The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1873-05-27

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fairly lifted it, going in q straight line
down the river
The chase led him several miles, and
when, at last, he got his shot that finish.
ed bruins career, he found thatit was
three or four o'clock in the afternoon.
Swinging his game to a sapling, oul
of reach of cat or wolf,he started home
for :he old gray mare and return to fetch
it at night.
Taking near cut, he approached the
cabin from the western side, where the
timber grew up to within a few rods OF
the building, and consequently he could
not see the clearing or what was trans
lpiring there until he had passed through
the wood.
Thus it was that when within short
distance Of his home, he heard wild,
lpiercing shrek. He could only guess
that something terrible must be taking
lplace beyond the screen Of bushes and
leaves.
Uttering a loud shout, that his pres.
ence might sooner be known, Branson
sprang forward with leaps of wounded
buck, great fear at his heart,for he had
too clearly recognized in that scream the
agoDized voice of his wife.
| 1t took but moment for him to clear
the intervening timber and underground.
AS he dashed out into the clearing, hold
| ing his rifle ready for instant use. he
comprehended in one swift glance all
that had taken place and what was fur
lther to fear.
| Near the end OF the cabin facing the
cliffs of which / have spoken, ..stood the
mother, her face pallid as the dead, her
arms outstretched, and her staring eyes
fixed upon the precipitous heights
upon which the figure of an Indian war
rior was struggling.
"My child! my child! n was all the
woman said, and then Rufe Branson saw
that the bundle borne in the Indians
arms was the form of their only child
little Maggie.
Firm Of heart, and nerves steady as
the rocks around, the father for mo-
ment actually quailed-cowered under
what his quick sense told him was the
deadly peril of his little one.
But he was quick to recover.
The Indian was drawing away step by
step-he was increasing the distance
and as he occasionally glanced backward
and downward, the parents saw in his
hideously painted countenance the fell
purpose that actuated the abductor. +.
ge"God aid mep' Branson muttered, as
he raised his rifle, glanced through the
sights and touched the trigger.
| The Indian started violently at the
shot. He was hit, but not. badly. and
with yell of devilish triumph, passed
upward.
"Too low, by q couple of inches,
said low, calm voice at the settlers ell
bow
| Branson started as though he himsell
had been shot.
Where had this man come from? Wht
was he? 81, 49, .r.
Neither had seen him approach.
But there was no time for explana
tions.
The stranger. man rather below thar
! above the ordinary height, whose fine
athletic form was fully displayed by hi:
close fitting buckskin garments, stepped
quickly forward few PAGES, and firmly
planting his left foot in advance, threw
] up the unusually long rife, as though
preparing to fire .
"For Gods sake, stranger, be careful
of my child!' cried Branson, while tn
agonized mother uttered an audibl,
prayer.
sit is our only chance. I know tha
Indian" was the quick reply, and th'
sharp click! click! of the hammer as i
was drawn back told that the critica
moment had come. $500 ~
BY this time the Indian had nearly
reached the summit of the steep. Tha
he was wounded now became evident, a
upon a broad ledge of rock he paused {
Imomen. ehl 7F@i'eh ~ Z. atii1s. 'e
This opportunity was seized by tn
unknown f5f* aoH Or
/ Although the savage had taken tn
precaution to hold the child up in from
of himself as a shield, covering nearl,
the whole of his brawny chest, but leav
ing his head uncovered. the stranger di'
not hesitate in making the shot.
For one second, as it gained its posi-
,Ition, the rifle wavered, and then instantl,
became as immovable as though held il
la wise.
| With clasped hands and straining eye
the parents watched that statue-lik
form, upon whose skill SO much depend
led. sif 1922
). Suddenly sharp report rang out ;th'
white smoke drifted away, and as tn
vision became clear, they saw the saw
age loose his hold upon the child, rec
wildly for an instant, and then pitch for
ward on the rocks.
\ 1t may be imagined that the father wa
rot long in reaching the place where tn
child lay and in few moments more tn
, little one was in its mothers arms.
| "Tell us who you are, that, we ma
know what name to mingle with ou
prayers" said the mother, as the stran
ger prepared to depart. ~
, "My name is DANIEL BOONE" he said
t and was gone
!. wMr. G.. W. Johnson who was
; few days ago elected to the responsible
and highly honorable Office of Mayor 0
the city of Cincinnati, is, it seems, ar
other, Wilmington. His parents wer
; extremely poor, and in early life he fol
, lowed the trade of house painting ant
! glazing. He afterwards hired out as
I clerk to a wood sellerand finally becam
, a wood and coal dealer himself Indus
j TRY, energy, perseverance, and geners
! good behavior in youth, always brin
) their own reward.
81 E There are men who have rea,
i enough to make them impertinent; thei
t nowledge is sufficient to raise doubts
: but not to clear them. 1t is pity they
: have so much learnino or that thew hav