Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-06-15
VOLUME al. No. IS.

wild leaps and sudden turns, but the white man
was equal to him in agility, and at length, when
here was clear piece of woods before him, he
'ound that he must soon be overtaken. Too
rave to allow himself to be struck OF taken
prisoner when in flight, he turned and awaited
pursuer. Nothing daunted, Fleet Foot pres
sed forward The Indian had the advantage,
should ne rush upon him, and the hunter check.
ed his career, when within few PAGES of the
say &C. A moment the foes glanced ct each
other. Three times had Fleet Foot distanced
1nle indian, twice to save his own life--the
i'st nme-the present one, to take the life Of
the red man. Each knew the other. Now was
to come struggle severer than any previously
decided between them. The Indian was the
larger man, and he was, perhaps, better skilled
in tho use of the knife.
The savage did not wait for his foe to recover
from his long chase, but when his eye Lad run
over the frame of his antagonist, and taken in
the distance between them, he sprang toward
him, tercely aiming a violent blow with his
knife, which Fleet Foot dexterously parried al.
most at the same moment giving the savage
left-handed blow which staggered him. Fol.
lowing up his advantage. Fleot Foot made
thrust at the Indians breast the red mea
caught the arm which bore knife swiftly TO-
wards his heart. and then followed tight tussle
u moment two knives cleaned in tho air.
then both fell to the ground, and the Indian
and the hunter were each struggling to escape
the other grasp. Fleet Foot was borne to the
earth and the Indian striving to keep him there,
exerted himself also to the utmost to reach one
of the knifes As he was stronger man thaa
tho hunter-he had great advantage over him,
yet the hunter held 30 firmly, he could not
reach knife. He dare not release bis hold the
slightest, lest the hunter should spring to his
| feet.
His powerful knees were crushing the hun
ters breast-his brawny hands were clenched
around Fleet Foot's neck-a CLEAN of triumph
danced in his savage eyes, which glared upon
Fleet Foots blackening face. The savage felt
sure of his victim-his feet and daring foe
this wicked joy expressed itself in every feature
of his tawney countenancce, and broke, upon
the air in wild, fendish laugh-that laugh
was meant to be death cry TO the hunter, but
it nerved him to one great struggle struggle
in which all his energy was concentrated-in
which every muscle was strained-every nerve
stretched; he rose partly from the ground,
bearing up the athletic savage, whe lost the
dangerous grasp, by which lie had for q few
moments been almost forcing the hunters eyes
from their sockets, but Fleet Foot only wasted
his strength in that last struggle-he fell back
upon the earth completely in the power Of the
nfuriated savage, who was swift to perceive the
surest and quickest mode of wreaking his pas
sion, and Re - - his right hand one Of
the knives which had fallen in the early part Of
the array-he brandished it over his head-and
from its polished blade bright reflections were
a moment cast as it hung in the air.
A low, shrill whistle might have.besn heard
near the savage-the cleaning knife fell, but
the savage fell with it, his features fixed in death
with fendish oxultation stamped upon them,
which had nerved Fleet Foot to his last effort
that whistle which might have been heard
near the savage, when he poised the knife, was
from the swift passage of rife ball that lodged
in lis breast. With the report which rang
after the ball, there came shout that lifted
Fleet Foot from hi pEostrated position.
Mac mad come within rifle snot, just In tims
to save his friends life.
Fleet Foot had been nearly strangled, arc
WAS much exhausted, but he soon rallied, ano
looking at the form of his foe, which was LYING
beside him, he said
1t was a tight scuffe, Mae, by powder, and
I'd been in kingdom come now CT it hadn' 4
been for you
That's uncomfortable true, answered Mae
You brag about runnin', but it liked to lost
your scalp for you this time. That fellow wac
enough for you on a race, and leetle too much
in fight
Fleet Foot and Mae, on Yetracing their steps,
we're met by the other hunters-there were joy
full meetings which need not be described-nor
need it be told, that, when the party reached
the Fort (which it did early the following day..
there were immediate preparations for back
wood wedding, which was not long afterwards
celebrated in rude, but for the period, dis
tinguished style
Fleet Foot figured prominently in the after
annals of Kentucky, and was subsequently
known MS General -. He left q posterity
which has been engaged in modern politics as
warmly as was ever their brave ancestor, il
pioneer enterprise.