Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1841-10-15

ter urged him to come on shore and submit,
as his only chance for life but the other
knew there was no prospect of mercy, and
determined to die game. Lcvclng his rifle,
he shot one of the savagcs dead on the spot.
The next moment he felt himself pierced
with innumcrablc a rows. The vengeance
Of the savages turned upon Golfer. He was
stripped naked, and, having some knowledge
OF the Blackloot language, overheard con-
sutaton as to the mode of dcspatching him,
so as to derive the greatest amusc mcnt from
his death. Some were for setting him up
as a mark to shoot at, and having trial of
skill at his expense. The chief was for no.
bier sport. He seized Golfer by the collar,
and demanded if he could run fast. The
unfortunate trappcr was too well &C
quainted with indian customs not to comprc-
bend the drift of the question. He was to
run for his life, to furnish kind of human
hunt to his prosecutors. Though in reality
he was noted by his brother hunters for his
switlness on foot, he assured the chief he
was bad runner. His stratagem gained
him some vantage ground. lie was led by
the Chief into the prairie, about four hundred
yards from the main body of savages, and
then turned loose, to save himsefitfe could.
A tremendous yell let him know that the
whole pack of bloodbounds were in full cry.
Golfer llcwrather than run he was aston
| lshcd al his own speed but he had six miles
of prairie to traverse before he could reach
hope to hold out such distance with the
| odds of seven hundred to one against him
| The plain, too, aboundod with pricklv pear
which wounded his feet. Still no fled on,
drcading each moment to hear the twang OF
bow, and feel an arrow quivcring at his
heart. lie did not dare even TO look ar
round lest he should loose an incl, of that
distance on which his life depended. He
| had run nearly half way a cross the plain, when
the sound of pursuit grew somewhat fainter,
and he ven,urcd TO turn his head. The
main body of his pursucrs were a considera-
| bic distance behind him several of the fast
| est runners were scattered in the distance
while a swift footed warrior, armed with a
spear, was not more than hundred yards
behind him.
Inspired with new hope, Golfer rcjoublcd
his excrtions, bat strained himself to such a
degree that the blood gushed from lis mouth
and nostrilS, and strcamcd down his breast
| He arrived within a mile of the river. The
sound Of footsteps gathered upon him. A
glance behind him showed his pursucr with
in twenty yards, and preparing to lance his
spear. Stopping short he turned round and
spread out his arms. The savage, coniound-
ed by this sudden action, attempted to stop
and liurl his spear, but fell in the very act
His spear struck in the ground and the shaft
broke IN his hand. Golfer pluckcd up tic
pointed dart, pinned the savage to tile earth
and continued his flight. The indians as the,
arrived at their slaughtered companion,
stopped TO howl over Inn. Golfer made the
most of this precious delay, gained the skirts
Of the cotton wood bordering the river, dash.
ed through it and plunged into the stream.-.
He swan to a neighboring island, agans,
the upper end of Which the drift wood hat
lodged in such quantities as to form natur.
al raft !; under this he dvcd, and swan below
water until he succeeded in got1inga brcatk
ing place between the floating trunks o
trees, whose branches and bushes formed :
covert several feet above the level of tho
water. He had scarcely drawn breath af
ter his tolls, when he heard his pursucrs OF
the river bank, whooping and yelling like 81
many fcnds. They plunged into the rive
and swan to the raft. The heart of Collie
almos, died within him as he saw them, thro
the chinIs Of his concealmcnt, passing an,
rcsoassing, and seeking for him in all dircc
tons. They at length gave up the scarcl,
and he began to rejoice in his escape, whe
+ he idea presented ilse!f,hat they might SC
he raft on fire. Here was new source o
horrible apprehension, in which lie remain
cd until night fall. Fortunately the idc
did not present Itsclf,o the Indians. A
soon as it was dark, finding by the silcnc,
around that his pursucrs had departed, Col
ter dived again, and cameup beyond the raft
He swan silently down the river, for a con
siderable distance, nhcrc he landed anc
kept on all night, TO oct on as far as possible
from this dangerous ncighborhood.