The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1874-07-07
Running the, Gauntlet.
BY EMIL wE1DEe, JR.

sh ~ st,y a.Bf.al las. a
s?5fI,. BY EMIL wr1pre, JR. s, L e
Far, far in the Northwest, near the
banks of the Columbia River, a tall pow
erful man was leaning or the muzzle of
his long rife, standing fully six feet in
his moccasins, with powerful limbs,
broad, Herculean shoulders, ,and the mus.
cles of his arms like knotted cords. He
was dressed in deerskin breeches and
Ifrock, with hunting shirt of dark green
lcloth, open atthe the throat. showing a
well formed muscular neck -. .
I Joe Stevens was one of the best trap
lpers, and counted among the most dar-
ling hunters and Indian fighters in the
great Northwest His face denoted inn
patience, as if waiting for some person
| to arrive. s ar ado - trss-;7-,
EYES," the old trapper soliloquized to
self, "twelve mortal hours have waited
here, but he has not come yet, and time
is SO precious. / have never known him
to deceive me or anybody else, except it
was greasy redskin." .rsl ~ ol[g, "a
The old trapper shouldered his rife
and stalked up and down the clearing,
his face gloomy, his brow contracted.
"The dirty red whelps are on the war
path again." he muttered; 'but let them
begin it I'll face the music, and I'll bet
you Susie, will make more than one sing
his death song. Amt that so, Susie p
and he patted his long rife affectionately
He looked up at the SUM- -.sp.z g.
Zone hour more and it will set. If he
amt here IN that time, Ill make tracks
for the settlement"
Ten minutes had scarcely passed, when
the sound of a light panther like tread
! reached his ear The bushes parted land
the light, ,wiry form of Kit Carson emerg.
ed into view The ever ready rifle of Ole
Joe rose to his shoulder, but was quick
i iy lowered when he saw who the new
conner was. as..ss,l,,-,rs s-,.y
"Hello, Kit, how in the name of thun
der doye do? am waiting here the
last thirteen hours for. you. You hevn't
fell in love, or lost fortune, hev ye p
"No, no. replied Kit, as he clasped
the rough, horny hand Of the old trappel
between his own; II was captured by
the Blackfoot dogs, - -.
/ "WelL Kit, let's hurry to the settle
ment. have important news for them
$50 have l." said Kit. "We ought tc
have been,there six hours age"
"Say, Kit" said Joe, "while we ar,
travelling you can tell me how the Black
feet nabbed an old chicken like you
"Wall, yes," Kit replied "you see
was on my return from Fat Bears vii
lage, and lay camped about twelve mile!
| from it. Well.I had laid down to snooze
when was wakened BY something walk
/ ing and smelling around me. opened
| my eyes and looked up. Guess what 2
8 saw, Joe? Why,nothing less than a larg
she panther But, Joe, there's no deny
4 ing was skeert. My first thought wa
for my knife l Igrabbed it and raised i
aloft to plunge it into her heart. Wall
,1just then Iagot terrific whack across m,
! elbow, and then another followed sui
across my peppers bat, Jerusalem, ,didn'
!, they hurt 1t. seems to me that fee
the pain yet. And jest to think a dirt.
critterlike that to slap man in the face
4 1t just made my blood boil within me-
With the quickness of lightning ! grab
|, bed my pistols, land had them cooked an,
aimed before you could say Jack Robin
son Well, that panther didn't live tel
minutes afterward, for he received bot
my bullets in the eyess Well, got u
4 and started fire and laid. down to slee
again. had hardly slept ten minute
Z when ! was awakened by about twenty
FIVE Blackfeet devils who were yellin
around me. l saw ] could not escap
: them, so went at them with my tw
bowies in true trapper's style. I laid on
five OF the imps, but was soon ,overpoW
: cred, and had to show the white feather
!, / was bound, strapped ON the back G
D one of their mustangs, and three hour
after, by hard riding, we reached Pa
Bears village. The whole populatio
!, ran out to receive US. The squaws clan
!, ored to have me put into their hands, ,bu
e the braves pushed them aside and led m
: to the torture post. / was soon tied Sc
curely, and then the braves started t
throw their tomahawks at me. Some c
q them grazed my cheeks, but neve
!, WINGED - They had been throwing thei
a knives and hatchets about an hour, ,whe
Fat Bear exclaimed: & .fF Al9a
Good! the long knife is great brave
: We will try something else See if "
}. cannot make you cry out" q .s
! "Issuing a loud order in the Blackfee
! language, the braves and squaws starte
4; for their wigwams, and a few minutes a
terward they emerged, each armed wit
switches, clubs, tomahawks, DC. The
!. quickly formed in long row, and half
dozen Indians advanced toward me, ur
tied me, and led me toward the head Z
the column / soon saw what they wal
ted ofme--I was to run the gauntlet.
put on a cheerful countenance, but wa
far from feeling happy.7lI frightened m
girdle and started with true borderer'
veil "a Before / started / noticed awher
: Fat Bear was standing. 1t was abou
twenty rods from the starting point.
got but few licks, for went ataa race
horse speed, and most of the blows miss
!, led As soon as | got to Fat Bear,
> wheeled half round and run my head int
: his stomach, which doubled the poor i'm
: up like ball. Assoon as he fell Ipu
!, for the Forest You know, Joe, it take
: a good man to beat nerunning Ireacl
! ed the forest with the Indians about tw
hundred yards behind. As soon as Iiwa
we'll covered by the trees an6i bushes
!, made for Shallow Creek. Il bamboozle
> them with my trail, and here l am, '''5s9
:. 9'sKit, you done thatbully--better tha
d | could doit. Give US J our hand, sol
4 fellow. "-----'s 's-------
Il Kits hand was shook till he cried OF
[ with pain. 5H ~Gg anal, .gaaxsy
Kit Carson and Stevens reached Ma,
enville four hours siterward, The inhal
}. itants were apprised of the attack, an
q the B B,ackfeet got a whipping they wi
! remember for o generation. The poo