Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1870-02-17

their repeated yells were intended
to signalize. ~ aassl 81
| When we embarked in our ca
noe L don't think either of IDS
thought of the rapids below. We
started in such haste that we had
little time to think of AM thing ex.
cept as to how we could get away
as speedily as possible. But when
the roar began to rise in our ears,
myfriend looked ihquiringly at me.
| nodded my head. ~
"The best thing that could be
for US. . {
l offered to take the paddle sew
eral times, but he was not willing
The changing of places would In
volve moment or two of delay.
and there was no time for that.
However, as we approached the
rapids, / could see that he was a
little uneasy, and he made no OBJ
jections to my taking the paddle
In hand. aa e.s
Our hopes now centered upon
the inability of our. enemies to
guide their craft through these rap,
ids. here was no question but
that the Indians could manage
with skill equal, if not superior,
to o.that with which we controlled
ours, but going through this dan
gerous place there were perils.
which might easily shipwreck the
most skilllul of their number, as
many of the rocks were hidden.
Before | attempted to shoot
these rapids, l had spent several
hours in surveying them from the.
shore, proceeding which, | am
well satisfied, proved mysalvation
in the exploit afterward perform
ed. 81
i started strait for the rapids.
AS we neared them the roar be-
came deafening, the mist filled the
air, and the sight Of the plunging.
lashing waters was so appalling
that Mrs. Green covered her face
TO shut out the dreadful sight, and
the father was compelled to grasp
his shrieking little girl, who was
fairly wild at the scene. @
The canoe danced and spun a.
round like an egg she'll, and the
binding mist SO covered us, and
the foaming waters so surrounded
US, that more than once Ifearedit
was all over with us !; but | guild
ed the canoe with all the coolness
/ could summon, and, thanks to
Providence, we shortly reached
the comparative calmer water be-
low.
"Dare they follow us ?" iaqaired
Green.
"Yes, it is too late to retreat !
The. Indian canoe was at this
time close on to the rapids, and
anxiously watching their move
ments, | saw the occupants, stop
using their paddles, while one of
their number took his position in
the stern.
"That looks as though he under
stood it," | remarked as | ceased
padding; and we all gazed back
at them.
Soft proved. The savage soon
demonstrated that he had been
through this channel before. He
followed precisely the course | had
taken, and which was the only
one that offered the least chance
Of safety.
"There is only one who can
bring them through" | added,
sand he won't be there long"
i held my rifle until sure of my
aim, and then fired. The Indian
who held the guiding oar uttered
a shrek that sounded far above
the roarof the rapids, and, spring
ing several feet in the air, disap-
prared IN the foaming abyss DIVA
ters.a ~ .,545 yetzes5 :, 8sl =
The canoe, left without a con-
trolling power, was seen to spin
around as if 10 the maelstrom,
and then striking projecting rock,
was shattered to fragments, the
Indians struggling frantically for
lifss ais q 1g so =