The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1872-09-19

ously.
Ken,ou was going with that Ion
swinging lope SO peculiar to scout or ln
ian. pace that does not seem a swift on
but which will cover au immense distau
in given length Of time, bis heavy Ri
at a trail, and bis head thrown forwar
kecnly watching the forest in front
Occasionally. from behind, the shr
whoop Of some savage, more eager tha
the rest. would break upon the stillnes
aud more than once the undsunted scol
would send back an answering shout
Two miles uf the three have been pas
cd,
The slope Of the hills. rising abrupt
from the level. seems almost at hand :
Ten minutes more and he will hurry hinse
amid the heavy underground that cove
their sides.
A yell Of triumph has just left the lip
Of the scout, who is now certain Of escape
when. as he dsshes around clump o
black.jack, too dense to pass through, b
suddenly aud by powerful effort, pause
10 his fight, assisting himself to do SO B,
graspiug the branches Of q sapliug sortu
ualely at hand
In front, y, his very feet, and runuin!
At rightangle with bis course, lay mar
row, deep ravine, or rather gully, whicl
had been Gu, into the yielding soil by
switt.0owing stream.
The banks rose perpendicular from th'
water below, and were os smooth as though
they had been cu' " the h4pd Of man
Once in the gully, there could be no es
cape, save BY following up or down Il
some point where tue walls might slcp'
away gradually.
But was there such place near at hand
Even il so, he would have no time to avai
himself Of the chance. His quick ey'
measured the distance across. II was to'
wide for . leap Another moment ant
lhe savages would BE- upon him
The steady and swift footballs Of ths
pursners could be plainly heard.
Already he had made up bis mind tt
IsOs, about and dAsll w llsAssss. .dsseqs
,ostAs might be, when Bis eyes which bad
been constantly rowing to the right and
left, fell upon an object that caused him tc
sEjng forward with suppressed excam'
alton Of glad surprise
Some thirty OF forty PAGES below where
be stood, there grew large beech, from
The upper branches Of which there hung a
oug. slender vine, a grape vine. tough as
wire, be knew, the lower end Of which
,ould be easily reached with bis hand.
Such men do not pause to consider long,
md 10 q moment Of time Kenton stood 10
heath the tree.
A single look sufficed to show that the
contemplated feat was practicable Step
ping 10 the verge Of the chasm, the scout
-aised bis rifle alolt, and safely landed il
Upon the further side; then springing back
, dozen PAGES. be ran swiftly forward and
zrasped the plant vine, aud launched
himself outward and over the cut
The force Of the leap was prodigious;
md When, at the proper moment, he loos-
d his grasp. he landed foil ten feet be-
,obd the further bank.
Quick as thought he snatched the rifle
rom where it bad fallen, and just as the
indians troke cover, be disappeared in the
pushes, answering their yell Of bafled .age
nth a tauntipg- laugh
But Kenton's work was not yet done
He knew the feat be had just performed
vas not at all impossible for bis active
oes. They would again be on bis trail
The means for their doing SO u,usl be de-
,troyed aud there was but one way.
A few PAGES back 10 the underground
ne paused. selecting position that fully