The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-02-03
A Fur Trade Adventure.
By WASHINGTON IRVING.

BY WASHINGTON IRVING.
Golfer, with the hardihood of a regular
trader, had cast himself loose from the
party of Lewis and Clark, in the very
heart of the wilderness, and had remain.
ed to trap beaver alone, on the head wa.
ters ofthe Missouri. Here he fell In with
anotherlonely trapper like himself, named
Potts, and they agreed to keep together
They Werei in the very region of the terrible
Blaekfeet, at that time thirsting to revenge
the death of their companions, and knew
that they had to expect no mercy at theil
hands. They were obliged to keep con-
cealed all day in the woody margins Of
the rivers, setting their traps at nightfan,
and taking them up before daybreak. 1t
was fearful risk for the sake of few
beaver skins, but such is the life of a
trapper.
They were on a branch of the Missou-
ri called Jeferson's Fork, and had SET
their traps at mig hit, about six miles from
small river that emptied itself into
the forks. Early in the morning they
assembled the river in a canoe to examine
the traps. The banks on each side were
high and perpendicular, and cast shade
over the stream. As they were softly
padding along, they heard the tramp
ling of many feet upon the banks. Col
ter Immediately gave the alarm of ON
dians!" and was for instant retreat. Potts
scofed at him for being frightened atthe
trampling of herd of bufaloes. Golfer
checked his uneasiness, and padded for
ward. They had not gone much further,
when frightful whoops and yells burst
forth from each side of the river, and
several hundred Indians appeared on
either bank. Signs were made to the un-
fortunate trappers to come on shore.
They were obliged to comply. Before
they could get out of their canoe, saw
age seized the rife of Potts. Golfer
sprang on shore, wrested the weapon from
the hands of the Indian, and restored ii
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 that he was
wounded. Golfer 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; leveling his rifle, he shot one of
the savages dead on the spot. The
next moment he fell himself, pierced with
numerous arrows.
The vengeance of the savages was now
turned upon Golfer. He was stripped
naked, and, having some knowledge of
the Blackfoot language, overheard con-
sultation as to the mode of dispatehing
him, so as to derive the greatest amuse-
ment from his death. Some were for
setting him up as mark, and having a
trial Of skill at his expense. The chief,
however, was for nobler sport. He siez-
ed Golfer by the collar, and demanded if
he could run fast. The unfortunate
trapper was too we'll acquainted with the
Indian customs not to comprehend 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
swiftness of foot, he assured the chief he
was very bad runner. His stratagem
gained some vantage ground. He was
led by the chief into the prairie, about
four hundred yards from the main body
of sayages, 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 run
he was astonished at his own speed; but
he had six miles of prairie to traverse
before he could reach Jefferson Fork OF
the Missouri; how could he hope to hold
out such distance with the odds of
seven hundred to one againsthim? The
plain, too, abounded with the prickly
pear, which wounded his naked feet.
Still he fled on, dreading each moment to
hear the twang of a bow, and feel an ar
row quivering at his heart. He did not
even dare to look round, lest he should
lose an inch of that distance on which
his life depended. He had run nearly
half way across the plain, when the sound
of pursuit grew somewhat fainter, and
he yentured to turn his head. The main
body of his pursuers were considerable
distance behind him; several of the fast
est runners were scattered in the distance
while swift-footed warrior, armed with
a spear, was not more than hundred
yards behind him.
Inspired with new hope, Golfer redoub.
led his exertions, but strained himself tc
such degree that the blood gushed from
his mouth and nostrils, and streamed
down his breast. He arrived within &
mile of the river. The sound of foot
steps gathered upon him. A glance be
hind him showed his pursuer within TWEEN
tyyards, and preparing to launch hisspear
Stopping short, he turned round ane
spread out his arms. The savage, con
founded by this sudden action, attempted
to stopand hurl his spear, but fell in the
very act. His spear stuck in the ground
and the shaft broke in his hand. Coltel
plucked up the pointed part, pinned th'
savage to the earth, and continued hi.
fight. The Indians, as they arrived a
their slaughtered companion, stopped t.
howl over him. Golfer made the mos
of this precious delay, gained the skirt
of the cottonwood bordering the river
dashed through it, and plunged into tn
stream He SWAN to the neighboring
island, against the upper end of whicl
the drift-Wood had lodged in such quanti
ties as to form natural raft; under thi
he dived, and swan below water until b
succeeded in getting breathing place be
tween the floating trunks of trees, who's
branches and bushes formed a covert sev
eral feet above the lsyel of the watel
They plunged into the river and swan :
the raft, passing and repassing, and seek
for him in all directions. They at lengt
gave up the search, and he then swan
silently down the river. and made his es
cape.
~ It was a remark of Ieferson's
that civil liberty can only dwell with