, 1862-02-20
The Hunters Revenge.

Among the many hardy Frenchmen IN the
employ Of the Old Northwest Fur Company
was one FRANCHISE GeHnaine, Voyageuf, Who
had established notoFiety for courage and ply
sieal strength, and like many others Of bis clasa
be was sometimes vain of bis extraordinary
powers, and fond Of exhibiling them 70 hh aaloi
| ciates. .f =ff5sv, ~ fktf~ sr
He would load his brawhy shoulders With
packs which his comrades could scarcely lill from
the ground, and without eviueing the smallest
degree Of fatigue, would march with them, day
after day, through the wilderness, towards soma
cOmpany's force, often leaving his lightly loade1
companions far in the rear. L 4.
1t was no uncommon thing for FRANCHISE who
was most kind.hearted and generous fellow, 10
linger In the camp an hopr or two aiter his CONF
rades had started, take the tan they were FOL.
lowing, and, after few hours, pass them quietly,
without beiI q discovered by them and, aflef
travelling tiIl the middle Of the afternoon, stop at
some convenient spot for encamplng. he uSu.
ally selected some water course, which hejudged
his friends would reach shout nightiall and siFik
ing camp, would surprise them with well pre-
pared supper Of venison or other game, which
he had prepared against their arrival
On certain occasion, when ascending th6
Bois des Sioux river alone, in his canoe, be EaS,
attacked by large party Of Sioux Indians, who,
after sinking bis canoe by perforating its bottom
X
Il, succeeded In making bin prisoner. His rsp.
utation for courage and strength had reached
them, and before putting him to torture they d.
termined to test his powers
Accordingly, they took him to the edge Of thd
cliff, some two hundred feet high, beneath which
ran the river, and after hastily preparing q rops
Of bark, and fastening one end Of it 70 . hfgo
stone at the base Of tbe cliff, they directed hin
to raise it to where they were collected In 8
group TO witness the feat
Germalne, whose judgmsnt and selEfsliancS
never for moment deserted bin, readily cons
sented to humoF the Indians, but debated that
the thing was impossible with 50 short . fobe.
The Indians, who bad brought the fFee end Of
Il to tne top Of the bank insisted that i was al
sufficient, beside being strong enough 70 raise {
weight twice that Of the stone. Still Gemaine
persisted in declaring that The rope Was not long
enough by many feet, and refused TO GRITTY their
curiosity Unless bis demand was complied with
and the rope heightened to suit bin.
Seeing that unless they INDUCED his caprice,
they would be deprived q that portion d tlelf
anticipated sport, the Indians yielded, and col.
lectiDg more bark, added the requisite number
of feet to the rope. All being nov right The
Frenchman was ordered to liA the stone. But
FRANCHISE deliberately proceeded 10 knot the end
lasso. wise, and gathered it IN Q col q The end
Of the cliff; aftef frst clearing the ground Of
brush and broken limbs, which might intsrfrs
with It's free run. .- 5..71.. ,s...as.
The stone, which was Of several huudrsd
weight was heavy liz, even for Germaine, and
he exerted al his power 10 start Il from iis bed
But when once started, the labor o. raising if
was comparatively lighter. AlIsF hohad drawn
Il up few feet he was ordered tOl0wsrit agains
when four Of the most stslWart Warriors tried
their united strength upon Il, but they could not
bulge II an inch.
Again Germaine was ordered 60 hoist L ,qthS
top Of the bank. With the outlay Of aI his
muscular force, heobeyed, and a. Il moved slowly
along the face Of the Cliff the Indians ID theif
excitement gathered 10 knots upon The very
verge, and looking downward, watched its ascend
Slowly Il moved over The rough projections of
the limestone strata, detaching In ils progress
huge masses Of stone, which tumbled with
heavy plunges among the broken portions that
filed the river below. 'A - ~
Hand over hand the Fronchman toiled ct hig
task. but with his keen gray eyes taking IN az
about him. He had raised the huge weight one
third Of the distance, whee the stone. catching
against jutting ledge Of superintendent shalS
defed al bis hercnlean strength 10 raine i hItheh
As be struggled to otercothe this resistance DE
Indians gathered closer and closer upon the verge
Of the elf, and watched the elfee. Of he efforts
Of the prisoner. At this moment, stopping The
rope partially over the top Of . stnnted cedar
bush, and holding the strain upon bis len hand
he reached forward, and gathering up the coIled
portion in his right, be gave Il one wide ewing
over bis head, which opened is broad, rnhhinf
moose, and with skilllul cast, that would have
done honor even to . Mexican EsSdsmnn, let b
drop over the largest knot Of excited Indians %
they were looking below. The fatal circle, true
to thedesigno Of the brave Fnncoises seneompasaed
no less a number than six Of bis enemies, and
letting 20 his hold, the rock, with noise ike
thunder, rushed headlOng into the abyss dTsg-
gihg. with lightning speed, the six bowling "
dams aner II. r. ...
So sudden and awful was this irightftl denodg.
ment, that the surviving Indians, soIne thirty 10
number, were for many minutes houor-stFuck,
and regardless Of all else about them. During
the excitement and confusion the yoyageuff $50
ing the way clear, made good bic eseape, ad
when the indians at length turned 70 WTeak their
vengeance on the captive, he was Already out 81
sight and flying with the speed of . Wtld deef
The swiltest runners were sent IN pursoits but
they soon gave up the chase As useless. and tie
fortunate FRANCHISE returned In safety 70 bis COM
radrs At Lake TFaVerS The spes where this
incident occurred Is well known 70 the huniens
and Indians Of that region, and slill retains Tie
name Of the "Fnneoise CliE" Upon the
smooth surface Of the limestone. near the waters
edge, the Sioux have eommemoFated the event
BY rude carvings, representing six warriors n
the act Of tumbling headlong from the edge o.
the preeipice 10 the river below. & ~ H
This affair the brave GeSmaiEo used 10 relate
with much sang fFoid.
man waa sitting In his study rra1Ink. ukon