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


and they seated themselves about it, enjoy
ing the cheerful warmth which it impaired to
them.
An hour or so was passed in this way, and
then they made preparations to get little
sleep. Some boughs were cut from the hem
lock and the water shaken from them, and
then dried by the fire, and of these couch
was made, upon which Walter threw himself
while his brother kept the watch until mid
night when he was to arouse himself, and
take his turn at standing guard.
Slowly the hours passd away, and at length
midnight came. James had not closed his
eyes but no signs or sounds of danger had
reached him.
1t was now his turn to rest, and, arousing,
his brother, he threw himself in his place, and
was soon sleeping heavily. He could have
remained in this state but a short time-to
him it seemed but few minutes-when he
was awakened by his brother bending over
him and shaking him by the shoulder.
"What is it ?'' he asked, starting up and
springing to his feet.
"Hark! There are savages near us ; they
have seen our light, and are about to give us
a call. There did you not hear them
breaking through the SNOWY"
IS heard something, but it may be a wild
beast instead of a redskin. But what makes
L
I" No. The moon is up. There !-are those
beasts or savages? / can swear that the
redskins are upon us, and more than score
in number 20
"You are right, Walt, and we must remain
here no longer, if we wish to keep our scaips
upon our heads. Good heavens look yon-
der! They are much nearer upon us than
thought"
His brother glanced in the direction from
whence the sound came, and beheld, but a
short distance away, a. number of shadowy
forms gliding amid the trees towards them
There was not mOments tos lOse, for to at
tempt to oppose them would be worse than
useless, so hastily binding on their snow
shows, they fled away, leaving their hard
earned venison behind them.
The rain was still pouring down in torrents
and the walking was much worse than it had
been when they laid down; but they were
somewhat refreshed by the rest they had
had, and urged Onrby the danger which
threatened them, they had put considerable
distance between them and their camp when
the savages reached it. They knew when
they reached the spot by the howl of disap
pointment which came to their ears when the
redskins found that their. prey had scented
their approach and fled. A backward glance
and a second shout told them that the savages
WcTt uOt uuScTillS dDUub tiio Jul "CiS
coming on in fierce pursuit.
The brothers knew that the race before
them was one for life or death. So they
strained every nerve in the fearful ordeal be-
fore them, and with such success that they
were enabled to maintain the distance be-
tween them and their pursuers, and at one
time to increase it. And so the race went
on, until, at length, night was past, and the
gray light of dawn began to light up the east
and lessen the shadows about them.
"We must be near the river, James, and
don't think the savages will care to follow us
beyond" exclaimed Walter, who was slightly
in advance, as he paused for moment for his
brother to come up. -.
"Heaven knows, I hope not; l cannot
keep up this pace for great while longer"
Courage, Walter, courage! We have
done too much to fail now, and fall beneath
the red hands of those bowling savages
Just beyond the hill yOnder is the river,
and once ON the other side l think we shall
be safe."
" But what is that, James l mean that
roaring sound which fills the air?"
"Only the wind and rain, / think. Quick
quick! The redskins are gaining upon u.s.
With every nerve strained to the utmost
tension, the two men sprang up the hill. The
roaring sound increased in violence until il
was almost deafening. The summit of the
hill wasi gained SSat fast; and the fugitives
paused spell-bomd with horror and dismay.
James was the first to speak.
"Great Heaven, Walter! the river is
breaking up!' $40
He was right. With mighty, resistless
force, the great mass of water and ice came
plunging along, with sound almost as deaf.
ening as that of thunder. The warm rain
had caused the river suddenly to rise and
break the armOr of ice with which it was
bound
Blankly the brothers gazed in each others
face. Death, before and behind, threatened
them. They were between, the upper and
neither milestone, either of which would grint
them to powder.
Water is more merciful than savages
We had better trust ourselves to it than tC
them," said Walter. --... i.
They sprang down the hill to the bank O.
the river. just as they reached it shout o.
They had reached the summit of the hill, anG
beheld the wildsrushing of the river, and fell
assured that their prey must now fall into
their hands.
There is but OneSchance for us, Walter, y
said James, gazing into his brothers face
- and that is to uustOurselves to one of those
floating cakes of ice, hoping that it may carry
us to the other shore. There is good one
for our purpose passing now. Follow me.
1t is our only chance
1t was fearful leap, but his feet struck the
spot he intended them to, and in moment
his brother was by his side. The motion
they gave the cake sent it far out into the
stream, where it joined others and they were
whirled along with resistless force by the cur
rent1which, to their great joy, they found set
towards the opposite shore. Several times
they were in great danger of slipping into
the boiling flood but at last they reached in
safety the point desired, despite their inse-
cure footing, and the numerous shots which
were fred at them by the disappointed and
enraged savages.
Thankful for their almost miraculous es-
cape, the brothers sent back an answering
shout of defiance, and then fastened ON to
their settlement, which they reached without
further adventure.