The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-03-24
A Thrilling Indian Adventure.
From the Trinity, California. Journal.

From the Trinity California. Journal.
Several years ago there lived in Trim,
ity county man named Ross. He was
q great hunter, his favorite hunting
ground being over the hills and valleys
on the head of Elk River. 1t was his
ambition to kill an elk, and never hav
ing come across any i'm his rounds, he
one day asked an Indian, whom he sup
posed to be friendly, if he could show
him one. The red-skin said he could
but would have TO 90 home first, and
would return at the end of five days
and lead him where he would find the
coveted game.
AT the end of the appointed time the
elk-fnder returned and the pair set out
on their hunting expedition. On they
travelled till near nigthfall, but not even
track did they see. The day was foggy
and our hero was therefore unable tc
tell in what direction he was going but
as night drew near he told his guide they
had better return home, and come again
some other time
Accordingly, as Ross supposed, they
began TO retrace their steps. Before q
great while he found himself in a very
steep, rocky, unfamiliar country. Later
still, and some time after dark, they
came to a ridge overlooking a rocky
mountain torrent, foaming along at a
great distance below
Here they began to descend. The
side Of the ridge down which they were
making their way was thicllly covered
with loose rocks, and exceedingly steep.
The aborigines, however, had rolled the
rocks aside, and made narrow trail,
which could be travelled in single file,
but not otherwise. When some way
down, the hunter saw at distance,
through the log, number Of blazing
camp fires.
Like flash he realized that he was
betrayed. Well he knew that if he ever
reached the foot of the hill he never would
return. But what to do was the question
He dared not shoot, because it would
alarm the comrades Of the treacherous
villain who had misled him. He could
slay his betrayer in that way, but his
own life would pay the penalty. The
scoundrel, who thought he was leading
an unsuspecting victim to the slaughter,
must be put out Of the way, but
silently.
1t was case of life and death with
both of them, and a white mans intel
lect against an Indians. Laying his
left hand upon the copper colored ras-
calls left shoulder, Ross insisted upon
going slow, saying that he was afraid OF
falling down the hill. Keeping hold OF
his guide, he managed to slip his gun
under his suspenders so that he could
carry it that way. Then drawing his
knife Ca very large one), he dropped his
left hand down the Indians back, to
feel where his heart ought to be, and
upon finding the spot struck for dear
life His aim was true, and being q
powerful man, the knife went from one
side to the other, through the body
cutting the heart in twain. Mr.. Bad
Indian never groaned or kicked, but
giving one short, almost inarticulatc
gulp, fell forward with his life-blood
flowing in torrents.
Our hero was not yet safe. Dark as il
was, he dared not attempt to find his
way up the hill. Besides in the morning
the red fiends would discover what hao
taken place, and track him wherever he
HllSlll Dc'
Sitting down in his footsteps, he wal
ted for daylight. At the first glimpse o
dawn he was on the alert, and tumbleC
the corpse out of the path down the hill
Then, finding his way to it, he covered
the dead man with stones, hiding hin
completely. With water carried from
the brook in his hat, he washed away
the blood that appeared along the trail
then, with the first beams of the morn
ing sun, he assembled the hill anC
fastened home.
Telling the adventure to his neigh
bors, they organized and made a raiC
upon the camp he had discovered. The
Indians were surprised, many of then
killed, and the contents of their wig
vans captured.
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