The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1872-09-19
A SHOT FOR LIFE!
ny CAPT. ADAMS.

ust. hunter leaving the heavy timber Of
The bottom land, crossed at q rapid gait,
narrow strip Of open ground, aod, reach.
.ug the foot Of the bill that lay upon the
further side, commenced the steep ascent,
every now and then glaucing backward
over bis shoulder as though anticipating
pursuit
Nor was bis seeming expectations dis.
appointed, for before he had halfreachrd the
crest Of the bill above, half score Of 10.
dams broke cover at the precise point
where be hinselfhaG emerged. nod at once
catching sigh, Of their quarry, gave tongue
in a series Of wild and startling yells.
Loud, cleat, and iull Of defiance, came
back the answering shout Of the hard.p
sed hunter, who. . moment later, dartcd
behind thick clunp Of black jack bushes
and wheeling about, faced bis approach
ing enemies, at the same time drawing
back the hammer, and bringing the rife to
bis face.
The Indians we're about midway Of. the
opening when the sharp crack OF the piece
was heard. aud tho foremost pursuer, a
tall, powerful savage, pitched forward up
on bis face without utttriug . sound.
The wound must be fatal, indeed, aud
swiftly so. to prevent an ludian utter'as q
dead-yell, aud so in the present case it
was, for the ball had struck fairly between
the eyes, crushing skull and brain in its
passage through.
Without pauslng to see the result OF his
shot, for il needed not that he should Wit
ness bis victim Is fall to know that his ain
had not waved, the hunter again turned,
and breasting the steep sped upward as
q lightly as 8 mountain goat,
Early that day, Simon Kenton, for he
il was, had left Buouesboro for the purp-
oss Of scouting the country, to ascertain
the truth uf the rumor that said large bod
les Of Indians had been crossing lbe Ohio
for. several days; With the iuteu,pB os COD;
eeu,ra.iug a, certain point sha thsncs
la....,iss,,s!. 4. d..s.p'vss',f; eaAss.ssyh'
posts 'stretcLmg'fdn LicEug' Westward
and soulb,wsstvard.
He had seen more than enough 70 tell
hiM that for once, at leastl.rlmor va. cor
rect. lie had found. to use frontier,
phrase the woods alive with,red skus,
aud it had been, all that day, u game %
hide.and suck between himself and bis 10.
less wiley foes. !.
Skilled as Kenton was 10 woodcraft, be
however at length made misstcp, aud
suddenly found himself face to face With
war.pafty OF some ten or twelve savages'
The meeting was totally unexpected to
both, and for an instant there was no
movement upon either side
KeD,on recovered FIRST, and seeing that
bis sole hope was u prompt action, threw
up his rife, aud quick as thought pulled
the trigger
A red skin dropped at the shot, and be-
fore the smoke had drlied so as to permit
o fair view, The daring woodsnau was halt
q hundred yards away, running With tDe
speed of a startled buck
For ten hours the chase had steadily
continued, the savages using every exertiou
and art to come up with, head OF, or sur
round their dreaded foe, but in vain
Keutnn knew the country better than
tbey did, and so was enabled to take I'D.
vantage Of the valleys, through rugged
ravines, and over the spurs, aud hence TO-
ward the close Of the day we fud him still
in advance. almost as fresh as when tue
race began, loading his long heavy rifle as
be ran. aud pauslng to shoot, as oppor'uul'
ty offered, aud always with deadly effect.
Beyond the range which the scout was
now surmountlug, lay broad reach Of
level land, heavily llubered III places, but
with open savauuas lying between while
still further AWAY to the setting sun. rose
the rugged strip of another range of hllls,
iu., beyond which lay the fort Of BoOues-
boro for which the scout was now push
Ing
Painting with the violent esertiOn Of
chalublug the steep ascent, Keutou reach.
od ,be crest and after busty glance