be a true doc 
 trine; and it certainly is a consoling one to those who 
 have been or may be tried like ourselves." 
 
 Thus conversing, our young levers finished their fru 
 gal repast, and found themselves refreshed to a degree far 
 beyond their expectations. 
 
 'I fell now," said Rose, "as if I had strength for the 
 journey.' 
 
 "I would that Wetzel were come!" returned the 
 other; "for \\e should improve the day, as best \ve can, 
 in increasing the distance between us and our enemies. 
 I will employ the time however, in constructing you a 
 pair of moccasins from the hide of this animal." 
 
 Saying this, Albert advanced to the deer, and bend 
 ing over it commenced removing its hide. He was thus 
 busied, when suddenly he heard a shriek from Rose 
 that made his heart fairly leap to his throat. Hardly 
 conscious of what he did, he sprang for his rifle, but he 
 was too late. Already a swarthy savage had grasped it, 
 and the horrid yells of more than twenty others had 
 sounded in his ear. At the same instant a blow on the 
 head from behind laid him senseless upon the earth. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 The Rescue. 
 
 When our young hero again recovered his senses he 
 found himself lying on his back, but not where he had 
 fallen, and a party of some five or six savages standing 
 around him, apparently holding a consultation. During 
 his state of unconsciousness he had, contrary to their 
 usual custom, been removed several hundred wards from 
 tho camp; but for what purpose was known only to his 
 captors, though they probably supposed a considerable 
 party of whites to be near, and did this as a necessary 
 precaution. 
 
 At first, on regaining his senses, Albert, as might 
 naturally be supposed looked around him with a bewil-
 
 gg THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 dered air. ^here he was he could not tell. Gradually 
 a recollection of events returned to him, but what time 
 had elapsed since his fall he had no means of knowing. 
 Now he thought of Rose, and he turned an eager look 
 in every direction, hut she was nowhere to be seen. Then 
 came the horrible thought that perhaps she had been 
 murdered, and we leave the reader to imagine his feel 
 ings. Could he conscientiously sustain his philosophy 
 now that "whatever is, is for the best?" Certain it is, 
 that he had to put it to one of the severest tests that a 
 mortal is over called upon to undergo; and if he some 
 what shrunk from the terr.ible ordeal, with a repining 
 thought, it must be attributed rather to a weakness of 
 human nature a yielding to bitter circumstances than 
 to a positive change in his belief of the wise orderings 
 of a Divine Providence. 
 
 Albert was a young man of strong physical and 
 mentai abilities; and without possessing that coarse and 
 reckless hardihood which was so characteristic of a large 
 portion of the earliest pioneers, he was as well fitted per 
 haps, by nature and education, to sustain himself, under 
 all his severe afflictions, though in a different manner, 
 as the beat of them. Keenly sensitive to the highest 
 degree passionate in extreme of an ardent, impulsive 
 temperament, and prone to give full sway to his feelings 
 he yet possessed a self-command and a fortitude, when 
 brought to the last trial, that surprised even himself. It 
 is an undeniable truth that nc one knows what he ran 
 undergo till he is tried; and those who take light griefs 
 in a violent outward semblance are often capable of pass 
 ing triumphantly through the most fiery ordeals of af 
 fliction and adversity. 
 
 On beholding his friends murdered, Albert had felt 
 but for the escape of her he loved, and the hope of restor 
 ing her to liberty and happiness, he must have sunk un 
 der the awful blow; yet now, in a moment of triumph 
 and Comparative felicity, she had not only been sudden-
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 99 
 
 ly snatched from him, most probably forever, but he had 
 been made a captive himself to a ruthless foe; and still 
 he was able to bear his misfortune without entirely sink 
 ing under a crushing weight of despair. She might be 
 dead, for all he knew to the contrary or even, at the 
 best, was a hopeless prisoner and still he lived on, bear 
 ing his second griefs even more manfully than he did the 
 first, yet <vith no dulled faculties, but with sensations as 
 keenly alive to acute suffering as then. 
 
 Feeling a pain in his head. Albert raised his hand to 
 it; and, as he drew it back, all bloody, he for the first 
 time became aware that he had been so seriously wound 
 ed; and his wonder now was that he had not immediately 
 been dispatched, or at least scalped, and left on the 
 ground for dead. He had been struck on the back of the 
 head, evidently, with a heavy club, or the breech of a 
 musket; and though no bone had been fractured, the 
 flesh had been divided, so as to leave a gaping wound, 
 from which the blood had flowed freely, and clotted 
 among his hair. No attempt had been made to dress 
 the wound; but he had been raised just as he had fallen, 
 and borne to the spot where he now found himself; and 
 where, it, would appear, he had been deposited by his 
 captors till a short council should decide upon his fate. 
 
 On finding their prisoner had fully recovered his 
 consciousness, a tall, athletic warrior, who appeared to 
 "be the leader of the party; now approached him, and 111 
 tolerable English, said : 
 
 'Pale-face brave him kill so warrior," holding up 
 four lingers to denote the number of slain. 
 
 As to this Albert did not see proper to reply, not 
 being fully awiire what kind of an answer would be po 
 litic, the other continued: 
 
 "Warrior lose scalp pale-face no got him squaw 
 no got him who sot him?" 
 
 "Did not the girl tell you?" inquired Albert, anx 
 ious to learn whether Rose was living or dead; and at 
 the same time he raised himself to a sitting posture.
 
 100 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 'No ask him," was the reply. 
 "And why did you not ask her?" pursued Albert. 
 
 "Him gone." 
 
 "Dead, do you mean?" 
 
 "Him gone," was the still evasive reply. "You tell." 
 
 "If you will answer my question, chief, I will ans 
 wer yours hot otherwise." 
 
 "Me Ogwehea," rejoined the savage, touching his 
 breast, "no chief. Tarhe chief great chief. Ogwehea 
 great warrior kill so scalp," holding up eight fingers. 
 
 "But you have not answered my question, Ogwehea. 
 TeU me wnether the girl is living or dead, and I will tell 
 you what has become of your brothers' scalps, for I see 
 by your dress and war-paint that you belong to the same 
 tribe." 
 
 "Squaw dead," answered the Indian. 
 
 "Oh, God!" groaned Albert, bowing his head upon 
 his hands, and struggling manfully with his feelings. 
 
 For a minute or two the savage watched him in si 
 lence; and then touching him on the shoulder, said: 
 
 "Ogwehea tell pale-face pale-face not tell Ogwehea. 
 Who scalp got?" 
 
 For some moments longer Albert hesitated what to 
 reply. Although the Indian had said that Rose was deau, 
 he could ho.rdlv credit the idea that they would kill a fe 
 male, and yet spare his own life; and if living, he wished 
 to answer in such a way that it might result to her bene 
 fit, though in ever so slight a degree. Should he say the 
 scalps were in possession of a large party of whites, who 
 were near, the Indians might prowl around for days, 
 waiting to surprise them as he could easily account for 
 the absence of all traces, by saying they had hid their 
 trail in the water and this delay might give Wetzel time 
 to reach Baker's Fort, and bring up the garrison to his 
 rescue. On the other hand, it might induce the Indians 
 to set off for their villages with extra speed; and if 
 Rose were really a prisoner and should lag behind as in 
 her present weak condition he knew she must they
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 101 
 
 might tomahawk her to get rid of the trouble of forcing 
 her along, and also in order to quicken their progress. 
 Again, should he tell them the scalps were in possession 
 of a single hunter, they might find the trail of Wetzel, 
 follow it, and come upon his friend unawares, and either 
 kill or make him a prisoner also; and thus, their security 
 being increased, they might venture down upon the set 
 tlers and again put the tomahawk and brand to their 
 fearful work. Put on the other hand again, their very 
 security might relax the vigilance, and give him an op 
 portunity to effect an escape. There was something in 
 favor and against either tale, and Albert was sorely per 
 plexed to decide as to which would be the most politic. At 
 last he resolved on telling the plain truth; for, after a 
 careful examination, he came to the conclusion that the 
 chances of esca,pe were in favor of this; and he trusted 
 that Wetzel, with his superior backwoods skill and na 
 tive sagacity, would be able to outwit his foes. 
 
 His decision formed, Albert at once proceeded to give 
 the already impatient Indian a few brief facts tpuching 
 the murder of his family, the capture of Rose, the follow 
 ing of the trail, and the venegeance he and only one 
 other had taken upon their foes. 
 
 Ogwehea heard him through, without betraying the 
 slightest passing thought or emotion; but when he had 
 concluded the savage gave a satisfied grunt, and there 
 was the slightest shade of admiration expressed in his 
 eye, a* he ejaculated, with the deep gutteral accent pecu 
 liar to tbe Indian: 
 
 'Pale-face brave." 
 
 He then walked back to his companions, who had 
 been standing apart; silently awaiting the termination 
 of his interview with the prisoner, and communicated to 
 them what he had learned. Immediately a messenger 
 was dispatched to the other division, (for the Indians, as 
 the rt-ader has no doubt divined, had already formed two 
 diptinct companies,) which was also holding a consulta 
 tion rot far off. In a few minutes the messenger re-
 
 102 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 turned; and presently all but two, who were left as 
 guard over Albert, departed; but for what purpose the 
 latter had no means of knowing, and it is not our de 
 sign here to explain. 
 
 After ar absence of more than an hour, during 
 which our hero was left to his own reflections, with no 
 other restraint upon him than the knowledge that his 
 every movement was closely watched, the party of four 
 returned, and immediately took up their line of march, 
 Ogwehea in advance. Keeping along the bank of the 
 stream. They continued thus for an hour, Albert forming 
 the center of the file, when they came to a halt, and held 
 another short consultation, the object of which was tc de 
 cide whether the prisoner should be bound or suffered to 
 continue at liberty. The former was at length decided 
 on, as a wise precaution, and accordingly they set about 
 it at on-:e. A stout thong of deer-skin was produced 
 and Ogwehea ordered our hero to place his hands behind 
 him. He obeyed, without a murmur, and they immed 
 iately bound the throng so tight around his wrists as to 
 pain him exceedingly. This act showed that they con 
 sidered him a dangerous prisoner; and while he felt it 
 to be a compliment to his bravery, he secretly admitted 
 that It would have pleased him much better tc have had 
 such omiuous flattery dispensed with. 
 
 The party now continued the same course for a mile 
 or two furth-jr, when they suddenly entered the creek, and 
 turning face about, continued in its bed back to the camp. 
 The design of all this was very apparent to Albert. They 
 probably discredited his story with regard to the num 
 ber that had made the attack on the first captors of Rose; 
 and as it was evidently their design not to return to their 
 villages without more prisoners or scalps, they took this 
 method to deceive their pursuers, should they have any. 
 and baffle all attempts to follow their trail. 
 
 Some four hours had now been consumed sinc Al 
 bert's capture; and although he had been forced to \valk 
 a considerable distance, yet he was still at the very place
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 103 
 
 where he had passed the night. He had thought him 
 self miserable then; but oh! what a fearful change had 
 there since been for the worse! He was theu free, at 
 least, and hope was bright, though somewhat dimmed by 
 fear; now he was a captive ; bound, with nothing cheer 
 ing m prospect. And when he recalled the happy mo 
 ments he had spent with her he loved, and contrasted 
 them with his present gloomy prospects, and the aAvful 
 uncertainty that hung over the object of his affections, 
 he indeed felt as if more than mortal power was required 
 to sustain him. He gazed upon the spot where he had 
 last seen Rose, and, in spite of all the fortitude he could 
 summon to his aid, he felt his heart swell almost to 
 bursting with grief, ana he turned away his face, un 
 able to endure the sight any longer. 
 
 Soon after the halt of the captors of Alhert at this 
 place, they were joined by some five or six warriors of 
 the other division, when all entered the creek, and set 
 off together, taking Albert along, and shaping their 
 course so as to strike the Ohio at its nearest point. How 
 many wero left behind he knew not, nor what had be 
 came of little Rose. Could it be possible that the words 
 of Ogwehea were true, and that Rose was in reality 
 dead? Oh' it was a fearful thought; but he had no rea 
 son, other than that we have named, for thinking the 
 contrary, and h's fears made the worst an almost terrible 
 reality. 
 
 For some two or three miles the Indian party now 
 numbering no less than twelve athletic warriors, com 
 manded by Og.vehea continued in the creek; when, 
 thinking sufficient precautions had been taken to render 
 them secure against pursuers, they came out, and struck 
 off across the forest, single file first sending off two or 
 three of the party as scouts to give the alarm in case of 
 danger, or warn them of the vicinity of an enemy that 
 might fall an easy prey. 
 
 The tramp was long and tedious to Albert; and as 
 the sun went down behind the Western hills he felt that
 
 104 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 his sun of hope was also setting. Nothing had occurred 
 throughout the day. heyond what we have given, worthy 
 of being recorded in these pages. The scouts had not 
 made their appearance since their departure; but as this 
 was not an unusual thing, it occasioned no alarm, and 
 elicited no remark from any of the party; in fact, it 
 rather gave a feeling of security, as it was common for 
 them to be absent days at a time, when everything re 
 mained peaceful. 
 
 As night drew on the Indians selected a proper place 
 for encarap'ng, and kindled a fire. The spot chosen was 
 wild and picturesque it being at the foot of a steep hill, 
 and the junction of a ravine with a small rivulet, where 
 the branching hemlocks, growing thick, almost excluded 
 the light oO day. On the other side of the rivulet, or 
 creek, as every small stream was almost invariably de- 
 nonr'natiid r>y the early settlers another steep hill came 
 down to the water, also covered with hemlocks, so that in 
 broad daylight it was impossible to see more than fifty 
 yards in any direction, and a glance at the sky over 
 head could only here and there be had through an oc 
 casional gor.bic window in this leaf-matted, evergreen 
 dome of nature. 
 
 Albert was now made fast to a small tree by a strip 
 of deer-skin passing around his neck and ankles, much in 
 the same inanaor as Rose had been confined the night be 
 fore. His captors now liberated his hands, and offered 
 him food and water both of which he partook some 
 what freely he having by this time discovered that if 
 the theory of going without eating was perfectly consis 
 tent with a captive overwhelmed with grief, yet that na- 
 tare would assert her rights, by making long, weary 
 marches t-hu most unfortunate times in the world to put 
 s'-ich theories in practice. 
 
 fclome half un hour after his meal was finished, Al 
 bert, who had begun to congratulate himself on being 
 left in such a manner that he could pass the night with 
 tolerable ease -and perbaps, while his captors were
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 105 
 
 asleep, be enabled to make his escape was sorely disap 
 pointed by the precautions the Indians now saw proper 
 to take. Instead of his hands being left at liberty, he 
 was now placed on his back, and his wrists tightly cord 
 ed to a stick than ran along the ground under his should 
 ers. This done, a second stick was placed under his back 
 length\\ipe, so that the two would form a rude cross; and 
 to this was bound his ankles the strip of deer-skin 
 around his neck still remaining, with the other end fast 
 to a tree Nothing could be more uncomfortable than 
 tills mode of being- confined. It was impossoble for him 
 to move a hand or foot; while the sticks, pressing hard 
 against his back and shoulders, stopped the circulation 
 of the blood, and completely benumbed him. Nothwith- 
 standing thi& painful position, so fatigued was he, that 
 he soon fell asleep, and slept soundly for several hours. 
 
 At daylight the Indians were stirring; and one of 
 their first ads was to release their prisoner from hie 
 painful confinement. It was some time, however, be 
 fore he could stand, and his wrists and ankles were found 
 to be considerably swollen. Gradually he recovered the 
 use of his l-mbs; and by the time lie had done so the 
 whole party was ready for a start. Swallowing a hasty 
 breakfast, they again set out, still shaping their course 
 toward the Ohio, but changing the first direction so as 
 to strike it at a point some half way between Baiter's 
 Fort and Fort Harmar. 
 
 Nothing of interest occurred till about mid-day, 
 when, just as they had halted beside a spring of cooi 
 water to take somo refreshments, one of the scouts came 
 -.n with a hasty step. There is rarely anything in the 
 expression of an Indian's countenance by which we can 
 judge of tne thoughts and emotions that lie hidden un 
 der the stern, warlike exterior; and so it was with the 
 present scout, though he had most important matters to 
 communicate. Gliding quietly into the circle of war 
 riors, he stood silent, awaiting to be addressed by the 
 leader of the party; but as soon as this Indian formal-
 
 106 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 ity had been complied with, he spoke rapidly for several 
 minutes Although Albert could not understand a word 
 he uttered yet he felt satisfied, by his gestures, and the 
 manner of the other savages, that what he communicat 
 ed was of grave import. Several times their hands 
 clutched their weapons convulsively, and many a dark, 
 menacing look was turned upon their prisoner, as though 
 they meditated immediate death to him. 
 
 When the messenger had done speaking-, all drew 
 together, and a hasty council was held, which lasted 
 some five minutes. As soon as this was over, all ate 
 hurriedly, when the scout and two companions withdrew 
 from the others and disappeared, leaving only seven in 
 the party that guarded the prisoner. The Indians now 
 offered the latter some food by which be judged that 
 ?f they had decided to take his life, his death was reserv 
 ed to somf- future period. As soon as he had eaten, the 
 whole party resumed their journey. 
 
 Nothing of importance occurred throughout the 
 day, though Albert did not fail to notice that the In 
 dians were more than doubly guarded in all their move 
 ments. 
 
 Just as the sun was setting they reached the north 
 ern bank of the Ohio; and selecting a suitable place en 
 camped for the night our young hero receiving precise 
 ly the same treatment as the night before. None of the 
 scouts returned; and this, instead of increasing the con- 
 lidence of the savages in their own security, as it had 
 appeared to do on a previous occasion, seemed to give 
 them more uneasiness than they cared to have expressed 
 in their manner. Toward morning it set in to rain; and 
 the water quenching the fire, and drenching our hero, 
 would have made his condition almost intolerable, but 
 that, in saturating the deer-skin thongs that bound him, 
 it caused them to give in such a way that his swollen 
 limbs found considerable relief. Sleep was, of course, 
 out of the question with all parties; and the Indians 
 arose and paced around the camp till daylight, but did
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 107 
 
 not attempt to rekindle the fire. 
 
 Following tlie windings of the Ohio, the party no~w 
 set off down stream, the rain continuing unabated till 
 near midday, when it ceased, and the clouds broke away, 
 though they remained floating through the humid at 
 mosphere till sundown. 
 
 4s soon as the rain was over a short consultation 
 was held, and another warrior sent off as a scout. Two 
 hours after a second departed and about two hours later 
 a third. As none of these had returned when his cap 
 tors hailed for the night, Albert felt strong hopes of be 
 ing atle to effect his escape ere long; for, somehow, he 
 rightly judged that those who had taken their departure 
 would never behold their companions again. 
 
 A similar idea appeared to trouble the Indians; and 
 it was easy to perceive, by watching them closely, that 
 they were secretly becoming alarmed, and that to a de 
 gree a little short of absolute fright. It was strange, 
 very strange, that none of the scouts came back to give 
 them InfoT-mation of the enemv; and when they remem 
 bered the eonionmication of the first who had come In 
 the day before, it was very natural that people so super 
 stitious should attribute the loss of so many brave com 
 panions to a supernatural agency; and then in council 
 resolved that if none of the parties sent out made their 
 appearance before morning, they would take the shortest 
 path to their villages, where the prisoners should be re 
 ligiously burned to appease the anger of the Great Spirit. 
 
 Tn the solemn watches of that night, when the In 
 dians were lost in slumber and while our hero, confin 
 ed in the customary manner, was lying on his back, and 
 in a confused state, between sleeping and waking, and 
 recalling indistinctly the events of the last few days 
 *he soft notes of a whip-poor-will sounded in his ear- 
 Like lightning his thoughts flew to the camp of Rose, 
 and for a bare moment he fancied he was again striving 
 for her deliverance; the next all his senses were keenly 
 alive, and a suspicion, he had for some time entertained.
 
 108 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 became almost a certainty. There was no part of his per 
 son he could move save his head; but this he raised, and 
 silently nodded, in token that he understood the signal. 
 
 The song of the whip-poor-will ceased, and for some 
 minutes the deep silence of nature reigned in that soli 
 tude of the wilderness. 
 
 The appearance of the camp was much like the one 
 we first described, where little Forest Rose was held a 
 captive. There was precisely the same number of cap 
 tors, and they were stretched around the fire much as 
 then, with the exception that the prisoner was left more 
 by himself there being no one immediately on either side 
 of h'm. As if to complete the resemblance, behind him 
 rose rx tremendous sycamore, within a few feet of where 
 rested his head, its broad arms spreading a thick canopy 
 of leaves over the v.hole camp. The view in the forest 
 was not so extended, owing to a thicket of hazel, which 
 cut it off on two sides, within a few feet of the fire; and 
 on the other sides light flashed upon the dark waters of 
 the Ohio, \vhicn here made a short bend around the point 
 on wliich the camp was located. Although alarmed at 
 the mysterious absence of their comrades, the Indians 
 knew too well the keen sagacity and skill of those sent 
 out, to believe they could all be entrapped and killed by 
 a white enemy, no matter how numerous; and as they had 
 no apprehension of such a foe, l.hey in consequence deem 
 ed it useless to have a sentinel guard their camp. Each 
 had laid himself down with a resolve that if he slept at 
 all> to sleep so lightly that the least sound should wake 
 him. For a Ion? time all kept awake; but gradually one 
 after another grew drowsy and closed his eyes; and the 
 'ast one ha<? just passed to a state of forgetfulness, when 
 the notes of the whip-poor-will sounded. This was heard 
 by one or two of the party; but being a familiar sound to 
 them caused no alarm; and by the time its soft strain was 
 finished they had forgotten having heard it, and passed 
 into a slumber heavier than ever. 
 
 Not so our hero; and he laid awake and listened till
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 109 
 
 a doubt of its being other than it seemed began to TOSS 
 his mind, atid cause him the most painful feelings of dis 
 appointment. But he was not suffered to despair en 
 tirely. After the lapse of some quarter of an hour, dur 
 ing which he had heard nothing but the deep roar of the 
 forest, the bowlings of a distant pack of wolves seen 
 nothing save the quivering of the green leaves over his 
 head, and occasionally a flickering shadow cast by the 
 fire upon the wall of the thicket after 'a lapse of a 
 Quarter of an hour, we say, he felt something cold touch 
 one of his outstretched hands. 
 
 On turning his eyes in that direction he beheld the 
 glittering blade of a knife, attached to a long ?tick, one 
 end of which was concealed behind the tree. Instead of 
 alarm, this caused the same intense inward joy that a 
 captive would feel in a prison on beholding an instrument 
 at work to sever the bars that confined him from the 
 world. He did not move he scarcely breathed so 
 fearful was he that the slightest sound might awaken his 
 captors, and destroy his hope of escape. Slowly the 
 knife turned, guided by an unseen hand, and gliding un 
 der his wrists severed the thong that bound his arm. 
 Then it was carefully moved to the other, and the liga 
 ture- cut in the same manner. Albert now felt that both 
 arms were free; but still he let them rest in the same po 
 sition as before, while the blade of the knife glided back 
 out of his sight. A minute or two elapsed, during which 
 he did not move, when he felt the haft o? the knife in 
 his hand, and saw the blade sticking in the end of a pole. 
 His hand closed upon it, the pole was withdrawn, and 
 he fo'.inc! himself master of a weapon, by which he could 
 In an instant sever his remaining fetters, and be once 
 more at liberty. Judge of his feelings then, reader, for 
 pen of o-jr:' has not power to describe them. 
 
 But he did not stop long to rejoice, for action was 
 necessary. Raising himself carefully, he slipped his 
 hand down to his feet, and the next moment he was free, 
 though his feet were so benumbed he thought it prudent
 
 110 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 not to attempt to use them for several minul.es. Severing 
 all the ligatures, which, notwithstanding he was clear 
 of tbe sticks, were pressing into the flesh of his wrists 
 and ankles he cautiously chafed the corded parts, and 
 soon had the satisfaction of feeling the blood in action by 
 experiencing a prickly sensation. 
 
 In a fe\v minutes he found, to his great delight, that 
 all his limbs were completelj under his control. He then 
 rose carefully, and commenced moving cautiously toward 
 the tree, behind \vhich the mysterious agent, who had 
 come so opportunely to his aid, was concealed. He had 
 only advanced a couple of steps, when his foot unfortu 
 nately pressed on a dry stick. IT snapped, with a sharp 
 noise; and instantly one of the savages sprang up, and 
 perceiving his prisoner about to escape, grasped his 
 rifle, and gave a yell that awoke the others. At the same 
 moment Albert sprang behind the tree the crack of a rifle 
 was heard, and the savage, bounding from the earth, with 
 a yell, fell back into the fire The others, suddenly 
 aroused from their sleep, for an instant stood bewildered. 
 That mrment was fatal to another; for the report or a 
 second rifle rung out. and the bullet, true to the uner 
 ring eye that guided it, laid another dead in his tracks. 
 The two temaining savages were undecided no longer, 
 with yells of dismay them bounded into the hazel thicket, 
 and fled as fast as fear and their legs could carry them. 
 
 As the last one disappeared a heavy hand was placed 
 on thp shoulder of Albert, and the words, "Your'e saved, 
 lad," sounded joyfully in his ear. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 The Lost One Lost. 
 
 "My old and tried friend Lewis Wetzel, God bless 
 you!" -was the feeling reply of Albert, as he beheld, by 
 the light cf the fire, the coarse, sunburnt features of the 
 old hunter, turned sympathetically upon him. "God bless 
 you!" he repeated, as he grasped the horny hand of the 
 other in both his own, while tears of joy flowed freely
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 111 
 
 down his pale face. "May God desert me in my hour of 
 need, if ever I am so ungrateful as to forget this noble 
 act of unselfish generosity. 
 
 "Now you're makin' too much on't," was the char 
 acteristic reply of the gallant backwoodsman. "I don't 
 deny it' bein' a kindly act to set you free, and meant as 
 such by me; but 1 do deny, most powerful, that it was a 
 unselfish cne, as you tarm it; for to kill them thar red 
 sons o' Satan has bin a heap o' rale, nateral fun to me, I 
 assure ye. on the honor of a white gintleman. Look 
 here!" and Wetzel shewed eight fresh scalps at his belt, 
 beside the four taken from the captors of Rose. 
 
 "Is it possible!" cried Albert, "that you alone have 
 killed all the scouts that have been sent out from this 
 party of twelve warriors?" 
 
 Ef you don't b'lieve it," replied the other, cooly, 
 "jest ye take a couple o' day's tramp with me, and I'll 
 show ye the bones of every mother's son on 'em that is, 
 ef they ever had a mother, which I'm dubious of seein' 
 as how I think they must be the rale imps of Satan, and 
 no mistake.' 1 
 
 "But how in the name of wonder did you accomplish 
 this wonderful feat?" I admit I had some suspicions 
 that yen were about ,and would render it difficult for 
 some of them to find their way back I may say, I knew 
 by the manner of the savages when the first scout re 
 turned, that something alarming had occurred, though it 
 has puzzled me at times since to account for their ac 
 tions; but this exceeds the wildest fancies of romance 
 that eight powerful men should be sent against one, and 
 that one should kill them all, and come triumphantly to 
 the camp of the others, and there slay two more. Wetzel, 
 you deserve to be immortalized for your heroism your 
 successful exploits'" 
 
 "Well," answered the other quietly, "as to 'mortal- 
 izing, as you tarm it, 1 don't know much about that; but 
 one thing I do know, master Albert that you're most
 
 112 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 powerful mistaken, when you cali these here varmints 
 men. T know the Moravians preach up some sich kind o' 
 tarms; but ef ihey know'd as much about them as I 
 do, they'd be - - glad to quit it, T tell ye. Now they 
 ain't men, no more nor I is a nigger and it makes my 
 blood fairly bile to hear a white gintleman call 'em so. 
 Now take that thar all back, master Albert, and I'll tell 
 my adventur's with the red niggers, right straight for- 
 ard; but ef you don't I'll jest let ye guess 'em yourself." 
 
 "Call them what you please," rejoined the other. 
 "I merely used the term, as the first that suggested itself. 
 I meant no offense, I assure you. But before you begin, 
 a word about Ros.e. Do you know what has become of 
 her? whether she is living or dead?" 
 
 'I don't know the first thing," was the reply. 
 
 "Alas!" groaned Albert, giving way to a burst of 
 grief at the thought "I fear I shall never behold her 
 sweet face again. All are gone now, my friend all 
 and I am left alone like a solitary tree when the forest 
 is felled around it. Oh, God! it is terrible! terrible! 
 and you must pardon me, my friend, if I forget my man 
 hood, and weep like a child;" and covering his face 
 with his hands he sank down by the tree; and now, 
 that he had no longer to fear for himself, gave full vent 
 to the griefs of his overcharged heart. 
 
 Wetzel gazed silently upon him; and could his face 
 which was now shaded from the light of the fire, by 
 the huge sycamore behind which he stood have been 
 seen, it would have been perceived that the hard muscles 
 of his features were relaxed to a softened expression, and 
 that a manly tear of sympathy dimmed his eye. For 
 some time he did not speak; but, ae we have said, gazed 
 silently upon the other, who seemed like one heart-bro 
 ken. Then he roused himself, and drawing his hard and 
 bloody haad across his eyes, said, in a tone softened to 
 a degree unusual for him: 
 
 "Come, come lad don't take on so, don't it makes
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 113 
 
 me feei womanish to see you it does indeed, on the hon 
 or o' a white gintleman. The gal, I reckon, 's a captive; 
 for ef they didn't kill ye, I don't see no reason why they 
 should her; and its may be we can trail her out again, 
 and fotch her off alive." 
 
 At these words, Albert looked up; and rising, he took 
 the hand of "VVetzel and pressed it warmly. 
 
 "God bless you!" he said "for giving me the only 
 consolation I have felt since my own capture. Oh! if we 
 could only rescue her, my friend! But I fear you create 
 a hope that can never be realized for one of the sav 
 ages informed me that Rose is dead. Do you really think 
 she is living, Wetzel and that, there is any possible 
 chance of finding her? Speak, my friend! oh! speak, 
 and do not deceive me! for hopes once raised again, 
 and followed by a heart-sickening disappointment, 
 would be more than I could bear and live." 
 
 "Wall, in course I can't say for sartin that the gal's 
 alive." answered the other; 'but I can say I believe it; 
 though whether we 11 ever find her agin's another ques 
 tion." 
 
 "You think, then, there is no prospect of that?" 
 cried Albert, in great agitation. 
 
 "I don't say thar's no prospect only it's powerful 
 onsartin. In course ef she's alive, she'll hev reached the 
 Injen village rf her captors afore we could ketch her; 
 and besides, this here rain has spiled the trail, and no 
 mistake so thar'll be no sign to go by. Still ef we 
 could find out which tribe's got her, it's maybe we 
 mought sneak around and fotch her off tho' I'll hev to 
 allow thar's a heap chances agin it whar thar's one for 
 it." 
 
 "I see. I see!" groaned Albert. "She is lost to me 
 forever. Ch! God, help me! I am utterly miserable, 
 and my life \? valueless now." 
 
 "What! talking that way agin, arter all that the 
 varmints have done to make you a inemy! Hain't you no
 
 114 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 desire to git revinge?" 
 
 "Right Wctzel!" cried the other, seizing the hand 
 of the hunter, with a nervous grasp, while a wild light 
 gleamed from his blue eye. "Right, my friend! You 
 remind me that I have something to live for. Henceforth 
 all pity shall be banished from my heart; and I will have 
 such dark revenge on the accursed race of Indians, that 
 the story of my wrongs and vengeance shall live in tra 
 dition on the borders, when all that is of me is dust. 
 To this i swear by ail my hopes of peace hereafter." 
 
 "Now I know ye for one in whom I can put confi 
 dence." returned Wetzel exultingly, "and I swear to 
 stand by ve, and see ye through, as long as this here 
 right arm's got strength to skin a nigger." 
 
 "Are not those Indians Wyandotts?" asked Albert, 
 as one suddenly struck with a new thought. 
 
 "Why, it's powerful hard tellin' what they is," an 
 swered the other. "Some on "em I reckon, is Wyandotts, 
 and some on 'em Shawnees; and the rest on 'em is a 
 mixed set. as don't belong nowhar in pertikelar, and to 
 nobody but themselves, the cusses. But why do ye ask?" 
 "Why, the thought occurred to me, that if we could 
 find out to what tribe they belonged, we might look there 
 to find Rose, in case she is now a prisoner." 
 
 "Tt don't foller, no it don't, that she'd be held by any 
 pertikelar tribe in this case; but most like that some red 
 son o' Satan 'ud claim her for his squaw, and take her 
 home to whar-somever he belonged. 
 
 "But you saw that all were painted and dressed 
 much alike whic.h would seem to imply, that if of dif 
 ferent tribes, they were all leagued, and fighting for 
 one common purpose." 
 
 "For that thar matter, thar's a league amongst all 
 the In.iens at this time, to kill all the whites they can. 
 and help one another to cl'ar the gineral foo so that 
 don't prove nothin'. But howsomever, as these here 
 hoathen, in nateral reason, fitted themselves for the war-
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 115 
 
 path at thp Wyandott town, it's nateral them as took off 
 Rose should go back thar, and thar'll be the place to 
 look for her though mind, now, I tell ye, that ef she's 
 thar, it 11 be next thing to impossible to diskiver it and 
 a parfect miracle to git her away for thar's more'n five 
 hundred van-tors in the tribe." 
 
 "Only piove to me she is there, and I will either set 
 her frcp. alone and unaided, or die in the attempt," re 
 joined Albert, with a lover's air of determination. 
 
 "Well. I see you're gittin' foolish agin," said Wet- 
 zel ic reply; "and I'm powerful sorry to see it; case it 
 argefies that you're losin' your sinses. You mought die 
 in the attempt, that's sartain; but as to gittin' the gal 
 away without at least a hundred followers, you mought 
 jest as well think o' carryin' off the Ohio on your back. 
 It's a dead onpossibility, and don't allow no reasoniii 1 
 whatscmever." 
 
 '"What then is to be done?" cried the other in des- 
 spair. 
 
 'Why, ef it'll make ye feel any better satisfied, we'll 
 scout up that way together, and see what we can see, 
 and lain what we can larn. And ef anything favors us, 
 we'li act accordin' to sarcumstances." 
 
 "\our hand on it." rejoined Albert, "for in spite of 
 all your discouragements you give me new hope. You 
 are equal to a host yourself, Wevzel, as your success in 
 killing ten savages alone, and liberating me, amply 
 proves." 
 
 "Why, I've done somethin' in the way o' thinnin' 
 the red varmints, T don't deny; but I'd hate to hev you 
 count too much on me, for fear I mought fail. "I'll do 
 all I can, though, 1 pledge you the honor o' a white gin- 
 tlemar. though I'll hev to allow I've had oncommon 
 luck for the last few days." 
 
 "But I interrupted your story," replied Albert. 
 "Pray tell me how you accomplished the marvelous feat 
 of killing ruch a party of warriors, and coming off
 
 llfi THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 catch less?? for you do not show a wound." 
 
 Tho other now laughed heartily, in his quiet way, 
 at the recollection; and then made reply: 
 
 'Why, I'll tell ye 
 
 "Yet stay," interrupted the other "are we not 
 in danger here from the two savages that have escaped 
 
 "Not a bit on't," answered Wetzel, confidently 
 "not a bit on't;" and again he indulged in another pe 
 culiar laugh ' You may depind or.'t, them thar imps o' 
 Satan ?s making tracks home'ard just as fast as their 
 greasy leg* can curry 'um for I knowed by their hollar 
 they were frightened a'most to death. I've watched 'ein 
 a good denl, and know'd they was most powerful skeered 
 aforphand for the thick heads coudn't give a reason 
 why their painted comrades didn't come back to tell 'um 
 the news oonsarnin' the single trsil o' a white gintleman 
 that the first one diskivered. They thought it was the 
 devil, or some other travlin' spirit; and all thunder 
 coudn't make 'em b'leive it was only a human, o,rter all. 
 They'll hev s powerful story to tell thar relations, when 
 tiiey git back home, ef they ever do, you may depind 
 on that. Howsomover, I'm alays for keepin' on the safe 
 side, when thar's nothin' lost by it; and so it'll be best, 
 . I reckon, to keep in the shadder here till mornin', for 
 fear the scamps mought possibly prowl around and draw 
 a bead on us onawares. And now I'll tell ye my story; 
 though I must say aforehand, thar's nothin' wonderful 
 in it at yil; it's only natur' acted right straight up to 
 natur." 
 
 "Soon arter I left you, to go in search o' a deer, I 
 got or the trail o' one o' the critters, and I follered it 
 for moie'n a mi'.e; when all at once it came boundin' 
 by mo, and broke full tear in your direction. I could 
 hev shot it. jest, as easy as to let it alone; but thinks I, 
 deers don't run for nothin' right past a white gintleman 
 as is death on sightin'; and so I held up to see what 
 mought be the matter For fear o' accidents, I took to
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 117 
 
 the 1rink right sudden; and arter I'd got hid perfectly, 
 ] waited, with both eyes skinned, to see what 'ud come 
 on't. Arter a while, I seed a streaked savage travelin' 
 right fast arter the deer; and puttin* killnigger up to my 
 face, I was jtst on the pint o' axin' him to stop and leave 
 me his scc-lp, when I seed another pop out ' the woods, 
 and T held back. Jest about this time, I heard the crack 
 o' your rifle, and I knowed ayther a Injuen or a deer war 
 dead meat, for sartin; and I was powerful skeered on 
 your account and the gal's. But I know'd it was too ]ate 
 for me t.o do anything now, only watch the inemy; for the 
 Inien cusses had heerd the gun, and was doin' some tall 
 walkin' in that direction. Howsomever, I'd no notion o' 
 de^-artin' ye; and so I followed the stream up, takin' 
 .car' not to git exposed. I heerd the gal scream, but 
 warn't nenr enough to see what was happenin'. I had 
 to be very pertikolar noAv; and it took me a good bit 
 afore I got up agin the camp; and then naythei white 
 gintlernan nor red nigger was about. I didn't like to 
 look too car'ful, jest then; and I went on above, and 
 when I got to a place as suited me, I jest sot down and 
 waited. I could jest diskiver the wharabouts of the 
 camp f -on: v, har 1 was, and kept my eyes fixed on't; 
 for I know'd somothin' about Injen strategy, and I 
 'spe< ted as how some on 'em 'ud wait thar for me; but 
 I thought to myself, ef they did, they wouldn't turn out 
 to be .s-y powerfxil smart as they thought they was. 
 
 "Well, I'd bin thar an hour or two, I reckon, when 
 I seed one o' the red cusses poke up his head to look at 
 somethin'; and it tickled me most powerful at the idee 
 that he was lookin' for me, and I all the time watchin* 
 him. Well, down went his head, and another powerful 
 long spell took place, when some half a dozen o' the 
 varmints crawled out o' thar hidin' place and went down 
 to the crook. Thinks I, that thar means somethin', and I 
 alters my s'tiv/ation and got a peep o' the other cusses, 
 what had you in tow. 'Ah, ha,' says I' 'now I wouldn't
 
 llg THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 wonder if thar mought be a heep o'fun afore the hull! 
 thing's settled;' and so I held on till I seed every devil on 
 'em startin' up stream; and then I jest kept out o' thar 
 sight, and paddled my trotters a few, you better b'lieve; 
 through I took powerful pains not to rile the water, by 
 keeping along on the stones. 
 
 "Arter I got 1'ur enough, I took to the bank; but left 
 a bir trail that I kuow'd the varmints couldn't help seein'; 
 and then I broke and run for more'n a mile; and then got 
 all ready for fun for I know'd I'd be foliowered right 
 sudden. 
 
 "Well, 'bout an hour or two arter, I seed two 011 'em 
 making right straight for me; but bein's how I didn't 
 want to fire in hearin* of t'others, I put out ag'in, with 
 out tbar seein' me; but I left a right smart chance o' 
 trail behind, T tell ye. I kept out o' thar way for an 
 other mile when I turned, and let the for'ard one hev old 
 Kilnigger's breakfast right plum in his gizzard. He 
 doubled up as ef he'd got the bellyache, you better 
 b'lieve; and then he sot down and took a qulo.t die on't, 
 all to himself; v hile the other scamp, thinkin' he'd got 
 me sure, put on arter, with a most powerful yell. Well, 
 I jest led him a thunderin' chase, for it tickled me to see 
 him pant, and look fierce as a painter as is jest agoin' to- 
 bite. Well, arter I'd got Killnigger loaded again, and 
 thought as how I'd fooled him about long enough, 1 up 
 and gin him a hyster as sent him to kingdom-come afore- 
 he know'd what ailed him. 
 
 "Arter this, I didn't see no more savages that day: 
 though I did find the tracks o' one cuss as had been 
 sneakin' 'round; but they led straight off agin; and I 
 know'd by that, as how he'd gone on to tell the t'others 
 he'd bin a disappointed nigger. Well, I'd follered back- 
 'ard on the tracks o' them I killed, and tuk thar scalps; 
 and then I kept on tc tuther trail, and sot out to come up 
 behind your party; but night comin' on, I dim a tree, and 
 slept in one o' its crotches till mornin'. 
 
 "But what's the use o'givin' ye all the pertikelars?'
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 119 
 
 "I've said enough to let ye into the secret o' how I done the 
 business for 'em. I jest kept sneakin' round, and when 
 
 one o' the scouts would try to f oiler me, I'd lead 
 
 him a good chase, and then shoot and scalp him- -and so 
 I done with all on 'em. The last one I killed jest afore 
 to-n'ght; and thinkin' as how I mought liberate you, I 
 took his rifle and powder fixins, and fotched 'em along; 
 and that's ho*v, you see, I had two blazes at the niggers 
 here D'ye understand now?" 
 
 "I see," said Albert, "your narration makes the mat 
 ter appear very simple." 
 
 "I told ye so T told ye so," returned the other. "I 
 told ye thor \\arn't nothin' wonderful in it." 
 
 "The mo?t wonderful part," rejoined Albert, "is, 
 that you can run as fast as an Indian, and load while 
 running." 
 
 "Al! practioe ; lad all practice. I larned to do that, 
 by a heap o' tiyin' when I was a boy; and I've found it 
 the best way. as ever was invented, to kill the red imps 
 o' Satan, without bein' in much danger yourself. You 
 must larn to do it, Master Albert you must larn to do 
 it; and then we together'd be wuth a rigiment o' green 
 "hands, in gatnerin' scalps." 
 
 That the reader may be fully assured we have not 
 In the least exaggerated the feats of this wonderful liunt- 
 er. we annex a paragraph from the Historical Collections 
 of Ohio, by T-ienry Howe a work, by the way, that we 
 cannot too highly recommend to the .perusal of such as 
 delight ~n the border legends of the early pioneers of 
 the West : 
 
 "A short time after Crawford's defeat in 1 782, Lewis 
 Wotzel accompanied Thomas Mills, a soldier in that ac 
 tion, to obtain his horse, which he had left near the site 
 of St. Clairsville. They were met by a party of about 
 forty Indians, at the Indian Springs, two miles from St. 
 ClairsviJle, on the road to Wheeling. Both parties dis 
 covered each other at the same moment; when Lewis in 
 stantly fired and killed an Indian; while the Indians
 
 120 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 wounded his companion in the heel, overtook and killed 
 him. Four Indians pursued Wetzel. About half a mile 
 beyond, one of the Indians, having got in the pursuit 
 within 'a few stops, Wetzel wheeled and shot him. and 
 then continued the retreat. In less than a mile further, 
 a second one came so close to him that, as he turned to 
 lire, he caught, the muzzle of his gun, when, after a se 
 vere struggle, Wetzel brought it to his chest, and dis 
 charging it his opponent fell dead. Wetzel still con 
 tinued on his course, pursued by the two Indians. All 
 three were pretty well fatigued, and often stopoed and 
 treed. After going something more than a mile, Wetzel, 
 took advantage of an open ground, over which the In 
 dians were passing, and stopped suddenly to shoot the 
 foremost, who thereupon sprang behind a small sapling. 
 Wetael fired, and wounded him mortally . The remain 
 ing Inlian then gave a little yell, exclaiming, 'No catch 
 that man gun always loaded.' " 
 
 Albert and his companion passed the night in con 
 versation near the camp of the enemy, neither venturing 
 within the firelight, lest their foes might be watching 
 them, who would thus have them at a fatal advantage, 
 it was; agreed, that as soon as daylight should enable them 
 to leave the place with safety, that both should set off in 
 the direction of the camp where Rose had been recaptur 
 ed; and il it were possible to find the trail, after so 
 much rain, that they should fall on it, and endeavor to 
 learn her fate neither having any hope, now, that they 
 could render her any assistance. 
 
 Accordingly, as soon as it was light enough to see 
 distinctly, Wetzel took the trail of the living savages, and 
 followed it for some half a mile; when becoming satis 
 fied that they had made good their retreat, without at 
 tempting a circuit to examine into the numbers of their 
 foe, he returned to the camp, and forthwith proceeded to 
 scalp the dead Indians. This done, our two adventurers 
 made a breakfast on some jerked venison which they 
 found on the persons of the dead savages Albert, by
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 121 
 
 this time, having totally lost the qualmishness for Indian 
 food incident upon a first adventure. He then selected 
 a rifle to suit him, took what powder and ball he could 
 find, and, in company with his gallant friend, set off for 
 Will's Creek, the scene of many pleasant and painful rec 
 ollections. 
 
 On this adventure it is not the design of our story 
 to follow their progress in detail Suffice it to say, that 
 a two days' march brought them in safety to the place 
 they sought; but no trace of Hose, or her captors, or mur 
 derers, whioh ever they were, could be found the rain, 
 as Wetzel had conjectured, having completely obliterat 
 ed their foot-prints. Two skeletons were seen on the 
 ground, their bones already bleaching in the open air. 
 They were the only remains ot the renegade and the 
 Indian, who had justly fallen by the hands of the aveng 
 ers of their victims. Wild beasts had torn from them all 
 that was eatable, and their bones were thus left to 
 crumole to dust with the dissolving powers of time. 
 
 As the eye of Albert fell upon them, and the re 
 membrance of all his sufferings, of which they were the 
 main authors, came UD vividly before him, it was with 
 stern satisfaction that, with the recollection, he could 
 couple the death of one at least by his own hand. But 
 he soon felt that, though vengenance might have full 
 sway, it could not restore those who were gone could 
 not fill the aching void now left in his heart and he 
 turned away in anguish of spirit, and almost wished he 
 could change places with the dead. His eye fell upon the 
 stake where poor little Rose had been confined; and 
 sinking dowr upon the spot be gave way to his feelings 
 in a series of heart-breaking sobs and groans. 
 
 "Oh! Rose,'' he said, "my poor little Forest Rose! 
 could I find and restore thee to liberty and happiness 
 how Ireely would I lay down my life for the boon! Alas! 
 it cannot be. Thou are gone gone forever from him 
 who loves thee!' 
 
 Then, after giving vent to his feeling for a few
 
 122 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 minutes, lie raised his head, and saw the old hunter 
 
 standing near, silently gazing upon him, with a look of 
 
 compassion. 
 
 '^Alas! my friend," he added, slowly rising to his 
 feet, and grasp'ng the hand of the other; "alas! my 
 friend, nothing is left me now but vengeance upon the 
 foes of my race and that I must have. Away with all 
 feelings of pity! henceforth my heart shall be steeled 
 against the weak emotion. Wetzel, I am thine, to war 
 against the savages till death. 1 have now no home, no 
 kindred, and none to love or care for me/' His voice 
 faltered at the; recollection, and tears dimmed his eyes; 
 but nastily brushing them away, he added: "But I will 
 be v, eak no longer, and you shall see, my frieud what a 
 desperate man can dare to do! Yet stay one moment;" 
 and bounding away to the little knoll where he had last 
 seen Rose, he made an eager search, in the hope of find 
 ing some traces of her he loved. Put he was again dis 
 appointed; and kneeling upon the earth, he silently com 
 mended her to the care of Him who notes even the fall 
 of a sparrow: and then rejoining his companion. 
 "Come," he said, "lead on! for I would quit this spot for 
 ever " 
 
 "Foller me, and you shall hev revenge to your 
 heart's satisfaction," returned Wetzel; and he struck off 
 through the forest, bending his steps westward, in the 
 supposed direction taken by the savages. 
 
 "For a few minutes a person stationed on the little 
 hillock could have kept the forms of both in view; and 
 then they were lost in the deep forest, which stretched 
 away in an almost unbroken chain for hundreds of miles, 
 even to the mighty prairies of the then unexplored far 
 West. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 A Frontier Station. 
 
 The reader must now suppose some eighteen months 
 to have elapsed since the opening of our story. During
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 123 
 
 this period bat little change had been effected in that 
 section of territory which had been the theatre of the 
 events of the preceeding chapters. It is true that there 
 had been a strong influx of settlers from the towns and 
 villages further East; bxit, owing to the daring hostility 
 of the Indians, most of these new comers had repaired to 
 the strongholds of the frontiers, so that though the body 
 of whites had materially increased in numbers, there was 
 far less change in the face of the country than might 
 naturally be supposed. Frequent depredations of the 
 savages had taught the whites the necessity of keeping as 
 muc'i together as possible; and. consequently, though 
 the regularly established military posts and settlements 
 were being every day rendered more secure by a rapid 
 enlargement of population, and though the deep forest 
 surrounding them were gradually made to retreat and 
 -show the open lands of civilization, yet, in the main, as 
 we have said, the face of the country was not materially 
 altered, and the red man still had an almost boundless 
 range of cover under which to carry on his barbarous 
 warfare Nor had he been idle. Almost every day 
 'brought intelligence to the fortified posts of the butch 
 ery of this and that family, who had recklessly ventured 
 to locate themselves in some unguarded place, where the 
 necessary succor could not reach them in the hour of 
 "danger. 
 
 Since the overwhelming defeat of St. Glair, of which 
 slight mention has already been made in the opening 
 pages of this true history, no grand military action of 
 the whites had been gained to restore confidence to the 
 latter, and destroy that of the Indians, in the ultimate 
 -success of Iheir own resources. It is true that General
 
 12 4 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 Wayne, the brave and successful warrior against the 
 Indians, was 2ollecting his forces in the Northwest, pre 
 paratory to that signal victory, which was destined to. 
 crush the ferocity of the savages, and lead to the cele 
 brated treaty, which afterward left the frontiers many 
 years of peace. But that decisive blow had not yet been 
 s-truck; and the Indians, in consequence, had every lea- 
 son to suppose themselves invincible, and that they 
 might yet succeed in driving the white man forever from 
 their bunting grounds and homes. 
 
 Rumors now reached a station situated just above 
 the mouth of the Hock-hocking river, on the northern 
 bank of the Ohio, at a place since geographically known 
 as Belpre. that the Wyandotts a fierce blood-thirsty, 
 11 nd implacaHe enemy were preparing to make a for 
 midable descent upon the frontier inhabitants; and much 
 alarm was the consequence. In order to be fully pre 
 pared for the meditated attack, it became absolutely 
 necessary to know the number and design of the foe; 
 and this could only be definitely ascertained by some 
 person or persons secretly venturing into the enemy's 
 country, making an accurate observation, and returning 
 with the all-important information. 
 
 But who would go? was a question much easier 
 asked than answered; for it was well known to be an ad 
 venture of most imminent danger; and the chances were 
 ten to one that whoever set out upon that hazardous ex 
 ploit would never return to tell the tale. All were brave, 
 and all were ready to risk their lives in defense of their 
 homes, their wives, or sweethearts their mothers, sis 
 ters, or child r-m but there was something terrible in the 
 thought of thus venturing through the wilds of the forest 
 into the very village of their worst foe, and offering 
 :heir lives an almost certain sacrifice to their temerity, 
 and dying unknown and alone, with no friends by to- 
 see them fall heroically, or avenge their deaths, when 
 their spirits should have ceased longer to act in concert
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 125 
 
 with their mortal tenements. Each turned inquiringly 
 to his neighbor; but there were none among all that 
 brave band of borderers who cared to volunteer his own 
 person on a mission so perilous. 
 
 While this matter was under discussion by the gar 
 rison of the station referred to, a couple of scouts or 
 hunters \vere discovered by one of the sentinels slowly 
 approaching the fortress. As from this intrepid class of 
 heroes most of the intelligence regarding Indian mas 
 sacres and the actual condition of the frontiers was at 
 that early day gained by those who kept within the walls 
 of a fortified place, the two newcomers were watched 
 with eager curiosity; and ere they entered the gates, 
 which were at once thrown open to receive them, many 
 speculations were rife as to who they were, and the im 
 portance of the information they would bring to their 
 more secluded white brethren. 
 
 As they entered through the gate of the palisades, 
 and passed into the area of the station, a group of both 
 sexes, and all ages, instantly gathered around them; and 
 on perceiving ihe large number of scalps that hung at the 
 belt of one a simultaneous shout of joy gave them a tri 
 umphant w-'li^ome, as the inlrepid and successful foes of 
 that race which was alike hated and feared by all. 
 
 The elder of the two for they were far from being 
 mated in years, if they were in heroism and otherwise 
 was a tall, ungainly formed man, with coarse but strik 
 ing features, whose age might be set down as somewhere 
 between thirty-fivr^ and forty. There was little prepos 
 sessing in his countenance though there was an occa 
 sional expression of humor and good nature, in stiong 
 r-ontrast with a reckless hardihood and ferocity. His eye, 
 too, which was capable of a sinister and malignant ex 
 pression, now turned kindly upon the group that sur 
 rounded him, as though he saw about him only friends, 
 with whom he had no disposition to quarrel. His should 
 ers were broad and stooping, and indicated great muscu 
 lar strength: but conbined with his long, rather slender
 
 m THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 legs gave him an uncomely and rather awkward appear 
 ance Still his step was quick and light, as one who had 
 long been accustomed to the woods, and to following the 
 trail of a sharp hearing, wily foe. Long exposure to all 
 kinds of weather, and constant sleeping in the open air, 
 had given him a dark.sun-burnt complexion, but little 
 removed from the swarthy Indian, when seen without his 
 paint. In fact, one unaccustomed to seeing the rude 
 scouts or hunters of the frontiers might readily have mis 
 taken him for a native of the soil, so great was the differ 
 ence between his appearance and those of his own race 
 who had been nightly housed within the protecting walls 
 of a fortress; ami which difference was as much the re 
 sult of his singular dress and habits as the constant ex 
 posure already noted. 
 
 And of a truth, if one were to judge from his habili 
 ments, it would be hard to decide whether he claimed 
 origin with the red man or white, so singular was the 
 mixture, partaking equally of both races. An old hunt 
 ing-frock of coarse cloth so old that it was completely 
 threadbare, and had in several places been patched with 
 untanned skins covered his shoulders, breast, and a 
 portion of his arms; but the skirts being wanting, a 
 panther -skin, with hair outside, had been fastened 
 around his waist with a wampum belt of ingenius work 
 manship, and hung down nearly to. his knees the lower 
 edge fringed or tasseled with short strings of different 
 colored beads. It is sufficient to explain this curious 
 mixture of costuni.es, to state that the coat had at first 
 been the legitimate property of the wearer, but having 
 become old and torn, the panther-skin and wampum belt 
 had been stripped from the body of a chief, that his own 
 hand had slain, and put on as a substitute to the missing 
 skirts; and the other parts had been patched with that 
 kind of stuff that comes most readily to the hands of a 
 woodman. It will be only necessary to add that the rest 
 of his person was covered with coarse leggins, mocca 
 sins, and a wild-cat cap. To this shoulders was strapped
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 127 
 
 a bundle of furs, the result of some industry in trapping, 
 and which might readily explain his visit to the fort it 
 being customary for the hunters and trappers to ex- 
 ohange their gatherings in the wilderness for powder, 
 lead, tobacco, and whatever other staple commodities 
 they might desire. In his hand he carried a long beau 
 tiful rifle, and in his belt the usual accompaniments of 
 a borderer a tomahawk and scalping knife. 
 
 The companion of this true specimen of frontier 
 production, materially differed from him in personal ap 
 pearance He was a young man, apparently some three 
 and twenty, or four and twenty years of age; and 
 though not so tall as the other by a couple of inches, 
 was far more comely in his formation. In fact, he was 
 symmetrical to a high degree of manly beauty, with, 
 uthe. well-rounded limbs, full of muscular power and 
 i-ctivity, a broad, deep chest, and a carriage erect, com 
 manding and noble, fivery movement was one of natur 
 al ease and grace that would have made a study for an 
 artist. His face, like his figure, was comely, and one, 
 too, that was remarkably prepossessing. The counten 
 ance was open, frank, intelligent to a high degree, and 
 noble in its expression; but there was a serious stern 
 ness about the lines of his mouth, combined with a deep- 
 seated melancholy more apparent in the mild, calm 
 blue eye than elsewhere which was peculiarly calcu 
 lated to repel any undue attempt at familiarity, and gain 
 :or the Indiviaual himself the sympathy and respect of 
 all who chanced to meet him. His skin was bronzed by 
 exposure, and his costume, like the other's, was a mix- 
 of the tv-'O race?; yet none could mistake him for other 
 than he was a high-souled, well-born, well-bred vounf 
 man of the pale-faces who, if he were a hunter of men, 
 was rather so frcm powerful circumstances than from 
 any natural inclination he might have for so bloody a 
 calling. To his shoulders there was also strapped a 
 bundle of rurs, in his hand was a rifle, in his belt the 
 usual weapons but dangling therefrom was not a sin-
 
 )g THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 gle one of those barbarous trophies which his companion 
 carried, and which had excited such a universal shout of 
 admiration. Tn fact, the young man seemed to dislike 
 this boisterous display of the morbid passions; for he in 
 stantly drew back, and passing through the crowd re 
 spectfully made way for him, he approached the palis 
 ades, and leaned against them, in a mood of melancholy 
 abstraction, leaving his elder companion to amuse the 
 inmates of the station, and explain the object of their 
 own unexpected visit. 
 
 "Well, what news?" cried one of the garrison, ad 
 dressing the old hunter, as soon as the first boisterous 
 welcome had died away. "Now I jest know you can tell 
 us about the Tnjens, for anybody, with half an eye, can 
 see as how you carry the Injen documents;" and he 
 pointed to the dangling scalps while the crowd gave an 
 other shout of delight. 
 
 "Well, yes," replied the other, complacently, raising 
 the scalps with his hand for examination, much as a suc 
 cessful angler would a string of fish; "I've bin near 
 enough to some on 'em to let Killnigger ax 'em to stop 
 till I could feel o' thar top-knots." 
 
 'Bravo! bravo! good! good! hurrah for the 
 hunter?" were the several exclamations of approval from 
 different members of the group. 
 
 But then they ain't all mine," continued the other, 
 glancing his eye toward his young companion, who was 
 now being joined by some of the older and more sedate 
 inmates of the station. "For a young man, I must say 
 . that my friond is powerful a heap among the iaemy 
 though he's got some queer notions o' his'n about scalpin' 
 the red nisgers that I can't break him on, no how. "He'll 
 frill a varmit without blinkin'; but a bit will he take a 
 top-knot for his trouble; and so I've saved up his'n and 
 mine together " 
 
 This pla.'n and simple statement of facts created 
 quite a sensation among the persons that hoard them 
 very few of whom could comprehend the refined nature
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 129 
 
 of one hold enough to hunt Indians, and kill them, and 
 yet not take the scalp as a trophy of victory a matter 
 of as common occurrence among the whites at that day 
 as among the Indians themselves. Many an eye turned 
 curiously toward the young hero; and more than one left 
 the group around the old hunter to go and join that al 
 ready forming around the other, in order to satisfy, by 
 closer inspection, the curiosity he had thus unconscious 
 ly excited. 
 
 7f it be a proper question, stranger/' said a middle- 
 aged man to the old hunter, "I'd like to ask who you and 
 this young friend of yours are! as both your faces are 
 new 1o us." 
 
 ""Well, F hain't no objections to tell," was the reply; 
 "for I don't b'lieve neyther on us hev done anything he 
 oughter be ashamed on. That thar young man is called 
 Albert May wood. His daddy, Cap'en May wood, fit in the 
 revolution; and arter the war was over, he fotehed his 
 family out here front Varginia, and settled on a little 
 creek as runs into the Captina, what runs into the Ohio a 
 good piece above here. Well, the cap'en wan't a irood 
 under slander (>' Injen doin's, and he didn't take no pains 
 to keep his s< alp whar it oughter be, and so one day, 
 bout a year'n half ago, he lost it, and his wife and three 
 children along with it. Out o' the hull family o' six, only 
 Albert and a young gal, as be was agoin' to marry, 'scap 
 ed bein' killed. H<- was out in the woods when it hap 
 pened, ajid the gal was taken captive I know'd him 
 afore this, as a powerful smart hunter o' animals, and we 
 happened to come together in the woods, and I \vent 
 iiome with him. whar we seed sights, you may depin! 
 Well, we followed the gal, killed all o'her captors, and 
 got nor cl'ar, as we reckoned, o' the cusses' clutches; but 
 she got took agin', and that's all we ever know'd about 
 her. Albert pot took, too; but I managed to get. him 
 ol'ar; and we vent off together, tw'arin' vengeance on 
 overy red nigger we mought see; and we hain't broke the 
 contract more'n a few, anc 1 that happened when we got
 
 13 o THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 in tight places. We've tiainped a heap since then, and 
 bin right through the Injen country, cl'ar to the lakes, 
 and done some little service in the scout line for old 
 Oineral Wayne, who's one o' the tallest Injen fighters 
 I ever sot oyes on." 
 
 "And the gal you've never found?" rejoined one. 
 "Never hev seed a sight on her, nor heerd a word 
 consarnin* her, though we've hunted her high and low, 
 in every possible and onpossible place. Ah, me!'" sighed 
 zhe old hunter, "I'd give five years o' my life jest to find 
 her; and a'most all on Albert's account; for he takes It 
 powerful hard. He don't never say nothin' much; but 
 then he thinks all the time, and groans in his sleep, and 
 don't never smile like he used to do. Poor feller! I 
 wouldn't wonder ef it 'ud be the death o' him ylt; for it 
 'pears to me that he gits more melancholler every day." 
 As Wetzel said this, nearly every eye involuntarily 
 turned in the direction of Albert; and many a sigh of 
 sympathy escaped the group, particularly from the 
 younger and female portion of it, who could the more 
 readily appreciate his loss, and his consequent feelings. 
 In their eyes he was already an object of unusual inter 
 est a hero exalted to the highest standard 01 natural 
 romance 
 
 "Rumors have reached us," pursued the middle-aged 
 gentleman, who was none other than Colonel Martin, the 
 commander of the garrison; ' Rumors have reached us 
 here that the Wyandottes are preparing to make a de 
 scent upon the frontier posts; have you any news to 
 confirm the report?" 
 
 Well, T don't knovv's I've got anything pertikelar on 
 the subject; though I can't say I see anthing again it, 
 for they're a powerful savage set o' varmints, and ain't a 
 bit too good to do whatsomever most mean. It was 
 them as killed Albert's family; and some on 'em had a 
 finger in gittin' his gal away again, or I don't know 
 nothin' 'bout paint." 
 
 "Do you know where their villages are located?"
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 131 
 
 "Keckon I does, for we've scouted all round them, 
 In the hope o' findin' the gal." 
 
 'You must, be an old hand at the business, if we 
 may judge from the fact that you can venture so near the 
 most wary and bloodthirsty foes we have, and yet come 
 off scathless and undiscovered." 
 
 "Why," replied the other indifferently, "it's bin a 
 good many years sence 1 first sot out on the red var 
 mints' trail, I'll allow; and I'd be mighty weak o' under- 
 standin', not to hev larn't nothin' sence 'bout how to 
 manage the red cusses," 
 
 "But you have not told us your name. We perhaps 
 know you by report, if not personally." 
 
 "Well's 1 said afore, ef you want my name, y>ti can 
 hev it. I'm rolled Lewis Wetzel." 
 
 "Lewis Wetzei!" exclaimed a dozen voires in sur 
 prise. 
 
 "The renowned scout!" added one. 
 
 "The celebrated Indian hunter!" cried another. 
 
 "The man as the varmints can't never catch ! r ' put 
 in a third. 
 
 "You see we know you now," put in the colonel, 
 grasping the hunter's hand. "Your fame has gone be 
 fore you." 
 
 "Three cheers for the brave and gallant Lewis Wet 
 zel!" said another at the top of his voice; and immed 
 iately the welkin rarg with the united shouts of all who 
 heard him; while those who had withdrawn from the 
 grouri, on hearing the name, returned to take another 
 view of one so renowned in border history. 
 
 Wetfeel was completely taken aback with this vocif 
 erous greeting. He looked abashed and discomfited. His 
 dark, sun-burnt features flushed a deep red, as if all his 
 blood had ru?hecl to his face; while his eye wandered 
 around the crowd, as if seeking a way to escape from so 
 uncomfortable a situation. But finding himself com 
 pletely nemmed in, and every eye fixed upon him, he 
 said, as if with a desperate attempt at articulation:
 
 132 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 "My friends, I s'pose I'm to consider all you've said 
 as meanin' complimentary, and so I'll put up with it for 
 onc't: but I gin ye the honor o' a white gintleman I'd 
 rayther hev a hull yellin' tribe o' the cussed red-nigger 
 Wyandottes arter me, nor stand sich another white 
 whoop on account of my own doin's. I'll fight Injens 
 with the nest feller amongst ye, but I can't btand to be 
 made a show on." 
 
 A simultaneous burst of applause greeted this an 
 nouncement; and not exactly understanding what was 
 meant, the dark eye of Wetzel kindled ferociously, and 
 his hand involuntarily clutched the handle of his toma 
 hawk. Instantly the crowd drew back in alarm; and the 
 old hunter was on the point of making for the gate, re 
 solved on instant departure, when the colonel touched 
 him on the shoulder, and instantly bade the crowd dis 
 perse. 
 
 Come my worthy friend.'' he pursued, addre&sing 
 Wetzel; "you should not take offense when none is 
 meant. These people have so often heard of your daring 
 exploits among the Indians, that, on learning who you are, 
 they could not refrain from giving vent to thsir delight. 
 Of course they did not understand your sensitive modesty, 
 or they would not have done it." 
 
 Tnis explanation served tc appease the irritated 
 feelings of the simple minded, mcdest backwoodsman; 
 and now that he found himself alone with the other, and 
 ro longer the lion or show, as he termed it of an ex- 
 :-ited crowd, all traces of anger vanished, and he freely 
 answered all questions asked him, and gave his own 
 views regarding what he thought would most likely be 
 the first movements of the savages. "If we could only 
 be certain of their designs," replied the other, "we could 
 then, in a measure, be prepared for them; but there is 
 no way of ascertaining what, they intend, but by sending 
 spies to the villages.'' 
 
 "Well, then, and why don't ye do that?" inquired 
 the old hunter.
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 133 
 
 "For the simple reason that we can find no one will 
 ing to venture on so hazardous an expedition." 
 
 "Why, i'ts nothin' more'n what I've did more'n onc't, 
 and I didn't think it no great matter arter all, replied 
 Wetzel, with some surprise. 
 
 "But all are not like you, my worthy friend, or 
 there would soon be many famous names upon the bor 
 ders." 
 
 "Well if it's o' any perticklar account to you, I'd 
 jest as lie? do it: agin as not," replied the old hunter, ia 
 his simple, straight-forward manner. 
 
 "It would be an act we should ever hold in grate 
 ful remembrance," cried the other joyfully; "and what 
 ever price you may demand for your services, I will ob 
 ligate myself 1o see paid." 
 
 'T ain't a goin' for hire," rejoined Wetzel; "for 
 when some V3r I can sarcumvent the red-skins, I 'speet it 
 does me jost about as much good as it does anybody else. 
 All I want is plenty o' ammunition, jerked venison, and 
 corn bread, and if I don't have a heap o' fun afore I git 
 back, why then there arn't no ?uakes, that's all. But I 
 must hev Master Albert go along, sure; for me and him 
 understand \vorkin' together in the same team to perfec 
 tion. I've trained him till he can pop into an Injen right 
 center, and then load his piece while runnin'; though I'll 
 have to allow he can't do it quite so parfect as I can, nor 
 more'n half as fast; but yet he can do it, an' that'" some- 
 thin' to brag on. Come, I see as how he's alone agin, and 
 so let's jine him and talk the matter over." 
 
 The two speakers approached Albert, who probably 
 owing- to his disinclination to talk and answer the thous 
 and curious questions of those who pressed around, was 
 now again left to himself; and Wetzel immediately open 
 ed the conversation, comine at once to the matter under 
 d'scussion. The other then joined in, stated to Albert 
 the fears of the inhabitants regarding an Indian invas 
 ion, and the necessity there was for having correct in 
 formation on the subject; and after describing what he
 
 13 4 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 Conceived to be the manifold dangers that would attend 
 such as might be brave enough to venture into the Indian 
 country., to act as spies, he concluded by saying: 
 
 But dangerous as it is. your gallant friend here 
 has volunteered to go, but cannot bear the thought of 
 parting company with you. I dc not ask you to join him, 
 for well I know the perils of the undertaking; but if you 
 do join him I <:an assure you, sir, you will have the 
 prayers of a whole community tor your safe return, and 
 will deserve their lasting gratitude; for success in the 
 enterprise may not only confer a benefit on the present 
 generation, but on those who shall follow. Weigh well 
 ih.e matter ere you decide " 
 
 Albert heard him through calmly, without inter 
 ruption, and without even a change in the expression ot 
 his countenance. When he had done, he answered with 
 out hesitation: 
 
 "Sir, [ consider my life in 'the hands of God, and I 
 am willing to use it in any way to the benefit of my 
 countrymen. 1 have no home, nc kindred, and none of 
 those ties to bind me to earth which others have. 1 am 
 free, and willing to serve you in any proper manner; and 
 if I cz.n renrlor m> services of value to any of my own 
 race, by saving them from the horrors of Indian butch 
 ery, believe me, the satisfaction of having done so, will 
 be sufficient reward for all the perils and fatigues [ 
 may undergo. Wherever my friend here leads, I will 
 follow. 
 
 As ho said this, Albert saur.tered slowly away, his 
 mild blue eyes fixed, with a gaze of deep melancholy, up 
 on the ground ;and selecting a spot as far trom every 
 one as possible, he sat down upon a rude bench, and 
 resting his elbows upon his knees, bowed his head upon 
 his hands, and gave way to reflections on the sad and 
 evertfnl past, arid on the the gloomy and uncertain fu 
 ture. 
 
 There was one thing wanting to cheer his drooping 
 spirits; but alas! that one thing might be wanting for-
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 135 
 
 ever. Poor Forest Rose, the only being he ever truly 
 loved, or ever could love, was dead to him. ay, worse 
 than dead for over her fate there hung a vail of mys 
 tery, m-ire terrible to a lover's thoughts ihan death, 
 a hundred fold. 
 
 As the young man moved away, Colonel Martin 
 said audiblv, '.'Noble fellow;" and was about to follow 
 him. when \Vetzel touched him on the shoulder, and 
 shaking his head significantly, observed: 
 
 It won't do; he wants to be alone a 'spell. He's 
 often that way sence he's given up all hope o' ever finilin* 
 his gal, poor feller' But see here! I've forgot all about 
 trad In' off these here furs;" and Wetzel unsluii;^ the 
 pack from his shoulders, and proceeded to display its 
 contents to the colonel, with all the eager intci-cit a 
 peddlar would have in showing his wares preparatory to 
 a sale of great importance. 
 
 It is enough to say that the furs were purchased at 
 five times their value; the colonel taking this mode 
 to force upon the other many an article of more or less 
 importance, that he would certainly have refused had it 
 come to him in the shape of a gift. Among other things, 
 before quitting the fort on their perilous enterprise, 
 both Lewis and Albert were fitted to an entire new hunt 
 ing su't in the fashion of the day, which altered their 
 appearance much for the better. 
 
 On learning that these two hunters had noblv vol 
 unteered to go an a mission of so much danger to them 
 selves, and importance to the inhabitants of the frontier 
 and in which they alone could have no interest, aside 1 
 from doing a noble and courageous act an undertaking 
 withal, from which even the boldest among themselves 
 had shrunk with something akin to fear the most en 
 thusiastic feeling of respect and admiration prevailed 
 among both sexes of the garrison; and it was only with 
 the greatest exercise of his authority and influence, that 
 Col Martin could suppress those uproarious manifesta 
 tions of the popular feeling, which he knew would be so
 
 13 6 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 offensive to his sensitive guests. 
 
 Albert and his companion remained at the fort over 
 night, and on the following morning took their depar 
 ture, amid unrestrained cheers, and the roar of musket 
 ry, fired by the garrison in honor of their patriotic brav 
 ery. When oar scouts reached the last point from which 
 their forms could be visible to the friends who were 
 watching their departure, they turned and discharged 
 their rifles in the air; and ere the answering shout had 
 died away in echo, they were lost to view in the depths 
 of the great forest. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 The Standing Stone. 
 
 Tt was on one of the balmiest days of the Indian 
 summer of the autumn of the year succeeding the open 
 ing of our story, that two hunters, well equipped with 
 rifles, tomahawks, knives, knapsacks, etc. turned aside 
 from the waters of the Hockhocking, at a point far up 
 toward its source, and entered a dense thicket of hazel 
 and plum bushes, which covered the angle of a prairie 
 between them and an isolated, picturesque hill, toward 
 which their steps were directed. Both moved with great 
 caution; for well they knew themselves to be in the very 
 heart of the ?ountry of a dangerous foe. Neither spoke; 
 but carefully parting the bushes with their hands, they 
 glided stealthily forward, occasionally halting to listen 
 if thev could delect any sounds betokening danger. A dis 
 tance of some three hundred yards from where they en 
 tered the thicket, brought them to the foot of the hill al 
 ready mentioned ; and emerging from the cover of the 
 plain, they began their ascent of its eastern declivity. 
 
 This hill, being rather singular in its appearance and 
 formation, deserves a passing notice. It is the belief of 
 some geologists, that the precise section of country to 
 which we are now directing the reader's attention, was 
 at one period of the earth's history, the bed of an ocean, 
 or sea, or lake: and that among others, the eminence in
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 137 
 
 question rose above the waters, forming an island. Be 
 this as it may, it certainly presents an appearance cal 
 culated to give more or less rise to speculation. Detach 
 ed from all other hills, it stands isolated, on what was, 
 at the period of which we write, the borders of a large 
 and beautiful prairie, which stretched away before it for 
 many and many a mile, covered with a soft, luxuriant 
 greensward, and variegated with thousands of beautiful 
 flowers. At a short distance, this elevation resembles a, 
 pyramid its bass being some mile and a half in circum 
 ference, and its highest point, or apex, not more than a 
 hundred yards in length, by thirty in breadth Its north 
 ern, southern, and eastern sides are full of deep gullies 
 or ravines, and slope off gradually from the apex to Ihe 
 base; but its western side rises some two hundred feet, 
 almost abruptly above the plain, presenting a mural 
 surface of sandstone rocks, some of which stand perpen 
 dicular, like nuge columns of ancient cities, and others 
 rest horizontally on their summits, leaving deep fissures 
 or cavities ir every direction. 
 
 Once you reach the summit of these rocks, which 
 have very properly been termed the backbone of the 
 mount, and you have a commanding view of the plain 
 below; but their summit can be gained only in one di 
 rection, and that over a space so narrow that two per 
 sons can not go abreast. From its peculiar formation 
 and appearance, the Indians, in their simple minded and 
 accurate manner of bestowing names, called this emi 
 nence the Standing Stone an appellation which the 
 reader will readily perceive carries with it a forcible idea 
 of its general aspect. The whites, discarding the Indian 
 name, have termed it Mount Pleasant; both appelations 
 have a significant meaning, and together illustrate the 
 different manner with which It has been regarded by the 
 two races at different periods the one naming it sole 
 ly with the idea of describing the hill itself the other 
 with the idea of describing the pleasure derived from the 
 view afforded from its summit at the present day.
 
 13 s THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 Great changes have taken place in the aspect of the 
 surrounding country since the period of which we are 
 writing. Whoever stands there now, and casts his eyes 
 abroad, beholds a beautiful plain stretching away before 
 him divided intu lots by fences, with here and there a 
 neat farm house dotting the level surface, till his gaze 
 rests upon a cluster of buildings, with numerous church 
 steeples rising above them, and the whole forming one 
 cf the most delightful thriving cities of the inland 
 towns of the State of Ohio. But as it is of its early ap 
 pearance, and \vhat took place in its vicinity, that our 
 story has particularly to do, we will return at once to 
 the soouts, whom we left slowly and carefully ascending 
 its eastern acclivity. 
 
 For some time nothing occurred to interrupt their 
 progress or give them any occasion for alarm. From its 
 base they had gained a position half way to its summit; 
 and, looking out from among the trees and undergrowth, 
 they had a fine view of the plain away to the left, while 
 to the right, the vision was cut off by several smaller 
 hills, which each being detached as it were from the oth 
 ers, formed quite a chain in that direction, the end of 
 which they could not see. They had now come to a point 
 where the roil or seams of the hill required them to de 
 scend into a kind of trough, and then ascend a steeper 
 portion of the mount, through a ravine, the sides or 
 hanks of which were covered with a growth of shrubs, 
 that, overhanging the center, interlocked their branches, 
 and rendered the bed of it so dark that any one ascending 
 in it wculd be entirely concealed from the view of any 
 one above, either directly in front or on either side. 
 
 Descending into this trough, and entering the ra 
 vine with the same caution which had thus far marked 
 all their movements, our friends were :ust on the point 
 of pushing forward with more celerity than usual, when 
 the foremost suddenly came to a halt; and raising his 
 hand, in token of silence to his companion, he bent his 
 head a little more forward than nature or habit had
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 139 
 
 placed it. and listened. The other listened also: but al 
 though he was what might be considered quick of hear 
 ing, he by no means possessed the faculty of distinguish 
 ing sounds which somewhat characterized his elder and 
 more experienced companion; and, after the lapse of 
 some thirty seconds, he raised his foot to again move 
 forward believing there was no cause for apprehension 
 when, quick as lightning, the other made an admoni 
 tory gesture, and said, in a whisper: 
 
 ' Take car', Master Albert take car' thar's dang 
 er about, you may depind." 
 
 "What is it?" demanded the other, in the same guard 
 ed manner. 
 
 "Don't know for sartin- -but it's my opine thar's 
 Injuns up here. Now mind, it won't do to fire on no ac 
 count. They're comin' this way, I think; and ef they 
 pass on ayther side we'll hev to let 'em go; but ef they 
 come down through this here ravine, we must fix our 
 selves so as we can let 'em hev a few inches o' cold steel, 
 without makin' no more noise nor possible. Ef they 
 should yell, we'll hev the whole tribe at our heels, sar 
 tin; but we 'nust do our best, and run the risk. Seef 
 here'i a little op'nin' in the hills, where a rock has 
 rolled down into the gully. Before it the bushes and 
 leaves hang so thick that the cusses mought go right 
 by, it's may be, and not see us. Let's crawl in thar and 
 try it anyhow. Hope they won't find our trail, the var 
 mints, or we'll he in a powerful ugly fix, sartin." 
 
 As the old hunter said this in an almost inaudible 
 whisper, both he and his companion moved cautiously 
 forward to the place designated ; and crept into the 
 cavity formed by the displacement of a huge rock by 
 "he rain. It was large enough to contain both, and allow 
 the thick bushes that grew above and below, to be brought 
 together with their hands, so as to entirely conceal 
 their persons. As soon as both were fairly well settled in 
 cheir novel hiding place, Albert turned to his compan 
 ion, and said in a whisper:
 
 140 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 "Are you sure, Wetzel, you have cause for all this 
 precaution; for I assure you. though I have strained my 
 sense of hearing to the utmost, no sounds have reached 
 my ears that I should ever take to be those of an enemy." 
 "Hist!" returned the other. "Hark! what d'ye 
 think o' that, eh"" 
 
 "You are right," rejoined Albert, as, at the moment, 
 a low, guttura 1 sound, as of one Indian speaking to an 
 other,- reached his ears. 
 
 Wetzel now made a sign that it would be imprudent 
 to venture another remark, even in a whisper; and con 
 sequently each remained silent, with the senses of hear 
 ing and seeing both actively exerted to learn the progress 
 of events. Several times that same low, guttural sound 
 reached the ear? of our friends, after short intervals; 
 and each time it was more distinct, showing that the 
 .speaker and his companion were every moment drawing 
 nearer the ambuscade of our friends. 
 
 Directly a, rustling of the bushes was heard, and, 
 on the opposite side of the ravine, they were seen to be 
 agitated near the bank. The next moment they were 
 parted in a careless manner, and the swarthy form and 
 hideous features of a painted half-naked savage were 
 partially discernible by our friends, who remained mute, 
 gazing upon the object of their deadly hate, scarcely 
 daring to breathe, lest the slightest sound should betray 
 their presence. The wild, glaring eyes of the savage 
 peered down into the ravine, and then seemed to take a 
 close survey of all the hushes on the opposite side. What 
 object he had in this singular scrutiny of such a place 
 vras never known to our friends; but as his piercing eyes 
 seemed to rest rather longer upon the very spot where 
 they were concealed than elsewhere, it will readily be 
 supposed that the act caused them considerable un 
 easiness; and they were already beginning to think their 
 v-ourse hither had been noted, and that this was one of 
 the scouts sent out in search of them and each was al 
 ready laying plans in his own mind for immediate ac-
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 141 
 
 uon, in the event his suspicions should be verified 
 when the savage gave the peculiar grunt of his race, and 
 turning about, said something to his companion where 
 upon both withdrew, and continued slowly down the hill. 
 
 "Well," said Wetzel, drawing a long breath, so 
 soon as he felt perfectly sure that the Indians were out 
 of hoarir-g, 'that thar beats all for an accident I ever 
 seed since I first put feet on a Injen trail. I say for a 
 accident. Master Albert, it beats all I ever seed; and I 
 th^nk as how it was an accident, or we'd a heerd from the 
 varmints atoro this. It's Injen tc be cunnin', powerful 
 cunnin' I'll allow, with any man; but it arn't Injen to 
 diskiver two white gentlemen like us, and then jest 
 walk away without as much as sayin' 'how d'ye do.' No! 
 that thar painted heathen had some idee in his cussed 
 head about somethin', or he wouldn't a come'd and look- 
 down into this here holler that way, you may depind; 
 but his fix in' his owlish eyes onto us was a naterai acci 
 dent." 
 
 "It is well we were in here," returned Albert; "for 
 bad w remained in the more open part of the ravine, it 
 is altogether probable that he would have seen us." 
 
 "That's jest what I think myself," rejoined Wetzel; 
 ''and altogether I look upon't as a very providential af- 
 ia'r; for ef we'd bin a little sooner in gettin' on to the 
 mountain, it's just as like as not we'd bin diskivered; 
 and then good-bye to all our fight; for ef we waru't kill 
 ed in a scrimmage, we'd be kept for roasting', so as the 
 cusses mought hev a powerful heap o' fun when we 
 started on the last trail." 
 
 "But is there no danger of these Indians now, 
 r.hink you? May they not stumble upon our trail, anoi 
 return to hunt us?" 
 
 "They niougbt, that's true but I don't think as 
 how they will. Still we must be powerful cautious what 
 we do I can tell you, and no mistake. We're on Injen 
 ground now. and it wcn't do to go asleep whar our snorin' 
 mought disturb the natives."
 
 142 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 Having delivered himself of this worthy piece of 
 advice, Wetzel cautiously crept out of his hiding place, 
 iollowed by Albert; and climbing the steep bank which 
 here rose several feet above them, our friends quitted the 
 ravine, and proceeded to ascend the hill on the side op 
 posite to where the Indians had descended. The way 
 was rough, and they were often forced to crawl up here 
 und there a precipitous rock, by taking hold of the 
 branches of shrubs that had grown up through deep 
 fissures, or .vhich, planted firmly in the earth above, 
 allowed their shaggy limbs to extend down within reach. 
 The mountain on tnis side, as we have said, was rolling, 
 rr wave-like; r-.nd consequently, our friends had to de 
 scend into a trough or dingle almost as often as ascend a 
 point. Still the descent was less than the ascent, and 
 therefore every new point gained brought them nearer 
 to the crowning summit of the whole. Although they 
 moved slowly and cautiously, examining the ground on 
 every side often pausing, as was their custom, to listen, 
 and looking behind as well as before yet, in a little 
 over a quarter of an hour after quitting the ravine, they 
 came to the last elevation, which rose above them for 
 something like a hundred feet, in the form of a precipice 
 of standing pillars of stone, with huge masses resting on 
 the tops of these in a horizontal position. Here and there 
 were deep fisures in the sides of the sandstone rocks 
 but no place where it seemed possible for a human being 
 to gain r .he summit, except at the extreme right, where 
 one could find a hold for his hands and feet, among 
 branches' of trees, shrubs, and projecting, jagged stones. 
 "Here's one o' Natur's forts," observed Wetzel, still 
 speaking in a guarded whisper, lest a lurking Indian 
 mighl overhear the sound of his voice; "and ef we can 
 onc't get on top, I think as how we'll be purty tolerable 
 safe from the varmints, pertikerly ef none on 'em don't 
 know we're here. Ef I'm not mistaken, that thar top 
 has a view cf thar hull village, and everything else as is 
 going' on below us; and ef we onc't git thar safe, and ar-
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 143 
 
 terwards see any o' the cusges coming' up, we can hide 
 ourselves in holes, as old Satan, thar daddy, couldn't dis- 
 kiver us out on, onless he know'd where we was afore- 
 hand. But Piind, now, keep your mouth shut, and \our 
 eyes and ears wide open for we've got a powerful per- 
 ticKelar business to do, you may depind, on the honor o' 
 a white gintloman." 
 
 There seemed little need for this caution concerning 
 the loquacity of Albert; for of late he rarely spoke, un 
 less addressed by his companion, or to make some partic 
 ular inquiry, or to counsel with the other when danger 
 threatened. On the present occasion he made DO reply 
 in words, but merely nodded his head, in token that he 
 understood the old hunter, and then cautiously moved 
 wway toward the point where the rocks appeared easiest 
 of ascent. 
 
 ' You're right, lad, pursued the old woodman, as 
 cautiously following him; "your right, lad, for it's doin 
 and not talkin', \\e should be arter now." 
 
 By dint of pulling hard upon the bushes above them, 
 planting their feet on the jutting crags of the cliff, and 
 occasionally crawling on their hands and knees, our two 
 adventurers gradually raised themselves, till at last they 
 stood upon the very back-bone of the Standing Stone. 
 Then it was a scene burst upon their view, that we, in 
 our humble way, shall attempt to describe in the follow 
 ing chapter. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 A Huron Village and Indian Sports. 
 U hae alrea.dy been said that it was in the autumn 
 of the year, that the daring feat of proceeding into the 
 Indian country to watch the movements of the savages, 
 was attempted by our worthy friends. The day on which 
 they reached the summit of the Standing Stone, was one 
 of the most delightful of that charming season gen 
 erally known as Indian Summer though why so called, 
 we confess our inability to explain. Some have sup-
 
 !44 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 posed it to he caused by the burning of the great prairies, 
 to which it is well known the Indians of the far West set 
 fire, the better facility of getting at the game concealed 
 in the dense cover of the tall, thick-matted grass, and in 
 this wo,v they account for the smoky veil that dims the 
 cerulean brightness of the heavens. But be this as it 
 may, we leave the reader to surmise the cause to please 
 hi 1 , own fancy, while we proceed to speak of the effect, 
 or describe the day and the scene as it fell upon the 
 vision and senses of our hunters. 
 
 The sun was already in mid-heaven; but its bright 
 ness was somewhat dimmed by a hazy veil of smoke that 
 spread throughout the atmosphere, softening the appear- 
 once of overy distant object, and causing that delightful, 
 dream sensation, so peculiar at this season of the vear. 
 The air ws neither too warm nor too cold, but just at 
 that invigorating temperature to make the blood course 
 evenly through one's veins, and cause a mood equally 
 well fitted for active exertion, or calm meditative con 
 templation. A light air was stirring from the west 
 it neither brought the oppressive sultriness of summer, 
 nor seemed to come from the cold region of snows with 
 the chilliness of winter. Not a cloud was visible in the 
 heavens, which were unrolled in all their beauty, as 
 seen through the before mentioned smoky atmosphere. A 
 few frosts had touched the green leaves of summer and 
 already the foliage of the trees was undergoing that 
 beautiful change and variety of color which precedes 
 the dark yellow leaf of final decay. Wherever the for 
 est could be seen, and away to the north and east it seem 
 ed boundless, it presented all the variegated hues of the 
 rainbow now green, now yellow, now white, now blue, 
 now dark brown and purple as some spots, from the 
 growth being more fragile and more exposed, yielded 
 to tho first decay of advancing winter; while others, more 
 hardy, or less exposed, still retained, with the tenacity 
 which belongs to the things of life, the almost unchanged
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 145 
 
 green hue of the summer, and mingled their foliage with 
 the many colored flowers which ever grace the autumn of 
 the year. But not upon the beauties of the changing 
 forest, out upon what lay before them was the gaze of our 
 spies directed. 
 
 From where they stood, concealed by a breastwork 
 of stone, our two gallant scouts commanded one of the 
 most extensive i'.nd picturesque views to be seen at that 
 day in any section of the Great West. For a hundred 
 feet below them was an almost perpendicular wall of 
 stone, so smooth and upright that none could climb it. At 
 the base of this wall or precipice, the ground covered 
 with trees, and a thicket of hazel and plum bushes 
 sloped off gradually to a beautiful plain, clear of any 
 obstruction but such as had been placed upon it by the 
 hand of man. On this plain, in full view, and at a dis 
 tance oi: half a mile, was the village of the Wyandotts, 
 consisting of more than a hundred wigwams. The larger 
 portion of these stood on the margin of the prairie near 
 the Hockhocking, glimpses of which could occasionally 
 bo seen by cur scouts near the main village, and the 
 whole course of which could be traced for a considerable 
 distance as it swept around the town, by the dense thick 
 et which trkiged its banks on either side. 
 
 The huts, or wigwams, were constructed in the most 
 simple manner possible. Two stakes were first driven 
 into the earth, each stake having a crotchet about the 
 height of a man above the ground. A pole was next laid 
 hori/ontally on these crotchets, against which sticks were 
 placed in a leaning posture, so that their lower ends 
 would stand out far enough from the line perpendicular 
 to form the breadth of the hut, and the whole, the ground 
 being considereJ the line of the base, would form a rude 
 triangle. This was the skeleton of the hut, and only re 
 quired to be covered with bark, with one end left open 
 to be complete. No chimney was needed; for the fire 
 used for cooking and warming, was kindled outside, to 
 which men. women and children alike had access. If a
 
 14 6 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 door was wanting at night, the skin of a buffalo, or some 
 other wild animal, was hung up in front of the lodge; 
 and this was all that was necessary those primitive and 
 simple-minded people, unlike the more civilized and 
 enlightened Christian nation that now occupies what was 
 once theii country, requiring neither locks nor bars to 
 keep out. a prowling band of thieves and midnight as 
 sassins.. 
 
 The appearance of the village from, the stand occu 
 pied by cur scouts, was quite imposing not the less so, 
 probably, that in its numerous inhabitants they beheld 
 so many bloodthirsty, implacable foes of their race. The 
 cabin of the chief was easily distinguished from the 
 others, both by its size and general appearance of super 
 iority. It stood near the center of the main village, (by 
 which we mean the principal cluster of huts for, like 
 some of our modern settlements, there was the town part 
 of the town, vritb straggling lodges reaching off in vari- 
 oxis directions, some e\en extending along the plain to the 
 hills on tbe north) and directly on the bank of the river, 
 close by a spring of clear, cold water, which doubtless 
 had exerted its silent influence on the mind of the chief 
 at the time of its location. Beyond the town, or farther 
 away on the plain, were large fields of golden corn, now 
 just in the maturity of the harvest; and still beyond, the 
 eye had a long j^weep, with not even a tree or a shrub 
 to obstruct the vision, till the brown or green earth and 
 the blue sky blended, and the actual line of the horizon 
 was lost to view. 
 
 Perhaps a bird's eye view of the whole landscape 
 will give the reader a better general idea of the spot, 
 than the imperfect description we have already attempt 
 ed. 
 
 Imagine, then, the Standing Stone to be a mount, 
 completely isolated from all other hills though placed 
 contiguous to tnem, on the borders of a large, grassy 
 plain and that yju are seated on its highest elevation
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 147 
 
 and extreme front. Behind you, to your right, and to 
 your left, are hills and an undulating country, covered 
 with a heavy forest, now displaying all the variegated 
 hues of autumn. Before you, commencing at your very 
 feet, as 5t were is a fertile plain, stretching away as far 
 as the eye can reach, covered with a heavy greensward 
 that ha<* felt the blight of one or two frosts, and diver 
 sified with beautiful wild flowers of the brightest and 
 most showy colors. Away to the right, in front, runs 
 a narrow line of checkered thicket, marking the course 
 of the beautiful Hockhocking, beyond which your eye 
 again rests upon a luxuriant valley, which is soon shut in 
 by a row of hills. Near this stream, but between it and 
 you, you can perceive the clustering lodges of the Hu- 
 rons, ranged along the bank of the river, but some of 
 them scattered along the plain, even to the base of the 
 hills to your right, so as to be lost to the view from where 
 you stand. Dotting the plain, in yellow patches, are 
 fields of corn, wherein squaws are already at work, 
 gathering the golden harvest. The village, containing 
 altogether a population of more than five hundred souls, 
 is swarming with inhabitants. Warriors, squaws, chil 
 dren, and pappooses, are seen running lazily about among 
 the rude huts, or sauntering off toward the race-ground, 
 which lies directly in front of you, at only a few hundred 
 yards distance. Here it is, after all, that your gaze would 
 naturally be riveted; and here it was, our gallant spies, 
 after a cursory glance at what we have described, fixed 
 their eyes and their whole attention. Here were the war 
 like movements of the savages directly before them; and 
 this v/as, in the main, the scene that burst almost start- 
 lingly upon their vision, of which we promised the reader 
 an imperfect description at the close of the preceding 
 chapter. 
 
 On the plain below them, at a distance of less than 
 a hiindred and fifty yards, more than a hundred warriors 
 were assembled, must ot them painted in the customary
 
 !48 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 manner of the tribe when preparing to start upon the 
 warpath. Besides these regular warriors who were 
 nearly till young finely formed, athletic men there were 
 as many more of what might oe considered spectators 
 <ionsiwting of old sachems, squaws, children and pappooses. 
 Of this latter class, some wa.*e very old men; and these 
 were mostly seated, or squatted, upon the greensward, 
 with pipe? in their mouths, lazily puffing out the smoke, 
 and ganntj indolently about them, with all the imbecil 
 ity of ngc their heads bared to the sun, and their long 
 gray scalp-locks hanging round their necks, or dangling 
 down their half-naked backs, presenting a wild and gro 
 tesque arpcarance. Others less aged, but not sufficient 
 ly agilv to take part in the more active proceedings, were 
 gtouped about in various attitudes, among children and 
 squaws, watching, with the melancholy pleasure that age 
 looks upon youth, the war-like movements of the young 
 warrio rs. 
 
 These latter had apportioned themselves a perfectly 
 level spot of ground, some fifty yards square, within 
 which to display their skill, strength and activity. 
 Around the borders of this square the spectators were 
 collected the same care being taken to keep them with 
 out the lines of the arena as is displayed towards the 
 lookers-on of a military parade. The children, in the 
 main, manifested by far the most delight in what was 
 taking place though all seemed to be at the height of 
 n}oyraeiit. They clapped thsir little hands, occasion 
 ally laughed loudly, and exhibited all the wayward and 
 innocent joyousnese of childhood, as seen en a grand 
 gala day among a more enlightened, Christianized, and 
 entirely different race of beings. The squaws, when they 
 had leisuic, looked on with satisfaction at the feats of 
 the braves all of whom were more or less connected 
 with .them by the ties of blood there being mothers, 
 sisters, wives and sweethearts among them. We say, 
 When they had leisure; for it is well known that the
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 149 
 
 squaws of the Indians, no matter of what tribe or nation, 
 do all the manual labor and drudgery; and consequently 
 these in question were not exempted from the common 
 requirements. They were continually being sent hither 
 and thither, to carry this thing and bring that; and the 
 whole space between the race-ground, (as for conveni 
 ence we shall designate the place of gathering) and the 
 village, was lined and dotted with them, going and 
 coming- sjererally on some trifling errand many of 
 them with pappooses, hardly a week old, strapped to their 
 backs in the customary form. 
 
 At the suggestion of Colonel Martin, Albert had 
 brought with him a small sized, but remarkably fine tel 
 escope; ar-d by keeping this to the eye, he could see all 
 that was going on, with the minuteness we have and 
 shall continue to describe the proceedings. 
 
 Within the arena already mentioned, were assem 
 bled the warriors, drawn up with stately dignity on one 
 side of the square, so as to give the spectators two sides 
 for observation. At the precise moment we introduce 
 them if the reader or rather, bring our gallant spies 
 into a position where they can behold and watch them 
 narrow'y they were preparing for a trial of skill in 
 throwing the tamahawk. At. the southern end of the 
 square- or the one opposite waere they stood, and which 
 in the disposition of actors and spectators, was left va 
 cant a si.al'e had been driven into the earth, so as to 
 stand about the height of an ordinary man above the 
 level. Against this stake was placed the effigy of a man, 
 in such a posture that, if struck violently in front, either 
 with a tomahawk or other weapon, it would fall to the 
 giound. The effigy was of skins, stuffed and painted so 
 as to resemble, as much as possible, a living man; and 
 when first seen by our scouts, before the glass was 
 brought to bear on it, it was thought to be some prisoner, 
 about to undergo a violent death so clever was the im 
 itation, viewed at a short distance. We say the effigy was
 
 15 Q THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 stuffed: but the head was made of a block of wood, over 
 which a skin was tightly drawn, and rudely daubed in 
 spots to represent the eyes, nose, and mouth. The design 
 in having the head of wool was, that the tomahawk, 
 if it struck it properly, might bury itself sufficiently to' 
 remain there till drawn by force, and thus the more 
 accurately represent a real human being; and more 
 over, tho point of the target, toward which the skill of 
 the throwei was directed, being the forehead, just above 
 and between the eyes, the weapon, by remaining there, 
 would give the succeesgful warrior a more complete tri- 
 uvnph, than if it bounded off, as it ever did from other 
 parts of the figure. A few feet beyond the target, a 
 broad breast-work of logs, some eight feet high, had 
 been erected to stop the tomahawks that might miss the' 
 human representative altogether. 
 
 Everything being in readiness, a young warrior, one 
 of the youngest of the party, stepped forward to within 
 about twenty paces of the mark, and measuring the dis- 
 tanc carefully with his eye, threw back his right foot, 
 head and shoulder, and flung the weapon with all his 
 f^rce. Whiz it went through the air, and just grazing: 
 the right shoulder of the effigy, half-buried itself in the 
 logs beyor.d, A joyous shout from the children greeted 
 even this indifferent success; and walking up to the log, 
 he withdrew his tomahawk with the air of one who felt 
 a little abashed, and, returning, took his place among 
 the group. Another now s-tepped forward and going 
 through the same motions, sent his tomahawk whirling 
 through the air. But he struck more wide of the mark 
 than the other and a shout of merry laughter rather 
 added to his chagrin, and, withdrawing his weapon, he 
 s'ilently took his place in the rear of his companion. A 
 hird, a fourth, a fifth now made the trial, and still the 
 target remained untouched, if we except the slight graze 
 of the tomahawk of the first thrower. The sixth one now 
 stepped forward, and with a more experienced aim, plant
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 151 
 
 ed a well-directed blow in abdomen of the effigy, which 
 doubled forward and fell to the ground. A loud, boister 
 ous short from the spectators-: attested their satisfaction 
 at his signal triumph over all his predecessors; and as 
 the warrior replaced the target, and walked back to his 
 companions, it was easy to perceive by his gait and man 
 ner, that ho felt he had performed a feat of which he had 
 no reason to be ashamed. 
 
 More than twenty trials were now made in regular 
 i nd orderly succession by as many different members of 
 .the band, and with results similar to those we have de- 
 cribod. The target was knocked down some half doz- 
 <>n timed but always by a chance blow on the shoulder, 
 breast, abdomen, or legs not one as yei having touched 
 'he head 
 
 At length a tall, noble-looking warrior stepped 
 prouoly and confidently forward, and turned a dignified 
 look upoti the spectators, as if courting inspection of his 
 every movement. If such was his desire, he was fully 
 : gratified; for every eye was fixed upon him intently, 
 and a profound stillness reigned throughout the as 
 semblage. In one portion of the crowd, to his right, and 
 consequently on the side of the arena farthest from our 
 <couts, the ga/e of the Indian seemed to rest a little long 
 er than elsewhere; and Albert, who had his glass to hib 
 <ye, wat.-.hiiig closely every movement, now turned his 
 instrument in that direction, and beheld the young and 
 rather comely face of a maiden, looking upon him with 
 two black eyes, and giving him an approving smile. As 
 yet ho had not been able to get more than a profile view 
 of thj features of the warrior; but as the latter turned 
 Irom her who was evidently regarded in the light of a 
 sweetheart, hi?; full face was for a moment brought in 
 the direction of the Standing Stone. 
 
 "Good heavens!" exclaimed Albert, in a low, guard- 
 ^d tone, but one full of deep excitement, dropping the 
 glass from his eye, and extending it to his companion 
 'quick Wetzel! take this, examine carefully the
 
 15 2 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 warrior who is about to throw, and tell me if you ever 
 
 saw him before." 
 
 Wetzel took the telescope as directed, and adjusted 
 it to his eye; but he was too late to catch a full view of 
 the other's feu'.ures, who was already in the act of dis 
 playing his skill with the tomahawk. The next mo 
 ment the weapon went whizzing through the air, and 
 fairly lodged '.n the head of the image, which, in conse 
 quence, reeled and tottered, like a thing of life, and then 
 fell prostrate on the earth. A universal shout, such as 
 bad not before been given, ascended from every throat 
 actors as well as spectators men, women, ana chil 
 drenand striking the mural surface of the Standing 
 Stone, reboun-led, echoed and re-echoed among the fis 
 sures and crags of neighboring hills, till the whole coun 
 try seemed alive with fiends in their unearthly revels. 
 Curiosity nov could brook no restraint; and the whole 
 crowd simultaneously rushed forward, to gaze in admir 
 ation up on the successful hit, leaving the trimphant 
 warrior standing alone too proud and dignified to show 
 any Childish anxiety about the result of his own superior 
 skill. Even tne old men, before noticed, seemed to arouse 
 Irom their lethargy at the ringing shout; and rising to 
 their feet with great difficulty tottered off to join the 
 others; while several squaws, half-way between the race 
 gro'iiid and village, hurried forward to learn the cause 
 of such ioyful excitement. 
 
 The throw was remarkably clever, though by no 
 means a perfect one; for instead of hitting the forehead 
 in the center, the blade of the tomahawk had buried it 
 self in the soft cotton wood about an inch too low, and 
 the same distance too far to the right, actually dividing 
 one of the painted eyes. Still it was a feat to boast of; 
 for, -.vheru there was one that could excel it, there were 
 a thousand that could not equal it, take average throw 
 ing, and let. d -stance and all be considered. 
 
 Though left by himself, in fair open sight, it was 
 some time before Wetzel could get a good front view of
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 153 
 
 the successful warrior's features. The moment he did 
 so, he dropped the glass from his eye, and exclaimed: 
 
 'That's one o' the cusses as you had in tow the 
 night I gin him sich an orful skeer, by poppin' over his 
 greasy comrades, or el.se I've got a powerful bad recollec 
 tion." 
 
 "I am right, then, in my impression and memory," 
 returned Albert. "It is he one of the two that escaped; 
 4 t is Ogwehea, the leader of the party that captured me. 
 It was he, 1 ' continued the other, in a tremulous voice 
 "that told me Forest Rose, my own dear little Forest 
 Rose, was dead. Oh, God! that I could only feel certain 
 he told me the truth! for, since I cannot find her, it 
 would bo some consolation to know she is in heaven, in 
 communion with my dear kindred who preceded her, and 
 whom I hope PTC long to join " 
 
 "Well." rejoined Wetzel, in his rude, off-hand way, 
 "I don't car' a russ who he is, or what he's called, but I'd 
 jest gin a dozen buffler hides for one squint at him, a 
 hundred yards, over old Killn'gger's back, and nobody by 
 to disturb the fun. If I didn't make a hole in his greasy 
 face mor? powerfuller nor he's made in that thar painted 
 "ligy, may I lose all my shootin' natur', and be dogged 
 with skunks till no Christyen dar' come anigh me." 
 
 As to these remarks Albert did not see proper to re 
 ply, the old hunter remained silent, and both agin tixed 
 their eyes and attention upon the plain. By this lime 
 the crowd had begun to separate, and the warriors were 
 alrenJy resuming their places, preparatory to a renewed 
 trial of skill. At length, order being restored, and every- 
 ihing in readiness, another warrior steppeed forward, 
 and was just in the act of poising his weapon behind 
 liim, when a long, nmd, peculiar whoop reached them 
 from l.ho village All started, and eagerly turned their 
 gaze in that direction. A moment's silence ensued, and 
 then the vtlkir rang with answering yells, that again 
 echoed among the crags and fissures of the hills, as if all 
 1he imps o tlie infernal rogions had suddenly been let
 
 154 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 loose; and then, abandoning their sports, the whole 
 party, whooping and hallooing, set off upon a jumping 
 run toward the center of their rude town. 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 The Huron Chief Perfection of Skill and Mountain 
 Camp. 
 
 The cause of this sudden commotion our scouts 
 could not for some time divine. Near the village a large 
 crowd was collected, and seemed to be in eager discus 
 sion; and a Inng and careful scrutiny through the glass 
 at length revealed the secret. A new party of warriors, 
 from some of the neighboring tribes, had arrived to join 
 the Hurons in their sports, and prepare themselves to 
 set off on the warpath with them as auxiliaries. As the 
 Huron warriors neared them, the others some fifty in 
 number, from one of the allied Iribes of the Shawnecs* 
 came forward, and each party greeted the other in the 
 customary manner of the Indians. For a few moments 
 all remained in a body near the village, with the squaws 
 and children standing back looking on, and them the 
 whole company, consisting of both parties, set off toward 
 the race-ground the Wyandotts, or Hurons,* forming 
 the van and rear, as an escort to their guests. 
 
 Soon after they arrived upon the ground prepara 
 tions were made for continuing the warlike sport &o re 
 cently abandoned. The Shawnees, through their inter 
 preter, were invited to take a part in the proceedings, 
 and the throwing of the tomahawk was again resumed. 
 For more than an hour this was carried on in the same 
 
 "This word, we believe, is correctly spelled Shawanoese; 
 but custom has altered it to Shawnees; and for conven 
 ience, we adopt the popular othography. 
 
 "The reader will perceive that we have made Wyandott 
 and Huron synonymous terms, as in .truth they were, both 
 being applied to the tribe in question. But for greater con 
 venience, we will use only the term Huron hereafter; and 
 for the same purpose, we will designate all the other tribes 
 whether Miamies, Pottawattomies, Chippewas, Ottawas, or 
 what not under the general title of Shawnees, with which 
 nation they were allied, and whose language was spoken in. 
 common by all the tribes, the Hurons only excepted.
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 155 
 
 .manner as we have already described though, we must 
 admit, with greater skill older and more experienced 
 liands gradually taking the place of the younger novices. 
 Several times the hatchet had been lodged in the head of 
 the effigy, and every time the skillful marksman had 
 been greeted with the accustomed shout of gratification. 
 At length a small party, consisting of four indn r id- 
 nals, was seen slowly approaching from the village, fol 
 lowed by a long train or' squaws and children, at a re 
 spectful distance. On this becoming known to the as 
 sembled warriors, the sports ceased, and all stood await 
 ing them in respectful silence. 
 
 "Thar come that chiefs," observed Wetzel; ''and for 
 Jnjen?, they're powerful good lookin' fellers, I'll hev to 
 allow vhouph I'd a sight rayther be sp'ilin' thar 
 beauty, and takin' thar top-knots, nor seein' 'em from 
 here, through this here harmless bit o' glass aad wood. 
 Here, take a look for yourself, Master Albert;" and he 
 iiandod his companion the telescope, which, till now, he 
 liad kept in his own possession since the first breaking 
 up of the crowd 
 
 Albert turned the glass upon the new comers, and 
 was forced to admit that he had rarely seen four as 
 handsome looking men, physically considered. Ol ! the 
 four, three of them were not less than six feet in stature, 
 *md proportioned with all the symmetry, grace, and mus 
 cular power which the artist, who copies nature, so de 
 lights to contemplate. The fourth personage was larger, 
 taller, more muscular, and more commanding in person, 
 -every way, than his companions. He was not less than 
 six feet six inches in height, but so beautifully propor 
 tioned *,hat to have setn him standing alone, with none 
 near, by which i.o draw comparison, ten to one you 
 would not think him above the ordinary stature. He was 
 just of an age, too, to give him a dignified appearance, 
 without associating with it the idea that his mental or 
 physics,! faculties were in the least impaired. Straight as 
 .an arrow, with head erect, and nostrils slightly expand-
 
 156 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 cd, he walked with a grace and ease that none could ex 
 cel, and with all the proud dignity of a sovereign his 
 dark eagle eye, and "front of Jove," assuring all who 
 beheld him they gazed upon no ordinary man. From the 
 marked deference paid him, even by his comrade chiefs, 
 it was easy to perceive he was as much their superior in 
 rank and power as in physical proportions. On the pres 
 ent occasion he was evidently dressed with some care, 
 vhouph with little ostentation. His scalp-lock was orna 
 mented with the feathers of the bird whose name he 
 bore, and which, as was sometimes customary, had been 
 given to his village. His breast and arms, with th<; ex 
 ception ot paint, were entirely bare though a couple of 
 ooar?o, heavy jewels depended from his ears, which had 
 undoubtedly been presents to him from British agents 
 of the Canadas. Around his loins he wore a skirt of soft- 
 vlressed deer-akin, showily embroidered with beads of 
 divers colors, *.n v<hich the brightest, and those of 
 {.trongnt contrast, predominated. Securing this r-kirt 
 v/as the usual wampum belt, also highly wrought with 
 beads, in which \\ere carelessly stuck the never-failing 
 iccompaniments, the tomahawk and scalping- knife, the 
 liaf: of the latter inlaid with silver and mother-of-pearl 
 this being also a present from his white allies and 
 the blades of both glittering, as though they had never 
 been dimmed in the blood of a human being. Bright 
 s-carlet loggins, encircled with rows of parti-colored 
 beads and little silver bells, that tinkled as he walked, 
 together with moccasins in correct keeping, completed 
 his attir-3. Guch was Tarhe,* the head chief of the 
 Wyandott nation, at that day one of the mosi: powerful 
 smd blond-thirsty tribes of the Northwest Territory. 
 
 The companions of Tarhe, as we have said, were all 
 
 *Anglice, Crane. The village we have described was 
 called after the chief, Tarhetown, or Cranetown. It was the 
 principal one of the tribe or nation; but there was another, 
 some eight or ten miles distant, called by the whites, Tob- 
 eytown, after the chief Tobey, who was a subordinate of 
 Tarhe.
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 157 
 
 chiefs. One was Tobey, his own subordinate, and the 
 olher two were Shawnees. All wore marks of distinction 
 similar to tho?e of Tarhe, though less tasty and less val 
 uable. As they approached the arena, the young war 
 riors drew themselves up with an air of the most pro 
 found respect, in two lines, through which the chiefs en 
 tered the ground of contest the spectators keeping re 
 spectfully back, and all classes observing a careful si 
 lence. Having carelessly examined the ground for a 'mo 
 ment or two. the chiefs moved forward to the target, 
 while the warriors resumed their places at the opposite? 
 end. and the srowd of spectators took up their position, 
 as before, on the right and left of the hollow square. 
 
 After a close examination of the target and breast 
 work, during which several approving nods and grunts 
 of satisfaction wero made and uttered, the chiefs slowly 
 returned to the assembled warriors, and Tarhe gave the 
 signal that he wished the sports to be resumed. His wish 
 was immediately complied with; and drawing aside, in 
 iuch a manner as to face the Standing Stone, he folded 
 liis arms on bis broad, manly chest, and looked on, with 
 all the proud dignity ind gravity which a monarch of 
 the olden tin.e might be supposed to view the deadly 
 contest^, of hi3 own fierce gladiators. 
 
 As a matter of course, there was no little feeling of 
 jealous rivalry among the warriors of both tribes, all 
 of whom were exceedingly anxious to distinguish them- 
 relves in thp nresence of their venerated commanders. Nor 
 was the prhle of success alone on the part of the braves; 
 lor whenever a hatchet lodged in the head of the 
 (ffigy, those v/ho watched the countenances of the c'clefs 
 "losely could perceive a brightening of their dark eyes, 
 the only signs of gratification manifested, by which one 
 could, know that these gallant stoics were secretly pleas 
 ed. 
 
 As the trial of skill had now fallen upon the older and 
 nore experienced part of the warriors, nearly every 
 throw lodged the tomahawk in the head of the effigy
 
 158 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 the only difference being in the distance it struck from 
 the central mark which, as if it bore a charm, still re- 
 maired untouched. The trial had become very exciting, 
 too, s.o that even the most aged veterans, some of whom 
 had in their day been chiefs of renown, drew nigh to 
 witness it perceiving, Tarhe motioned them to ap 
 proach him, and even accorded them a stand of honor 
 in front of his own commanding person. Out of respect 
 In the chiefs, all was conducted with due decorum and 
 in perfect silence none venturing to give vent to their 
 gratification, as heretofore, in a single shout Even the 
 children looked grave, as if they comprehended in whose 
 presence they stor.d 
 
 Thus another hour rolled away, when Tarhe sig 
 nified to th/3 Shawnee chiefs that he would make a irial 
 with -hem.. This being roadily assented to, the first step 
 ped forward, and displaying his fine person to the best 
 advantage, arid with such a manly effect that low mur 
 murs of approbation involuntarily ran among the as 
 semblage, re poised his tomahawk, with the carelessness 
 of confidence, and threw it with fatal precision. Every 
 eye watched it during its evolutions, and when it buried 
 its keen blade in the forehead of the human representa 
 tive, only half an inch to the left of the center, one si 
 multaneous shout burst from the lips of the multitude. 
 Even the eyes of the Huron chief gleamed with unusual 
 satisfaction, as he gave an approving nod. The other 
 chief now stepped forward, with an appearance no less 
 imposing than his companion, and flug his weapon with 
 a skill that showed him to be a dangerous warrior to 
 his foes. 
 
 It was now Tarhe's turn; and every thing had con 
 spired to raise the excitement to such a pitch that not a 
 Dingle being --noved, and not a breath could be heard in 
 all that vast assemblage. Conscious that every eye was 
 upon him, and that in himself was centered the pride of 
 his own powerful nation, whose triumph or chagrin
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 15 9 
 
 would be alike in his victory or defeat in his excelling 
 or being; excelled by His Shawnee brothers he walked 
 boldly forward to the usual stand of the thrower, with 
 out the least apparent trepidation, and after cooly sur 
 veying the ground for a moment, quietly stepped back 
 some five cr six paces, ae if he disdained to be on an 
 equality with his predecessors, even in distance. This 
 act alone, in any one else, would have drawn forth a 
 shout of applause; but in the present instance all ,vere 
 to excited tc let even so much as a breath be heard. 
 
 Having fixed himself in a suitable position, the 
 chiof drew forth his bright tomahawk, and glancing at 
 its shining blade, poised it in his hand a few times, 
 much as a vood -chopper handles his ax preparatory to 
 striking a powerful and accurate blow. All this rime 
 he had been standing erect, in the center of the arena, 
 alone, with his feet close together, and so even, that two 
 parallel iines would have touched alike both toes and 
 heels. Nothing could be finer and more commanding 
 .han his clearly-defined, symmetrical, half naked form, 
 with its full, rounded, muscular arms and chest, set off 
 below with the ornamental trappings of a chief. And 
 then his head, so erect, with its slightly aquiline nose, 
 expanded nostrils, well-turned mouth, bold, high fore 
 head, ard dark, eagle eye which he calmly fixed upon 
 the object toward which his skill was? about to be direct 
 ed made him indeed appear a something worthy of ad 
 miration, cis the v:ork of the Great Unseen, even though 
 he was lost to civilization and Christianity. 
 
 For a moment the Huron chief stood as we have de- 
 i.cribed him; and then giving a loud, short whoop, he 
 threw hiiriself back upon his right foot, with a morior. 
 like lightning. The next instant the tomahawk whirled 
 past his head with almost incredible velocity, and was 
 seen for a second or two flashing the sun's rays from 
 its bright blade, and then it struck with a dull sound, 
 and buried itself completely to the eye in the exact cen 
 ter of the forehead of the effigy, actually splitting it
 
 160 THE 'FOREST KOSE 
 
 open, in spite of the skins around it, as it would done the 
 skull of :i human being. There was another moment of 
 breathless surprise and admiration, during which the 
 target slowly tottered over sideways; and then the air 
 was rent with whcors. cries, screams, shrieks, and yolls 
 of exulation, which lasted for some five minutes without 
 cessation. 
 
 As if being satisfied with what he had done, without 
 caring for the effect it produced on the minds of the peo 
 ple, the Huron chief sauntered leisurely away in the di 
 rection of his visage, leaving the crowd to exult in his 
 triumph, and some one of the many warriors to restore 
 him his weapon, which was done by a Shawnee brave, 
 with an air of veneration, ere he had gone over half the 
 distance which divided the race-ground from the town 
 the young man having been the first to reach the effigy 
 after its fail. 
 
 The Shawnee chiefs accompanied Tarhe, together 
 witt several of the old sachems; and most of the specta 
 tors and warriors gradually followed there being no 
 longer curiosity OL sport sufficient to keep them to the 
 arena A few of the younger and less experienced of 
 the Huroiis and Shawnees remained on the ground, how 
 ever, more for the puipose of practicing, than display of 
 skill. But gradually they became weary of the sport, 
 and dropped off. one after another, till at last the plain 
 in l v out of our scouts, so lately occupied by more than 
 five hundred human beings, including both sexes and all 
 ages and sizes, was left entirely vacant, and a deep si 
 lence reigned upon the deserted spot. 
 
 Tlif. day was now fast declining, and already the sun 
 was drawing near the verge of the Western horizon. 
 The great forest was already beginning to assume the 
 sober gray of approaching night, while in the deep val 
 leys and glens the heavy shadows of the hills rested, and 
 gave thorn the darkening hue of twilight. Birds that 
 had fluttorcd over the heads of our scouts through the
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 161 
 
 <day, and sung their sylvan songs in the branches of the 
 neighboring trees, were gradually disappearing, one af 
 ter another, to seek their accustomed places of rest; 
 while others, to which night was day, were already pre 
 paring to leave their haunts and venture off in quest of 
 food. 
 
 Being now, as it were completely left to themselves, 
 with no prying eyes or savages near to detect them, 
 should their persons chance for a moment to be exposed, 
 our epies naturally bethought them of seeking a proper 
 place of rest for their own weary limbs and bodies. For 
 th^s purpose both crept cautiously t'rom behind their 
 rocky porapet, where they had so long and closely watch 
 ed the enemies of their race, and t,till keeping their per 
 sons as much as possible concealed from any chance 
 straggler en the plain, they proceeded to reconnoiter 
 the5r new home, (for home it was to prove to them for 
 days, perhaps for weeks, unless accidentally discovered.) 
 with some such fet-lings as must have boea uppermost in 
 t>io mind of Robinpon Cruso, when he first took a survey 
 of his luiielv island, with a view to learn what were its 
 natural advantages toward giving him comfortable quar 
 ters and protection against man and beast during the 
 period he v/ould be obliged to lemain there. The cases 
 are not parallel, we admit- -for while our scouts had 
 voluntarily sought their present lonely and dangerous 
 location, and had power to retreat at any moment, Cru- 
 sre hal been forced upon his by accident, and had no 
 means of leaving it; but still there was a similarity, in 
 asmuch as both pnrties found a necessity for remaining, 
 ai'd both alike felt the loneliness of their situation. 
 
 The spot, on examination, was found more conveni 
 ent for our st-outs than they had anticipated. The area 
 of tl>e Standing Stone, as we have already said, was about 
 a hundred yards in length, by some thirty in breadth; 
 and tlicy were admirably protected, from any chance 
 view, by heavy rocks, lying horizontally on the top of the
 
 16 2 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 upright pillars of nature, and by stunted trees and dense 
 shrubbery, that had here and there shot their trunks and 
 branches up from a foothold of earth through numerous 
 fissures. Some of the rocks, being soft, had been hollow 
 ed out by the floods of centuries, and in their cavities 
 was found a goodly quantity of watei, which had not 
 h^d time to evaporato since the last rain. This was a 
 matter of great importance to our friends as there were 
 no spring^ on the mountains, and consequently no other 
 means of quenching tteir thnst than to seek for the 
 liquid element on the banks of the Hockhocking a pro 
 ceeding alike troublesome and dangerous. Near the 
 southern end of their limited space, a spot was found 
 that would serve them admirably for a sleeping place at 
 night. A. large flat rock, some ten feet by twenty, was 
 lodged upor. some smaller rocks, so as to project over 
 their, and leave a cavity sufficiently large for our spies 
 to crawl into, and be protected frcm the cold night dews 
 and frosts, which, at this season of the year, and in this 
 climate, were very severe, and which they could not 
 guard against by fire, as the light of it would be sure to 
 expose them, and bring down certain destruction upon 
 their heads. At the base of this rock, which was some 
 five foefr below the level, the ground rock, upon which 
 the smaller stones that propped it up rested, was level 
 as a floor, and ran off to the front of the precipice, some 
 si:: or eight feet distant, where, as if to protect our 
 scouts from accidentally rolling off in their sleep, another 
 heavy rock stretched along, and even slightly overhung 
 the precipitous verge. A few bushes on the southern 
 side, and a small tree on the northern, whose branches 
 spread completely overhead, formed the end walls and 
 canopy to this delightful retreat, and served to screen the 
 little bod-room, if we may sO term it from the eye of any 
 one standing above. As if to add to its convenience, too, 
 the front rock, or parapet, was so raised at one end that a 
 person lying flat upon the stone forming the floor, could
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 163 
 
 look under it, and note nearly everything taking place 
 on the plain, and yet be himself completely concealed 
 from observation. 
 
 "Well", said Wet/el, as he descended into his new 
 home, followed by Albert, "I'll hev to allow that natnr's 
 done the decent thing for us; and ef we can't be content 
 "hero, we oughter be obligated to sleep on p'inted rocks 
 in the open air them's my sentiments." 
 
 "A charming place, truly," returned Albert survey 
 ing the spot with an air of melancholy pleasure. "It does 
 seen?," he added, as all its conveniences came gradually 
 into viow, "as if this retreat was designed exactly for 
 the uses to which we are about to put it." 
 
 "Couldn't hev bettered it much ef I had made it 
 myself, ' v/as the satisfied rejoinder of his companion. 
 "And n"w we've got here, let's eat; for I've got a time- 
 piec .; in me as says it's bin powerful long since last feed- 
 in' time." 
 
 Our two scouts now leaned their rifles against the 
 rock, where they could grasp them at a moment, when 
 Albert piocceded to open Mrs knapsack, and take out, 
 first a couple of canteens, then a couple of woolen blan 
 kets, nnd, lastly, as niuc'h cold corn bread and jerked 
 venison as he thought would serve them for their sup- 
 ptr this being the portable food with which they had 
 plentifully supplied themselves. Wetzel did not open his 
 knapsack, as it contained only the before-mentioned corn 
 bread -ind jerked venison; and being co-partners in 
 everything, there was no necessity for commencing on 
 one stock till the other should be exhausted. Albert next 
 fi'.lel one of the canteens with rain water, found in the 
 hollows of the rocks, and the two friends sat down to 
 their frugal repast eating with that keen relish which 
 long fasting and hard labor never fails to supply. 
 
 Ere their simple meal was finished the sun went 
 dowii in a beautiful bed of golden yellow, which for a 
 'ong time lingered on the western sky, gradually fading
 
 164 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 away into tbe dusky hue of night. Gradually, one by one, 
 the brightest of the golden stars made themselves faintly 
 visible in the vault about but the hazy atmosphere pre 
 vented the dimmer constellations from being seen. Grad 
 ually shadow after shadow crept upon the plain, till at 
 last the dark outline of the earth blended with the air, 
 &nd became lost to the view, as if a mighty veil had been 
 drawn over it. Occasionally a laugh, or a merry shout, 
 c-ame borne or. the still air from the village, the outlines 
 of which could be traced by the light of its hundred lurid 
 fires, which flashed up from the dark background; and 
 figures could bf seen stalking to and fro in the illumed 
 ppace, which our scouts, with their knowledge of its in 
 habitants, could liken to nothing but fiends at their un 
 earthly orgies. Gradually the sounds of merriment sub 
 sided, the lir^s burned more and more dim, and at last a 
 drowsy quiet prevailed; and save the thousand night- 
 singers, which made forest and plain vocal with their 
 music, the occasional bark of a restless mastiff, the 
 gloomy hooting of the owl, or the discordant bowlings of 
 hungry wolves, already roving about in quest of what 
 they might devour sounds that were familiar in a forest 
 in those primitive days of border life with the exception 
 of these, we say, the deep repose and stillness of night 
 had come. 
 
 Wetzel had long since crept under the rock, rolled up 
 in his blanket, and was now enjoying a sound and heal 
 thy sltim'oer; and Albert, who had remained up, seated on 
 a little stone, with nis head leaning against a rock, wrap 
 ped in melancholy meditation, now began to feel the po 
 tent power of Somnus, and prepared to follow his ex 
 ample. 
 
 It required but little time to get himself in readiness 
 for repose. Rolling his blanket carefully around him, to 
 keep off the damp chills of the night air, he crawled up 
 alongside of his companion, and placing his head on a 
 stone, which was to serve him in place of a softer pillow,
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 165 
 
 he soon fell into a light slumber, and for hours was ren 
 dered happy by dreaming a delightful dream of his own 
 dearly beloved Forest Rose. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI 
 
 Huron War Sports. 
 
 When our two friends aroused themselves to con 
 sciousness, it was broad daylight and the sun was just be 
 ginning to peer above the eastern horizon, and tip the 
 mountain tops with his golden light. Of course their 
 first 1'jOK-out was toward the plain, which was again seen 1 
 stretching away before them, covered with a light hoar 
 frost. Nothing near was seen stirring, but far in the dis 
 tance a small herd of buffalo was descried, cropp'ng the 
 scanty herbage. The village still remained quiet; but a 
 few early risers mostly squaws, could be seen moving 
 slowlv about, relighting the extinguished fires, by which 
 to prepare the morning's frugal repast for their still 
 slumbering lords and masters. Along the course of the 
 river, and in the valley beyond, lay a dense, heavy fog, 
 which, as the sun rose, lifted itself, and rolled away in 
 huge masses, to dissolve and mingle itself with the less 
 humid atr> osphere. 
 
 In the coarse of half an hour, the village was again 
 alive with its hundreds of primitive denizens. Warriors, 
 squa'vs, and pappooses, were now seen lounging about, 
 and occasionally grouped together, apparently discussing 
 some affair of no great importance. Suddenly the buffa 
 loes or the plain were seen to be violently agitated, and' 
 then they broke away pell-mell, taking a southerly di 
 rection. Immediately after, the cause of this sudden oom- 
 motion became apparent to our scouts. From the thicket 
 that fringed the prairie near the base of the line of hills 
 away to the right which formed its nothern boundary, 
 and gave vent to the headwaters of the beautiful Hock- 
 hocking a band of mounted hunters suddenly burst into 
 view, and gave chase after the flying herd, more than 
 one of whose number was already wounded by a simul-
 
 166 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 taneous discharge of their rifles, though not so severely 
 
 as to prevent a rapid flight. 
 
 "Tha.-* go the cusses," chuckled Wetzel, "arter buf- 
 flers as mought awaited for 'em, ef they'd only kuow'd 
 how to pi'nt thar pieces like white gintlemen. Ods, bods! 
 I'd jest like to sen the cow ay, or for that matter, the 
 bull ayther that 'ud make much headway after old 
 Killnigger had spoke to her, at the distance they was off 
 when they fired. But what can a body 'spect one o' the 
 red imps o' Satan to know 'bout handling' white gintle- 
 men's inventions? 'Tain't thar natur's; and consarn 
 Vheir greasy, thick-headed pates, they haint got sense 
 enough to know it. At murderin' women and children, 
 when they git 'em alone by themselves, then can do pow 
 erful, and that's all they're good for. Ah, see! they've 
 stopped 'round somethin', and it's maybe they've got one 
 o' the critters arter all." 
 
 "They have." rejoined Albert, looking through the 
 glass, for the distance was too great to mark anything 
 distinctly with the naked eye. "They have surrounded a 
 wounded animal that seems to make great efforts to es 
 cape, notwithstanding I have seen no less than six weap 
 ons discharged at it, at the distance apparently of the 
 same number of paces." 
 
 "Yes, tbar it is again," resumed Wetzel, whose preju 
 dice and inveterate hatred of the Indians would not per 
 mit him to give them credit for anything; "thar it is 
 agin, jest as I 'snected shoot six rifle balls into a wound 
 ed buffler, and then not be able to mor'n fetch him to his 
 knees, when one bullet, rightly p'mted, would lay him so 
 dead that he'd iorgit to kick. Thunder! I only wish I 
 war the huffier for about the length o' five minutes! I'd 
 bet a horn o' powder again a gun flint, I could knock the 
 hind sights off o'every thevin,' murderin' devil o' 'em, 
 and put 'em on a bee trail for thar squaw women a heap 
 faster nor they rid down thar." 
 
 "There, they have conquered at last!' pursued Albert,
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 167 
 
 who had closely noted the progress of events on the plain 
 during the remarks of his companion, and who, being by 
 this time thoroughly accustomed to the peculiar humors 
 of the other, dicl not always deem it incumbent upon him 
 to make any direct reply; "they have conquered at last; 
 ihe bull is down, and to all appearance dead. Yes, some 
 of them are dismounting, and there, now, they have fall 
 en upon him, and are beginning to remove his hide." 
 
 "How mary on 'em be thar altogether?" asked 
 Wetrel. 
 
 "I can count fifteen." 
 
 "Fifteen red niggers onto one buffler!" returned the 
 old hunter, contemptuously. "Thunder! what sneakin*. 
 murdenin'. thievin' cowards these here same Injens is. 
 Fifteen cusses on to one bull buffler! when I've knocked 
 many a one over, and nobody by, and thought nothin* 
 about it arter wards." 
 
 "Of course one white gentlemen is more than a 
 match for fifteen Indians?" observed Albert, a little mis 
 chievously. 
 
 "In course he is," returned Wetzel, with a matter- 
 of-fact gravity -"in course he is. But what's that thar 
 hollerin' about?" 
 
 "The Indians are coming toward the race ground, 
 to begin their shorts for the day," replied Albert, looking 
 toward the village, and perceiving a large party in the 
 act of leaving it. 
 
 In the course of another half hour the scene in front 
 of our hunters was materially changed. By this time a 
 "arge crowd, c* the same mingled character as we have 
 already described, was collected on the race ground; and 
 while some resumed the sport of throwing the tomahawk, 
 others amused themselves by running foot-races, leaping 
 and jumping. The foot-racing was a very exciting aud 
 popular amusement, judging from the numbers who en 
 tered into the contest, and the degree of merriment it oc 
 casioned in ctii parlies. A little south of the arena a stake
 
 16 g THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 was driven into the earth, to mark the point of starting: 
 and another about a quarter of a mile west of it, to des 
 ignate the point of turning. At the former place some 
 rifty young men arranged themselves in a low row, side 
 by side, all facine westward. A few old men stood by to 
 act as judges, and give the signal for setting out. One 
 of these held ?. rude drum, fashioned like a tamborme, 
 being merely an untanned deerskin drawn tightly over 
 a hoop, and having a width of rim of some six inches. 
 "When all were ready for a start he would strike this with 
 -a stick he held for the purpose, and away would bound 
 the whole party whooping, hallowing, yelling, and 
 jumping- -each straining every nerve to outdo his fel 
 lows. The race was to end where it begun; and when the 
 party neareci the opposite stake, then came the great trial 
 -of skill and activity, to keep up their speed, turning with 
 out loosing too ?nuch time, and dart off again in an op 
 posite direction Of all that set out, some three or four 
 of the party would always have the lead of the main body 
 at the winning-post, and one would generally be winner, 
 though often by not more than a couple of feet, while 
 the others would be scattered sometimes the whole dis 
 tance between the two points. 
 
 The race was at last mostly warmly contested be 
 tween Ogwehea and a young Shawnee. Twice they came 
 In together, breast to breast, neither having been able to 
 gain a foot, or even an inch, on his rival, either in going 
 down to the turn, or in coming back. This was so re 
 markable that all the other runners held back, to give 
 them the ground to themselves, till the contest, should 
 be decided. The third time they ran by themselves; and 
 so exciting had the race for victory now become, that the 
 tomahawk arena was abandoned, and the whole crowd 
 drew themselves up in two long lines, covering the wnole 
 ground between the stakes, to witness the grand trial. 
 At the tap of the drum both started precisely together, 
 as on previous occasions, and kept so till tyey reached the
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 169 
 
 opposite s^ake; but here, in turning, the young Shawnee 
 accidently slipped, by which the other gained a dingle 
 foot, an advantage he kept all the way back; and a loud 
 shout from the excited and breathless crowd, proclaimed 
 the final victory of Ogwehea. 
 
 "I know'-} it," said Wetzel, giving vent to one of his 
 peculiar, low quiet laughs. "I know'd it all the time. 
 I know'd that thar cuss must win, by the practice he had 
 in running away from old Killnigger here, the night I 
 sot you at liberty, Master Albert." 
 
 After the decision of this race, the crowd gradually 
 separated aga'n; and while some continued at this 
 amusement, others returned to the arena as, by way of 
 distinction, we must designate the place of throwing the 
 tomahawk while othars, divided into groups, in differ 
 ent, parts of the plain, proceeded to practice leaping, 
 wrestling, dancing, and whatever other sports most pleas 
 ed their fancy. 
 
 The scene, take it all in all, was very lively and 
 animated moio so, even than that which our scouts had 
 witnessed the day previous and but for the knowledge 
 -.hat these same sports were gradually to prepare the ac 
 tors r.o go on the bloody war-path against the almost de 
 fenseless whites of the frontiers, Albert and Wetzel 
 would have viewed them as curiosities in their way with 
 very different feelings from what they now experienced. 
 
 Mean ti'ne, the hunters returned, loaded with buf 
 falo meat, and other game; and having done their part 
 toward providing, for the day at least, against the wants 
 of the village, they sauntered off to the race-ground, to 
 take part in the amusements themselves. 
 
 Another sport, which was at length adopted -and 
 which, being rather novel, again drew the separated par 
 ties together, either to the spectators or to take part in 
 it consisted in a display of skill with fire-arms, and 
 with the more primitive weapons, the bow and arrow. 
 A now target was Drought from the village, and bound to-
 
 170 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 a stake near the base o the hill, between what we have 
 termed the arena and the place where our spies were 
 stationed This was to be shot at, facing the hill; and 
 in consequence our friends had to be more guarded than 
 ever against being in the slightest degree exposed. 
 
 When all was prepared some twenty-five young war 
 riors, all armed with rifles, began the sport. The spec 
 tators s*.ood back, in a long line, facing the Standing 
 Stone, but leaving a wide space between them and the 
 target, so as to give the marksmen a clear ground. The 
 warlike amusement was begun by the leader of the party 
 starting off singly from his companions, and running 
 with all his might in front of the effigy, at the distance 
 perhaps of lifty paces, and discharging his rifle at it as 
 he passed the contra! line. A tally man stood near the 
 spot where the pieces were discharged, who, at every fire, 
 instantl> sprang forward, examined the target, and. if 
 hit at all, indicated the precise spot, by placing his finger 
 upon it, so that all the lookers-on could see at a glance 
 each one's success or failure 
 
 This warlike sport lasted some two or three hours, 
 during wtiich time nearly every warrior made a trial of 
 his skill with the rifle; and, judging from the number of 
 rimes the finger of the runner touched the target in dif 
 ferent places, the savages, as a body, might be considered 
 no moan markpmen, even to those whose prejudices, like 
 Wetzel's. most reluctantly conceded anything in their 
 favor. 
 
 When this practice with the rifle had become some 
 what tiresome, it was abandoned, and the bow and arrow 
 substituted. With this, even at the distance we have 
 naro^d, a? a general thing, the shots were much be'.ter 
 made than with the other weapon; and the arrows were 
 left to stick where they struck, the effigy at the close of 
 the sport, might be likened to a porcupine, with its quills 
 protruding ic every diroction save one. In this manner 
 it was finally bi.rre in triumph to the village; and with
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 171 
 
 this the events of the day closed. 
 
 Nothing of importance occurred throughout the sec 
 ond night our spies spent on the mount; and on the fol 
 lowing day the different sports were resumed, with the 
 keen relish which the Indian is so well known to possess 
 for warlike games. Toward noon, a new and more ex 
 citing amusement than any which had preceded it, was 
 introduced. This was none other than horse racing. Some 
 fifty high-mettled, beautiful horses were rode upon the 
 ground, by as many comely-formed, athletic young war 
 riors. Nothing could be finer, more graceful, and artis 
 tic, than their display of equestrian skill; and even Wet- 
 :.el was forced to admit that "Tnjens know'd somethin' 
 j>bout bosses." Without saddle, or bridle, or trappings of 
 any kind with only a sort of buckskin halter, which 
 each held carelossly in one hand they sat upon the bare 
 backs of their steeds, as if rider and horse were one, and 
 <'urveted. and pranced, and galloped, and ran, and wheel 
 ed, and all with a grace and ease that could not be sur 
 passed tnoir half-naked and flexible bodies swaying to 
 and fro, and yielding due pcise to every motion, with 
 every muscle in full and manly play. It was a beautiful 
 sight, and would have made an admirable study for the 
 sculptor, seeking to immortalize himself with the model- 
 :ng of a perfect equestrian statue. 
 
 After a sufficient display of their horsemanship, 
 amid the triumphant yells of the crowd, the young war 
 riors drew themselves up at the starting point of the race, 
 in the same manner as those had done who ran on foot. 
 Here, apparently, the while village was collected, a few 
 squaws excepted who had not received permission of their 
 tyranical masters to rest from their usual druggery. 
 Conspicuous above all, stood the noble and commanding 
 form of Tarhe, surrounded by inferior chiefs, old sachems, 
 sages, and oounsellors, like a king in the midst of his 
 courtiers. At the given signal, away bounded the Avhole 
 stud, a<3 ore beast, and like lightning flew over the plain,
 
 17 2 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 their- feet scarcely seeming to touch the earth, and their 
 riders sitting- erect, and almost as immovable as so many 
 -statues of bronze. Away, away they went, and still away 
 till some live miles divided them from the spectators, 
 when they brought the animals to a sudden halt, and fac 
 ed about, forming a long, military line abreast, prepara 
 tory to the return. Here they waited some five or ten min 
 utes, to give their horses time to recover their wind, and 
 then the signal was given to start 
 
 The coming in was the grand trial of the race the 
 gcing out being merely a preparatory exercise and 
 every exertion was now made to force each beast to his 
 greatest velocity. The riders no longer sat erect, but 
 bending forward till their heads almost lay upon the 
 nocks of their flying coursers, they urged them onward 
 with well known sounds of encouragement, and with the 
 ends of their long halters which they laid smartly on 
 their flanks, in place of riding switches, occasionally 
 sounding the loud, shrill war-whoop, as if bearing down 
 upon an ennmy. On, on they came, like so many mounted 
 devils, making the very earth tremble under their 
 thundering tread, and here and there, where the ground 
 was more dry than elsewhere, raising a cloud of dust that 
 completely enveloped them, as in the smoke of battle. 
 On, on they camo, and now the breathless and anxious 
 multitude besrnn to give way before their approach. For 
 some tv,o miles there was very little variation in the 
 speed ^f the animals; then they began to separate, and 
 here and there one to fall behind in the general strife. 
 Still seme fifteen or twenty kept the van, and for a mile 
 or two further bade fair to divide the honors of the race. 
 But within a mile of the spectators, the fleetest and best- 
 bottomed studs began to distance their neighbors. Half 
 a mile fuither. there were five abreast; but from these, 
 two now sprang forward, and held the lead, and an even 
 wiy, in pyite of the desperate urgings of thsir riders, 
 till withr.i a hundred yards of the goal, when one sud-
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 173 
 
 denly leaped forward a few feet, and bore his gallant 
 rider in a winner by a half a length. A loud, long shout 
 followed by extravagant yells of delight, again proclaim 
 ed Og\\ ehca victorious over his crestfallen rider of the 
 foot race, the Shawnee brave. 
 
 But we will not dwell longer upon the war sports of 
 the savagos, lest we weary the reader, at the same time 
 that we delay tho most important part of our "story. 
 It will be enough to say, that day after day our gallant 
 spins witnessed the horse racing, shooting, tomahawk 
 throwing, leaping, dancing, and running of their bitter 
 est foes, from their lofty eyrie among the rocks; and 
 almost every day they saw their numbers increased by 
 the arrival of some new war-party, whose appearance 
 would bo hailed by the terrible war-woop, that became 
 more terrible still in its echoes among the hills. 
 
 Nor must it be supposed that our spies had altogeth 
 er a retreat of safety. Several times parties of Indians 
 left the plain, and going around to its eastern base, as 
 cended the Standing Stone, and stood upon its very back 
 bone, within a few feet of our breathless hunters, who 
 were either concealed in the fissures of the rocks, or were 
 lyinc; fJ/it along the trunk of some old fallen tree, care 
 fully covered with decaying leaves, their rifles, on every 
 occasion, firmly grasped, ready for the last emergency. 
 
 At last a new source of annoyance, occurred. The 
 water in the hollows of the rocks, that had served them 
 thus far for drink, entirely gave out; and, as a matter of 
 course, this staple beverage must be elsewhere procured, 
 or their project, so near completed, be abandoned. 
 
 "It 11 hev to be did," observed Wetzel, "and thar's 
 not a bit o' use to talk agin it. We'll hev to do one o' 
 three things, sartin ayther g3t the drink up here, die or 
 travel and it's my opine we'd best git the drink." 
 
 Accordingly, after due preparation, and with great 
 caution, Wetzel descended to the prairie, and keeping in 
 the tMcket which skirted its margin and the base of the
 
 174 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 northern hills, he moved stealthily forward till the last 
 hut of the village was a quarter of a mile behind him; 
 then turning short to the left he took a direct course for 
 the Hockr-ockir.g. At the precise place where he struck 
 tho river, -in arm of a hill projected forward almost to 
 the bank, ^hich was here rather steep. Turning short 
 round this projection, the old hunter, to his great delight, 
 found a beautiful spring of clear, cold water, which bub 
 bled up out of the ground only a few paces distant, and, 
 with a gentle murmur, glided over the earth and buried 
 itself in the bosom of the Hockhocking. Filling his can 
 teens, Wetzel did not pause to examine the beauties of 
 the place, but quickly and carefully made his way back 
 to his companion, who had awaited his return with 
 many fears and misgivings. 
 
 This water served our spies for the next twenty- 
 four hours, and then it came Albert's turn to procure a 
 fresh supply. Following the directions of Wetzel, and 
 using all his caution, he found his way to the spring and 
 returned i.i safety. Several days now passed away, and 
 alternately each scout ventured to the spring, and re 
 turned with filled canteens, while the other kept a sharp 
 look-out on the movements of the savages who had al 
 ready increased to more than five hundred warriors 
 when the following thrilling adventure, so important in 
 its results took place. 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 The Surprise. 
 
 Since the arrival of our scouts upon the Standing 
 Stone, the weather had continued much as we described it 
 in a preceeding chapter. Every day the sun had risen 
 and set ir. a soft, hazy, cloudless sky, its morning and 
 evening beams displaying the brightest crimson and gol 
 den hues; but the eventful day of which we are about to 
 speak, had brought with it those slight changes which 
 are looked upon as the precussors of a storm. The Indian
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 175 
 
 summer, so soft and delightful, was evidently drawing 
 to a rapid close. For some days previous to this, the 
 atmosp-iere had been observed to thicken with smoke, 
 and every morning and evening the sun had set in a 
 darker red. On the day in question, the heavy smoke 
 had begun to gather itself into huge masses of various 
 shapes, which piled themselves, one above the other, 
 something like the thunder-heads we see rising in the 
 West just proceeding a summer shower. In consequence 
 of this, the atmosphere became clearer, and of a less 
 monotonous appearance; aad at times the sun shone 
 bright!} down, while at others, his rays were 
 completely hidden behind thick, dark dark clouds, that 
 m)vii'g eastward with a stiff western breeze, bore deep, 
 floating shadows over the face of the earth. The air 
 too, ha<? Dpcome colder, and the decaying leaves on the 
 trees rattled one against the other, and often fell in. 
 Phrti-color.^d showers to the ground, where, unless again 
 disturbed by a stronger current of air, they passed to the 
 last stages of decay and dust, and yielded their mite to 
 ward enriching the productive soil. 
 
 On the day in question, the sun was near the merid 
 ian, when Albert prepared to ?et off again, to replenish 
 the exhausted stock of water, and, as events turned out, 
 to make his last visit to the spring. Looking carefully 
 to the priming of his rifle, noting that the flint was in 
 gooc. order, and biding Wetzel keep a guarded eye on 
 the five hundred warriors already assembled upon the 
 plain and, in case cf an attack, to let his rifle warn 
 him immediately, as he would do under like circum 
 stances he slung the canteens over his neck, and qui 
 etly departed. So many times had Albert and Wetzel 
 gone to the spring, without meeting any event worthy 
 of record, that both had in a measure become less guard 
 ed tl an was strictly prudent; but en the present occasion 
 Albert somehow felt strangely, as if something were 
 about to transpire of the utmost moment to himself and
 
 17 6 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 compnnioi-, though of what nature he had no idea. His 
 minri. naturally of late, of a very melancholy turn, now 
 felt more gloomy and depressed than usual. Still he did 
 not fear for himself, for he had been too long used to 
 dangers in every form to give much thought to such a 
 subject, and there was no more reason to apprehend a 
 discovery by the Indians now, in fact, less so, perhaps 
 than at ary previous moment since entering upon th^ir 
 immediate possessions. 
 
 Therefore, with his head bowed upon his bosom, in 
 a sort of melancholy abstraction, in which, it must be 
 confessed, one object his own Forest Rose appeared 
 bright and unsullied, as he had known her in happy days 
 gone by he picked his way through the deep thicket of 
 plum and hazel that grew upon the edges of the prairie, 
 along the base of the northern hills, of which we have 
 before made mention. In less than half an hour from 
 quitting his companion, Albert had turned the sharp 
 projection of the hill and gained the spring. Filling his 
 canteens with the same air of abstraction that had 
 marked all his movements since leaving the Standing 
 Stone, he sat down upon a moss-covered rock, and, pine- 
 ing his rife in bis lap, and his chin upon his hands, gazed 
 silently mto the limpid water, as it bubbled up from the 
 cool eaith, and, forming a tiny stream, sped away with a 
 scothin? lipple. toward the Hockhocking, into which it 
 emptied, and, mingling, became a portion of that stream, 
 which, through various channels, at last finds its way to 
 the Gu if of Mexico. 
 
 It was a delightful place for meditation, for nature 
 had here unihed many of her most pleasing charms. The 
 hill which projected so near to the river, took a grace- 
 full sweep away to the right leaving the spring near its 
 base in a <sort of cove and rose high above it, covered 
 with trees and undergrowth. A small cluster of hazel 
 bushes : hot up at the head of the spring and fringed the 
 opposite side of the little run, and also the margin of the
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 177 
 
 river, their variegated leaves everywhere reflected in th 
 limpid waters. A path was trod around the spring, show 
 ing: th.t it was a frequent resort of the Indians. By the 
 side of this path was the stone on which our young hero 
 had spated himself, apparently regardless of his being, as 
 it were, in the very haunts of the Indians, where discov- 
 ery might prove fatal. Always brave and, since his 
 connectior with Wet/el, generally cautious he now ex 
 hibited a carelessness which was at total variance with 
 his better judgment and experience, if not with his 
 nature denoting that his mind was absorbed in reflec 
 tions that niipht have been made elsewhere with equal fa 
 cility, and certainly with far greater prudence and safe 
 ty. But long use had rendered danger a sort of second 
 nature to him; and success so far iu his enterprise, now 
 led him to be regardless of those precautions that pru 
 dence so strongly dictated. He had seated himself upon 
 the stone ns coolly as if surrounded by the stockades of 
 a well-garrisoned fort, without once turning the angle of 
 the hill to see if any one were approaching, or, for that 
 matter, even looking behind him. From the spring, 
 where he first fastened his gaze, his eyes gradually turn 
 ed upon the little run, and following the progress of a 
 leaf that had fallen upon the water, his vision gradually 
 became fixed upon the beautiful Hockhooking, which wag 
 flowing smoothly pact. 
 
 Here his whole attention was fixed, though his mind 
 was wandering oft' to other days and other scenes, when 
 he was suddenly startled from his reverie by hearing 
 light steps behind him. Grasping his rifle, he sprang to 
 his feet, and wheeling about suddenly, beheld two squaws 
 within a few feet of him, both having turned the angle 
 of the hill unperceived. He had just time to perceive 
 that one was old, and the other young, when the forme* 
 uttered a low, peculiar whoop, and the latter a short, 
 sLarp, startled scream. It was a fearful moment of 
 thought for well he knew another scream would bring
 
 17 g THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 upon tli em a whole band of warriors and certain death 
 in some foim or other. But he did not lose his presence 
 of mind, even under this terrible surprise. He quickly 
 resolved that both must die; but knowing it would be 
 fatal to the little hope remaining to use his rifle, he 
 determined on inflicting a speedy and noiseless death. 
 The Hockhocking was flowing near, its waters about 
 breast high, and drowning was the first mode of death 
 that suggested itsell. 
 
 All these thoughts were momentary, and ere the 
 echoes of the first startling whoop had died away, Albert 
 dropped his rifle, and bounding forward, caught each of 
 the squaws by the throat. To drag them to the verge 
 of the bank, with a strength almost superhuman, and 
 plunge ir^o the water was the work 01 only anotLei 
 moment. Beth struggled violently; but the strength of 
 our young hero was more than equal to their efforts to 
 escape, or to raise an alarm The water was up to his 
 waist, with a current so strong that it was with the 
 greatest difficulty he could maintain a foothold; but 
 his life was depending on his exertion, and his strength 
 seemed increased to the power of a Hercules. In a mo 
 ment both were submerged; but instantly the younger 
 raist.d hei head above the water, in spite of all his ef 
 forts, though too much strangled to scream or even speak. 
 The old woman now became troublesome in her death 
 agories; and thinking her the most to be feared, Albert, 
 placing one hand over the mouth of the younger, still 
 kept the other on the throat of the former, arid her head 
 urder water. It was a desperate struggle, and the 
 water splashed in every direction; but he could feel that 
 the strength of the old hag was fast growing weaker, and 
 as by this time the younger had partially recovered, he 
 suddenly slipped his hand from her mouth to her throat, 
 and the next instant she was again submerged in the 
 liquii element. But as she went under the second time, 
 she slipped from his grasp, and floating beyond his reach,
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 179 
 
 raised her head a few paces below him, still struggling, 
 spurting the water from her mouth, and grasping for 
 breath. 
 
 By this time Albert felt satisfied, by the relaxed ex 
 ertions of the old woman, that she was too far gone to 
 cause him any further apprehensions; and letting go his 
 grasp, and allowing her body to float down with the cur 
 rent, lie threw himself flat upon the bosom of the stream, 
 and with three or four vigorous strokes of his muscular 
 arms, quickly brought himself to the side of his other 
 victim. Seizing her roughly, he was just in the act of 
 forcing her under again, and for the last time for now, 
 having but one to contend with, there was no probability 
 he would Jet her come to the surface again alive when 
 her lips parted, tnd the word "Albert," half gasped, half 
 spoken, was tremulously articulated. 
 
 Had the river, suddenly vacated its bed or turned its 
 waters m a contrary direction, our young hero could not 
 have been more astonished and awe-strur-k, than he now 
 was to hear his own name pronounced by a young squaw 
 of the Ruror.s. Dropping his hold, he partially staggered 
 back, and peered eagerly into her countenance. Then it 
 was an expression swept over his own features impossi 
 ble to be described. It was a curious mingling of horror, 
 and joy, and awe; and so powerful were his feelings, 
 that for ?ome moments he could not speak. His eyes 
 half-starting from their sockets, were riveted upon the 
 object before him, as if in her he had suddenly discov 
 ered a being from another world. At length, with a des 
 perate effort, he rather gasped than said: 
 
 "Merciful God! do my eyes deceive me? or is this 
 my own beloved Fort-st Rose? 
 
 "Albert! my own dear Albert!" was the half faint 
 ing- response. 
 
 "Ood of mercy, it is so!" the young man almost 
 shouted, wild with excitement, ard the same moment 
 his arm was thrown around, and, half buried in the
 
 IkO THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 HicV hocking, she was again strained to the breast of him 
 
 who loved her. 
 
 Truly it was a strange meeting, after a long, and 
 as each had believed, a final separation. 
 
 But there was no time for rejoicing now; though 
 Albert beside himself with joy, seemed to forget the dan 
 ger which menaced him on every side, and might have 
 stood for minutes in speechless rapture, had not the 
 voice of Rc?e suddenly recalled him from a mental heaven 
 to a tangable earth. 
 
 ''Quick! dearest Albert," she exclaimed, hurriedly, 
 "let us gain the shore and escape while we may; ere the 
 alarm already sounded, prove .he moans of surrounding 
 u? with Indians, and cutting off our retreat." 
 
 "Yru fire right!" cried the other, starting, and look 
 ing wildly around him. "I had forgotten my danger in 
 the trar sporting joy of meeting my own beloved Forest 
 Rose! God send we may escape! Quick! quick! there, 
 we are upon' land once more;" and as he spoke both 
 emergprl fiom the water upon the dry bank. "Follow me 
 and not a word!" pursued Albert, springing forward and 
 grasping his rifle. 
 
 "Which way? asked Rose, breathlessly. 
 "Tc the mount! to the mount! Our old friend, Lewis 
 "Wet/el is there, awaiting my return." 
 
 Both now hurried forward, and turning the angle of 
 the projecting hill, struck into the cover of the thicket. 
 Gliding swiftly forward, but at the same time with as 
 little noise as possible, they had gained some two hun 
 dred va.-ds from the spring, when both were startled 
 with a long, loud peculiar whoop, coming from a party of 
 Indians behind them, and echoing afar among the hills, 
 with terrible distinctness. 
 
 'Oh, God! we are lost!" groaned Rose. "That is the 
 mournful death howl of the Indians, and it will soon be 
 followed by the terrible war-whoop, to give the alarm 
 of danger. I understand it all. A party of hunters who
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 181 
 
 went out this morning, in this direction, have discovered 
 the body of the old woman. There! hark!" 
 
 As she spoke the regular war-woop was sounded, 
 sure enough: and ere its echoes had died away, it was 
 again taken up by some stragglers at the nearest huts, 
 and again at the village, and again on the plain each 
 renewa 1 increasing the appalling sound by strength and 
 numbers, till more than five hundred throats were joined 
 in hellish conceit. 
 
 "Quick, dearest!" cried Albert; "quick, Rose! fly! 
 fly! our only hope is in reaching the Standing Stone be 
 fore we aie surrounded. Great Gcd ! to die thus at last, 
 with happiness just within our grasp! Oh, it is terrible! 
 terrible'" and throwing an arm around the other's wai?t, 
 he seemed to litterally put in execution his command to 
 her to fly, for her feet scarcely touched the ground, as 
 both regardless now of exposure, strained every nerve 
 to reach the mount, which loomed up before them within 
 the distance of a quarter of a mile. 
 
 Yell upon yell now resounded from the plain, and 
 then suddenly all became silent as death. 
 
 ''Ah! ' said Rose, "that silence is portentous for by 
 it I know that war parties are dividing, and darting off 
 in evory direction. There is no escape, dear Albert! but 
 at loast we may die together." 
 
 ""Which I a thousand times prefer dearest, to again 
 being separated." was the affectionate response. "But 
 wo will not yield life without a struggle. Here we are 
 now, al the base ol the mount. Heaven grant we may 
 roach tne summit in safety; and then if the Indians get 
 my scalp, they will the more readily prize it, as coming 
 from one who made it cost the heart's blood of many 
 of their nation. Quick, Rose! there! plant your foot 
 there! now seize that limb! now cling to me! there, there, 
 bravely d^ne, we are ascending fast; a few minutes mora 
 and wr> rhall join the old hunter. Hark, that shout, shows 
 that the Ir.dia.ns are behind us; they have surrounded the
 
 l;<2 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 mountain, but press on! press on! Ah, thank God here we^ 
 are at last, nt the foot of the precipice. Ha! I see Wetzel! 
 he is reaching us a pole. Seize it, Rose and cling to it 
 never mind me! Ah, I breathe again! here we are at 
 last:" and as the last words were uttered by Albert, he 
 stood upon the summit of the rocks, with one arm thrown 
 fondly around Rose, and panting hard from his exer 
 tions. 
 
 Wetzel stood just before him; and alternately look 
 ing at him and Rose, he at last exclaimed: 
 
 "Is this here a apperition? or is it little Rose For 
 ester sure enough? T see! I see now! it's the gal herself; 
 but ef I know'd her in that squaw toggery, I wish I may 
 
 be blessed I's a goin' to say. Thought you'd cotch- 
 
 ed a squaw prisoner, Albert, and no mistake. I'm right 
 glad to see >ou, gal; for Albert here has took on about 
 losin' you harder nor a mule can kick; but I'm powerful 
 sorrj you come jest, at the time when we're about to start 
 on our last trail for 
 
 "The Indians! the Indians!" interrupted Albert, 
 hurriedly. 
 
 "Yes( that's jest what I's a goin' to say for the 
 Injens hey got us this time whar notbin' can save us. 
 Well, we've got to die sometime; so I s'pose it don't 
 make no great dirt'rence only I bate most powerful to 
 gin 'cm a chance tv brag 'bout baggin" me at last." 
 
 "You think, then, there is no hope," cried Albert. 
 
 "No more nor ef you was tied to a stake, and had a 
 fiie sot around ye. Look off thar on the plain, and you'll 
 see that the devil himself couldn't git past sich a 
 crowd as is gatherein' around us. The whole mountain, 
 is surrounded by the cussed red howlin.' imps, and all 
 we've got to do is to knock over as many as we can, and 
 then knock under ourselves. ' 
 
 "Oh, God! this is terrible!" said Rose, clinging- 
 closer to Albeit; "as you say, to die at the very moment 
 of (happiness! But then," she added quickly, "we cam
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 183 
 
 -die together, dear dear Albert, and that will be a holy 
 consolation. " 
 
 "Nay, Rose," returned the young man, again strain 
 ing her fondly to his heart. "I have been thinking that 
 you may escapo. There is no escape for us, it is true; 
 but why should you die? Life has its attractions for all; 
 a*id it is cruel to sacrifice your's where nothing can be 
 gained. I perceive by your dress and appearance that 
 you have been adopted into the tribe. Go back to th9 
 Indiana, and say you have bean made a prisoner by the 
 scouts, but managing to effect your escape, they will be 
 lieve your story and their confidence in your fidelity be 
 increased; and at some future day you may be enabled to 
 reach the settlements, where you will report that Lewis 
 '\V'et;;el, and Albert Maywood. died as heroes should, de 
 fending their position to the last drop ol' their heart's 
 b^ood. GJ, dearest, go! and God Almighty bless and 
 guard you!" and Albert pressed bis lips hurriedly to 
 those of Hose, and gently pushed her from him, as if 
 to accelerate her movements before it should be too late. 
 
 But instead of complying with his request, Rose 
 stood as one alarmed by some terrible thought, and gazed 
 .reproachfully at Albert, who felt at a less to account for 
 this singular expression of her features, unless it might 
 be regret at leaving him behind But itme was pressing 
 for already the Indians were ascending the eastern 
 acclivity ard fearful some accident might happen be 
 fore she had made good her escape, he again urged her to 
 .go vithout delay. Poor little Rose, misconstruing his 
 motive, burst into tears; and kneeling upon the rocks, 
 sl>e bowed her head forward in her hands, and mur 
 mured : 
 
 "Oh, God! let me die where I am, since he whom I 
 believed true loves me no longer." 
 
 "Rose! Rose!" rried Albert, "what means this? 
 ^Surely, surely, you cannot think thus basely of me!" 
 
 "Do you then love me still?" inquired Rose, simply
 
 184 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 and earnestly, looking up through her tears. 
 
 "Do f love you, dearest? what a question to ask at 
 this time 9 How it pains me to hear, from your own 
 sweet lips, you doubt me! Do I ]ove you Ay, better 
 than my own life, since I would give my heart's blood to 
 make you happy. 
 
 "Why, then, dear Albeit, do you send me from you, 
 never to meet again on earth?" 
 
 "Why, that you may not perish that you may live 
 to escape. 
 
 "And do you think I want to live when you are 
 dead 7 " rejoined Hose with energy. "Live! why should 1 
 live without you? I have no friends now none to care 
 for little Forest Rose. In you, dear Albert, is centered 
 my whole being; and if God has decreed that you must 
 die, oh! I beg of you, as the last favor I shall ever ask, to 
 let me die with you! let my bones whiten with yours! 
 while together, hand in hand, we will traverse the un 
 known spirit lanO, loving on forever. Stir from here I 
 will not, till you grant my prayer, even though I stand 
 a Lreastv/ork between you and the foes; for the Indians 
 are alike my foes and yours; and return to them alive I 
 never will." 
 
 God bless you for a noble girl?" exclaimed Aloert, 
 extending his arms, and the next moment clasping them 
 around the form of her he loved. "We will die together, 
 since you so wish it but we must not die without a 
 struggle! It was for your own dear sake that I wished to 
 preserve your life, but since you prefer death with me, to 
 life without, I feel that I can throw off this mortal coil 
 and murmur not. But oome, Rose, come! for the present 
 I must conduct you to a safer spot, so that I can have the 
 consolation of knowing I breathe my last breath in your 
 defense." 
 
 'Give me a rifle," said Rose, resolutely, " and I will 
 prove to you that I have not lived eighteen months 
 among the savages for nothing."
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 185 
 
 Nay, talk not thus, dearest; for every moment lost 
 Is an age of delay. Quick! follow me!'' and Albert hur 
 ried over the rocks toward the retreat that had served 
 himself and companions for their night encampments. 
 
 "Ay, hurry away with the gal hurray away with 
 the gal!" said Wetzel. who had. during the conversation 
 of the lovers, been watching the movements of the In 
 dians; "for whatsomever powder we burn will hev to be 
 burnt right sudden; for yonder the sneakin' cusses come, 
 dodgin' about amongst the trees and rocks down yonder, 
 as ef thai- miserable lives was wuth as handsome as them 
 o' two white gintlemen. Ha! thar's one pokiu' his nose 
 too nigh by. Up, old Killniger, and gin him thunder!" 
 
 The last word was drowned in the sharp crack of a 
 rifle, followed by a yell of agony; and the adventurous 
 savage, who had partly scaled the precipice, rolled down 
 the hill, a hundred feet, mortally wounded by a ball 
 which had been guided on its mission of death by the uu- 
 crrirg eye of a true old marksman. A moment of 
 breathless stillness succeeded the cry of the wounded In 
 dian, and then arose a succession of terrific savage yells, 
 which, beginning near the base of the precipice, spread 
 away on every hand, completely t-ur rounding the mount, 
 echoing among the more distant hills, and making the 
 welkin rine; with sounds worthy of a pandemonium. 
 
 The first blood had been drawn the contest was 
 truly begun. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII 
 
 Five Hundred Against Two. 
 
 Scarcely had the savage shouts died away, when 
 Albert, having seen Rose safely in her retreat, rejoined 
 hi? companion, for the purpose of making good the de 
 fense as long at is might be possible for two human be 
 ings to hold out against five hundred war-trained, blood 
 thirsty savages. He found the old hunter standing be 
 tween two high rocks, which guarded his person on two 
 sides, and completely concealed him from the Indians on
 
 IS 6 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 his right and left flank. Tn fact there was no place 
 where the savages could now bring their rifles to bear 
 upon him, save directly in front; and even to do this, 
 they must climh the rocks and make a foothold before 
 they could shoot; and this, too, in the face of his own 
 deadly weapon, which was not likely to remain idle, 
 wiiile its owner was being put in such jeopardy. Wetzel 
 had improved the passing moments, since discharging his 
 rifle, to reload it; and now he stood with the barrel of it 
 resting in the hollow of his left arm, his right hand upon 
 the breech nnd his right foot thrown a little back, ready 
 to prove its fidelity upon the next Indian who might 
 have the temerity to follow the example of the first by 
 shoving hir. painted face above the precipitous accent in? 
 front. 
 
 "What of the attack?" inquired Albert, as he took 
 his place alongside of AVetzel, his own rifle put in posi 
 tion for immediate use. 
 
 " "D'ye hear old Killnigger here speak to 'em?" re 
 plied Wetzel, giving vent to a low half stifled chuckle. 
 "Thunder! you oughter bin here, Master Albert and seed 
 that dtir devil roll down the rocks, all doubled up like he' 
 had the belly-ache! It was the purtiest sight I've seen 
 for many a day; and it done me a heap o' good to plug 
 him plum center. 1 jest tell ye what 'tis, Master Albert, 
 and I can't help it- though I'll hev to allow it arn't in 
 the common order o' things but I've bin so long cooped 
 up her?, without doin' nothin', liko a squirrel in a cage, 
 that 1 like the fun o' knockin' over some o' these greasy 
 cus:-es, jest to keep my hand in to the last. Ef we only 
 had fifteen or twenty good old Injen fighters here now, 
 to man every port o' these rocks, the red niggers mought 
 work away, and be to 'em, till they got tired on't." 
 
 'But do you really think there is any chance for us 
 to escape"" inquired Albert, anxiously. 
 
 Wetzel coolly turned his eyes up toward the sun, 
 which, now a little past the meridian, \vas shining:
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 187 
 
 torightly down between two floating clouds, and, after 
 considering for a moment or two, deliberately replied. 
 
 'Why, ef several things should come to pass, which 
 it ain't much likely they will, we mought git off with 
 two scalps on our heads and one on the gal's, making 
 three in all." 
 
 "Well, what must take place to render this pos 
 sible?' 
 
 'Why, in the tirst place, the sun's more'n f ve hours 
 .above the horizon; and till it gits down out o' sight, two 
 white sintlemer., as looks, for all humin natur', exactly 
 line me and you, hev got to keep five hundred o' the 
 /meanest, cownrdest, greasiest lookin' set o' Satan's imps, 
 as ever the Lord made, from gittin' on these here rocks 
 and sp'ilin' our handsomes. Ef we can do this, and the 
 night dor't cloud up too much, it's maybe we can sneak 
 down and get away 'atween sun and sun.' 
 
 "But do you really think we can hold out till night, 
 my friond?" 
 
 "You mean ef I think so honestly?" 
 
 'I do." 
 
 "Well, then, I'll say, honestly, I don't. I wouldn't 
 give that (snapping his finger) for our chance o' gettin* 
 a\vay. No, no, Master Albert, our time's come now, and 
 no mistake; and all that's left us is to do our duty like 
 \vhitp giiitlemen, and not disgrace our edication and 
 raisin.' I fec-1 powerful sorry for the gal.'* pursued 
 Wet/el, "and I'd a felt much better, ef you'd a made out 
 to hev persuaded her to go back to the Injens; though I 
 can't say f think she's got much the worst on't, seein' 
 they're sich a powerful meat; set o' devils; but then I 
 hate most desperate to see her with us, so young and 
 innocent like " 
 
 'V is terriblo:" groaned Albert. 
 
 "E : y-tho-by. I forget to ax ye how you come to find 
 jher I hardly know'd her at first, with htr colored ^kin 
 that used to be so white, and ner dress, as is real squaw
 
 188 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 lujen all over." 
 
 "I will tell you all another time, that is if God 
 permits us to escape," replied Albert, hurriedly. "But 
 look yonder!" and Albert pointed down the eastern side 
 of the precipice. "See! the Indians are skulking about 
 amor<g che rocks and trees, and we may prepares our 
 selves for a more desperate attack." 
 
 "Let 'em come/' rejoined Wetzel as calmly as if he 
 were examining the movements of a herd of deer. "Let 
 'em come! The first red ripseallion as shows his head 
 above the rocks, will be powerful apt to git the contents 
 of o'd Killnigger into him." 
 
 An emulous silence succeeded this last remark of 
 the old woodsman, during which both he and his com 
 panion kept their gaze riveted on the only point where 
 it was believed the savages could ascend the precipice 
 on which they stood. At the end of the rock, flanking 
 the right of our scout?, a cluster of bushes had struggled 
 up through a deep fissure, which served to scieen them 
 from the observation of the Indians, as the latter glided 
 round in front on the hill below, while it left the savages 
 exposed to view of our scouts though the distance, and 
 uncertainty of hitting their mark, prevented them from 
 firing. Moment followed moment and still the silence 
 was as profound as if the forest contained not a single 
 human being. Rut our scouts felt that this stillness was 
 like that, which precedes the tempest, or the opening roar 
 of battle. From their knowledge of the Indian charac 
 ter, they knew that the savages were not idle, but pre 
 paring to give them a deadly surprise; and the longer the 
 silence, the more fearful were they of its being broken, 
 at length, by the victorious war whoop. At last, caution 
 ing Wetzel not to turn his eyes from the front, Albert 
 stepped back a few paces, to be sure that none of the en 
 emy had effected a lodgment behind their position al 
 though from his knoweldge of the rocks he believed such 
 a th.'ng next to impossible, without the aid of artificial
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 189 
 
 mear.s, which he well knew the savages had not. Peering 
 carefully around the outer angle of the eastern rock, he 
 discovered, to use a nautical phrase, that the coast was 
 cl^ar. Satisfied with his scrutiny, 'he was just on the 
 point of rejoining his companion, when accidentally 
 raising his eyes above the level of his head, he iuvolun- 
 tjrir.lly started, and his features grew a shade more pale, 
 while his grasp tightened on his rifle. 
 
 A few rods distant from the precipice, a tall pine 
 had shot up some fifteen or twenty feet above the high 
 est poirt of the mount, entirely free from limbs for some 
 two-thirds of the whole length. Close against the body 
 of this tree, OP the opposite si-le to Albert, supported by 
 the first crotch, and almost entirely concealed by the 
 foliage of a limb projecting toward our young hunter, 
 was a dark object, which the quick eyes of Albert readi 
 ly detected to be an Indian. During the silence he had 
 been steathily climbing, taking his rifle with him; and 
 at the moment when Albert looked around the angle of 
 the rock, he had just reached his present position; when, 
 perceiving the young hunter he suspended his operations 
 and remained immovable, in the hope of escaping obser 
 vation. 
 
 From where our gallant scouts had been standing, 
 it "was impossible to discover The Indian, owing to the 
 hi;ight of the rock on that side; and his intention clearly 
 was to ascend to a point whence he could lock down on 
 the hunters, and pick one of them off with a fatal aim. 
 A{ this moment, as if aware this bold design was in dan 
 ger of being frustrated, the savages below made some 
 slight demonstrations in front, as if to attract the atten 
 tion of the scouts in that direction. But if such was 
 their object, it failed with Albert. He saw at a glance 
 the narrow esca.pe himself and companion had made, 
 in feeling themselves too secure against an attack in 
 their rear; nnd he was resolved not to withdraw his gaze 
 even for a moment, from the tree, till he had rid it of
 
 190 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 so dangerous an enemy. But a very small portion of the 
 body of the savage was visible, and this so shaded by in 
 tervening foliage as to render it an uncertain shot for 
 the very best marksman; and in consequence, Albert 
 stood irresolute for a moment, whether to fire or retreat 
 behind the rook and await a more favorable opportunity. 
 But while considering, he mechanically raised his rifle 
 to h?s eye, and glanced along the barrel At the same 
 moment a cloud moved along between him and the sun 
 and made the light favorable to a certain aim. The 
 chance seemed too good to be thrown away, for it was 
 doubtful if he ever could get a better, and he pulled the 
 trigger. Crack went the rifle; and, bounding clear from 
 the tre^, with a horrible yell of pain and rage, the savage 
 made several evolutions in his descent, and striking his 
 head at last upon a rock, dashed out his brains at a spot 
 near where some of his companions were concealed, 
 watching the success of his daring adventure. At the 
 same instant the rifle of the old hunter belched forth its 
 deadly contents, and another savage, who had ventured 
 to peer above the rocks in front of Wetzel, rolled howling 
 down the rugged pathway. 
 
 A general yell of rage and dismay now arose from 
 more than a hundred throats at the foot of the precipice 
 on the eastern side, and. being taken by others more 
 distant, again made the welkin ring as with the orgies 
 of fiends Maddened to furry at the failure and death 
 of their companions, and knowing that the rifles of the 
 scouts must iion be empty, some fifty Indians rushed 
 forward in a body, and attempted to clamber up the 
 rock together. But numbers only increased the difficulty 
 oi 1 ascent and caused a delay which enabled Wetzel and 
 Albert to be asain prepared to give them a warm recep 
 tion. 
 
 "Don't let's waste no more powder nor is necessary," 
 said Wetzel, coolly, stopping to pick up a good sized stone 
 that lay at his feet. "Now keep your eye skinned," he
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 191 
 
 added, as he crept stealthily forward, "and be sure, ef t 
 miss tbe first red nigger as shows himself, to drap him 
 right sudden yourself." 
 
 Having delivered himself of this peculiar caution, he 
 continued his progress in silence, till within a couple of 
 feet of where the Indians were climbing up one after 
 another; then suddenly raising himself to his feet, he 
 hurled the stjise with all his might upon the heads of 
 those below. Had a cannon hall swept down there, it 
 would have failed to clear the path much sooner than did 
 this missile of the old hunter. Fairly striking the head 
 of the foremost, it crushed in his skull and spattered his 
 brains or. those below; and then, impelled downward by 
 its weight, and the impetus given it by two muscular 
 arms, it rolled with fearful velocity from one to another, 
 crushing and mangling whatever it touched having ani 
 mal life. Surprised, bruised and terrified, the foremost 
 savages let go their hold, and falling back upon their 
 companions, the whole party, yelling and screeching, 
 went tumbling down together, like so many footballs, till 
 their progress became checked by the trees and rocks 
 wci^h they spotted with their own blood. 
 
 T\etzel ventured to peep over the precipice (me mo 
 ment, to learn the success of his experiment; and then 
 hurrying back to Albert, he threw himself down upon the 
 rock, and rolling over and over, with his hands cl-jsped 
 on his sides, indulged himself in a hearty fit of merri 
 ment, that threatened to unfit him for any further ser 
 vice actually breaking out into roars of laughter, but 
 .ittle less far reaching than the yells of his enraged ene 
 mies. 
 
 "The cusses," he cried, as soon as he could get 
 breath enough to speak; "jest to see 'em tumblin' one on 
 top o' t'other, and t'other on top o' one, clar down to the 
 bottom! ' And again he gave vent to his feelings in a 
 roar that would have done no disredit to a wounded 
 buffalo.
 
 192 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 "Is this a time to laugh?" returned Albert, rather 
 indignantly, who could see nothing to excite his mirth, 
 while his dearlv beloved Rose was in danger. 
 
 ttartin it is," replied Wetzel, taking a sitting pos 
 ture, with h-'s hands crossed over bis knees, and giving 
 Albert a serio-comic look. "Sartin it is a time to 
 laugh, and the only maybe I'll ever hev; for it's my opine 
 that when them thar devils git over the flurry that that 
 thar rock put 'em into, we'll hev a powerful short zime 
 to say our prayers in. Wonder what's their opine o' how 
 a white gintlemen can handle a rock? Oh, it was enough 
 to make a bar laugh, jest to see how they piled them 
 selves up down thar, arter I trapped that thar last ar 
 gument for thar partikelar edification." 
 
 Here Wetzel indulged in another long convulsive 
 fit of n'errirapnt; and then, thinking it time to be again 
 in readiness for a new onset, he rose to his feet, seized 
 his riflo, and resumed his former position of defense. 
 
 Again a long, portentious silence prevailed, during 
 which nothing could be heard but the rustling of the 
 withering leaves, as a light breeze from the west stole 
 through the forest. An hour had elapsed since the first 
 attack upon our scouts, and still they had been able to 
 maintain their position, which was certainly more than 
 they hc.d counted on doing an hour before, and gave them 
 a faint hope that they might possibly hold till night. 
 
 Another hour rolled away, and although they had 
 been constantly on the watch, not a living being had 
 they seen. There was something awful in the long sus 
 pension of hostilities something far more terrifying 
 than an actual combat for now the mind had nothing 
 to distract it from their appalling situation, and imag 
 ination was free to conjure up a thousand horrors. The 
 effect of this suspense began to be visible even on the 
 intrepid Wet/el . His features had assumed a sullen 
 gravity- -his dark eyes wandered from object to object, 
 with a restlessness uncommon his grasp tightened on
 
 THE FOREST ROSE,, 193 
 
 his rifle his breathing grew slightly irregular while 
 cold drops of perspiration stood on his immovable fea 
 tures. Albert appeared calm; but it was the solemn 
 ?Tielancholy calmness of one who was looking death in 
 the face and mentally preparing himself for the last 
 great change. All color had forsaken his features, and 
 even his compressed lips were bloodless. Still, there was 
 no foolish trepidation no cowardly fear apparent. He 
 might die; but his whole appearance betokened one who 
 would die as became a hero. 
 
 "I don't like it," said Wetzel, at length, drawing a 
 long breath. "This here kind o' fightin' whar a feller's 
 got nothin' to do, is the worst kind o' fightin' out. Now 
 anybody that know'd nothin' about Injens might think, 
 may be, as how they'd drawed off to let us alone but we 
 Know better. They're up to some infernal devilment, 
 which we'll be powerful apt to hear on when we least 
 expect to Well, ef they'd only come along, and let u 
 hev the wust on it; but this keepin' a couple o' white 
 gintlemen cooped up her to fool away thar time, is out 
 rageous. ' 
 
 "They know we can not escape," returned Albert, 
 'and so with a species of refined cruelty, they deliberate 
 and carry out their plans coolly, leaving us to a sus 
 pense worse a hundred times than actual death. But I 
 v/ill go and seek Rose for she must feel terribly, poor 
 girl! In fact, I wonder she has remained so long in quiet 
 though I earnestly requested her not. to stir from her 
 hiding place till I gave her permission." 
 
 "Wflll, I can't stand this," rejoined the old hunter, 
 "'for I'd a powerful sight rather " 
 
 "Hist!" interrupted Albert, in a whisper, touching 
 Ms shoulder and silently pointing toward the southern 
 end of the precipice, or that opposite the regular place ot 
 ascent. 
 
 Wetzel turned his eyes in that direction, and from 
 the center of a cluster of bushes, which grew upon th
 
 194 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 very edge of the eastern side of the rocks, fancied he saw 
 the dark eyes of a savage, gleaming like those of a pan 
 ther. Glad of any excuse to relieve the tedium of mo 
 notonous suspense, he brought his rifle to his eye, with 
 the air of or.e who was merely about to sight for amuse 
 ment; and instantly the echoes of the forest were awak 
 ened by a sharp report, followed by a yell of agony, as a 
 savage bounded up from his cover, and plunged headlong 
 down the precipice. The usual yells of rage and dismay 
 next succeeded from the companions of the wounded In 
 dian; and to the surprise and almost consternation of our 
 scouts, three more athletic warriors started up from the 
 same cover, and discharging their rifles at our spies, hap 
 pily without effect gave the appalling war-whoop, and, 
 flourishing thoir tomahawks above their heads, rushed 
 down upon them. 
 
 But OMT gallant hunters were prepared to receive 
 them. Deliberately raising his rifle to his eye, Albert 
 shot the foremost directly through the heart; and as he 
 fell back upon the next behind, hoth our friends sprang 
 forward for a hand-to-hand combat. But it was of only 
 momentary duration. Bounding to the side of the sec 
 ond savage, as he was in the act of disengaging himself 
 from his dead companion, Albert raised his tomohawk at 
 the same time with the Indian; but being quicker in 
 motion than his antagonist, he managed to elude his Dlow 
 and bury his own weapon in the other's head. Wntzel 
 was alike successful. A perfect demon when fighting 
 savages, he sprang forward with a yell of fury, like a 
 tiger bounding upon his prey, fairly gnashing his teeth 
 and foaming at the south, and seizing the uplifted arir 
 that held a tomahawk, he suspended the blow, while he 
 plunged his knife to the very haft in the Indian's heart. 
 Then drawing it forth, he caught the latter by the scalp 
 lock, and running his knife around the crown tore off the 
 scalp, and with a vigorous kick sent the bloody carcass 
 down the rocks.
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 195 
 
 It i?. uaeless to think of conveying to the reader any 
 thing more than a faint idea ot the scene of savage rage 
 that followed the reception of the scalpless carcass by 
 ihe Indians wno were standing near the base of the 
 rocks where it fell. Yall upon yell, more hideous, if any 
 thing, than any our scouts had before heard, greeted its 
 descent; and scarcely had these begun to subside, when 
 the two others, alike scalpless, were hurled after it by 
 Wetzel, as if in defiance. This was more than savage 
 nature could stand; and rushing to the spot where their 
 late companions had ascended, by means of the trunk of 
 a tree which had been placed against the mural surface 
 of the rocks, they strove to clamber up. 
 
 Meantime the savages in front bad not been idle. 
 While the fight, which we have recorded, and which was 
 only momentary, had been going on, several swarthy 
 figures had effected a lodgment on the top of the preci 
 pice; and our gallant scouts were first warned of the 
 fact by a simultaneous discharge of five or six rifles, the 
 balls of which came whizzing past, threee of them act 
 ually cutting the clothes of Albert who at that moment 
 was the only one exposed Wetzel, just in the act of 
 hurling down the scalpless bodies of the Indians before 
 noticed, being concealed by the rock forming the east 
 ern sido of the pass. 
 
 "To cover! to cover'" shouted Albert. "One more 
 desperato resistance before we are silenced forever!" and 
 seizing Wetzel's rifle, he bounded to the side of the 
 western rock, where he was immediately joined by the 
 other. "Quick!" pursued our young hero, "quick, Wet 
 zel; load these rifles while I guard this outlet;" and he 
 took hi" station close to the opening of the rocks through 
 which the savages must pass to get at him. 
 
 Fortunately, the good foresight of Colonel Martin 
 tad supplied him with a brace of pistols; and drawing 
 these from bis belt, he stood ready to shoot down the 
 first who should project his body beyond the angle of the
 
 !96 -THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 rock..' He had not .long to await a trial of their efficiency; 
 for, believing they had now nothing to do but rush for 
 ward and overpower their victims with numbers, the In 
 dian.,, dropping their fire-arms as useless, sprang for 
 ward, with exulting yells of savage delight. But their 
 tu-ne was sonn changed to one of wailing and dismay; 
 for the first two that bounded through the opening were 
 shot dowi! instantly; and at the same moment, another 
 savage, who was jast iu the act of clambering over the 
 verge of the precipice on the eastern side,, received the 
 content? of "Wctzel's reloaded rifle and fell back on his 
 companions. 
 
 The report of three pieces, where they had supposed 
 but two, and neither of these loaded, struck a thrill of 
 dismay into the hearts of the superstitious Indians, al 
 most equal to what would have been ca,used by the ex 
 plosion of a bomb in their midst. Either the white men 
 must bo so sorcerers, they reasoned, or else their num 
 bers were far superior to what they had believed them 
 to be. In either case greater caution than they had 
 hitherto displayed in an attack, seemed requisite to suc 
 ceed; and hastily retreating, so as to cover themselves by 
 the opposite ends of the rocks already frequently men 
 tioned, the party on the precipice called a hurried coun 
 cil of war, during which they were joined by as many 
 from below as could find foothold on their limited por 
 tion of the summit of the Standing Stone. 
 
 This was a cessation of hostilities not to be neglected 
 by our scouts, and every moment was improved in get 
 ting themselves in readiness for a new onset. Hurriedly 
 reloading their rifles and pistols, and managing to get 
 hold of two more pieces which had belonged to the slain, 
 they reloaded these also, and then sought out the best 
 point to station themselves for a last resistance. They 
 soon discovered a place near the southern end of the rocks 
 where they could command the whole front, and where 
 they would be perfectly secure against the rifles of the
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 17 
 
 Indians, till the lotter should reach a little open space 
 'to thoir left but which could only be done by passing 
 singly between two rocks, where, for a moment, a small 
 portion of each one's person must be exposed or, bf 
 clambering over the rock, which would leavo them more 
 exf.oc.od still. Here they were resolved to sell their 
 lives dearly, 'all hopes of escape having long since expi*- 
 'ed: for they could only leava their present position di 
 rectly in thf- face of their foes who now commanded 
 the whole northern part of the precipice. 
 
 "Alas' Rose," said Albert in a low. tone, for he wa 
 now within a few feet of where he had concealed the idol 
 of his affections, but whom he had not since ventured t 
 visit; "Alas' Rose, there is 10 hope for us now! Say 
 your prayers, clearest, and be ready to join me in the 
 spirit-land. Pray for me, also, will you, loved one? foi f 
 in the heat of strife, I shall have no time to think of the 
 spirit's flight." 
 
 To this affectionate and mournful appeal there wa 
 no response; and after listening for a few momentt, 
 Albert again spoke. 
 
 "Rose! Rose!" he called; '"why don't you answer 
 me? Rose, my own Forest Rose, speak! or I shall fany 
 something terrible has happened to you." 
 
 Still no answer. 
 
 "Great Heaven!" exclaimed the terrified lovr, 
 "pernaps she is dead! murdered by these hellish savages! ' 
 and regardless of the risk he ran, he started from hie 
 place of defense, and, leaping over the rocks, spraae 
 down into the retreat where he had left her. 
 
 Biit she '.vas nowhere to be seen. 
 
 'Gone! gone!" he cried, wringing his hands in age- 
 ny, as ho peered under the rock, and over the brow of the 
 precipice, half in fear and expectation of beholding her 
 lovely form lying mangled on the stone below. "Ah!" 
 he said mjurnfully, as a new thought crossed his mind; 
 "I see it all now! Poor Rose! the thought of death was
 
 198 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 too much for thee, and thou hast rejoined the Indians, 
 that thy life may be spared a few years longer. Well, 
 well, perhaps it is for the best; though, &omehow, the 
 thought of dying with thee had come to be a pleasant 
 one. Well. God bless thee, dear one, and let thee live on 
 to thy appointed time! Thou wilt find another perhaps, 
 jshould'st thou escape, more worthy of thee than I; tho' 
 thou wilt never no never find one to love thee so 
 truly and devotedly. Farewell, Rose! and if my memory 
 is worth a tear, oh, shed it above my remains, that they 
 may be hallowed by an angel's regard!" 
 
 "This soliloquy of Albert was here closed by the 
 sharp crack of a rifle and the loud yells of infuriated sav 
 ages, 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 The Mysterious Marksman. 
 
 While Albert was searching for Rose, the council of 
 the Indians closed, with the decision to make a new onset 
 upon their intended victims, and forthwith they proceed 
 ed to put their design in execution. Gliding stealthily 
 betweon the rocks, to the number of some eight or ten, 
 they suddenly sprang through on the other fide, where 
 they still believed the scouts were concealed, when, to 
 their surprise, they discovered that the latter were gone. 
 Knowing they could not have quitted the mount, at. least 
 by any natural agency, they eagerly commenced search 
 ing for them among the rocks and bushes ; but at the same 
 time most warily, so as not to be taken too much by sur 
 prise themsehes. In this search, one or two of them un 
 consciously got within the range of Wetzel's rifle; and 
 the old woodsman, never failing to improve an opportu 
 nity for lessening the number of his enemies, took a de 
 liberate aim and pulled the trigger. An athletic young 
 savage bounded up some four feet and fell back a corpse, 
 and his death-yell was re-echoed by the others, who press 
 ed forward to the spot where they had seen the smoke 
 ascend, in the hope of conquering at last by a coup de
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 199 
 
 main. 
 
 Fearful for the fate of himself and friend by his 
 own imprudence, Albert now strove to recover the ad 
 vantage he had lest by a daring movement. Leaping 
 boldly from his covert upon the rocks, in full view of the 
 yelling savages, he darted before their astonished eyes 
 like a meteor, and the next moment amid a shower of 
 rifle bullets, which flew harmlessly past him, he gained 
 a position by the side of the old hunter, and again seized 
 his well-tried rifle. This feat, though a most dangerous 
 one to practice, proved in the end cf infinite advantage to 
 our friends. The simultaneous discharge of their fire- 
 arm , now left the savages exposed to a bolder aim from 
 our scouts, who failed not to improve so important an op 
 portunity. Stepping from their ambush, both leveled 
 their rifle? and fired at the same moment, and two of the 
 foremost fell mortally wounded. This alarmed the oth 
 ers, who turred and fled in confusion, with the exception 
 of two. who loth to .'eave their companions in the power 
 of the enemy, ran up to them, and stooped down to raise 
 the bodies. V. et/el, divining their intention, sprang back 
 a couple of paces, caught up the other rifle and shot one 
 of them through the head. Uttering a terrible yell of 
 dismay, the other bounded away and disappeared; while 
 Wetzel, bent on following up his good fortune, though at 
 a fearful risk to himself, whipped out his knife, flew 
 over the rocks, and in less time that it has taken us to 
 record the del, actually scalped the wounded, within full 
 view of more than fifty savages, and rejoined his com 
 panion unharmed, bearing with him three more fire 
 arms. These latter, however, on examination, turned 
 out to be entirely worthless. 
 
 By this time the Indians had become disheartened 
 to a degree that would never have been thought possible, 
 considering their number and those of our scouts. Five 
 hundred against two! ''What an absurdity, ".says the 
 reader, "to think of the stronger party, and these, too,
 
 :2 oo THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 well-trained savage warriors, being disheartened in their 
 attempts to overpower the weaker." But of what use 
 were numbers where numbers could not be employed to 
 advantage. The position of our scouts was such, that 
 only one could approach them at a time, in a way to dis 
 lodge them; and against one the rifle of one was just as 
 good as five hundred against five hundred. Perhaps, in 
 the whole Western country, at that period, no other place 
 could have been found, either natural or artificial, where 
 \fvo men could have kept at bay such a host of warriors 
 for siifh a length of time Had it been a fort, the latter 
 could have scaled the walls, demolished, or burn it but 
 here they seemed to labor in vain. More than two 
 hours had elapsed since the commencement of the siege, 
 and yet the scouts were if anything more secure than 
 (ever; vhlle on their part some ten or twelve of their 
 bravest warriors had been killed outright, and several 
 others disabled by serious wounds. 
 
 But iust in proportion as the Indians felt disheart 
 ened in i.hcJr attempts to dislodge our heroes, just in that 
 proportion rose the spirits of the latter. Their success 
 so far iu defending themsel/es had exceeded their most 
 sanguine expectations; and the last retreat of the enemy, 
 at the very moment when they were about to give up all 
 for lost a-;ir! only held out that they might die in their 
 tracks, without being taken prisoners, rather than with 
 any expectation of proving victorious this last retreat 
 of the enemy, \ve say, under such circumstances, served 
 to inspire them with a confidence and hope they had not 
 experienced since the first veil of the foe had warned 
 them that their visit to the country was known. 
 
 "Ef we can only hold out a two hours longer, it's my 
 opine vre can cheat the yellin' hell-hounds out o' our 
 scalps -yit, ' observed Wetzel, looking up at the Min and 
 cloucK , 
 
 "But is ir possible for us, in the first place, to hold 
 out two hours " inquired Albert.
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 201 
 
 "Why, T don't know anything why we shouldn't. ,a- 
 d the other. ''You see thar's a good many things 
 in our favor jest now. In the first place, we've held x out 
 two.. hours 1 , and. more, right again the most powerful sar- 
 cumventijnf of the hull body o' the red ripscallions; and 
 what's more on our side, we've picked too many scalp- 
 feathers off o' thar greasy pates to make 'em too car'less 
 'bout whac's left. Now ye see the great pint is, we've 
 made 'em car'ful; and that's one o' the greatest thi,ng 
 for us as. could, a happened; for as long's they're car'ful, 
 we're safe; tho only way to git us out o' here bein' to- 
 rush on one arter t'other till we wouldn't hev time to 
 load. Pat ip doin', this, ye see, the cusses know as how 
 it'll be sartin death to the firet five or six; aim as long's 
 they really think that's the case wer'e purty tolerable 
 safe; for the bravest greasy face 'mongst 'em is a pow- 
 ertul coward, when it comes to runnin' right again a 
 sartin builet. No, ye see, they'll be tryin' again to sneak 
 around anr! sarcuvent us; and ia doin' this they 
 give us time; and afore they know it it'll be 
 night. But what's better for us nor all the rest, they 
 boliev r e it's onpossible for us to git away no how; and by 
 guardhr the mountain close they're sure to starve us out; 
 so they won't be powerful apt to run no more personal 
 risks nor they can conveniently help." 
 
 "Again.' said Albert, "provided we hold out till 
 night, do you think we can pass the sentinels without, be 
 ing detected?" 
 
 ''Well thar's whar I think the tight place comets, 
 arter all " renamed the other. "Bf it should happen to 
 be light enough, so as we could tell a red nigger from a 
 tree six fo^t off, I think it's maybe, with great car' we 
 mouglit though I'll hev to allow it'll be powerful on- 
 sartin business even then; but ef it should cloud up and 
 rain, and br dark as the d 1 jest as I think it's goin' 
 to be we hain't got much chance; for we'll be more like 
 to run plum gin some cuss, nor we will to miss the hull
 
 202 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 on 'em." 
 
 "Oh, would to God that Rose had remained with us, 
 since there is even a bare hope of escape!" said Albert, 
 despondingly. "Strange that she should depart, without 
 even a farewell. Ah, me! siuce I know she lives, should 
 I ever escape myself, T shall be more miserable than ever, 
 till she be set free from these accursed beings. But how 
 to accomplish it is more than I can tell at present, un 
 less WP can ransom or lie in wait and entrap her, for it 
 would be impossible to take her by force from a nation 
 that has five hundred warriors ready for battle." 
 
 "Well, well, let us sit upand git away first and talk 
 o' that arterwards," observed Wetzel. "To git cl'ar o f these 
 hell-hounds is the most important matter to be thought 
 on now. I'm powerful sorry, as things hev turned out, 
 that the gal left, on your account; but it can't be helped: 
 and I '.spcse she kr-ow'd he. 1 own business best least 
 wise she'd oughter." 
 
 The conversation here dropped again, and Albert 
 relapred into that stern, melancholy mood which had 
 characterized him since the first attack of the savages. 
 From their present, position, concealed as they were 
 from theii foes in front, by a breastwork of stone, and 
 a denre cluster of shrubbery, it was impossible for the 
 Indians on the precipice to dislodge them, only in the 
 manner in which Wetzel had pointed out to his com 
 panion; and as this would be attended with a certain 
 loss oi some five or six lives, it was not likely to be at 
 tempted for the present; though the utmost vigilance, or. 
 the part of the scouts, was requisite to guard against a 
 sudden surprise-. But although so well protected in front 
 they soon discovered they were far less secure than they 
 had thougnt themselves, should an attack in the rear and 
 front be made simultaneously. Theii position was on the 
 very verge of the southern side or end of the Standing 
 Stone. Behind them, to the right and left, were a couple 
 or rock?, that would shield them from the oblique aim
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 203 
 
 of any one below; but between these rocks was an open 
 ing that left their persons completely exposed whenever 
 they kept upon the safest point to protect themselves 
 from an attack in front. For a hundred feet below them, 
 the descent was perpendicular, and then the remainder 
 of the distance to the foot of the hill was somewhat 
 sloping though, for a considerable way hardly enough 
 so to render an ascent to the foot of the rocks on which 
 they .stood an easy matter. But from nearly every point 
 of the hill they could conceal themselves; in fact, there 
 was but one spot, within rifle distance, from which it 
 was impossible to interpose a barrier between themselves 
 and a rifle-bullet. The point alluded to was a high rock, 
 which rose out of the bed of a ravine, at the distance per 
 haps of a hundred yards. Around the base of this soli 
 tary rock, on every side, flourished a thicket of hazel, so 
 dense that a human being might lie concealed in it and 
 not be detected by another at the distance of half a dozen 
 feet. The summit of this rock, which rose high above the 
 banks of the ravine, commanded the position of our 
 scouts; and a keen marksman, standing upon it, could 
 easily pick them off, one at a time ; more especially, if 
 a fierce attack from the top of the precipice should pre 
 vent them from retreating behind the rocks before men 
 tioned as standing to the right and left of the rear center. 
 
 A spot so advantageous for a rear attack could not. oC 
 course oe long: kept from the knowledge of an enemy so 
 well skilled in warfare as the Hurons; and the moment 
 our scouts perceived it, which they did soon after the 
 close of the last conversation, they felt their hopes sink 
 somewhat in thf proportion they had risen a few min 
 utes before. 
 
 "It's a powerful ugly thing," observed Wetzel, look-^ 
 ing toward it, and speaking the thoughts uppermost lix 
 his ;nind; "it's a powerful ugly thing, and takes off s 
 good deal from our chance o' safety. ' 
 
 "Is it possible," replied Albert, who felt loth to re^
 
 2f 4 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 linquish the In.pe of escape he had before entertained; 
 "is it possible, you know that the savages may not at 
 tempt- a -front and rear attack at the same time; and if 
 they (\c. not, we are safe against either." 
 
 .."Don't, >ou believe it, Master Albert. Jest let the 
 aeamps alone for any devilment as may turn up. Ef they 
 don't diskiver that now, they hain't Injens, and hain't 
 got -as much sense as a terrier pup. No, no don't go 
 for to think they won't diskiver it, and do the dirty 
 tMng o' takin' on us on both sides at onc't case ef you 
 do. you'll be powerful disappointed, that's all." 
 
 . "And it they do, is there no way to ward off the 
 blov;':" 
 
 . "It von't be no blow," answered the other, who put 
 a literal construction on the question of his companion. 
 "No, no it won't be no blow it'll be a regular shoot, 
 jou :-nay depind; and the skunk as fires '11 : hev to know 
 soniethin' 'bout burnin' powder at that to hit his mark at 
 this here distance. 
 
 "Put can we not interpose a barrier between us and 
 **e rock?" 
 
 ;. "Ir.rejpese the d 1! ' replied the other. "Whar be 
 we to git tne rocks and things to do it with? No ,no 
 all the barrier we can interpose '11 be a rifle-bullet in the 
 hacl o' the first cuss as shows his greasy face up thav." 
 
 "Well, well, at all events, we will do the best our 
 circumstances will permit and lor the .rest we must 
 trust to Providence," rejoined Albert, gloomily. 
 
 .For another hour our scouts remained unmolested, 
 and then, pointing to the rocks before him, Wetzel ob- 
 
 "Git your rifie ready, lad, for the Injens is a comin' 
 agin; and from all I know on 'em, I 'spect it'll be power 
 ful, warm work." 
 
 Albert looked in the direction indicated by the other 
 and perceived the truth of his companion's words. The 
 Indians v.-ere approaching, sure enough but with great
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 205 
 
 caution, and keeping as much as possible behind the 
 rocks, so as not to be exposed to a fatal aim. At length 
 having reached the avenue through which only one 
 could pas-: at a time to reach the open space where they 
 could easily dislodge- the scouts they suddenly darted for 
 ward, in. the. hope of getting through unharmed. 
 
 But in this they were mistaken; for both our scouts 
 stood ready; and the instant a small portion of the tody 
 of the foremost became visible to the eye of Wetzel, Mb' 
 finger pressed upon the trigger of his never-failing rifle. 
 The report, end the yell Of the wounded savage together, 
 awoke the echoes of ;the mount, and reverberated among 
 the mory distant hills with startling distinctness. Noth- ; 
 ing daunted, -ipparently, by this, the savage next behind 
 pressed forward, in the hope of being more successful, 
 and received tne contents of Albert's rifle in his abdomen. 
 A third and a fourth made the attempt with like success; 
 tor the moment our scouts had discharged their own. 
 pieces they caught up those they had taiven from the 
 enemy, and fired them in quick succession. 
 
 Had a few more savages instantly attempted the pass 
 they would hive been successful, and the contest would 
 have been speedily decided, for the remaining arms, in 
 the possession of our friends, as we have before said, we're 
 of little account being old, condemned muskets, which 
 the Indians bad probably been cheated into buying from 
 the \vhite traders of the Canadas and time would have 
 been wanting for our scouts to reload those on which 
 they could depend; but fortunately for the latter, the 
 ravages did not Vnow this; and the loss -of four of theif- 
 bravest warriors, in quick succession, produced a terrible 
 consternation among the others, and caused a check to 
 their progress, long enough to enable our gallant friends 
 lo ram home two more cartridges. t . 
 
 Finding ;their efforts to succeed .so far had totally 
 failed, two of tne most daring of the party now threw 
 themselves flat upon the lower rock, and attempted ,lo
 
 206 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 crawl through the- opening; while the others set up a ser 
 ies of horrible yells, for the purpose of directing the at 
 tention of tho scouts from this maneuver; and justice 
 compells us to say it was on the point of being a success 
 ful one; for anticipating a renewal of the attack in the 
 usual manner, cur scouts were looking only for the up 
 right body of an Indian for a target, and mistook the dark 
 mass lower down for a shadow of the rock, which it re 
 ally resembled; but chancing to give it a moment's atten 
 tion, Wfiti.el fancied he aw it move; and perfectly fa 
 miliar with Indian stratagem, the truth flashed upon Him 
 at once. To s'ght his r'fle and discharge it was the work 
 of a single instant; and to his great delight, but not con 
 trary to his expectations, a savage sprung up with a howl 
 of pain, and darted back to his companions. 
 
 At tho same moment that Wetzel fired, Albert, who 
 had often during the attack cast furtive glances toward 
 the isolated rock already mentioned, now looked again in 
 that direction, and, to his great dismay, beheld the swar 
 thy figure of an Indian creeping from the thicket, and 
 preparing to leap upon it from the highest point of the 
 bank of the ravine. It was a painful moment to him; for, 
 should the savage reach the rock, it would be certain 
 death to both Wetzel and himself as the Indian could 
 easily hide on the other side, and while the attention of 
 the scouts was directed to the front attack, could pick 
 them off with a deliberate aim; while on the other hand, 
 should he venture to fire upon the savage before his com 
 panions rifles were again reloaded, there was an equal 
 chance of a renewed attack in front being successail It 
 was an almost hopeless case, take it which way he would; 
 but there was no time for deliberation, and so his resolu 
 tion was quickly formed. 
 
 Bidding Wetzel make all the haste he could he step 
 ped quickly behind the rock, and resting his rifle upon it, 
 shaded the sight with his hand, and drew a bead upon the 
 small portion of the Indian's body that was visible
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 207 
 
 through the thicket. Although the distance was a full 
 hundred yards, Albert now felt certain that his aim "would 
 tell ; and holding his breath, under a peculiar excitement, 
 he pulled the trigger. Down came the hammer upon the 
 pan, but instead of the report he expected to hear, the 
 flint was crushed into a dozen fragments, and the rifle 
 remained undischarged. 
 
 Ah! fatal accident!" murmured Albert, as he delib 
 erately proceeded to adjust another flint although he 
 well knew, from the posture of the Indian, that he would 
 spring and reach the rock before this could be effected. 
 
 He had just succeeded in getting the second flint se 
 cured, and was in the act of running his eye along the 
 barrel, when the Indian made a desperate spring; but, in 
 stead of reaching the rock, to the surprise of Albert, he 
 leaped some ten feet into the air, and, uttering a yell of 
 agony, feli back upon the bank, and rolled over and over 
 until he reached the bottom of the ravine, where he re 
 mained motionless, as if dead. At the same moment, the 
 report of a rifle reached him, and a light smcke curled 
 upward from the thicket on the opposite side of the ruck. 
 Here Avas mystery indeed! The Indian had met his death 
 by an unknown hand; but who it was that had given this 
 friendly aid, was more than Albert could divine. 
 
 But no time was given him for speculation on the 
 subject; for, at the instant the report reached him from 
 below the crack of Wetzel's rifle, which had been reload 
 ed, warned him of the danger close at hand. Turning 
 suddenly around his eye accidentally caught sight of the 
 head of a savage peering above the rock, through the bush 
 3s at the point to the right, already mentioned as the one 
 to which the Indians had made access by the trunk of a 
 tree. Without a moment's hesitation, he sighted his 
 rifle as if to siioot a flying deer, and fired. The usual 
 yell of agony, accompanied with the sudden disappear- 
 of the head, told him unequivocally that he had not miss 
 ed his mark.
 
 208 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 Th Indians now drew off for another consultation; 
 rnd the sun v-as almost flown ere they returned to the at 
 tack; which they did at last/with fnore fury than c-er, 
 determined to succeed, even at a heavy sacrifice of life. 
 But our scouts had meantime reloaded all their weapons; 
 and as fast as one made his body visible, he received the 
 leaden messenger of death, and fell back. Four were thus 
 shot down in almost as many seconds; but still otners 
 pressed forward; and, as their best weapons had given 
 out, our scout's how felt that' their time bad truly come. 
 Five stalwart savages, the bravest of the band, now dart- 
 ed through the opening, one after the other, and stood 
 -upon the open space in full view. Believing the worst 
 of the dai.ger over, each one flourished his tomahawk, 
 and all sprang forward in a bodj, uttering yells of tri 
 umph . 
 
 Suddenly the thought of the discarded muskets oc 
 curred to Wetzel; and instantly seizing them, he handed 
 one to Albort, and, in a tone of voice scarcely less savage 
 tlian ihe'r own, shouted: 
 
 'Gin 'em h 1!" 
 
 It reeded no second prompting for Albert to do his 
 best, and cocking the musket with his thumb, while his 
 fore finger rested on the trigger, he discharged it full in 
 ijie breast of the foremost Indian, who was just in the 
 act ot hurling his tomahawk at his head. The savage 
 bounded ur some four feet, and fell back upon his com 
 panion, fairly gnashing his teeth with disappointed ven 
 geance Wiitzel fired at the same moment, with equal 
 success, and clubbing his rifle, with a howl of fury that 
 might be likened to that of a madman, he struck the third 
 savage over the head with its breech, actually beating 
 out his brains with a single blow on the spot where he 
 stood. Albert, not to be behindhand in the fray, threw 
 his musket at the fourth, drew a pistol, bounded up to 
 him. and, quick as lightning, shot him through the breast. 
 The remaining savage, amazed and terror-struck at what
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 209 
 
 he had witnessed, made no demonstration of violence, hut 
 timed with a yell, and bounded over the rocks, as fast as 
 his legs, impelled byfear could carry him. At the same mo 
 ment Albert chanced to look toward the rock below, and 
 beheld anothei savage just in the act of leaping upon it. 
 J5ut lie could do nothing now, for not a single rifle Avas 
 loaded; and, 1 touching Wetzel on the shoulder, he silently 
 pointed to the dangerous object. Both fixed their eyes 
 upon the savage, and 'at that moment he made the leap. 
 Moro successful than his predecessor, he fairly landed up 
 on the rock; but his triumph was of short duration; for 
 ere he had taken a" step forward, he suddenly sprang up 
 some two feet, arid turning a backward somersault, plung 
 ed headlong down into the ravine. Again a light smoke 
 exactly as before, was seen curling upward from the bush 
 es, and the sound of a rifle reached the ears of our 
 friends, together with the yells of an hundred savages 
 further down the hill, who had witnessed the fall of one 
 renowned in exploits, the Inciian brave, Ogwehea. 
 
 Who c;m he lhat mysterious marksman," observed 
 Albert, "to \\ horn we have twice been indebted for our 
 lives? Can it be possible that there is another white 
 hunter so near us? or that we have an unknown friend 
 union g the savages?" 
 
 "Thar vou have me." replied Wetzel, "for you've axed 
 a question as I can't answer. But whomsoever he is .red 
 skin or white, he 11 find one white gintleman in this coon 
 as won't forgit him in a hurry. But look! we're saved!" 
 f.nd Wetzel pointed to the West, where the sun was just 
 letting behind a heavy cloud, whose upper edges were 
 beautifully belttd with gold. 
 
 "Ah. yes, \ve are saved! would to God that Rose were 
 with us!" was the mournful response of Albert, as. lean 
 ing upon his rifle, he gazed sadly toward the West, and 
 "orusned a tear of grief and gatitude from his eye.
 
 2l0 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 The Lost One Found. 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 The surmises of our scouts, that the Indians would 
 make no further attack upon them that night, proved 
 correct; and when they exclaimed that they were saved, 
 laey had especial reference to this only; for well they 
 knew the danger that must still attend them, should they 
 attempt to descend the mount, and pass the guard that 
 completely surrounded it. Still it was a great relief to 
 know that they could have a few hours of security, in 
 which to rest from the fatigues and excitement of the 
 day, and mature their plans for subsequent proceedings. 
 "It is a goin' to be a bad night for us, Master Al- 
 liert " observed the old hunter, carefully examining the 
 heavens. "It's a goin' to do jest what I's afeared it would 
 do, cloud up as dark as a stack o' black niggers. Well, 
 we must do the best we can; and ef we git captur'd at 
 last, it won't bo no more'n we counted on for sartin some 
 hours ago." 
 
 "1 cannot think," rejoined Albert, "that we have bean 
 !*o minculously preserved through the dangers of the day, 
 10 fall into the hands of the Philistines at last it seems 
 almost against reason Oh, that Rose were here now!'" 
 he exclaimed, with a sigh, seating himself upon a rock, 
 and bowing his forehead upon his hand. 
 
 "Poor t'elier!" muttered Wetz,el, "that thar gal bus 
 iness '11 be the death on him yit. Now, ef it was me, and 
 she wanted to run away, as she did from him, I'd jest let 
 
 her go, and be to her. I hain't got much belief in 
 
 women, nohow; and the woman as fools me once't, has 
 done .iome'thin' she can t dc over again, ef she tries all 
 her Iti'e. Now, I'll bet a powder horn again a gun-flint, 
 that thar same gal has fell in love with some big, greasy, 
 red nigger; and, arter throwin' sand in Albert's eyes, and 
 makin' him think as how she still loves him, she jest up 
 nnd gone back to t'other else what did she make such 
 a powerful fuss about his wantin' her to go back for? and
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 211 
 
 arter agreein' to stay and die with him, put out the min 
 ute he got his back turned on her! Women! poh! thar 
 never ougbter bin none on 'em made; for they're jest 
 good for nolhin' but to torment a white gintleman's life 
 out OTL him, that's a fact." 
 
 While uttering or rather grumbling out this solil 
 oquy, "VVetzel had been steadiy at work reloading hi3 
 rifles; and as soon as the last charge was rammed home, 
 he took his scat on the same rock with Albert, a few feet 
 distant, and silently contemplated the heavens. By this 
 time, the sun had fairly set, and deepening shadows of 
 twilight were fast spreading over plain and forest, and 
 giving to objects that vague, misty, indistinct appear 
 ance peculiar to the shutting in of night, or the opening 
 of day. The cloud behind which the sun had set, was 
 gradually rising above, and spreading along the horizon, 
 while the clouds of lesser magnitude were floating about 
 *n the heavens but slowly gathering together, and as 
 similating betokening that ere long a heavy pall would 
 
 be spread oetween the earth and the stars, and every 
 ray of light which mortal eye is formed to distinguish be 
 cut off. From the heavens, Wetzel turned his gaze to 
 earth; and rising, he approached the front of the Stand 
 ing Stone, and looked down upon the plain that lay im 
 mediately beneath him. Here he occasionally perceived 
 a du^Ky figure stalking about in the uncertain light 
 fend presently rould faintly distinguish parties of war- 
 j iors, at a greater distance, returning to the village from 
 the unsuccessful attack upon himself and companion 
 not unfrequently bearing with them dark, heavy mo 
 tionless objects, which he rightly conjectured were the 
 bodies of their Companions who had fallen in the strife. 
 Half an hour passed away, and by this time the 
 light had o faded, that no portion of the plain was 
 visable; but looking down from the height on which he 
 stood, it appeared like a dark, bottomless gulf. Return 
 ing to his comuanion, he said:
 
 212 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 "Come. Albert, U's time that we was beginning tc 
 lay our ->lans, even ef we don't put 'em in practice for an 
 hour to come " 
 
 Albert, who, during the period mentioned, remain 
 ed as we have described him, with his head bowed upon 
 his band, lost in a painful reverie, now looked up. as 
 one suddenly awakened from sleep, .and sighing heavily, 
 replied 1 ,. 
 
 1 scarcely care what becomes of me now, my friend, 
 since, she. whom I believed would be true under all cir 
 cumstances, lus een nrppey to forsake me in the hour 
 of peril." 
 
 "Nay. lad, this here's right down foolish," rejoined 
 the other, 'and not a bit like what you oughter be. Come 
 come, never mind! Ef the gal's found anybody as she 
 likes better, let her go. - Thar's plenty other gals in the 
 world as good as she is, ef you only think so; but ef it 
 was my case. ' wouldn't hev nothin' .to do with none on 
 'em; for thar ain't no more gratitude nor love in 'em, nor 
 thar is in oO many painters." 
 
 "Talk not thus, Wetzel- talk not thus! ' was the 
 mournful but rather energetic response; "for you know 
 not, my friend, how your worcs harrow'up my feelings! 
 I may bear up agninst the thought that Rose is dead, or 
 that we are separated never to meet again' 'on earth -for 
 this I have borne though not without deep sorrow, I 
 will admit: but the thought that she has proved untrue 
 to me-*-that she has voluntarily forsaken me for an 
 other bus broken her plighted faith -I could not en- 
 dure and long survive. Call' me foolish, if you will; I 
 care not; it is my nature and I can hot? help it. Nover 
 was there a being on earth more truly and devotedly lov 
 ed than she. From our youth .up, we were companions 
 and playmates; and never was there a joy or sorrow that 
 either had before our separation, but was .shared with 
 tne otber. , . . ., 
 
 Possessiing strong passions myself, /she grew to' .fee
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 213 
 
 the idol of my thoughts, the sun of my mental system, 
 without which there was nothing but a dull, aching void, 
 .a sort of chaos of rayless gloom. I at last came to love 
 her with the strongest passions of my nature to look 
 upon , her as a being of earthly origin, but of more than 
 mortal mold a sort of terrestrial divinity; and this, too, 
 while I had frienos living, with whom to divide my af 
 fections; judge, then, what must have been my feelings 
 when I came to know all dead but her!. Ah me! how it 
 pains me to think upon her absence now! Alas! Rose, 
 why did you leave me in the hour of peril?" 
 
 "That from that peril s-he you love might save you," 
 answered r sweet, silvery voice in his ear; and at the 
 name monent a soft female hand was laid gently upon 
 his shoulder. 
 
 "Merciful Heaven!'' cried Albert, in a voice almost 
 stiffled with eccess of joy; ''Rose' Rose! my own dearly- 
 beloved Forest Rose! do I again really hear thee, feel 
 thee, clasp thec once more?" and in 'an ecstacy of de 
 light that may be imagined but can never be described, 
 he threw his arms fondly around her slender form, and 
 strained her to his wildly-beating heart in a silent em 
 brace. 
 
 For some moments after the meeting of the lovers, 
 rot a word was spoken; and' then, disengaging his arms, 
 Albert bent down, and imprinted kiss after kiss upon her 
 lips uttering, at intervals, the wildest exclamations of 
 rapture.''. . , .,.;.-. t , .-. 
 
 "Tell me," he cried at length, when he had become 
 calm enough to put the question .properly- -'''tell me, my 
 dear little Forest Rose; where you have been and how 
 you .came to absent yourself during, such an hour of 
 peril?" . 
 
 "I will, denr Albert, I will tell you all," replied the 
 other, in a low silvery tone. "Hut you must first sit 
 down here, and promise to be calm, and address me in a 
 less boisterous tone'; for the 'sharp ears of savages are all
 
 214 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 around us: and a chance shot, fired in the dark, might 
 effect, what all their skill, cunning, and sagacity failed 
 to do in daylight. 
 
 "I will do all you require, dearest," answered the 
 row delighted kver; "but since you speak of a chance 
 shot, let us make our seat between these rocks, where 
 we shall be more safe;" and Albert conducted Rose to a 
 little cavity in the rocks, where he seated her, and him- 
 seft beside her, and perhaps unconsciously, placed an arm 
 around her sl-nder waist." 
 
 "But your gallant companion I must have him by 
 my side, too," said Rose, when Albert signified that all 
 was ready. "To him, generous heart, we owe a lasting 
 debt, of gratitude (emphasizing the word in a playful 
 manner, that showed she had overheard his ungenerous 
 ^ommen+f on the sex feminine generally), and I for one 
 at least, feel that he can never be repaid." 
 
 "Don't mention it," answered the old hunter, feel 
 ing not a little abashed that his own words should so- 
 soon have so palpable a contradiction. Dont't mention 
 it; I've done nothing for ye but shoot Injens; and to kill 
 them thar greasy cusses beg pardon, Miss comes just 
 sis nateral as it does to draw breath. But as to settnT 
 down, I thank'e all the same, but somebody oughter to- 
 stand guard; and so, while you're tellin' your story, I'll 
 make myself useful that-a-way, and I can hear ye all the 
 same. 
 
 'T have not time now," said Rose, "to enter into par 
 ticulars concerning my captivity; but at no very distant 
 period, dear Albert, should God permit us both to es 
 cape, you shall hear all. Suffice, that I was taken pris 
 oner at the same moment I taw you felled to the earth, 
 by a blow from the breech of a musket. As I saw noth 
 ing more of you afterward, I came to the conclusion that 
 *you were dead; and this belief was soon to roe rendered 
 a certa'nty by a statement from the Indians; and, oh! I 
 must leave you to imagine my feelings, for I can not de-
 
 THE FORE'ST HOSE 215 
 
 .scribe them." 
 
 "I can, at least, have an idea of them, from my 
 own," interrupted Albert? for my captors told me you 
 were dead also. But go on! go on!" 
 
 "I was brought a captive to this place," pursued 
 Jioso. 'and adopted into the family of an old sachem. It 
 it nut my purpose now to relate to you the manner in 
 which I was concerted from a white girl into an Indian 
 .squaw; but let it suffice, it was hideous enough to me, 
 though I had no choice between it and death, even, or 
 loibtles3 1 should have chose the later. With the excep 
 tion of bein a captive among them, I have been treated 
 as well as any, better than most squaws of the tribe; for 
 I have not bojn required to do so much drudgery as gen 
 erally falls to the lot of the females; and I have been 
 honored with the offer of any warrior among them for 
 a husband though it is needless to tell you, I have 
 stead i- ly refused to be joined in wedlock to any one of the 
 foes of mv race, and the murderers of my friends. The 
 most importunate of all my suitors was one they called 
 Jgwehea " 
 
 "I know him," again interrupted Albert, with sudden 
 vehemence 'I Vnow him, the villian! He was the leader 
 of the party that made me prisoner, and he it was that 
 told me you were dead. And so he wished to marry you, 
 th?" pursued the excited and jealous lover. "Oh, the ly 
 ing villian! but be shall yet pay dearly for this'" 
 
 "Ho is already beyond your revenge," rejoined Rose. 
 
 "How so?" 
 
 "He is dead!" 
 
 'Dead ! It was but yesterday I saw him taking part 
 ir the \var-sports on the plain." 
 
 "Well, he will never do so more for I have truly 
 said ne iv dead. He was shot from a rock in the ravine 
 below here which rock he ascended to get a chance id 
 pick you off for he was one of the best marksmen, and 
 accounted one of the l>ravest warriors among the nation."
 
 216 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 "Shot by the unknown marksman, was he! I saw 
 him fall; but since you seem te know so much of his 
 death, pray tell me who is our unknown mysterious 
 friend, who so nobly saved us at the perilous moment? 
 Oh! ] feel that I could clasp him in my arms, and call 
 him friend forever, be he red man or white! TelJ me, 
 v?ose, his nume, that I may at. least treasure it in my 
 heart, should we never meeL" 
 
 "He has no name: but she, who fired the rifle, is 
 one that you were lead to think had deserted you in the 
 hour of danger, to save her own unworthy life!" 
 
 "You, Rose 9 you'.'" cried Albert in a tone of utter 
 astonishment. 'Was it indeed you who saved us? who 
 fired the rifle that sent two of our most dangerous i'oes 
 to eternity?" 
 
 ; '.t was I," answered Rose modestly, leaning her 
 head upon the manly breast of him she loved, and speak 
 ing: ir. a low, tremulous tone. 
 
 "Eh, Wetzel! what think you now of women?" ex- 
 claimed vhe evcited lover. "What think you now of wo 
 men , my friend?" 
 
 "I take it all back," answered the old hunter "all 
 back, every --- word I've ever said asrain the hull race! 
 She's desarvin' o' ye Master Albert! she desarvin' of ye! 
 God oless hor' Rose," he continued, advancing to her 
 side, and speaking in that embarrassed mnnner which 
 one so uncouth and unfamiliar with the female sex as 
 himself is' apt to display; "Rose : Miss Rose I axes your 
 pardon' and must say I'm powerful sorry for every word 
 I've said again ye. Ye did it handsome, gal, powerful 
 han'some and that thar cuss -hegs pardon agin keel 
 ed over just as purty as ef he'd bin knocked over by an 
 old Kaintuck rifler. Jest gin my hand a grab, gal Miss 
 Rose, I menn jest to let a feller know you don't hold 
 any ..pite agin hin* for it's jest as honest a hand, 
 though I say it myself, as any on the border, and pulled' 
 jest about as many triggers on the infernal red-skins."
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 217 
 
 Rose seized the proffered hand, and pressing it 
 wamly in both her own, rejoined, with much fetling: 
 
 "It needs no apology from one as brave and generous 
 as yourself, Lewis Wetzel, for anything that, in the heat 
 of the moment, and under the peculiar circumstances, 
 you may have uttered in disparagement of one who is in 
 debted t.o you for her present liberty and comparative 
 happiness. The manner in which I left you, was enough 
 to have thrown doubts of my good faith over the mind of 
 one knowing me far better than yourself. God bless you, 
 gallant hunter! and may we all live to recall this day. 
 when the Indian shall be seeking his hunting-grounds in 
 ihe still more distant far West. 
 
 It was impossible to see the features of Wetzel. ow 
 ing to the darkness; but from his manner of silently 
 squeezing the hand of Rose and turning aside without a 
 remark, it was evident her gentle words had produced a 
 marked effect upon the mind of the uncouth but intrepid 
 backwoodsman. 
 
 "But you havo not finished your story," said Albert, 
 gnxious i'or Rose to resume her tale. 
 
 "True, I have not; but you have rather spoiled the 
 denouement, by questioning me too closely. However, 
 thero is but little to tell to make the whole matter clear 
 ly understood. While among the Indians, I managed, 
 even in the first six months of my captivity, to speak 
 their laiifi-iage so as to make myself comprehend on all 
 ordinary topics. By the time I had been with them a 
 year, I could not only understand all that was said to me, 
 but in return could speak quite fluently myself In be 
 coming master of the language in appearing to take 
 an unusual interest in their customs and sports joined 
 to as much seeming center tment. as my power for dis 
 sembling would permit me to display in doing all this. 
 1 say, I had an object beyond their cunning and sagacity 
 to detect I belit-ved that if I could ever effect my escape 
 from them, it would not be until I could possess their full
 
 2] 8 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 and unbounded confidence; and in what way could thi 
 be so readily done as by making myself a complete In 
 dian in the shortest space of time possible? It seems al 
 most needless to add that I succeeded in gaining their en 
 tire confidence, and was permitted the same freedom as 
 others of my sex. 
 
 "It is customary, among the Wyandottes, to let the 
 daughters and wives of distinguished chiefs and war 
 riors take part in the warlike pastimes of the males; and 
 hence a few of the females become nearly as expert with 
 the rifle, the bow, and the tomahawk as their fathers- 
 and husbands With those of my own sex so distinguish 
 ed, I was permitted to associate as an equal; and though 
 it may appear strange to you who have ever known me as 
 a timid maiden, to hear it from my lips, yet truth com 
 pels to say that I was not long behind any of them in the 
 mimic eames of death. To learn to load and fire the rifle 
 with quickness and precision was my favorite amuse 
 ment if indeed amusement it could be called, when I 
 looked upo*. it only as the means of regaining my liberty. 
 Enough for my present purpose to say, that T ber-ame 
 well skilled in its use at last; and then I resolved to es 
 cape the first favorable opportunity, and take my favor 
 ite weapon along as a protection. Still I believed you 
 were dead: nor did I know to the contrary till I sudden 
 ly came upon you at the spring. I knew you, but s-iw 
 ?nyself unrecognized yet so overpowered was I with 
 strange emotions, that I could not speak till it was nigh 
 being too late." 
 
 "Heaven of mercy," returned Albert, in a tremulous- 
 voice, "it makes me shudder to think of it! that I, un 
 wittingly should be upon the very point of murdering 
 her I loved best on earth ! Oh, I can never be too thank 
 ful for your escape from such a horrible death!" 
 
 'It was indeed horrible," rejoined Rose, "and we- 
 may both ha.'e cause to thank God for His many mercies 
 to us this day! But to conclude my story. When you
 
 THE FOREST HOSE 219 
 
 nad conducted me to the mount here, and put me, as you 
 believed, in a place of safety, I naturally began to look 
 around me to see if there were not some means by which 
 1 could aid you in the unequal contest about to be waged. 
 A careful examination of the rocks and your position led 
 me to believe that you would eventually retreat to the 
 Tery place where I now find you where the last stand 
 would oe made and where, if not cut off by an enemy in. 
 your rear, you might possibly hold out till night. It then 
 occurred to me that if below, and armed with a rifle I 
 might be the means of saving you in the last extremity; 
 and no sooner did the thought pass through my mind 
 rhan I set .iboat carrying out the idea. Along most of 
 the front of the precipice, as you are aware, is a small 
 undergrowth; and crawling along through this, while 
 you were eneaged in watching the Indians, I effected my 
 lirst descent in front, at the very place the first savage 
 had ascended, whom your companion shot down. The 
 Indians saw me, but you did not, owing to my being a 
 little to the left of the avenue in the rocks which you 
 were guarding. I told the savages I had been taken 
 prismior, but was determined to return to them. They 
 believed nr.y plausible story, and applauded my choice, 
 and I saw at once I had their full confidence. This was 
 what I desired most, as it left me free to act without in 
 suring their suspicion; and watching my opportunity, 
 when the attention of all was drawn off by one of their 
 fiercest attacks on you- during which I trembled for 
 your safetv I inanaged to get a rifle and ammunition in 
 my possession and to withdraw without being detected. 
 It seems needless to add more, than that I took up mv po 
 sition near the base of yonder rock, and, aided by an 
 ver-watrhing Providence did what little lay in my 
 power to prevent the attack upon you from being fatal." 
 
 "God bless you, dear Rose! you saved our lives!" was 
 the earnest response of Albert, as he again strained the 
 fair being beside him to his heart in a fond embrace.
 
 220 THE FQRE3T ROSE 
 
 Wetzel now suggested that perhaps it would be best 
 to be de-vising means or escaping under cover of the clark- 
 nes; and forthwith a consultation was held, and plans 
 laid accordingly 
 
 CHAPTER XXI 
 
 The Last Danger and Conclusion 
 
 The sun Irtd been set something like 'two hours, and 
 ihe summit of the Standing Stone -was shruaded in a 
 blackness impenetrable by human sight, when three 
 figures moved carefully and stealthily over the rocks, 
 feeling their way at every step, and began their descent 
 to the hill below: Rose was the first to reach the 
 ground, and turning her head upward, she said to the 
 others, in an almost inaudible whisper: 
 
 "Be not nsh, I beg of you, and forget not my in 
 structions! Follow me at a little distance; and when 
 you hear the signal, drop to the earth, and remain quiet 
 until I return to you. Remember! remember! for your 
 lives depend on your discretion. God save us all!" 
 
 'Amen!" was the whispered response of Albert; and 
 then nothing could be heard but the 'Sighing of the 
 breeze through, the forest, and the rustling of the wither 
 ed leaves. , ., 
 
 The moment her companions had gained her side, 
 Rose set forward, and commenced descending the north 
 ern slope Of ihe mount noiselessly by the others, at the 
 distance of perhaps twenty feet. They had proceeded in 
 this manner scarcely more than a dozen paces, when a 
 low "Hist" from Rose announced danger. Stopping 
 where they wore, our scouts sank silently to the earth 
 and listened The next moment they heard the Voice of 
 Rose addressing another person in the Indian language, 
 who in turn made reply, by which our friends knew that 
 she had already come in contact with one of the sentinels 
 set to guard ,*hfc mount against their escape.
 
 THE FCteEST ROSE 221 
 
 For -some moments -the conversation was rather 
 Animated, though carried' on in a tone' .'too low' for Wet- 
 zel, who, as before said, understood a smattering of the 
 Huron tongue to make out 'anything that was said:' 
 
 As may' readily be imagined, there were strange 
 emotions at work in the breasts of our scouts, each of 
 whom involuntarily tightened the -grasp- on his rifle. 
 They felr that the peril was- great, and. they felt it ".the 
 more keenly, perhaps, that since the last fight, they had 
 counted with ;sr;, much certainty ^qn escaping a horrible 
 death. It reminded them forcibly that, though compar 
 atively safe, o^viug to the cover of darkness, they were 
 far from being free of danger, and that, the slightest ac 
 cident might place thenpi in the hands of. the enemy, and 
 all tlieir hopes prove fallacious. ., ,,.,, ,,,, ., . 
 
 i\or were their feelings in any degree relieved by 
 '-he suspense which followed; for, after a short .conversa- 
 lion, the .sound. of , the speakers' voices grew, moire and 
 more distant, and at length became wholly inaudible. 
 showing that they were departing together. ,At last all 
 became still acain, and not a sound could be heard giv 
 
 ing any indication of what was taking place. 
 followed minute, and stjll all. remained silent,, and when 
 a quarter of an hour had railed away, with no sign pi the 
 reappearance of Rose, ooth Albert and Wetzel experienc 
 ed an intense anxiety impossible for usf. to. describe. 
 TJ'ancy was busy with .the lo.ver, c.onjuring up a thousand 
 appalling circumstances to, prevent the return of her he 
 loved. Perhaps she had ; been .watched, and all her secret 
 doings been exposed, and he felt his blood run chill at 
 the bare thought. She might .even now ; be. a captive; 
 and the departure of the sentinel might have been to 
 summon a large party of warriors to surround the mount 
 und cut off his last hope. 
 
 "Ob., this- is torture equal to death!" he whispered 
 to his companion; to be thus overthrown as it were in 
 the very moment of victory! Ah me! what can thus de-
 
 222 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 tain Rose? I fear something awful has happened!" 
 
 "It looks powerfully squally," was the reply, "and 
 J don't know what to make on't myself. Ef the gal 
 shouldn't come back, we'll be in a powerful ugly fix, and 
 no mistake. 1 don't like it I tell you I don't, on the 
 honor o' a white gintleman." 
 
 Oh, God.' if she should be lost to me now! if rejoined 
 Albert, suppressing a groan of agony that rose to his 
 
 lips; 'I " 
 
 A low "Hist" interrupted him, and the next mo 
 ment the object of his remark and anxiety glided silent 
 ly to his side. Albert had sufficient presence of mind to 
 restrain the exclamation of joy that the very bounding 
 of his heart almost forced from him; and springing to 
 his feet, he enfolded Rose in a silent but most ardent em 
 brace. 
 
 "Why did you stay away so long, dearest?" he whis 
 pered. "Oh! I have been so alarmed for your safety." 
 
 "I could not return sooner, dear Albert," was the 
 softly whispered reply. "By a little stratagem of my 
 own, I have succeeded in persuading the sentinel who 
 obstructed cur path, to remove further down, and to the 
 right. To do th?s, I promised to meet him there at mid 
 night. God forgive me! I then left him, and proceeded 
 down the hill alone, to learn if the path were clear. I 
 found another, not twenty steps below; and by the same 
 deception, I succeeded in getting him to remove to the 
 left thus leaving a certain course down the hill clear 
 of all harm or obstruction. Follow me, and be more 
 cautious than ever: for on every side of us are armed sen 
 tinels, and the least noise will bring them down upon us, 
 and then farewell to hope forever. Our whole course, 
 for the first half mile, is one of extreme peril, and noth 
 ing but the watchful eye of Almighty God can guide us 
 through in Sc.fpiy. But I will share your fate, dear Al 
 bert, whatever it may be. If you die, your own little 
 Forest Rose shall die with you."
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 223 
 
 "God bless you!" faintly ejaculated the other, fer 
 vently. 
 
 "Gal," whispered Wetzel; "beg pardon Miss Rose, 
 J mean you're fit to be the wife of the best hunter and 
 Injen fighter in these diggins. Yes, hang me, ef you 
 wouldn't be a credit to a gineral! Ef ever I m cotched 
 sayin' any thing again women again, may 1 be ! Beg 
 pardon didn't mean no offense." 
 
 "Hist!" rejoined Rose. "Silence, and follow me." 
 
 She went forward again in the same manner as at 
 first, and stealthily her steps were pursued by the 
 scouts, at the distance of some ten or fifteen feet. In this 
 way they reached the plain without accident; when, 
 taking the hand of Albert, Rose set off at a faster gait 
 though in what direction, it was so dark as to be impos 
 sible for him to tell. He only knew that he was passing 
 over the prairie, and increasing the distance between 
 himself and the mount; and as minute after minute went 
 by, without disturbance, he began to breathe more and 
 more freely. Save a slight pressure of the hand, there 
 was no communication between the lovers; for so in 
 tense was the excitement under the peculiar cinrcum- 
 stances, that neither ventured to speak even in a whis 
 per; and "Wetzel, though as much puzzled to tell whither 
 he was gotnr as Albert, did not think proper at the mo 
 ment to question his fair guide, but, having full ronfi- 
 dence in her knowledge and discretion, followed close be 
 hind in silence. 
 
 At ler.gth, greatly to the surprise of our scouts, they 
 beheld several lights sparkling just before them; and 
 Rose suddenly came to a halt, uttering the single word 
 "Hist," in a low whisper. 
 
 Stir not, speak not, make no sound whatever! for 
 your Jives are hanging on a bare thread, as it were?" she 
 said; and then silently glided away from them. 
 
 She had scarcely gone a dozen steps, when a dojt 
 ran toward her and uttered a fierce bark. At the same
 
 224 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 time she heard the click of. the rifles of her frtends be 
 hind her as they cocked them, ready for an onset. Ad 
 dressing a few words in the Indian tongue to the dog in 
 a low tone, the animal walked away, apparently satis 
 fied that he had caused a false alarm; and then hastily 
 rejoining her friends, who said, in a whisper, almost 
 
 angrily: 
 
 "Unc.oclt your rifles! Why are you so imprudent, 
 when T have warned you that the least sound unusual 
 will prove fatal to all. You are now on the very borders 
 of the Indian village, and a hundred ears are open to de 
 tect the slightest evidence of your presence!" 
 
 "Good heavens!" returned Albert, "I knew not that. 
 Why have you led us here, dearest?" 
 
 "As the only way by which you can escape. The 
 whole plain is guarded in every direction but thi^; and I 
 deemed it less hazardous to attempt a passage through 
 the village, than through the lines of sentinels posted 
 along other outlets from the mount. But hush! down to 
 the earth again! 1 ' 
 
 This last injunction was caused by hearing the tread 
 of a moccasin ed foot near where the party stood, ap 
 parently approaching them; and as the hunLers obeyed 
 the order of Rose, and silently placed themselves flat 
 upon the earth, the latter again glided forward, and the 
 next moment was addressed by the unwelcome corner, 
 whose voice betrayed him to be a warrior. Rose made 
 some reply, uttered a light laugh, and the other depart 
 ed, apparent!} satisfied. Although this interruption 
 lasted but a moment, yet it had a powerful effect upon 
 the scouts, and caused them a thrill of fear unlike any- 
 'hing they had experienced through all the terrible trials 
 of that eventful dny. The difference was this: life was 
 not really worth atiy more to them now than then; but 
 now they were looking upon escape as certain, and, 
 in the sudden danger occurring, felt a terrible, heart- 
 sickening reaction.
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 225 
 
 As soon as the warrior had passed on, they silently 
 rose to their feet, and were again immediately rejoined 
 by their fair guide, who is a whisper bade them follow 
 her steps. She now led them right, among the cluster- 
 Ing ledges; and as they stealthily moved along, they 
 could occasionally perceive a dark figure stalking about 
 between them and some one of the many smouldering 
 fires, and others squatted down smoking lazily, and oth 
 ers more lazily still stretched out at a full length upon 
 ihe earth. Several times they passed warriors singly and 
 in groups, so near that Rose, who understood their lingo, 
 ''o;ild distinctly hear the latter discussing the events of 
 the day, wonder !ng by what magic our gallant sccuts 
 had oeen enabled to hold out against an enemy ?o num 
 erous, powerful, and veil skilled in all the many strata 
 gems of border warfare. 
 
 At last, r'ust as they were leaving the village and 
 when the many huts had become more scattered, and 
 confidence in themselves restored in like proportion a 
 squaw suddenly issued from a wigwam directly in their 
 path: and before the least, precautions could be taken, 
 actually brushed against Rose, and uttered an exclama 
 tion of surprise. Our scouts were only a step behind, 
 and for a moment believed that all was lost; but exorcis 
 ing their usual presence of mind, they again dropped si- 
 'ontly to the oarth, and awaited the result with feelings 
 better imagined than described. 
 
 Nor did the interview seem likely to terminate as 
 favorably as those which had previously occurred between 
 Rose ai:ii the warriors she had met; for by her manner 
 of speaVing, as well as now and then a word she uttered 
 which Welzol could understand, it was evident the old 
 soua\v was suspicious that all was not. as should be. 
 Hor voice was loud and imperious, as she put question af 
 ter question to the trembling Rose, moving about the 
 while, till at last she actually came so near to Albert, 
 that lie was afraid to stir a single limb, lest he should
 
 226 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 touch her and expose his presence. To the mild but 
 slightly tremulous answers of Rose, she responded in a 
 haughty, angry tone, that showed she put little faith in 
 wnat the poor gill said. As if to make matters still 
 worse, some of the many warriors loitering about the vil 
 lage, attracted by the loud conversation, began to ap 
 proach; aid Albert, looking upon discovery as certain to 
 follow, wa already on the point of springing to his feet 
 and attempting a silont death upon the old. hag by 
 stabbing, strangulation, or both together when, utter 
 ing an angry exclamation, she suddenly bounded away 
 in the direction of a smouldering fire in front of a lodge, 
 not moro than thirty or forty paces distant. 
 
 "Oh, God' we are lost:" cried Rose, in a fearful 
 whisper, the moment she was gone. ''We are lost dear 
 Albert, unless you can effect your escape while she is 
 absent. It is the mother of Ogwehea; and enraged for 
 the lose- of her son, she either believes or pretends to be 
 lieve, that I have had something to do with the affair, 
 and that I am even now assisting you to escape; and she 
 has gone for a torch to make a search for you she 
 strongly contends that you, hidden by the darkness, are 
 within h.earirg distance of her voice. See! see! she has 
 reached the embers, and I hear others approaching. Oh, 
 fly! fly! an<l e?cape, if such a thing be possible!" 
 
 While Rose was speaking, Albert and Wetzel had 
 /sprung to their feet, and now stood close beside the 
 frightened and trembling maiden. 
 
 "But you you, my own dear P'ovest Rose you 
 must go with us! I can not part from you again " 
 
 "No, no leave me! leave me'- fly! fly: fear not 
 for me If you are absent and she finds you not, I shall 
 be safo from harm otherwise wo shall all perish to 
 gether. There, see: she has gathered a brand, and is 
 now returning; and look! others are joining her! Oh, 
 fo~ God'r. sake! if you love me, fly! fly at once fast and 
 far, but silently, and I will soon join you."
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 227 
 
 The emergency was too great to admit of longer de 
 lay; and pressing the hand of Rose in silence, and even 
 venturing to imprint a kiss upon her trembling lips, Al 
 bert turned and touched Wetzel on the shoulder, glided 
 away liKe a specter, followed as noiselessly by the old 
 hunter. 
 
 Both soon had reason to congratulate theniselves- 
 on their timely escape; for immediately after, the brand 
 which the old squaw had seized, burst into flame, and 
 shown directly on the spot our scouts had vacated, re 
 vealing the only solitary figure of little Forest Rose, 
 standing firmly erect, with her arms folded on her bosom, 
 awaiting the coming of the suspicious mother and the 
 half a dozen warriors that had joined her. 
 
 Although our scouts continued on the retreat, fear 
 ing to halt in such a dangerous vicinity, they by looking 
 behind th^m occasionally, could note the progress of 
 event \vith considerable accuracy. On coming up to 
 Rose, the old woman appeared to engage the girl in con- 
 versntion; \vhile the warriors separated, and darting off 
 in vorious directions, soon formed a large circle, and be 
 gan carefully to examine the ground and approach the 
 light ir the center. Some ten minutes were thus occu 
 pied in the search, when the last one came in, and all 
 apparently satisfied that the suspicions of the old woman 
 w-.re unfounded. A short consultation was then held, 
 when the whole party broke up, and Rose was allowed to 
 depart in peace. 
 
 Fearful her steps might be watched, should she ven 
 ture toward her friends, she carelessly sauntered off in an 
 opposite dhection; but the moment she found herself 
 entirely alone, and concealed by darkness, she turned 
 about, anj noiselessly glided on after them. 
 
 But. if the night proved a safeguard against the de- 
 'ection of the hunters, it was not as likely to prove fatal to 
 their hopes, by keeping asunder those who had become 
 separated. How were Rose and her friends to meet,
 
 228 THE FOREST ROS, 
 
 since neither could see a hand before them and dared 
 not spoak above a whisper, for fear of exposing them- 
 seleves to a dangerous enemy? 
 
 This was truly a perplexing, if not feaful predica- 
 mont; a.id alarmed at the thought and not knowing what 
 to do, Albert asked advice of his companion. The other 
 studied a few moments, and then replied still in a whis 
 per: 
 
 I hev it; I hev it! just as easy as shootin' D>'o 
 remember the whip-poorwill, lad? dy'e remember the 
 bird? Jost let her sing agin but not too loud, mind!" 
 'A happy thought," returned Albert, sqeezing the 
 old hunter's hand in an ecstasy of delight at the sugges 
 tion; and he forthwith proceeded to put it in practice. 
 
 But for a long time it seemed to be without suc 
 cess: and Albert was about to abandon his imitation in 
 despeir, when a light quick step, and a low "Hist" an 
 nounced the only being he loved on earth, the beautiful 
 Forest Rose. 
 
 The next moment the lovers were clasped in each 
 others embrace, and the earnest words, "God bless you!' 
 "God be praised!" escaped each others lips in whispers 
 that scarcely rose above the gentlest sighing of the 
 breeze. 
 
 The danger was now nearly past, but still great cau 
 tion \vas requisite to avoid exposure and swiftly, 
 stealthily, noiselessly, the whole party glided away; and 
 crossing tne Hoc-knocking, they kept along its' northern 
 bank for something like an hour, when the silvery voice 
 of Rose broke the silence, with the heart cheering words: 
 "Thank God, we are saved!" and dropping upon her 
 knees, with her lover beside her, both poured out their 
 souls in a prayer of thanksgiving to Him who had pre 
 served them unharmed through all their many trials and 
 perils, and brought tbem so mysteriously together again, 
 to the enjoyment of a happiness rendered tenfold mora 
 delightful for the painful adversity each had experienced.
 
 THE FOREST ROSE 229 
 
 And here, kind reader, we must bring our story to a 
 close. True, our lovers, stili had a long journey to per 
 form before they could find themselves in a place of ab 
 solute safety from the Indians, but as no incidents worthy 
 of record occurred on that journey, we will not vvoary you 
 with further details but pass it over by saving that, fol 
 lowing the Hockhocking River, they in safety reached 
 the station just above its junction with the Ohio, after a 
 fatiguing march of three days from quitting Standing 
 Stone, ."nd the village of the Hurons. 
 
 Tf seems almost needless to add, that all were re 
 ceived with the most heartfelt welcome by the inmates of 
 the stacion. After remaining two or three days to re 
 cruit from the fatigues of the journey during which 
 little Forest Rose, an object alike of love and curiosity, 
 was reciiristened. if we may so term it, and robed in 
 garments becoming her sex and station the whole party 
 set out for Campus Martins. This was a military station 
 on the banks of the Muskinghuin, near or on the present 
 site of Marietta, and then occupied by a large military 
 corps, and as the head-quarters of Governor St. Clair. 
 Out of respect to our gallant scouts and to insure them 
 from further dangers of the wilderness, Colonel Martin 
 with a portion of his garrison, accompanied them as an 
 escort. On their arrival at Campus Martius, the colonel 
 introduced them to the Governor who, on learning the 
 valuable service they had rendered to the country, re 
 ceived thorn warm'iy and kindly and besides introduc 
 ing them to his family, frankly tendered both Lowis 
 \fyetzel and Albert Maywood a commission in the territo 
 rial militia. The former refused, but the latter accepted 
 the offer; and to the day of his death, our hero bore the 
 same rank as his gallant but unfortunate father. 
 
 A day or two after the arrival of our friends at 
 Campiv Martius, Albert and Rose were united in the 
 holy bonas of matrimony the Governor himself offici 
 ating as magistrate, in the presence of the whole garri-
 
 230 THE FOREST ROSE 
 
 son, who fired a military salute in honor of the occasion. 
 
 Having seen his friend united to the being of his 
 choice, and both rendered happy, Wetzel, against all per 
 suasion, took a tearful leave of each, and again returned 
 to the forest, in his accustomed vocation of Indian hunt 
 er, scalper, and spy. Albert afterwards heard of his gal 
 lant deeds on the North-western frontier; and subse 
 quently, that he had departed to the still further far 
 West, beyond the bounds of approaching civilzation. 
 
 The brilliant victory of General Wayne, the year 
 following, over the combined forces of the different In 
 dian tribes, so disheartened the latter, that they were 
 fain to bury the hatchet; and in 1715 a treaty was con 
 cluded at Greenville, by which most of their hunting 
 } rounds "\\ere ceded to the United States; and among 
 .he rest wae Tarhetown, and the possession of the Wyan- 
 dotts, embracing the scene where a large portion of the 
 present story is located Tarhe himself being present, 
 <md signing away his beautiful home with his own hands. 
 
 Albert and his lovely wife remained at Campus Mar- 
 tius till after the peace of Greenville, when he removed 
 to the lands nccuoiftd by hip father at the time of his 
 death, where he i>uilt a verj comfortable residence, 
 lived to the age of sixty, and at last went down to his 
 grave, beloved, lamented, and full of honors -having 
 twice been elected a member of the State Legislature, 
 been high Sheriff of the county for several years, besides 
 having filled vaiious other offices of trust in the gitt of 
 the people 
 
 From the time of Albert's celebrated escape from the 
 Indians, and the recovery of her so dear to him. his life 
 was a scene of unalloyed happiness, till grim Death 
 snatched from him the fair partner of his bosom, which 
 occurred about three years previous to his own demise. A 
 private cemetery was made on the little knoll' the 
 scene of the painful tragedy recorded in the former por 
 tion of this bumble narrative and here the remains
 
 THE FOREST ROSE: 231 
 
 of aw earthly angel \vere deposited, with a white slab of 
 marble to mark the resting-place, on the head of which 
 was 3ngraved this curious epitaph: 
 
 THE-: LAST HUME OF FOREST ROSE ONCE AN 
 ANGEL HERE NOW AN ANGEL IN HEAVEN. 
 
 Beside the remains of hj& wife, were subsequently 
 deposited those of Captain Albert Maywood together 
 ''.'ith those of his father, mother, brother and sister and 
 a large monument, since erected, briefly tells the event 
 ful story of their horrible butchery. 
 
 Albort and Rose left behind them two children -a 
 son and a daughter- each bearing an appellal ion of their 
 resperteu parents and both, so far as we have been able 
 jo learn, inheriting their many noble virtues. The knoll 
 has become the i-emetery of the family, and the descend 
 ants of Mayvood are still in the possession of the lands 
 <jf th;ir ancestors.
 
 fi 
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