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INSTINCT PRINT Q1T7 a t ci J EDITOR AND ar.iA.LiS, PROPRIETOR. VOL xo JOHN II VTLANTA, OA.. SATURDAY, OUT. J6, 1875. terms, 23. [For The Sunny South.] A MOTHER'S KNEES. BY HENRY C. MANKK. When years have swept over raven hair*. And Rprinkled locks with age’s snow; When lost in life's annoying cares. No thought is holier in its glow Than when we pause at eventide. And listless dream neath ’bending trees, While slumb'riug memories o'er us glide Of childhood and a mother's kn^es. It is an altar built of God — No hand but his can lay it low; ’Tis true religion’s bright abode. And pictures heaven’s eternal glow. When other friends will all depart, And leave us as the fickle breeze, There’s healing balm for every heart In prayer upon a mother’s knees. No Moslem at his gilded shrine Has brighter a\.ir there to kneel: No angel at the throne divine Can there a holier influence wield: For man in every age and clime— On desert or on rolling seas— Is melted by the magic chime Of memory and a mother’s knees. And though the form lie low in death, Remembrance oft will picture there A prayer rehearsed in childish breath — A mother listening to that prayer. Kan never learns in after years A lesson half so good as these— Those simple words said thro’ his tears. And breathed upon a mother’s knees. No book of form uufolds the creed That men with sinless lips put there— No trusting heart is made to bleed Because it offers earnest prayer; But all is light, and life, and love, T 4a * slju.lcb tlOlli -r vkOui/ r>t;UM ; The purest prayer to thrones above Is prayer upon a mother's knees. I wonder if this breeze that comes From far, spice-laden fields of balm. Bear choristers from spirit-homes To join this woodland psalm T This aged oak. their phantom tread Welcomes in forest ecstacies. As on its roots I bow my head And dream thev are a mother’s knees. [Written for The Sunny South.] Callie Carson’s Lovers; OR. FLAT-BOAT, RIVER AND RIFLE. BY M. a»'AU, Of tile Michigan Pres.. CHAPTER XXV. It was growing light when old Carson's log touched the bank. The current had carried him down more than a mile, and he was so ex hausted by his long swim that he could hardly drag himself up the shore. The Indians would doubtless use every exer tion to discover who the stranger was that had acted in so suspicious a manner, and the old man sought the shelter of the forest as soon as landing. His first care was to examine his rifle and ammunition, and finding them all right, he continued up the bank. When it war. light enough to see across the river. Carson was opposite the block-houses. Concealed in the hushes, he made a long survey of the forf and the clearing. He knew that there had been no attack on the pioneers, and clearing and bank were as free of Indians as if there was not one within a hundred miles. Ear np the river, however, he saw a canoe crossing, and he muttered : “ The} - are coming to look for the old man. and somebody’ll get hurt, sartin !” Having rested from his swim, he struck into | the woods, directly away from the river, and continued on for a full mile before turning to the right, He intended to make a circuit and strike the river three or four miles above the point where he had seen the canoe crossing. With cautious step and keen eye he made his wav along at slow pace, and in another half mile he found himself at the edge of a small clearing. Some hardy pioneer had cleared away the forest and erected a small cabin as a commencement, and peering out from behind a tree, old Carson surveved the cabin for a long time before ven turing into the clearing. There was no sound, no stir, and finally he ventured out. The cabin was deserted and had a gloomy, lonesome look. Had the pioneer family received timelv warning and made a safe escape ? Some thing drew Carson nearer, and finally he looked in There was a horrible scent and a terrible sight. Within the cabin were four dead bodies— dead for three or four days. The body of the settler lay nearest the door, which had been battered in with a log. Near him was his wife, and in the comer were two children. The pa rents had been shot, the children tomahawked; ■ and all had been scalped and the bodies savagely ) mutilated. “Fiends from the infernal regions eonld not have done more hellish work !” growled the old man as he passed out, and he felt himself strong enongh and bold enough to attack a score of red-skins at once. The savages had finished their brutal work long before, and there was no one to give the bodies burial. The wolf and the panther would creep in and make a horrible feast, and by and by the floor would be strewn with clean-picked bones, and nothing else would he left to tell the tale of hor ror. The sun had been up more than three hours, when the old man turned toward the river, judging that he was at least four miles above the block-house. His programme was to keep on up the river until opposite the Indian vil lage, wait for darkness, and then cross, but circumstances were to change it. He had endeavored to conceal his trail as much as possible, and find ing himself approaching the river he stepped into a creek, and followed its bed. Cautiously he moved, send ing his keen glance right and left, and stepping as noise lessly as a panther, while his ear listened intently for any suspicions sound. Bnt he saw and heard nothing hut the sweet sights and pleasant sounds of woodland nature, and ht began to breathe more freely when whiz! a bullet lifted Lis bear-skin cap from his befid ami the report of * ’rifle, followed by a fierce yell, rang on the morning air. Old Carson was brave as they make them, but his heart gave ty leap as the bullet whiz zed »;> close to his brain, and he tyrew a startled, lightning- like glance around him. An Indian was standing in full view of him on the hank, not two hundred dared not move, and could not say that he would feet below, and the whoop was answered from leave the place before night, It was a full hour three or four different directions. Without before the woodchuck left the log, and half an waiting for a second glance, the pioneer turned hour after that the old man saw an Indian's legs to the left, leaped ont of the creek, and with as the savage passed in front of the log, going his rifle at a trail, started ofl like a deer, saying toward the river. Others followed the first, and was the first to recover his wits, mile or more, and daylight was not far off. Rest- Other Indians were near, and ing a few minutes after landing, she at once set the report of a rifle or a yell off down the river, desiring to get ont of the would bring them to the spot, neighborhood of the village as soon as possible. The scout's rifle, held at a Daylight found the girl hurrying along through trail, fell from his hand, and tbe forest, keeping the river in sight on her he sprang upon the Indian n 8 ht - She considered that in crossing the nv6r and bore him to the ground. s ^ e escaped immediate danger, and she be- Fear and desperation gave the li eve d that she might reach the boats in safety old man false strength for a unless discovered by red-skins other than those moment, and he struggled like belonging to the village. Hunger and thirst a giant. The ground was torn were forgotten in her anxiety to go forward, and up, and the leaves and branch- " hen the sun rose, she was a good three miles es tossed- into the air as Will beb ! w ^ be v Dlage. sought to clutch the Indian by The woods , bein 8 ver y 1 ulet ’ tbe 8 lrl grew the throat Foiled in every careless, scanning the way ahead only to find a effort to accomplish this, lie rout e between the trees. She had almost for- was about to draw his knife, gotten there were any Indians in the forest, when when the old warrior, feeling a warrior suddenly confronted her, ; springing his strength failing, uttered a from behind a large tree. Shu sprang hack, long, piercing yell. It was al- uttering a loud cry, and the Indian extended most instantly answered bv his hand and said: -1 t_j-— -jn-.-n ■ “Lgh! girl got away, eh ? She recognized the voice, and springing for ward she exclaimed: “It is you, Black Fox—I know you !” “ Warriors coming np the river—only little three or four Indians, and Will sprang to his feet, picked up his rifle and dashed into the swamp, knowing that he must run for his life. - . way off!” he whispered, glancing hurriedly The swamp was composed of around ° boggy spots, ponds of water, ; .-Where shall I go—which way?” she'asked, clumps of bushes small trees catching his hand. and patches ot rank grass, and | Come-run fast!” he muttered, starting off anything like swift locomotion on a trot ftnd in (lirect l y away from the was impossible. As Will tore his way along, the old Indian reached his feet and sent a bul let after him. It was hardly a moment before the other In dians came up, yelling and whooping, and it seemed as though the whole village had gathered where the struggle had taken place. Will at first thought that the river. She followed him, and not another word was spoken until he halted, nearly a mile from the river. They were on rough, broken ground then, a sort of “hog’s-back” or ridge, and he said: “Old Carson at block-house ten miles down the river, on other side ! Lots of Indians around —big fight all the time—girl must hide till dark GOVERNOR JAMES D. PORTER, OF TENNESSEE. to himself: “Put in yer best licks, old man, for tliar's thirty if tliar’s one, and blood is what they ar’ howling for!” Another bullet cut close to him, and then a general yell told him that all the band were as all were talking freely, Carson picked up enough words to inform him that the chase had been abandoned, the Indians seeming to believe that the nuknown white man had passed a long distance into the forest. An hour afternoon his position became so irk- in hot pursuit. The forest was full of under- some that the trapper decided to leave the log. brush, and he had a good start. He was out of sight in a moment, and the savages had only his general direction Coming to hard ground, where it would he difficult to pick up his trail, the old man made a sharp turn from the river and sought to increase his speed, paying not so much attention to the yells behind him as to He crept out very cautiously, carefully surveyed the forest, and crawled a long distance on his hands and knees before venturing to stand erect. His course was still up the river. If he was to render Callie aid, he must reach the Indian vil lage and penetrate it. The river was a full mile away, and the woo Is deep, grim and silent. comes I There came a whoop from the river, and Black swamp extended clear to the Fox continued: river, but in five minutes he “ Keep straight down this way—find creek— found that, while it might ex- cave in the bank -don't. ( come au.t-till . 'lark,— . *'rv’. .r Allis ;W tuju UoSt .lO'.vn rivertm fog r aught he knew, it was not over He turned and ran off at, full speed, knowing a half mile wide. The yells of that she would utter words of (lianks. He had the Indians at the same time slept in her father’s cabin and been the recipient proved they were turning the of many favors, and he could not forget them, upper end of the swamp to cut even though in war-paint, and having sought hiui oft' from the river. They I with the rest to capture the boat, would be on hand to welcome Callie took the direction indicated, and in him as he reached hard ground about ten minutes she reached the creek. He and others had plunged into had not given her the exact location of the cave, the swamp to follow his trail, hut she found it after following the stream down In this emergency, Will halted and looked a few rods. The banks of the creek were about about him. Then he turned down the swamp, fifteen feet high at that spot, and the opening of leaping from a log to a hog, waded in water waist the cave was so large that she could enter with- deep, and for a quarter of a mile he completely out trouble. The whole tribe ot Indians might extinguished his trail. Stopping then in a mass know of its location, or it might have been dis- of weeds, growing ont of water a foot deep, he covered by Black Fox alone. The interior was sank down and straightened up the weeds around so dark and gloomy that the girl hesitated about . him so that lie was well hidden from sight The entering, but she finally gained courage to feel; ^ marsh would not give him a better hiding-place, her way back until she could go no further. 1 and he would remain there until further move- The cave was about thirty feet deep by twenty ment was necessary. broad, the roof and sides rough and irregular. All the Indians out in search had congregated The location was a gloomy one, and it seemed around the swamp, or waded into it, each one hardly possible that the Indians could search keeping up a terrible yelling. Will heard them the fugitive out, even if waking up her trail, splashing through the water, or forcing their way There was a heap of moss and leaves at the back through the bushes, hut it was nearly an hour end, and Callie sank down on it to rest. She before any of them came near his hiding-place, could see the mouth of the cave and the oppo- keeping a sharp lookout ahead. Few of the In- The old man crept along as a dark shadow steals dians could have kept up with him on a plain across the floor. A red-skin finally came along the same route, but passed the weeds without noting that they had been disturbed. A few yards away he uttered a loud yell, and called to his companions that he site bank of the creek, while one looking in could not have penetrated the darkness beyond ten feet. . Perfect silence prevailed, and feeling quite course, and he had an advantage in start which told heavily in his favor. “They are welcome to my scalp if they can catch it!” he chuckled as he bounded forward, leaping logs, dodging trees and tearing through thickets. Instead of turning where he did, the Indians kept straight on, seeming to think that he had some special object in seeking the river-hank, CHAPTER XXVI. Will maintained his position until daylight, and heard nothing from the Indians after tlieir brief search. He knew that they would seek his trail as soon as it was light enough to see, and yet lie was undecided what to do. Feeling cer tain that Callie had not been recaptured, and not yet knowing where to look for her, he did not know which way to turn. There was a faint bnt the old mail did not let up on his pace. , h “ u ”. w . iuer . e I Rlintr nlir>e Thp ! hope that he might encounter her in the forest ' “ ’ e 1 by scouting around, and when daylight broke he moved from his hiding-place, bending around so as to strike the river two or three miles below the village. Being in no haste, he picked his route, seeking tc^blind his trail as much as pos sible. Day was hardly an hour old when Will discov ered that the Indians were seeking him. They , . knew liis disguise, the direction he had taken, smooth. The trapper crept in, feet first, and and they would not abandon the search while As he ran he looked for a hiding-place, woods were pretty Clear of underbrush and thickets, and hearing a loud yell from the red skins. as if they had struck his trail afresh, Car- son dashed at a large hollow log and crept into it. first seeing that the hollow extended in only about twelve feet. The cavity in the log had been used by some wild animal for a den, and its sides were worn had found the trail. It was probably the route secure from danger, Callie soon began to get taken by a deer or some other large animal, as j drowsy. She leaned against the wall and fought the weeds were bent over and the bushes broken, the feeling off for a time, but sleep came stealing i but the Indians followed it until reaching hard over her as she watched. AVhen she opened her ground, where the whole gang seemed to take it eyes again, she believed that night had come. • up. This was about ten o’clock, and from that Hurrying to the mouth of the cave, she found hour to noon Will heard nothing further from ; the rain pouring down as if there was to be an- the Indians, except an occasional yell or the re- other flood. She guessed that it was within an port ot a rifle. They finally returned, having a hour of sundown, if not half an hour later, and suspicion that they had followed a wrong trail, she saw that it had set in for n long rain and a but none of them entered the swamp, knowing dark night. that the fugitive had had ample time to escape. The rain was of no account, as her clothing They passed along the borders, inspecting the was not yet dry, and the weather was warm, ground, and at length, disappeared in the direc- but if the night came on dark and black, it would tion of the village; but it was near four o’clock give her trouble. She might find her way down before the scout dared to move. The long chase the creek to the river, and might possibly find after him and the great excitement would have j a log to float her, but she might pass within a driven Callie miles away from the village, if she hundred feet of the block-house and not suspect were hiding anywhere and waiting for him, and : its presence. A too dark night would be as bad worked himself back until he could go no fur ther. It was close quarters for a man of his frame, and he was only fairly in when he wished himself out, as he stood no chance if the In dians made a careful search. Their yells, how ever, warned him that there was no time to make a change, and with rifle held ready to fire he waited. The savages had discovered that they had been tricked, and while some were down on hands and knees, seeking the trail, others were rush ing along at their best speed, hoping to receive a chance sight of the crafty white man. As they came nearer they started up a woodchuck, there was a hope left. He heard signals passing, and he retreated further into the forest and in creased his pace. As the sun came np, the scout changed his course for the river, hut in a few minutes a deer came running towards him at full speed, indicating sudden fright. “That means danger.” whispered Will, as he dropped on his hands and knees. A bird or two came flying past, uttering shrill, sharp notes of alarm, and the scout knew that some one was approaching him from the direc tion of the river. A few yards away was a small, thick clump of bushes, and Will crept toward it to secure a hiding-place. The clump was not Will abandoned all hopes of finding her. He reasoned that she would go down the river, in stead of taking any other direction, as Carson would certainly make a halt somewhere below, and there was considerable hope that the girl as one lighted by a full moon. Darkness had not come, and Callie had not yet decided what to do, when Providence stepped in and settled the question. The mouth of the cave was about three feet above the water, and would find her way aboard the boat before her the near end of the cave was two or three feet lover did. Will’s plan was to reach the river first. He might be able to see something or hear some thing to further post himself and guide his future movements. If he failed to. he would wait for which in its fright dashed mto^ the hollow log i ar g e enough for him to crawl into and be hid- and plumped into the old man s face before as- den f rom sight, and he crept behind it. lav at full curtaining that the quartos had alread} been length on the ground, and watched and listened, taken possession of. . The Indians were now all Three or four minutes passed, and then four or around the locality, and the frightened animal five passed him onlv fiftv feet awav. coming from retreated about halt way to the opening and the river. Thev were moving at a slow trot, heads there rested. Carson was prevented from seeing llown searching for signs, and they were not in out. but the Indians were also prevented from looking in. Several of them leaped upon the log almost above him and stood there for sev eral minutes, while others made a wide circuit and looked for the trail. The ground was hard and thickly covered with leaves, and the savages failed to find what sight above a minute or two. The hard soil, bedded with leaves, had retained no foot-prints, and if the pursuers came upon Will, it would be by chance. When sure that they were out of sight and hearing, the scout rose up and hurried toward the river. Coming to a swale or marsh, he was obliged to higher than the mouth. The heavy fall of rain had commenced to raise the creek, and as she sat there in the opening, planning and discuss ing with herself, she disqovered that the placid 3 creek was becoming a torrent. Imprisoned be- !?, a f 1 bness iind searc l 1 for the ooats, hoping that tween the high banks, the water rushed along at Callie was already aboard. I sing all the cratt raee _h 0 rse speed, the roar increasing every mo- at his command, the hunter made his way out men t, a nd to leave the cave was to he swept of the swamp, and finally stood on hard ground down a g a inst the rocks with fearful force, under the trees. The river was not over a mile Darkness came as she sat there watching the away, and the sun was yet more than two hours wfder creeping up inch by inch, and she did not high. He therefore progressed slowly, creeping realize her danger unti i a 8 i y str eam entered the from tree to tree and from bush to bush, real- cave and touched her hand. She must either izing that another encounter would result disas- dro n into the raging current or retreat back, and trously to him. she retreated. But the Indians seemed to have left the locality Sinking down on the bed of leaves, the girl for good, and AA ill reached the river without hav- anxiously listened to catch the advance of the ing met anything to alarm him. From a high wa j er The rain still came down with a steady mound he caught sight ot the water, and wasmak- p 0ur a nd when night came, it brought darkness ing his way toward it. when a stone turned under so ^lack that a dozen candles would have hardly his foot and he fell to the ground, almost cry- lighted the cave. She could hear the water gur- ing out from pain. His right leg had been vio- gling and roaring across the opening, and by their keen eyes sought. The hollow log at turn to the left, and he was turning the top of a length attracted their attention, and one of them fallen tree when he came full upon an Indian, crept up and peered in. Holding his hands up “Has my brother ” to his face until his eyes had become accustomed The Indian stopped short with his inquiry, his to the darkness, he at length made out that quick eye having detected the fact that a white some animal had ensconced itself in the cavity, man stood before him. It was the old man who and he drew his head away with a muttered had guarded Callie in the lodge. He had a rifle curse. in his hand, and though old and unable to fol- In five minutes more the neighborhood was low the war-path, he was not an enemy to be silent and seemingly clear of Indians. Old Car- despised. Both were amazed for an instant, and son found his situation uncomfortable, but he could do nothing but stare at each other. Will lently twisted around, and it seemed to him as if it were broken at the ankle. He attempted to rise hut fell again, an l then he investigated to find that he was helpless —his ankle being twisted ont of shape. The pain was so intense that the hunter had to shut his teeth to prevent groaning. He could no more step with his foot than he could fly, and his heart sank at the prospect. Night was com ing on and he could not move a yard. CHAPTER XXATI. The log on which Callie rested her hands and by she put out her hand and found it within two feet of her shoes. In fifteen minutes more the water was under the leaves, and she had to stand np. The cave was ten or twelve feet high at that spot, and believing that the water would soon be over her head, Callie felt along the rough rocks in the darkness until she found a foothold and climbed upon a sort of shelf four feet above the floor. She could ascend no higher, though she would be drowned where Rhesntif the water kept on rising for two hours longer. By and by the only sound reaching her touched the bank after floating down the river a j was a great roar of water, and she knew that the