The weekly Panola star. [volume] (Panola, Miss.) 1857-1881, 1872-05-04
TIE HUNTERS LEAP.
BY Q. ID. CLARK.


A man parted the bushes upon the
edge of a little opening in the woods,
and, leaping out, ran with all his
speed to the opposite side.
Scarcely had the forrest hidden
him from view when the bushes
again separated, and gigantic In-
dian, knife and hatchet in hand,
darted after him. He was followed
by two more, a few PAGES behind.
Peculiar calls could be heard from
various points, showing that others
besides these we have seen were fol-
lowing on his track, AMI gathering
in from all sides.
The man seemed doomed unless
he could outrun the Indians, and that
seemed barely possible, when we
consider bow tireless is the foot of
the savage. But the white man was
1.-THE and muscular, and ran well,
throwing backward glances over his
shoulder to gather from the sounds
he heard the whereabouts of his foes.
On the right aud left as well as
behind him, he could hear them
breaking through the cover, and
knew that the only hope was in
front. The woods began to thin as
he ran, until he saw before him q
broad plain, perhaps two miles across,
stretching to the east. If he could
cross that plain in safety, be might
be able to battle bis pursuers among
the many mountain passes Of this
region. a,li NJ o.4t,s. tn
But, as he strained every nerve, he
folt that bis pursuers were closing in
upon him, and, he knew too well how
fleet OF loot the Indian rpnuer is.
lie was a famous runner too; but, in
a long race, he feared that bic Indian
foes would outrun him. I'D.
On he welt, the wind surging past
his ears, and the patter Of the rush
ing feet close behind sounding more
and more distinctly in his ears at
each stride. He looked back quick
ly, and saw a savage not fifty yards
behind him, straining every muscle
to get nearer, and holding his bright
haichet ready for a cast, a..
The Others were strung out be-
hind, the nearest more than huns
dred yards behind the swift runner
who was pressing the white man SO
hard. Even Is be ran, an expeLient
came into the head ofthe white man,
and he began to run more slowly,
painting hard, as if overcome by his
exertions. NJ Ea ie'li31
The Indian, who was beginning
to feel that he had to deal with a
noble runner, and was balancing his
Ratchet for a throw, at once changed
bis mird, and was determined to take
this gallant white man alive, for the
torture. WHl III b7e aJ ga
He began to overhaul bis enemy
step by step, and scarcely eight feet
separated them, whenthe white man
whirled suddenly, dropped upon his
knees, and caught the Indisn by the
ankles, and rose to his feet, giving
him q quick whirl. el5aal 9yGd u
savage turned . complete
somersault, and alighted upon his
'piumed head with stunning force.
In an instant his :batchet was torn
ifromihis grasp, a quick blow dealt,
and the Indian lay dead on the sod,
and the white man ran on, with the
hanhet in his hand, while vengeful
shouts were borne on the air from
the throats ofthc remaining Shaw
nees. ''al s9s'l s9g4a1d iFiaiisa hng
The struggle had been q short one,
but the nearest Indian had gained
fifty yards while il was going on, and
was now as near the hunted man as
his unfortunate companion had been.
But the fate of bis friend had taught
him that he had to deal with an
active and muscular man, aud he de-
termined to trust rather to a throw
| of the hatchct than to closer en-
counter. eiTi sj laiygg Hsg sla3
4 The white man heard him faiter In
shispacs, and looking back quickly,
saw him throw his right hand back,
and just - tbs bright weapon came
sailing through The iii, No dropped
upon his knees snd II paaSed over
his head inoxious. iGrd NJ was np