Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1859-09-02

tplaLging after him.
He bad gone bat short distance when he
found that be bad been wounded BY the FIRE Of
the indians, and would be unable 10 continue
his Hight for any length of time. He turued
bis he'd, aud saw the blood triekliag down his
thigh, and at every step it seemed az if knife
were thrust in his flesh. Finding matters des-
pefates be gathered all bis strength and made
towards the point where be supposed his horse
was grazing. Providence favored him, and he
came directly upon him. without loosing mo-
ment ~ the search. Sprioging upon his bsck,
he brsndlshed bis rife oyer his head, and Civ
ing an exultant yell, gallopsd away.
sNow catch me, you cowardly DEVILS lie
shouted. 'S'pose you'd like To lift ha'r,
wouldn't yous How does that suitp
In an Incredibly short space of time be had
reloaded bis rifle, and as be uttered the last
words, be covered the form of the foremost To-
dian and fired. The wounded savage returned
the IRE, as he lisnped forward, but the aim was
Wild, sad the bullet SPED wide Of its mark
sIhsre's another of the same sort. How
does that suit1'
The shot, however, owing to the difficulty Of
aiming while on horseback, but slightly wound
ed savage; and the trapper, deeniing it pIu-
dent 70 get beyond the reach of bis pursucrs
as soon as possible, turned and struck lis horse
into q fast run.
The sayages, fearful of losing their prey,
fired together; yet, strangely enough, arissed
jack, who returned yell of defiance, as he
again hraudIshed his gnu over his head He
was startled, however, to fud that, although
unhuri himself by the shots of his enemies, his
horse vas severely injured, aud limped pain.
I frrlH lHry 4 4
this, 70. again giving ventto their yells Of tri-
unphs they plunged forward and continued the
pursuit.
Luckily for jack, the night was comieg on,
and be felt coniGenl that, could he avoid bis
Pursuers until then, he could ellde them alto
gether, Still, bis chances were desperate, in-
deed. As he reloaded his rifle, he urged his
horse forward, and the animal seemed con-
sciops of the danger hanging over bis master,
and ssfoSe inanfuiIy 70 carry him beyond the
reach Of it.
Jack turned to FIRE, aud, as be did so, he
saw that two of the 70 remost savages had halt
cd and brought their pieces TO their shoulders,
aud the next Instant red Jet of fame sprang
from before them. As quick as lightning he
dropped upoh bis face. and the bullets whizzed
over bis heao, passing clean through the neck
of his horse. The noble animal vented forth
groan, seemingly much Of sorrow as of
pain, staggered moment, aud, as his rider
leapea from his back, fell TO the earth.
Thunder, lightning, redskins, beavers ani
buffers, IT Snapper Jack isn't ~ tight place.
exclaimed the trspper, leapiag away.
The shades of hight we're nov settling, Jet
there was faint moon; and 1t was necessary
for the trapper to keep his pursuers at con- (
siderable distance, in order to be beyond their
sight. Ills puTsuers numbered about dozen, |
and as ne turned be saw that two we're gaining
rapidly upon him too rapidly, indeed, for COM
fort or assurance. His wound was becoming !
intensely painful, and be could hardly bear the |
weight OF nis body for an instant upon il. The |
savages, feeling confident that the trapper was
within their reach, halted, aud but two contin-
ued the pursuit. jack discovered tits, aud !
took hope. Gathering his strength, he ran for !
ward for short distance, when from the great |
pain he sank to the ground.
The darkness had become SO intense, that !
the savages were not il sight but in a few
moments the two appeared, and gave stimuli |
taneous yell of triumph, as they beheld the |
PROSTATE form Of the trapper. Jacks face
was turned from them; and waiting until he
judged they were nigh enough, he rolled over
toward them; and before il could be avoided |
shot one of the savages in the heart. The |
other, with howl of fury, leaped toward the |
trapper, who fell back aud faiuted, for the first |
time in his life. Tue savage, thinking him |
dead, from his frigbtful appearance, jerked his
cab from his head, seized the hair in bis hand,
and running the keen point Of his knife around !
the crown, commenced scalping him. This |
l. IL
danger, plunged forward, aud drove bis knife |
to tie hlt IN the body of the savage. The |
Indian gave bis death yell, and as he sprang |
aloft, his hand still clutched the hair Of the !
trapper, and carried it With him, thus actually !
scqiping ham The two beings closed around |
each other, in their death struggle; and as the |
savage brea,hed out bis life, Jack also became
unconscious.
When the trapper came to himself, the sun |
was high in the heavens, aud be was alone upon !
the great prairie. The blood from his wounded |
head had flowed down over his face, and, |
drying, had so closed bis eyes that it was only |
With great difficulty that he opened them |
His head seemed bursting with pain; aud |
hardly conscious of what be was doing crawl |
cd u few rods to the left, where a stream
of water, aud washed bis wounds. This dune |
be felt considerably relieved, and placing his
cap upoa bis head, began really TO think that it |
was rot time for him TO ''go under" The !
wound IN bis thigh panied him little, but his /
scalpless head was terrible.
"Ugh you laundering devil" hissed he,
as lie surveyed the fallen savage, "you got
enough o. bar lifiin' that tune, dida't YER
WhoopD'
As il seme sudden hope had sprang up in
the ,rapper's heart. bis ghastly eounteuance |
twisted into sickly smile.
"Spoz'u We trade ha'r''