New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-04-11
THE ESCAPE ON THE ICE.

THE ESCAPE ON THE ICE.
One morning, early in February, 1869, two
brothers, by the name OF Walter and james
Farnsworth, set out for days hunt in the
forest. The stock of meat in their several
families were running low, and hunting was
the only source of replenishing it. They were
accounted the best hunters, as well as Indian
fighters, that there were in all the Miami
country, into which they had penetrated and
built their cabins some three years before the
incident which we are about to relate, trans
pired.
Many were the important services the
brothers had rendered the settlers about them,
until at last they came to be regarded as
leaders in that district, and no enterprise
was set on foot that they were not consulted
about, and their views were in most cases
accepted by their neighbors. Over and over
again had the Indians been thwarted in their
well-planned attacks upon some lone set
tiers cabin, through the interposition OF the
brothers and many times, when the supply
of food ran low, in the winter time, it was
their hands which provided it, and brought
joy where despair had taken up its abode.
But to come at once TO the incidents of our
story.
On this particular morning, as it had been
arranged the night before, Walter came to
the cabin of his brother, whom he found
standing at the door waiting for start.
"You're little late, Walt, he said, after
he had bid his brother good morning.
had begun to think that you had been fright
ened by those clouds lying away there in the
south, and had given up going to-day.
81 hardly knew what to do about it, ] con-
fess. James. 1t looked much to ME like rain
at daybreak, and to my mind the air feels like
it now, although the sky does not. What do
YOU say? Better risk it and go, don't you
think so ?"
"Yes. The snow is frozen now, and at
any rate, it will be good snOw-shOeing through
the fore part of the day. We have little
meat in the house, and Burns folks, over
yonder, have hardly mouthful of anything.
sent Willie over there this morning with
half the meat we had by us, and he said he
never saw people more thankful. Burn s
lameness is no better, and it amt at all pro-
bable that he will be able to step out of doors
again this winter"
Well, if such is the case, we mustn't let
'em suffer, if we have to work the harder.
But let us be off. The sky is Frightening of
there in the south, and, after all, it may not
rain or thaw much until we get back
~ am ready. Susan" he said, addressing
his wife, who, at that time, came to the door,
"don't be alarmed for us if we are not back
until tomorrow. We shan't come in until
We have got something to repay us for our
trOuble.n s5
A few more words of trifling importance
passed between them; and then the brothers,
turning their backs upon the cabin, in short
time had plunged into the depths of the forest,
crossing the river which lay about mile dis
tant, on the solid ice, which the recent cold
weather had rendered so firm that it would
have borne up any weight to which it might
have been subjected.
The morning hours wore away, and noon
came, still theyskept.in their course, and as
vet they had seen nothing which would repay
shot. The weather had very much mode
rated since morning, and the crust which COW
cred the snow was beginning to give away,
and allow the snow shoes to sink through in
many places. The sky, which through the
morning had beer. very bright, now grew to
dead leaden color, giving unmistakable signs
that rain was coming; and if anything more
was wanting to substantiate this, there was
the hollow echo made by the sound of their
voices, while the wind, which all through the
forenoon had been in the southwest, changed
to the east, and blew strongly. All signs
about them, in both earth and sky, gave as
surance that thaw was imminent.
Walter, as the signs of storm began to
multiply so thickly, was for turning back !;
but his brother objected to this move. They
had come long distance, and it would not
be much longer before they would be rewarded
by sight of game, in the common run OF
luck, and food was so much needed at home !;
when, as if to give them encouragement, at
this moment, they espied deer just out OF
rifle shot. This gave them new courage, and
raised their hopes of soon being able to set
their faces homeward, laden with as much
yenison as they could carry, and they started
off in pursuit at the top Of their speed, which
was notsvery swift for the snow had thawed
so much that they broke through the crust at
almost every step. 1851 81
The forest through which they were passing
vas very open, and, as consequence, in
spite of all their caution in approaching with
in rife shot, the deer got wind of their APP
proach, and throwing back its head, dashed
off at full speed.
Though the hunters were disappointed in
securing their game as easily as they had
hoped, they had no idea of giving up the
chase and so they set off at full speed in
pursuit, hoping soon to come within range.
This they at last succeeded in doing, but not
until two or more hours had been spent, and
at least three miles more put between them
selves and their home.
James at last succeeded in bringing his rifle
to bear upon the painting animal, which had
PAUSED for a moment to recover its breath.
Though usually sure shot, he did not this
time kill, and the deer, merely wounded,
turned again to fly. Its strength lasted long
enough to lead them onward for half mile
further, when it sank down, and the hunters
soon put an end to its misery.
To fay the animal and cut him up into
quarters was but a slight task to them; and
by the time it was concluded, the rain began
TO fall. BY this time they began to feel the
want of food; and so the snow was scraped
away, fire hastily kindled, and in little
time nice steak was brOiled.
By the time their repast was concluded, the
rain was pouring down in torrents. There
was no time to be lost; and so they at once
set their faces homeward. Beside the rain
which was falling, they had another cause for
uneasiness. BY the signs, which they had
seen for an hour past, they knew that there
were enemies near at hand. Once or twice
III their pursuit of the deer, they had crossed
the recently made trail of the savages, and
they knew well that if they once got upon
their track to escape would be next to inn
possible. The redskins, thirsting for their
blood, would follow them like bioOdhounds,
Owing to the warmth of the weather and
the fast-falling rain, coupled with the addi-
tlonai weight Of venison they bore, the ernst
OF snow would no lenger sustain them. and
they sank through it at every step. This
made their propress slow and painf,l /. ond