The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-03-07
being unable to leave his charge for days at

being unable to leave his charge tor days as
q tune, usually contriyed to erect sort OF
hut or shed on TIE closest and N ost secure
portion of the raft. This shelter was neceS
sary, from the violent storms when ho' IN
Frequently convulse the elements IN those
narts. The raftsman was never without one
Communion this was his dog, usually . ter
r;er of the rough, wiry kind, that was forever
II 40 happened that large raj. had be-
come fixed. in consequence of its unwieldy
form, in turning the sharp bend in the
stream, at which we lost sight Of the body
of Dacotsh and hardly had he disappeared
when the attention of the raftsman was di-
rected by his dog to an object in the water,
whose further progress down the stream was
abruptly arrested by the accident to the
raft. The man WAS lost in Arrangement at
the sight of the lteless form OF a Delaware
Indian, arrayed in all the splendor of his
war trappings, and grasping in his iron
clutch the antler OF a noble elk, which still
contrived, in spite of its burden, to carry its
majestic head above the water; but its lsck
lustre eye, aud the dlation OF the nostri S,
showed that the struggle was nearly over.
Strange, indeed. was the sight. Thus, then,
were they united, the hunter and the hunted
the noblest beast of the forest, and the
mightest hunter of the West, bound togeth
er in mutual dependence, their animosities
| forgotten, brought level before q power
which was stronger than both-the passive
relentless power of the elements. Even the
rude mind of the raftman was touched with
feeling of solemnit y at the sight. But ms
practical habits soon led him to RAISE the
| body of Dacotsh out of the watei
having with difficulty uuciasped the risid
hand from around the hora OF me
elk. He then laid him upos the ra1t,
and examined him carefully, to satisfy
himself that the Indian was quite dead
Being assured Of this, he lost no time
in rescuing the exhausted stag, con,
graduating himself on the good fortune
which had thrown such q prize in his way
By means of a rope fastened round its body
close to the shoulder, and passed through a
strong iron ring In the raft, he succeeded
though with some pain to the poor brute, il
hauling it up on the timbers. His next con
siderasion was as to how he should dispose
of the body of the Indian, which appeared ,C
give him some anxiety.
"His comrades are not far eff, he argued
"and if they should come and find his body
here, they will say | killed him, and my lif,
| will not be worth an hours purchase
! Acting upon this impression, the RATS
! man determined to throw Dacotah agar,
into the water, and by pushing him unde
the raft insure his being carried further
| down the stream; and this intention he pro-
| ceeded at once to execute; but at that mo
ment the stag struggled to its feet, shaking
the timbers with its endeavours Fearfu
lest his prize should escape him by taking
the water, now that its strength was recruit
ed, the raftsman lett the body of Dacotah
and advanced to the AMI nal. knife in hand
to sever the arteries of its throat. AS he
! drew the bright steel from its lesthern scab
| bard, the ring of rifle from the bank ar
rested his hand, and ball, striking his SOM
brero, tore it from his head. Looking up
ward, in terror announcement. his bewild
cred gaze met a dozen pieces levellei q
him. aud he fell upon his knees on the raft
| imploring mercy.
1t was an awful moment for the poor Eel
! low. Already had one ball passed within
au inch of mis- head; the next beyond a.
doubt. would be fatal. His surmise was no
without. foundation, that if the comrades o
the dead Indian should find him his III,
would not be worth an hours purchase. S,
certain did he feel that the next momen
would be his last, that he kept his eye
| closed, as if to shut out the awful picture o
approaching death. But the fatal bulle
came not, aud daring again to look for hi
sssailants, he beheld six or seven tawny
| forms coming towards the raft on their pow
| erful horses.
FRO BE CONTINUED