Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1872-08-27


Dick was on the point of emerging
form his hiding place, when he was
startled by the sound Of a footstep
above his head. An Indian was
along the trunk, and he
could hardly fail to see the cavity
and the signs he had made in try
ing to force an entrance to his hid
ing place.
The settler again gave way TO
despair, which was augmented o
moment after, as the savage gave o
shrill whoop to call his companions.
Then he knew too well that his re-
treat was discovered; but he lay
perfectly quiet, hoping against his
better judgement that he might yet
succeed in escaping.
In few moments he knew, by
the sound of feet, that the savages
were altogether; and he heard
consultation, not one word Of which
he could understand but he was
not long in suspense as to what they
had agreed upon. He heard some
at work at the entrance of the
trunk, while others were heaping
brushwood above him; and he
knew by this that his hiding place
was discovered, and that the saw
ages intended to burn him alive in
side the tree.
To describe the terrible agony
that convulsed the heart Of the set
tier, as he became aware Of the OBJ
ject of his enemies, is more than
our pen can do.
He was not afraid to die; but .
death by fire is one from which tho
bravest would shrink. There was
no chance of dying by sufocation,
for the tree was full of seams that
admitted the air. No, death would
not come to his relief until the red
flames should wrap his body like q
winding-sheet. And this would DO
done. Hours must elapse before
the flames would reach him. The
tree was resinous pine, ana would
burn briskly for while on the out
side; but the interior of the trunk
was damp, and would not catch so
readily. The torture would be only
the more proiongeu.
Death would come at last but
, not until it had been experienced,
as it were, o dozen times by the un-
/, happy man within.
Higher and niger the red flames
), rose as the dry brushwood was
heaped upon the glowing pile. Like
: so many spirits of evil, the red de
, mons worked at their terrible task
To avenge their comrade was grim
!" ly in their minds; and as the min
utes went on they listened for some
y shrek to come from the flames to
delight their savage hearts.
And our friend in his fiery pris-
on, how bore he the terrible or.
deal Already he could feel the
. heat, and few moments more II
, would be insupportable.
Once he had tried to escape from
his shell, but found that the aper-
ture had been so securely closed up
that it was impossible. Death by
their arrows would, he thought,
: have been better than by the flames
s but this was denied him.
= Hotter, and hotter it became, un.
til he felt a stinging on his leg as he
b lay upon his side.
It A place had burned through, and
: now the terrible torture had begun
: The end was not now far away
II and, with thoughts of his wife ant
II children uppermost in his breast
Q he waited for death.
= Higher and higher rose the rec
a flames as the savages worked stead
o ily for the death of their victim
but it was so fated that theirs wa
@ to be accomplished first.
: A loud report and volley OF bul
: lets came ringing through tn
/. leaves, and the five savages fell 4
rise no more.
y The next moment q dozen o
n Dicks neighbors from the settle
is ment, who had been in pursuit al
: the past day and night, rushed for
ward, and an exclamation of disap
pointment fell from their lips q
'e they saw nothing Of the object .
Is their search.
D. At this instant the report Of
,r rife rang out as If from the cente
\ of the fire, startling them back
pace but the next moment one {
v them who had been examining th
Of end of the tree, that as yet was vi
touched by the fire, exclaimed:
g. "Quick, boys tear away tho FIR
: He Is in this trunk, and the ret
n skins were roasting him alive !.