Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1872-08-27
few moments, they hastily returned
and Joined the others.

hat would be necessary ior q siege;
so they had desisted from their ef-
forts to make captives of the wom-
an and children.
"Come," said the savage, laying
his hand on his captive's shoulder
and Dick, who had felt his heart
rise that his loved ones were left be-
hind, went almost cheerfully into
the forest, in which the shadows of
night were already beginning to
gather, casting only one backward
glance at his home, to wonder when
he would see it again.
Then he resolutly put his face
forward for the fate future had in
store for him. The future might
be long captivity, or it might be
death yet, as he walked between
his captors, and the shadows grew
deaper about him, a hope was in his
heart that he might escape perhaps
before the sun should rise on the
morrow.
That night was long and weary
one to the settler. Evidently they
feared pursuit, and stopped not for
rest OF food until the sun was an
hour high the next day.
Then, as if feeling secure, they had
long halt, made a fire, and one of
the number shooting deer, they
cooked and enjoyed a plentiful re-
past.
Thus far the savages had used
him well, only taking the precaution
to bind his hands behind his back
in such a manner that he found it
impossible to use them in the least.
They had been very considerate of
his comfort and he determined, by
appearing as cheerful as possible,
to drive away from their minds any
thoughts they might have of any
, unwillinguess to accompany them,
so that his chance Of escape might
be better, though their suspicious
were constantly on the alert.
In this manner the day passed,
= and with the nIsU onaucr va r'vnine
they made preparations to encamp
!, A fire was made--as they seemed
to consider themselves so far from
l the settlements that they need fea
: no danger from the withstand
= couple of the party soon brough
9 in game enough to afford q gener
Gus supper.
f This cooked and partaken OF, the.
f all lay down to rest, Dick wit
a savage on either side of him
, so close that he could not stir with
, out their being aware OF the mo
: ton; and, as an extra precaution
: they had bound his feet together a
g tightly as his wrists, and the pris
r oner's heart began to sink within
: him as it had not done before fol
5 he saw, while thus bound, no posi-
t BILE chance of escape offered to him
: A couple of hours passed, ane
still Dick had not closed his eyes
: One after another of the savage'
$ dropped off, as he knew by theil
a hard, regular breathing, until a
9 last he was the only one Of the
group that was not asleep.
4 Oh /! If his hands were only free
A how soon he would be at libert,
: again +!
t He pulled upon the thongs will
D all his power until they cut deel
0 into the flesh like the keen edge 0
a knife; and at last, to his grea
: ioy. he found that the knot tha
held his left hand had slipped Lit
$ tic. Another strain, and it move'
n a little further; and with anothe
o it was parted so far asunder that
with trifiing exertion, he pulled hi
Il hand through.
h The savage lying on the left sid
of him moved and he lay perfect
d ly motionless, almost holding nj
; breath, with his hand under him i
$ the same position as when confined
: But the Indian only stretched him
self little, and then was off t.
o sleep again.
n Dick now went to work to fre
d his other hand; but the knot wa
!" drawn so tight that, even with tn
i, help of the other, he found 1t IN
g possible TO do so.
n He remembered his pocket knife
" and that he had given it to his bo
y to play. with upon going out to wor
n the afternoon of his captivity.
he had 1t now, how quick he woul
k be free mani
; The moon had risen, and wa
d shining down through the bfancf