The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1873-11-06
KIT oARsoN's LEAP.
BY CLARENCE cR1sr.

bA ChAtt1hCE CkISf.
It was a spot in the Sierras of natura
grandeur. Mighty mountain crags lift
ed their jagged crests high towards tn,
deep 4blue Of the distant heaven. II
many places their SUBMITS were lost tc
view in the midst of masses of feecy
clouds that cling around their snow
clad slopes. Midway up the sides o.
some of these mighty mountain peaks
we're stunted pines, peeping from oui
the midst of the eternal SHOWS that
clupg. aroand them. The valleys lying
between the hills were covered with
snow. The whole surface of the earth
was white.
A tall, dark man, clad in hunter
garb, was making his way slowly across
a heavily timbered valley, lying be-
tween the hills. A long rifle was flung
over his shoulder, pair of pistols and
3 hunting knife were stuck in his belt.
He made his way slowly along, peeping
carefully around at every step, listening
keenly at every sound.
This lonely hunter was none other
than Kit Carson.
At length he paused and bent his ear
toward the earth. A moment later he
orept forward, muttering -
"And have overtaken them at last
the marHuding scoundrels ?"
No sound broke the stiffness as he
crept forward, save an occasional gut
turai exclamation that proceeded ap-
parently from the midst of heavy clus-
ter of trees that lay Immediately in the
hunters front. Kit Carson, tired scout
that he was, kept himself well concealed
by the row of trees as he advanced.
After ten minutes more of this
stealtay, cat-like motion, he reached a
point whence he could see all that was
taking place within the cluster of trees.
A dozen Indians we're gathered close
together. engaged in heated conversa-
tion, aud notR dozen PAGES distant, her
head bowed upon her hands, which
were bound closely together. was a
young pale-faoed girl.
Very young, and very beautiful she
seemed, as she crouched in helpless
misery upon the snow-covered ground
and il is no wonder that the eyes of
Carson flashed, that his teeth were irm-
ly closed, and that his elenched hands
grasped the rifle tenaciously, as he
gazed upon the scene. The delicate
face. half concealed by the wealth of
dark brown hair, that rippled in waving
masses over her back and shoulders,
showed traces of recent tears. The
light, graceful form was bowed almost
to the earth in woe. The slight hands
would occasionally open and shut con-
yulsiyely, as the cruel thongs pressed
like hat bands upon the delicate skin.
What was the caTse Of all this misery
--of the strange appearance of this
beautiful girl away here on the slopes
of tho bleak Sierrasg Alas, it was but
one case in thousand 1T was but one
repetition of the old, old story of mas
sscre and outrage, of the wholesale
butchery of an entire family, with the
solitary exception Of one, the youngest
and fairest, reserved by the dastardly
savages for q fate worse than death.
Such things are but common on the
frontier. L rr-efta.s
Kit Carson orept closer TO the group
of Indians who, as they quarreled and
disputed, were little aware of the close
proximity of the greatest scout in all
that western country. The long rife of
the hunter was trailed behind him along
the snow, the knife was loosened in its
sheath, for desperate work was close at
hand.
Suddenly, as the discussion among
the warriors grew heated almost 70
blows, a chief sprang mp, knife in hand,
and strobe toward the captive, shouting
. fercely in the Indian tongue. What
the words were the scout could not de-
termine but the brutal chief, twining
his fingers around the long hair of the
shrinking girl, ierked her to her feet,
with such vengeful force that shrek
of anguish was forced from the pale,
quivering lips. The chief then shouted
in umistakable English:
"a Pale-faced girl must die I Ny young
mon will fight over her If she lives.
They are ousrreling now"
The scout crept a pace nearer.
The prisoner would have sunk TO the
ground had not the grasp Of the fierce
chief tightened around the dark brown
hair.
''Hoo hoo the whining pale maiden
is afraid. The chief win spoil the beauty
that the red braves quarrel over. he
will see if the pretty face will stand
fre."
The teeth of the scout closed more
tightly. .r a.. rrs-.tf.
Surely you will not burn q woman"
varied the trembling captive. % I never
harmed You. o kill me, kill me At
once 2! ~ .ttt -F-Ltf
Audshe 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 tvined more closely around
the long hair. The girl raised her eyes
u" heaven as though imploring aid from
the Great Ruler 81 all The lips moved
slightly,