The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1851-04-16
A FUR TRADE ADVENTURE.
BY WASHINGTON IRVING.

party OF Lewis and Clark, In the very heart
of the wilderness, and had remained to
trap Beaver alone on the head waters of
the Missouri. Here he fell in with another
lonely trapper like himself, named Potts,
and they agreed to keep together. They
were in the very region Of the terrible
Blackfeet. at that time thirsting to revenge
the death Of their companions, and knew
they had no mercy to expect at their hands,
They were obliged to keep concealed all
day in the woody margins of the river,
setting their traps after nightfall, and taxi
ing them up before daybreak. twas rum
ming terrible risk for the sake of a few
beaver skins, but such is the life Of a trap
per.
| They were on branch of the Missouri,
called Jefferson's Fork, and had set their
traps at night, about six miles from small
| river that empted 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 perpen-
dicular, and cast shade over the stream
As they were softly padding along, they
heard the trampling Of many feet upon the
shore Golfer Immediately gave the alarm
Of "lndians!'' and was for instant retreat.
Potts scoffed at him for being frightened at
herd OF buffaloes Golfer checked his
uneasiness, and padded forward They
had not gone much farther, when frightful
whoops and yells burst forth from each
side Of the river, and several hundred In
dians appeared on each bank. Signs were
made for the unfortunate trappers 10 come
ashore. They were obliged to comply.
Before they could get out of the canoe, a
savage seized the rifle belonging to Potts
Golfer sprang on shore, wrested the weap-
on from the hands Of the Indian, and re-
stored it to his companion who was still in
the canoe, and Immediately pushed into
the stream. There was sharp twang of
a bow, and Potts cried out he was wound
ed. Golfer urged him to come on shore
and submit, as his only chance for life;
but the other knew there was no prospect
for mercy, and determined to die game.
Levelling his rifle, he shot one of the say.
ages dead on the spot The next moment
he fell himself, pierced by innumerable
arrows. 'H f''ta ~ 'a
| The vengeance of the savages now
turned upon Golfer. He was stripped
naked, and having some knowledge Of the
Blackfeet language, overheard conversa-
ton as to the mode Of despatching him,
SO as to derive the greatest amusement
from his death. Some were for setting
him as mark. and having a trial Of their
skill at his expense. The other chief,
however, was for nobler sport He seized
Golfer by the shoulder, and demanded if
| he could run fast The unfortunate trap.
per was too well acquainted with the In
dian customs as not to comprehend the
drift of the question. He was to run for
his life, to furnish kind of human hunt
to prosecutors. Though, in reality he was
noted by his brother hunters for swiflness
of foot, he assured the old chief that he
was very bad runner His stratagem
gained him some vantage ground He
was led by the chief into the prairie, about
four hundred yards from the main body
OF the savages, and then turned loose to
save himself if he could A tremendous
yell let him know that the whole pack of
bloodhounds were in full cry. Golfer flew
rather than ran; he was astonished at his
own speed--but he had six miles of prai-
rie to traverse before he could reach Jeffer- |
son Fork of the Missouri; how could he
hope to hold Out such distance, with the
fearful odds Of seven hundred to one
against him? The plain, too, abounded |
with prickly pear which wounded his nak-
od c,nt Gall H. QaIi IL, 1
moment to hear the twang Of bow, and
TO feel an arrow quivering at his heart.
He did not even dare to look around, lest
he should lose an inch of that distance on
which his life depended. He had run
nearly the way across the plain, when the |
sound Of pursuit grew somewhat fainter,
and he ventured to turn his head. The
main body Of his pursuers were con-
siderable distance behind; several Of the
faster runners were scattered in advance;
while swif-footed warrior armed with a
spear, was not more than hundred yards
behind him. aiss is at9e
Inspired with new hope, Golfer re-
doubled his exertons, but exerted himself
to such degree that the blood rushed from
his mouth and nostrils, and streamed down
his breast He arrived within a mile of
the river. The sound Of footsteps gather
ed upon him. A glance behind him show
ed his pursuer within twenty yards, and
preparing to throw his spear. Stopping,
short, he turned round and spread out his
arms. The savage, confounded by sud-
den action, attempted to stop and hurl his
spear, but fell in the very act. Golfer
plucked up the pointed dart, pinned The
savage to the earth, and continued his
flight The Indians, as they arrived at
their slaughtered companion stopped to
howl over him. Golfer made the most OF
this precious delay, gained the skirts OF
cotton wood bordering the river, dashed
through il and plunged into the stream
He swan to neighboring island, against