The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1873-11-21

an object dart out from its hiding place,
and have put himself on guard before
the heavy knife of the hunter was COM
ing down upon him; but he was outwit-
ted, and before hardly aware of the sud
den movement, received the broad blade
to the handle in his dusky form.
The Indian plunged forward with such
force as TO roll entirely over the log, car
rying the knife in his body. Kerr, be
lieving his victory complete, stood pant
ing, bare headed and alone, eontempla-
ting the scene. How long he stood thus,
he could not tell, but probably not many
minutes, when he was startled by the
click of a flint upon the hammer-pan Of
a gun. GIancing in the direction from
whence the noise proceeded, he saw the
Indian in the act of recocking his rifle.
The hunter had not time to recover his
knife, and, entirely unarmed, made for a
thicket that lay between himself and the
river. By zig-zag course he reached
the bank Of the Muskingum, but the
water was too high 20 make an attempt
to ford it safe, and too rapid to allow
him 10 reach the opposite bank by swim
ming. No time could be lost by discuss
ing plans for further action, for the saw
age, although following through the un-
derbrush by trail alone would soon put
in appearance. Kerr, never lacking for
stratagem, picked up a small bowlder
and putting it into the slack of his hunt
ing-shirt above the belt, ascended a tree
that stood close upon the brink of the
bank but several feet above the water
edge, and took a position upon limb al
least ten feet from the earth.
Not long after the borderer had taken
this elevated position, he saw through
the thick foliage of the tree the feathered
head of the savage darting here and
there among the bushes. In a momept
or two the Indian came oHt and follow
ing the track of the hunter by sight as
accurately as the hound will the fox
scent, he reached spot exactly beneath
his enemy, and stood gazing right and
left for the object of his search.
Kerr believing his most favorable time
had come to act in self-defense, prepared
himself for the work. It would not dc
to keep silent, for by SO doing he would
in all probability be discovered and shot
for the Indian would soon discover tha
the pale-face had not left thespot. Hold
ing the rock as nearly over the head ot
/ the savage as he could, Kerr let the sion,
drop, and breathlessly watched its down
ward course The aim was good one
and would have finished the foe had h
not turned just as the heavy weight wa
to crush his skull The borderer saw
the change of position, and the rocl
light on the savage's shoulder and brin;
him to his knees Throwing himsel
from the limb, Kerr followed the boulde
and striking astride the stalwart Indian
clutched him by the neck and both wen
at full length to the earth
The struggle that followed was fierce
and of the most desperate character
Kerr held the savage too tightly to allo,
him to get at his knife or tomahawk, no
could the hunter loosen his hold to oil
tain any weapon from the belt of his foG
and the two, graphing like tigers in tn
jungle, rolled over and over again til
they reached the verge of the bank, no
did they stop there, but went splashin
into the dark river below.
The water into which they fell was nc
more than ten or twelve inches deep, bU
fortunately Kerr came on top as the
landed, and kept the advantage. Sci
ting q vice-like grip upon the savage
throat, he forced the copper-colored hea
down upon the pebbly bottom Of tn
river, and held it there until life Wa
extinct.
Just at nightfall of that eventful da.
wearied and worn, Hamilton Kerr raacl
ed his island habitation bearing lashe
upon his back three rifles besides h
! own, while at his belt dangled thre
scalps, trophies of an adventure he care
not to repeat.