The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1851-03-19
A FUIE TRADE ADVENTIIRE.
by WASHINGTON nvTSG

Golfer, with the hardihood of n rerula,
rapper, had cast himself loose from the par,
" of Lewis and Clark, in the very heart o.
The wilderness, and had remained 10 trat
Beaver alone on the head waters of the Mis-
souri,. Here he fell in with another lionel,
trapper like himself, named Potts, aud lbey
agreed 10 keep together They were in the
very region Of the terrible Blackfeet, at tha
lime thlfsting 10 revenge The death of thei
companions, and knew they had no mercy Il
expect al their hands. They were Obliged
TO keep concerted all day in the wood,
margins Of the river, setting thar traps aftei
nightfall,and taking them up before daybreak
II was running terrible risk for The sake of ,
few beaver skins, but such is the lie of a trapper
They were on a branch of the Missouri,
called Jefferson's Fork, and had set theiI
traps al night, about six miles from a small
river that emPtied itself into the Forks
Early in the morning they ascended the riy,
er in canoe, to examine the traps. The
banks on each side were high and perpendic.
uIar, and cast shade over the stream. AS
they were softly padding along, they heard
the .irOmpling Of many feet upon the shore.
Golfer Immediately gave the alarm of sin
di2ns" and was for instant re,reat. Potts
scoited al him for being frightened at herd
OF butlaloes. Golfer checked his uneasiness
and padded forward. They had not gone
much farther, when frghtful wnoops and
yeils burst forth from eAch side of the river,
and several hundred Indians appeared on
each bank. Signs we're made for,lhe unfor
tunae trappers to come ashore. They were
obliged 10 comply. Before they could gel
out of the canoe, savage seized the rifle be
longing to Potts. Golfer sprang on shore
wresled the weapon from the hands of the
indian, and restored il to his companion who
was still in the canoe, and immediately
pushed into the stream There was sharp
twang OF bow, and Potts cried out he was
wounded. Golfer urged him to come on
shore and submit, as his only chance for lille
but the other knew, there was 10 prospect for
mercy, and determined 10 die game. Lev
eIlng his rife, he shot one Of The sayages
dead on the spot. The next moment ho fe Il
himself, pierced by innumerable arrows.
The vengeance off lbe savages now turned
upon Golfer. lie was stripped naked, and
having some knowledge of the BlaCkfeet
language, overheard conversation as to the
mode OF despatching him, so as to derive the
greatest amusement from his death. Some
wesa foT a2tff8g l.im as a tBasi., and havipo
a trial of their skill at his expense. The
other chief, however, was for nobler sport
lie seized Golfer by the shoulder and de-
manded if he couldrun fast. The unfortu>
nate irapPar was too we'll acquainted with
me indian customs as not to comprehend the
dElit OF the question. lie was TO run for hls
life, TO furnish kind Of human hunt 10 per
secaiors. Though, in reality he was noted
by his brother hunters for swiftnese of foot,
no assgred the Old chief that he was very
bad rnhnef. His sratagem gained him some
vantage ground. He was led by the Chief
lnto the prairie, about four hundred wards
from the man body of the savages, and then
turned loose TO save himself If he could A
treme ndous Yell let him know that the whole
pack OF bloodhounds were in full cry. Col.
ter flew rather than ran; he was astonished
at his own speed-but he Ind six miles of
prairie 10 traverse before he could reach
Jefferson Fork Of the Missouri; how could
he hope to hold out such distance, with
The fearful odds ofseven hundred to one A.
gainst him? The plain, too, abounded with
prickly pear which wounded his naked feet.
Still he fled on, dreadlng each moment 10
hear the twang of bow, and TO feel an ar
row quivefing at his heart He did not even
dare TO look around, lest he should lose an
inch OF that distance on which his life de-
pended lie had run nearly the way across
the plain, when the sound of pursuit grew
fainter, and he ventured 10 turn his
head. The main body of his pursaers we're
a considerable distance behind; seveial Of
The iasterTunners were scattetod in advance;
while a swlft,iooted warrior armed with n
spear, was not more than a hundred wards
behind him. a
Inspired with new hope, Golfer redoub.
ed his exerions, but exerted himself to such
degree that the blood rushed from his
mouth and nostrils, and stfeumed down his
'reasi. He arrived within mile of the
liver The sound of footsteps gathered np-
III hima Aglance behind him showed lis
,arsuer within twenty yards, and preparing
o throw his spear Stopping short, he
ufnsd round and sprend outhis arms. The
'aVage, confoundedby sudden action, attenlp
ed to siopan hurl his spear, but fell in the
,ery act. Golfer pucked up the pointed
iart, pnned the savage TO the earth, and
continued lis fight. The Indians, rs they
arrived atEtbeir slaughtered companion stops
ped 10 howl over him. Golfer made the most
'f this precious delay, gained the skirts of
cotton wood bordering the river, dashed
through it and plunged into the slroam.--
he SWAN TO neighOoring island, against
he upper end of which the drift wood had
odged in such quantities as to form natu-
al raft; under this lie dived and swan be-
oW water until he succeeded in getting
place between the floating trunks
If trees, whose braBches and bushes formed
| covert several feet above the level. Of the
Dater.a He had scarcely drawn breath afler
lis tolls, when he heard his pursuers on the
1ver bank, whooping aud .ynlIing like sol
many iiends. They plunged into the river,
Tod swan TO the raft. The heart Of Golfer
llmost died within him as be saw them thro'
he chinks Of his concealmepi; passing and
epassing, and seeking him in all directions
ihey at length gave up the search, and no
'sgan 10 rejoice in his escape, when the idea
'ressnled itself thDt they might set the raftl
IN tlre. Here was new source Of harriblel
apprehension, in which be renamed until
lighGall Fortunately, the idea did not
uggesl itself TO the, Indians. As soon as it