The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1848-11-17
A Fur Trade Adventure.
ny WASHINGTON IRVING.

d
like himself, named Potts, and they agreed
to keep together. They were in the very
region Of tue terrible Blackfeet, at that time
ihirs,ing to revenge the death of their com
panionS, aud knew they had no mercy to
expect at their hands. They were obliged
to keep concealed allday in the woody mar
gins CT the rivers, setting their traps after
niehtfall, and taking them up before day
break. 1t was running terrible risk for
the sake of a few beaver skins, hut such is
the life of trapper.
They were on the branch Of the river call
ed Jeilerson's Fork, and had set their traps
al night about six miles from small river
that empticd itself into the Forks. Early in
the morning they ascended the river in a
CANOE TO examine the traps. The banks on
each side were high aud perpendicular, and
cast shade over the stream. As they were
softly padding along, they heard the tram.
ping OF many feet upon the shore. Golfer
immediately gave the alarm Of "Indiansn'
and was Tor instant retreat. Potts scoiletl
at him for being frightened at herd of Bnf-
faloes. Golfer checked his uneasiness M nd
padded forward. They had not gone much
further, when frigh,ful whoops and yels
burst forth from each side Of the river, and
several hundred Indians appeared Oh each
bank. Signs were made for the unfortunate
trapPerS to come ashore. They were obi
Scd to comply. Before they could get out
OF their canoe, savage seized the rifle be-
longing TO Potts. Golfer sprang on shore,
wTested the weapon from the hands Of the
Indian. and restored it 10 his companion who
was still IN the canoe and immediately push
ed into the stream. There was sharp
twaug OF bow, aud Potts cried out that he
was wounded. Golfer urged him 10 come
on shore and submit, as his only chance OF
lie: but the other knew there was no pros
pect for mercy and determined todle game.
Levelling his rifle he shot one of the saya-
gcs dead nthe spot. The next moment he
fell himself, piercedby innumerable arrows.
/ The vengeance Of the Savages now turn
ed upon Golfer. He was stripped naked,
aud having some know ledge of the Black
loot language, overheard conversation as
4 to the mode of deSpatchuc him, 50 as to de
rive tie greatest amusement from his death.
Some were for setting him as a mark, and
I having trial Of their skill at his expense.
! he old chief, however, was for n0ber
sport. lie seized Golfer by the shoulder
and demanded if he could run fast. The
unfortunate trapper was too well acquainted
with Indian customs not TO comprehend the
drift of the question. He was tornn for hi,
| life, to furnish n kind Of human hunt TO his
| prosecutors. Though in reality he was no.
ted by his brother hunters for swiftness oi
foot, he assured the old chief that he was
very bad runner. His stratagem gaine(
him some vantage ground. He was led by
the chiei into the prairie, about four hundrc,
/ yards from the main body Of savageS, anC
thea turned loose 10 save himself he could
i tremendous yell let HIM know that the
whole pack of blood hounds were in full cry
Golfer flew rather than ran; he was aston
iShed a. his own Speed-but he had six mile
to traverse before he could reach Jeiierso,
| Fork OF the Missouri; how could he hopt
10 hold out such a distance, with the fearful
odds OF seven hundred to one against him
The plain, too, a6ounded with prickly pear
which wounded his naked feet. Still hl
fled oil, dreading each moment 10 hear tn
twang or bow and 10 feel an arrow uuiy
erlng at bis heart He did not even dare Il
look round, lest he should lose an inch o
that distance on which his life depended
Hehad run nearly the way across the plain
when the sound Of pursuit grew somewhat
| The main body uthiS purSuerg were a con.
siderable distance behind; several of thC
faster runners were scattered in advance
while Swi.t-footed warrior, armed with {
spear, was not more than a hundred year.
behind him.
Inspired with new hope, Golfer redoublet
his eXertioh, but strained himself 10 such
degree that the blood gushed from his mouti
and noStrils, and streamed down his breast
He arrived within a mile Of the river. TIL,
sound of footsteps gathered upon him.
glance behind him showed his pursuer with
in twenty yards, and preparing TO throw u
spear. Stopping short he turned round an,
spread out his arms. The savage conlound
ed by sudden action, attempted to stop am
hurl his spear, but fell in the very act. Col
ter p.ucked up the pointed part, pinned tn
savage to the earth, and continued his flight
The Indians, as they arrived at their slaush
tered companion, stopped TO howl over him
Golfer made the most Of this precious delay
gained the skirts of the cotton wood border
ing the river, dashed through itand plunge
into the stream. lie SWAN to neighborin
island, against the upper end OF which tn
dri wood had lodged in such quantities a
10 form natural raft, under this he dive
and swan below water Hntil he succeede
in getting a breathing place between tn
floating trunks of trees. whose branches an
bushes formed a covert several feet abov
the level of the water. He had scarcel
drawn breath after his tolls, when he hear
his purSuers on the river bank, whoopn
and yelling like so many iiends. The hear
of Golfer almost died within him as he sa,
them through the chinkS of his concealmcn,
passing and repaS>iug, and seeking for hin
IN all directions. They at length gave "
the search, and he began TO rejoice in hi
escape. when the idea presented itself tina
they might set the raft on fire. Here was
new source OF horrible apprehension, il
which he remained until nightfall. Fortu
nately, the idea did not suggest itself to tn
Indians. As soon as it was dark, fndin
, by silence around him tina. his purSucrs ha
departed, Golfer Owed again. aud came II
beyond the raft. He then swan sientl
down the river Tor a considerable distance
when he landed and kept on all night. {
yet Off as Ear as possible from this dangerou
ncishborhood.
,, A fdnkcc'S cuidiion,-"Wcll, it's Gu
rious how we du git over the ground. VIII
the trees all look as if they were dancin'
JIG TO double quick time. | kin recollcc
I ten or twelve yenrs ago. that il startc,