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The Rifle, Axe, and Saddle-Bags, and Other Lectures
The Rifle Axe and SaddleBags and Other Lectures Author:William Henry Milburn, John McClintock Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: A NARROW ESCAPE. 41 localities, and as a protection in case of falling in with any parties or outposts; since from her knowledge of the Indian language, she c... more »ould readily deceive the sentinels. They had scarcely reached the eastern base of the mount, before they heard a low " whisht" from their guide. At this they sank silently on the ground, where, by previous arrangement, they were to remain until the signal was given to move on. Her absence for the space of a quarter of an hour began to excite suspicion that all was not right, but they were relieved by her return, when she informed them that she had succeeded in removing two sentinels, who were immediately in their route, a short distance ahead. The descent was noiselessly resumed, and the spies followed their intrepid leader for half a mile in the most profound silence, when the barking of a dog at a short distance apprised them of new danger. The almost simultaneous click of the spies' triggers was heard by the girl, who gave another significant "whisht" and whispered that they were now in the very midst of the Indian camps, and that their lives depended on maintaining the most profound silence. Implicitly obeying her directions, and following her footsteps, they proceeded, but had not gone far before the girl was accosted by a squaw from an opening in a wigwam. To the salutation, the girl replied in the Indian language, and pressed on. In a short time, she stopped, and turning, informed them that they had left the camps, and were out of the greatest danger. She knew that every pass was guarded by the Indians, and had resolved to adopt the bold measure of passing through the centre of their encampment as least hazardous, and the sequel proved the correctness ofher judgment . They now directed their course for the Ohio rive...« less