Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-10-19
KIT CARSON'S LEAP.
BY CLARENCE CRIsI

By Cl1AhENcE CRISI.
1t was q spot in the Sierras of natural
grandeur. Mighty mountain crags lifted
their jagged crests high toward the deer
blue of the distant heaven. In many places
their SUBMITS were lost to view in the
midst Of masses Of aeeey clouds that cling
around their snow-clad slopes. Midway az
the sides of some of these nigh y mountain
peaks were stunted pines, peeping from
out the midst of the eternal SHOWS that
chung around them. The valleys lying be-
tween the hills were covered with snow.
The whole surface of the earth was white.
a tall, dark man, clad In hunters garb,
was making bis way slowly across heavily
timbered valley, lying between the hills. A
long rife was flung over bis shoulder, a
pair Of pistols and hunting knife were
stuck in bis belt. He made his way slowly
along, peering carefully around at every
step, listening keenly at every sound.
This lonely hunter was none other than
Kit Carson.
Al length he paused and bent bis ear to-
ward the earth. A moment later he crept
forward, muttering:
"And have overtaken them at last--tbe
marauding scoundrels?"
No sound broke the stiffness as he crept
forward, save an occasional cultural excla-
nation that proceeded apparently from the
midst Of heavy cluster of trees that lay
Immediately in the hunters front. Kit
Carson, tried scout that be was, kept him.
self well concealed by the row of trees as he
advanced. -
After ten minutes more of this stealthy,
cst-like motion, he reached point whence
he could see all that was taking place with
in the cluster of trees. A dozsn Indians
were gathered close together, engaged in
heated conversation, and not dozen PAGES
distant, her head bowed upon her hands,
which were bound closely together, was 8
young psle.faced girl.
Very young, and very beautiful she SEEM
ed, as she crouched IN helpless misery up
upon the snow-covered ground; and it Is no
wonder that the eyes of Carson flashed,
that bis teeth were firmly closed, and that
his clenched hands grasped the rife tena-
ciously, as he gazed upon the scene. The
delicste face, halfconcealed by the wealth
of dark brown hair, that ripp.ed in waving
masses over her back and shoulders, show
ed traces of recent tears. The liaht, grace
full form was bowed almost to the earth in
" open and shut cOnvulsively, IS the cruel
thongs pressed like hot bands upon the del
icate skin. ..--
What was the cause of sll this Dlisery-of
the strange appearance of this beautiful girl
awsy here on the slopes of the bleak Ser
ras? Alas, it was but one case in q thous-
and; 1t was but one repetition Of the old,
old story Of massacre and outrage, of the
wholesale butchery Of an entire family,
with the solitary exception Of one, the
youngest and fairest, reserved by the das-
tsrdly sayages for fate worse than death.
Such things are bat common on the from
tier. f
Kit Carson crept closer to the group
Indians, who, as they qusrreled and dis
puted, were little aware of the close proxim.
unity of the greatest scout in all that west
ern country. The long rifle Of the hunter
was tralled behind him along the sno ", the
knife was loosened in its sheath, for despe-
rate work was close at hand.
Suddenly, as the discussion among the
warriors grew heated almost to blows. .
chief sprang up, knife in hand, and strobe
toward the captive, shouting tiercely In the
Indian tongue. What the words
were the scout could not determine; but
the brutal chief, twining his fingers around
the long hair of the shrinking girl, jerked
her to her feet, with such Vengefnl force that
a shrek of anguish was forced from the
pale, quivering lips. The chief then shout
ed In umistakable English:
';Psle-faced gid must diei My young
men will fight over her if she lives. They
are quarreling now"
The scout crept pace nearer.
The prisoner would have sunk to the
ground had not the grasp of the fierce chief
tightenend a.ound the dark brown hair.
''Hoo! hool the whining pale maiden Is
afraid. The chief will spoil the beauty
that the red braves quarrel over. He will
see if the pretty face will stand fire."
The teeth of the scout closed more
tightly.
'Surely you will not burn woman"
walled the trembling captive. 81 never
harmed you. Oh, kill me, kill me at
once!"
And she sank on her knees at the feet OF
the savage. A grim smile passed over the
Indians face.
"The maiden may die by the knife"
The fingers twined more closely around
the long hair. The girl raised her eyes to
heaven as though imploring aid from the
Great Ruler of all. The lips moved slight
y.
The cleaning knife was uplifted, but be.
fore it could descend upon its victim q dark
form sprang between the weapon and the
girl. It was the form of an Indian warrior.
A wild cry of rage broke from the lips of
the chief.
ssThe maiden is mine," said the warrior.
81 stole her from the cabin by the river. She
shall not die" -frl.5 -.
And the hatchet' OF the warrior was in
bis hand. He turned and severed the bands
Of the captive. ~..,.f =.
'Tbe maiden may go. Leapipg Wolf
has spoken" a-f " 2,i ~.
As the girl leaped down the hillside the
chef sprang upon the warrior, and the re-
naming Indians clustered around the COM
batants. Carson did not remain, but stole
swiftly down the valley in the direction in
which the piri had gone. In a few mo-
ments he overlook her. She turned in
manner as he approached, and
would have fled had be not detained her.
ssMy poor child Do you not know me /!
Do you not know your old friend, hit
Carson ?"
a uCLto CRY VI JOY DEOhO AAohA OuO hPS VI
the helpless child. She nestled close to The
hunters side.
''Oh, my friend, my friend, is it indeei
you? And have you really come to rescue
me? Oh, those horrible savages P'--and
her eyes were closed for moment in blind
terror at TIE recollection-"those horrible
savages They murdered all but me-all
but poor me J" is3M
Her voice failed her in sob.
"My poor child, you have one friend left.
You have old Kit, and he'll take keer on
you SO long as be lives; but we must not
stop here. Those red iends viii be after us
like wolves after deer in q few minutes.
The chief is q stronger man than the war
rior, so that mercy will be beaten. As soon
as the fight is over the whole crowd CT
wretches will be coming down this way.
think can hear them now. We must ny"
A wild yell came. pealing through the
forest.
The hunter passed his arm around the
delicate form of the girl, and assisted her
trembling footsteps They pressed down
the valley at their utmost speed.
5'eThe camp of my hunters Is bat 8 little
way" whispered Carson, eassuriDgly, Sand
we must try to reach It. -.ns,
" 40 iTTihd ,-isni hlH no h1isi--sl 80 =
t 10 ylis 7di 10 Vlfom1vi ,nnS7sh nirl.iH ~
.,I .bHHi9II ,d9a