The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1872-05-23

Hui g bis great jos llis unspCakablc
joy he icIt his bonds strain, crack ana
snap, and suddenly found himself leo
and hi. arms al liberty. he looked
quickly and wildly around, almost dis
posed 70 doubt his senses lo dlsctedt
bis good fortune f0r any fortune seemed
good which gave him even bare chance
or his liie where be expected only ccr-
tain death Tho Indian was IL least q
hundred aud liiy yards from him. and
bis rife unloadcd and with start in a
race ior liiea race that involved not
only III. own litc bat that OF his wife and
children who 20 swifl Of foot a. to over
take him
With loud sell Of mingled joy and de-
iancc, away he went over The hin, aud
with a louder yell OF rage at bis uuexpcct-
ed escape, the fierce savage came boupd-
ing after him Dowditch knew every
inch Of ground Ia thai vicinity, aud he
bad already reganed sufficient prcsecne
Of mind 10 shape bis course SO as to take
advantage OF all favorable points, The
bin around Ihe summit was a succession
Of rocks and bushes, with caves, chasms
and and precipiccs, and over through and
along these natural Instructions the iugi-
tive believed hc could make bis way with
any man living, either red or white, and
SO took the most troublesome ronte for
larger and more uuwieldy pursucr, re-
solved, should he by chance find the lat.
er gaining on him, to enter a certain
cave not more than half a mile distant,
where hc could, by following onc Of the
labyriuthine passages Within come out
on the same side into thicket not more
than fifty feet from the main opening.
Looking backward occasionally as he
hed along his rocky way with the case Of
a mountain goat, Bowditch soon discov-
cred that he was superior to him in speed
in that particular locality; and this not
only inspired him with hope OF escape,
with such confidence in his own resources
/ that he began TO calculate in turn how he
/ might best compass The destruction Of his
i foe.
4 Why not lure him iuto the cave, he
muttered, and let him fool his time round
there, whilst | start after my rifle, and
follow up the audacions whelp2 I'll do
it, and if | don't get even with him then
4 It's clear case fortin's against me.
Having come to this determination,
Bowditch slackened his pace til his pur-
suer was in sight, and then got up and
ran at slow pace. The Indian obsery-
ing this, ran with q fierce delight and re-
doubled his exertions TO oyertake him.
This was exactly what he intended TO
bring about, and he now managed bis
pace with SO much deception, that, though
seeming to exert himself TO the utmost,
he permitted the painting savage to gain
a little every minute, at which time not
more than a hundred PAGES divided them.
| The Indian saw the fugitive disappear In
the dark opening, and believing that he
now had him secure once more, came up
and plunged in after him with a yell Of
triumph. The settler, who knew every
twist and turn of every passage in the
caye-and there were many-now utter
ed wailing groan from the center to
urge the Indian on, and and then quietly
slipped off in different direction, and
reached the bright open air about the
same time the other did the middle Of the
interior.
Now then, for it, muttered Bowditch,
as he slipped over the brow Of the hill
and ran towards his dwelling, which,
owing to the ridge bending round the val
ley in the shape of magnet or horse
shoe, was scarcely as far distant as when
he called to his wife
Ills family saw him, aud with cry Of
joy bis wife threw open the door.
Quick, Estherl he exclaimed as he
came up painting; totber powder horn
and some bullets
Amt you coming in, Samuel2 inquired
his wife, in surprise and alarm.
just long enough 10 get them things,
since You won't, as he bounded IN and
hurried TO a rude shelf on one side Of the
room I've sort o played the coward
once to-day, he added, and now I'm GO
ing to wipe il ont. Shut the door Esther
and keep yourself aud children out OF
danger. Good byel aud without waiting
for arcply be ran out in the direction Of
bis rife, bis wife yainly calling for him
and entrcating him to come back and not
risk bis lie foolishly.
AS soon as be once more got hold Of his
rifle, he FASTENED TO load It, aud felt,as he
afterwards expressed it, like new man.
Then keeping himself as much under
cover rs possible, he hurried up 10 point
where be could secrete himself and com.
mand fair view Of the mouth Of the cave
within easy rife range
II old Paint-iace amt mzzled, said he,
ominonsly, iis my opinion ho never will
and like a cat watching for game, be kept
bis eyes riyeted on the spot where he ex.
pcctcd him to appear
For ten minutes all was siill-nolhing
moycd-and then 70 bis great satisfaction
be bcbcid the Indian coming out with d
sieallhy step, looking cautiously around
The rifle Of The settler was already leyeled
and for "a moment oF two he sighted al
deetly at the ladiaus heart aud then fred
: The savage threw up bis hand conyulsiye
ly- uttered noise between groan and |
yel, and feel back quiyering to the earth
! Bowditch took time 70 reload, and lhel