The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1833-05-08

other. This inactivity, however, wns
sson over. Adam was too much hamper
cd by the bushes to retreat, and setting
his life upon the cast Of the die he
sprung over tho bush which had shelter.
ed him, and, summoniDg bis powers,
Ieaped boldly down the precipice and a.
lighted upsn the breast Of Big Foot, with
shock which bore him 10 the earth.
The moment Of the contact, Adam had
thrown has right arm nround the neck of
the smaller Ipdian, so that all three came
to the earth together. AT that moment
a sharp firing was heard among the
bashes above, announcing that the others
were engaged, but the trio below were
too busy 10 attend to any thing but them
selves Big foot was for an instant stun
ned by the violence Of the shock, and
Adam was enabled to keep them both
down. But the exertion necessary for
that purpose was SO great that he had no
leisure 10 use his knife. Big Foot quick
ly recovered, and without attempting 10
rise, wrapped his long arms around Ad-
ANS body, and pressed him to his breast
with the crushing force Of Boa Con-
strictor. ~
Adam, as we have already remarked,
was powerful man, aud had seldom en-
countersd his equal. bu, never had he yet
felt an embrace like that Of Big Foot.
He instantly relaxed his hold Of the
small Indian, who sprung to his feet.
Big Font then ordered him to run for his
tomahawk. which lay within ten steps.
and kill the white man, while he held
him in his arms. Adam seeing his dnn-
ger, struggled manfullyto extricate him
self from the folds of the. giant, but in
vain.--The lesser Indian approached him
with his uplifted to,nahawk, bat Adam
watched him closely and ns he was a
bout to strike gave him kick so sudden
and violent, as to knock he tomahswk
from his hand, and send him staggering
back into the water. Big Foot uttered
an exclamation in tone Of deep CEN
tempt al the failure of his com panion,
and raising his voice to its highest pilch,
thundered out several words ia the In
dian tongue, which Adam could not un-
derstand, but supposed to be direction
for the second attack. The lesser In
dian now again approached. carefully
stunning Adams heels, and making
many motions with his tomahswk, in
order to deceive him as to the point
where the blow would fan. This lasted
for several seconds, until laundering
exclamation from Big Foot, compelled
his companion to strike. Such was Ad
ans dex.erity and vigilance, however,
thnt he managed to receive the .oma-
hawk in a glancing direction upon his
left wrist, wounded him deeply but not
disabling him. He now made sudden
and desperate effort TO free himself from
the arms ofthe giant and succeeded. In
standy snatching up the rife (for the In
dian could not venture to shoot for fear
Of hurting his companion) no shot the
lesser Indian through tho body. But
scarcely had he done so when Big Foot
arose, md placing one hand upon his
collar and the other upon his hip, pitch
ed him ten feet into the mir, as he him
self would have pitched child. Adam
fell upon his back at the edge Of the wa
ter, but before his antagonist could
spring upon him, he was again upon his
feet. and stung with rage at the idea of
being handled 80 easily, he attacked his
gigantic antagonist with n fury which
for time compensated for inferioriiy
of strength. 1t was now fair fist tight
between them. for in the hurry Of the
struggles, neither had leisure TO draw
their knives. Adams superior activity
and experiences as q pug,list, gave him
great advantage. The Indian struck
awkwardly, aud finding himself rapidly
dropping TO the leeward. he closed with
his antagonist, and again hurled him to
the ground. They quickly rolled into
the river, and the struggle continued with
fury, each attempting to drown
the other.
The Indian being unused to such vio-
lent exertion and having been much in-
jured by the first shock in the stomach,
was unable to exert the same powefs
which had given him such decided SUI
psriority at first; and Adam seizing him
BY the scalp lock put his head under the
water, and held it there, until the faint
struggle Of the Indian induced him to be-
lieve that he was drowned, when he re-
laxed his hold and attempted to draw his
knife. The Indian, however, to use Ad-
ans own expression, had only been
Z" He instantly regained his
feet, and in his turn put his adversary
under. In tho struggle, both were car
ried into the current, beyond their depth,
and each was compelled to relax his hold
and swim for his life. There was still |
one loaded rife upon tho shore. and