Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-08-24
An indians S Revenge.

Where the kentucky river cuts its
way through the mountains, having up
on either bank bold. rugged cliffs that
lift their SUBMITS five hundred or a
thousand feet. as the case may be, above
stream, there lived IN early times a set
tier by the name of Rufus Branson, who.
with his wife and only child. a charm
ing little girl of eight or nine years, oe-
eupied the rude cabin at the base of a
preeipire little back from the river.
Although greatly exposed to danger
the Indians at that time being plen-
tiful throughout the region-he man
aged to live quietly for several years
The Indians frequently visited the
rude home of the hunter, and being al
ways welcomed and provided with such
food as might be in the larder. they
maintained friendly attitude
Especially were they fond of the child.
Maggie, and more than one fierce warri-
or had been seen sitting on the grass In
front of the cabin, listening to the child
ish prattle OF the little one. or else. en-
gagged in making it some toy or play
thing from willow twigs or plant bark.
In this manner several years had been
passed. and Rufe Branson came to feel
as secure as though he was within the
walls of 4 frontier fort
One evening Branson and his wife
we're seated near the doorway, when sud
denly shadow fell across the threshold
and the next moment a tall savage,
whose reeling step and blood-shot eyes
told that he was intoxicated, appeared,
and staggering to the log-steps, threw
himself upon them
His first demand was for fire water, .
which was of course refused. on the 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 mur-
der the whole household. Branson was a
brave, determined man, and although
he dreaded the necessity, yet he saw
that he would be compelled to take
prompt steps to prevent the savage from
executing his threat.
Waiting until the warrior had made
. demonstration, which he soon did BY
attempting to draw his tomahawk. Bran
son sprang upon him, knocked him doBr
with blow of his fist, and then quietly
disarmed and bound him where he lay
After q few minutes Of furious raving:
and futile efforts to free himself the say
age rolled over and sunk into a drunker
slumber.
He did not awake till the next morn
ing, but before he did so, the settler hat
quietly removed his bonds and restoree
the weapons, which he laid by the sleep
er's side.
The savage, on awakening, rose slow
" to his feet, felt his wrists as thougl
the thongs had left feeling there, too
up his weapons, and without speaking
word, left him and disappeared In tn
timber near by.
What think you Of that p asked th
wife, turning to her husband, with
scared look.
'.PshawI Don't trouble your hea
about the drunken brute" answered Ii
settler nightly, but as he turned ava
and stepped into the yard, he muttereC
Like 1t? Well, not much The fello
must be watched [ was In hopes thi
he would not have remembered, bat tn;
lump where my fist landed, was enougl
if nothing else, to recall the event .
, The summer passed. and they saw Il
: drunken guest no more He failed
make his appearance. But as the leav,
began to fall, the settler one day. viii
: returning from hunting on the hills, al
: passing through dense piece of timb-
E not far from the house, caught sight
5 figure lurking among the bushes, b
, which quickly disappeared when he a
vanced toward where 1t was. The fgu
was that of an Indian warrior, and Ru
Branson would have sworn that It W
: the Indian whom he had knocked dow
n and bound the previous summer. II
0 knowledge was not in any way eomfor
{ ing, and hence he did not tell his vi
: Of the discovery.
! 1t would only alarm her. without pc
b haps any good result He simply to
her he had discovered bear tracks ne
d by, and that she and the child mu
! stay within or close to the house VII
he was absent
4 Several days afterward. Rufe Brans'
r heard his dogs in the timber down
{ the river. and knowing they never ope
I ed without good cause, be caught up
;, rife and FASTENED to where they We
barking They had struck fresh be
trail. and as he arrived in sight. th
" fairly lifted it, going of IN a straig
y line down the river
n The chase led him several miles, a