The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1873-07-31
AN INDIAN,s REXENaE

Where the Kentucky River cuts it's way
through the mountains, having upon
either bank, bold, ruegid cliff that lift
their summit five hundred or thousand
feet, as the case may be,aboye the stream
there lived in early times a settler by the
name Of Rufus Branson, who, with his
wife and only child, charming little
gin OF some eight or niue years, occupied
the rude cabin at the base of precipice
"a little back from the river.
Although greatly exposed to danger
the Indians at that time being plentiful
throughout the region-he managed to
live quietly for several years.
The Indians frequently visited the rude
house Of the hunter, and being always
welcomed and provided with such food
as might be in the larder, they maintained
very friendly attitude.
Especially they were fond OF the child
Maggie, and more than one fierce warrior
had been seen sitting on the grass in
front of the cabin, listening to the child
ish prattle of the little one, or else en-
gagged in making it some toy or play
thing from willow twigs or plant bark.
In this manner several years had been
passed, and Rufus Branson came to feel
as secure as though he was within the
walls of frontier fort.
One evening Branson aud his wife
were seated near the doorway when sud
denly shadow fe i across the threshold,
and the next moment a tall savage whose
reeling step and bloodshot eyes told that
he was intoxicated, appeared, and stag
gercd to the log steps and asked for fire
water, which was Of course refused on
/ the plea that there was none IN the
house.
I The Indian became cross and ugly,
swearing with terrible oaths that II the
/ liquor was not produced, he woad mur
/ der the whole household Branson was
bwte determined man and although he
dreaded the necessity, yet he saw that hC
would be compelled to take prompt steps
( 10 prevent tie savage from executing hi.
4 threats.
Waiting until the warrior had made q
+ demonstration, which he soon did by at.
+ tempting to draw his tomahawk. Bran
son sprung upon hjm. knocked him down
with his Gst, and then quickly disarmed
and bound him where be lay. After a
I few minutes Of furious rawlings and futlc
efforts to free himself, the savage rolled
oger aud sunk into drunken slumbcr.
! lie did not awake until morning, bu
+ before he did 10, the 'settler had quietl!
removed bis bonds aud restored tn
I weapons, which he laid by the sleeper
side.
The savage, on awakening, rose slowly
to his feet, felt bis wrists as though tht
thongs had left feeling there, took BIZ
weapons and without speaking a word
left bin aud disappeared in the iimbe
Hear bg
Z WHIST do you think OF that; asked hi
Wis turning to tbe husband viii, a scar
ed luok.
Pshaw Don't trouble yOaFself aban
usal drunken brute, answered the settler
I4utls, aat 90 hc turned away and sirp
ped alo tne anl, bc muilered, like IL
Wc, not mueh. The fellow must b
watched. / was IN hopes that he wgali
not Lave remembered. bUt that lumI
where nay lists landed, vac euough,
uothin. else, 10 recall Tie circumstance.
Tie .Hmmer passel aud Aey saw -
ulore el tl.- drunken guest. ne failed 4
make IS appearance Bul 8. lae .eaye
began Is taa, ile ,s,lIeF oue auy, Will
returning uyn huaHng ou ihe hills, sn
passing through q deusc piece " wood
caught .lglt " q figure luraiuz ,n q,
bushes bui which quickly daappearc
shea he advanced toward where il sal
Tho agars was tEat Of an iAdian Wsrril
aud E4ius kfAusgu would lave sWor
that Il Was the Indian whom be la
kuoeked down apd bound ane bound d
previous summer The kno8ledge wa
BOT any way comforting, aud hence
. did MOI ieli Bis wife o. the discovery