The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1873-11-05
AN INDIANS REVENGE.
BY RALPH RINawooD.

way through the mountains, having
upon either hand, bold, rugged cliffs
that lift their SUBMITS 500 and 1000
feet, as the case may be, above the
stream, there lived in earlier times a
settler by the name of Rufus Bronson,
who, with his wife and child, charm
ing little girl of some eight or nine
years of age, occupied the rude cabin
at the base of the precipice, a little
back from the river. . ---,.r..r
Although greatly exposed to danger,
the Indians at that time being very
plentiful throughout the regiOn-he
managed to live quietly for several
years. JUG q 81
The Indians visited the rude home
of the hunter, and being always well
coined and provided with such food as
there might be in the larder, they
maintained friendly attitude.
Especially were they fond of the
child Maggie, and more than one fierce
warrior had been sitting on the grass
in front Of the cabin, listening to the
childish prattle of the little one, or
else engaged in making it some toy or
plaything from the willow twig or PHI
ant bark. ar aE snFr-
In this manner several years had
been past, and Rufe Bronson came to
feel as secure as though he was within
the walls of frontier fort.
One evening, Bronson and his wife
were seated near the doorway, when
suddenly a shadow fell across the
Threshold, and the next moment, a
tall savage, whose reeling step and
bloodshot eyes told that he was intox-
icated, came staggering up to the log
steps and threw himself upon them.
His first demand was fer fire water,
which of course was refused on tnv
plea that there was none in the house.
The Indian became cross and ugly,
swearing with terrible oaths that if
the liquor was not produced he would
murder the whole household. BroI-
son was Il brave, determined man, aud
although he dreaded the necessity, yet
he saw he would be compelled to take
prompt steps to prevent the savage
from executing his threats.
Waiting until the warrior had made
a demonstration, which he soon did by
attempting to draw his tomhawk, Bron-
son sprung upon him aud knocked
him down with blow from hls fSt,
and then quietly disarmed and boz "a
him where he lay; after a few Mo
ments of furious rawlings and futile ef-
forts to free himself, the savage rolled
over and sunk into a drunken slum-
ber.
He did not wake until the next
morning, but before he did so the set
tier had quietly removed his bonds
and restored the weapon, which he
laid by the sleeper's side.
The savage, on awaking, rose slow
ly to his feet, felt his wrists as though
the thongs had left a feeling there,
took up his weapon, aud without
speaking word. left and disappeared
ip the timber near by.
"What do you think of thate" ask
ed the wife, turning to her husband
with scared look.
"Pshaw Don't trouble your head
about the drunken BRUTE" answered
the settler, lightly, but as he turned
away and stepped into the yard he
muttered, Like it? well not much.
The fellow must be watched. was
in hopes that he would not have re
membered, but that lump where my
fist landed was enough, if nothing
else, to recall the circumstances"
The summer passed away and they
saw no more of the drunken guest
He failed to make his appearance.
But as the leaves began to fall, the
settler, one day, while returning from
hunting on the hills, and passing
through a dense piece of timber not
far from the house, caught a glimpse
of figure lurking among the bushes
but quickly disappearing when he ad-
vanced towards where it was. The
figure was that of an Indian warrior
and Rufe Bronson would have sworn
that he was the Indian whom he
had knocked down and bound the pre-
vious summer. The knowledge was il
no way comforting, and hence hs
would not tell his wife Of the discove
ry he had made.
1t would only alarm her, without
perhaps, any good results. He simply
told her he had discovered bear tracks
near by, and that she and her chile
must stay within, or close the hous'
when he was absent.
Several days afterward Rufe Bron
, son heard his dogs in the timber dowI
by the river, and knowing they neve
+. opened without good cause, he eaugh
up his rifle, and hastened to wher
they were barking. They had strucl
: q fresh bear track, and as he arriyes