East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1863-01-06
EAST SAGINAW, MICHIGAN, JANUARY 6, 1863.

uiSCItuit HiS BOtJu 1oi lufc--ioti any iot'
tune then seemed COOL which would
give him even bare chance for his life
where he expected only certain death.
The Iadian was at least hundred aud
fifty yards from him, and his rifle was
unloaded, and with that start in a race
for life--in race that involved not only
his own life, but that of his beloved wife
and children who so swift of foot to
ovcrtakc him?
With a loud veil Of mingled Joy and
defiance, away be went over the hill, ard
with a louder yell of rage at his uney,
pected escape, tho fierce savage came
bounding after hin. Bow Itch knew
every inch of ground in that vicinity,
and he had already regained sufficient
presence of mind to shape his course SO
as to take advantage of all the chances
in his favor. The hill, about the sumit,
was succession of rocks and bushes,
with caves, chasms and prccipices, and
over, through and along these natural
distractions, the fugitive believed he
could make his way with any man liv'
ing, either white or rel, and SO took the
most troublesome route for his larger
and moro unwieldy pursucr, resolved,
should he by chance find the latter
gaining upon him, to double on him at
certain cave not more than n half mile
distsnt, where ho could enter, and by
following one of the labyrinthine pass.
ages within, could come out on the same
side into thicket not more than fifty
feet from the main opening.
Looking back occasionally, as he fed
along his rocky way with the ease Of
mountain goat, Bowditch soon discov.
cred that however superior tn him his
adversary might be in mere physical
strength, he was mo- match Tor him IN
speed in that particular locality; and this
not only inspired him with the hope of
escape, but with such confidence in his
own resources, that he began in turn to
calculate how best he might compass
the destruction of his foe.
"NNhy not lure him into the cave" he
muttered, "and let him fool his time
round thar, whilst start back after my
rifle, and then follow up, the audacious
whelp? I'll do it, and il l don't git even
with him yit, then it's kaze fortin's agin
me-" et'l-s4
Having come to this determination,
Bowditch slackened his pace until his
pursnrer was within fair view, when he
pretended to stumble and fall, and then
got up andran with limp, which caused
the savage to yell with delight and re-
double his exertions to ovcrtake him
This was exactly what he intended to
bring about, and he now iuaneged bic
pace with SO much deception, that,
though seeming to exert himself TO the
utmost, he permitted the painting savage
to gain little every minute, until the
mouth Of tho cave was reached, at which
time not more than hunircl PAGES
divided them. The Indian saw the fu-
gitivo disappear 10 the dark opening,
and believing he now had him secure
once more, he came bounding up and
plunged in after him with yell of tri-
umph. The settler, who new every
twist and turn of every passage in the
cave-anl there were many-now utter
ell sort of waling groar from the cen
ter, to draw the Indian on, anil then
quietly slipped off in different dircc'
ton, and reached the bright, opcn air
about the same time the other did the
middle UT the interior. sia3 of rorH
"Now then for it." Inuttered Bow.
ditch, as he slipped over the brow Of
the hill, and ran down toward his dwell.
ing, which owing to The ridge bcnling
around the valley, in the shape Of a
magnet, OF horseshoe, was scarcely ms
far distant as when he called to Ills wife.
His family saw him, and with cry of
Joy his wife threw open tho door.
"Quick! Eather!" he exclaimed, as he
came up painting; "t'othcr powder horn
anil somc bullets quick!' A1
saint you coming in, SamuelG' in
quircd the wife in surprise and alarm.
"Just long enough t. get them things,
since You won't!" nc answered, as he
bounded in and hurried to rude shell
on one side of the room; "I've sort Of
played the coward onct today" he al
ded, Sand now I'm going 10 wipe it out
Shut tho door, Esther, aud keep your.
self and children out Of danger. I'll he
back soon, Good byer' aud without
waiting for reply, he ran out in the
direction of his rife, his wife vainly call
ing to him and entreating him to come
back and not risk his life fooishly.
AS soon as he had once more got
hold Of his rifle, no hastcncd to load it.
aud then felt, as he afterward expressed
it, ''like now man." Then keeping
himself as much under cover as possi
ble, ho hurried up to point where be
could secrete himself AMI command q
fair view of tho mouth Of the cave, with
in easy rifle range. 7ol sN sj
"Ef oil Paint face haiat mizzlcd, !" he
muttered, with an orninous frown, "it's
my opinion hc never will" and like a
cat watching for ga,ns, he kept his eyes
rivitcd upon the spot where he expected
to see him appear. Ha
For ten minutes all was still-nothing
moved; and then, to his bitter sa:isfac
tion he beheld tho Indian coming out
with stealthy step, looking cautiously
aud suspicously around. The settlers
rifle was already levclcd, aud f,r a mo.
4 A