Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1874-07-30

the hills, and passing through dense
piece oftimher not far from the house,
caught sight of a figure lurking in the
bushes, but il quickly disappeared
when he advanced to where il WAS
The figure was that of an Indian war
rior, and Branson would have sworn
that it was the Indian warrior whom
he had knocked and bound the previ-
Gus spring. The news was not in any
way comforting, and hence he did not
tell his wife. IL would only alarm her,
he thought, and withut, perhaps, any
good result. He simply told her that
he had discovered bear tracks near by,
and that she and the children must
stay within or close to the house du-
ring his absence.
Several days afterward, Rufus Bran
son heard his dogs in the timber down
by the river, and knowing they never
opened without good cause, he caught
up his rifle and fastened TO where they
were barking. They had struck a
fresh bear trail, and as he arrived In
sight, they fairly lifted it, going off in
a Straight line down the river. The
chase led him several miles, and, when
Inns career, he found that il was three
or four o'clock in the afternoon. Swing
ing his meat to sapiing, out OF reach
of cat or wolf, he started for home to
get his horse and return and fetch il
that night.
Taking a near cut, he approached the
cabin from the western side, where the
timber grew up to within few yards
of the building, and consequently he
could not see the clearing, or what
might be transpiring there, until he
had passed through the wood.
Thus it was that, when within short
distance of his home, he heard a wild
piercing shrek; but he could only gue S
that something terrible must be taking
place beyond the screen of bushes and
leaves. Uttering lood shout that his
presence might sooner be known,
Branson sprang forN ard like wound.
ed buck, a great fear in his heart, fO'
he had only too clearly recognized in
that scream the agonized voice of his
wife.
1t took but moment for him to cleal
the intervening timber and under
growth, and as he dashed out into the
clearing, holding his rifle for instant
use, he comprehended in one swift
glance all that had taken place, anC
what was further to fear.
Near the end of the cabin, facing the
cliff of which have Spoken, stood the
mother, her face as pallid as death, heI
arms outstretchest, her staring eye
fixed upon the precipitous heights upoT
which the figure of an Indian Wa
struggling.
MY child my childp was all the wo
man said, and Branson saw that th'
bundle in the Indians arm was th'
form of their only child Maggie:
Firm of heart, and with nerves a.
steady as the rocks around, the fathe
for moment quailed and covered un
der, what his quick sense told him, wa
the deadly peril of the little one. Blu
he was quick to recover.
The Indian was drawing away; ste
by step he was increasing the distance
and as he glanced backward and down
ward, the parents saw in his hideousl
painted countenance the full purpOs
that actuated the abductor.
God aid mep Branson muttered, a
he raised his rifle, glancing througl
the sights, and touched the trigger.
The Indian started violently a. tn
shot. He was hit, but not badly, and
with yell of devilish triumph, h
passed upward.
Too low, by couple of inches sal
low, calm v oice at the settlers elbow
BransOn started as though he him
self had been shot. Where was thi
man from? Who was he? Neither haC
he seen bim approach. But there Wa.
no time for explanations. The stran
ger, man rather below than abov,
the ordinary height, whose fine, ath
letic form was fully displayed by hi
closely fitting buckskin garments, step
ped quickly forward a few PAGES, ant
planting his left foot in advance threw
up an unusually long rifle, as though
preparing to fire.
For Gods sake, stranger, be careful
of my childp cried Branson, while tn
agonized mother uttered an audibl
prayer.
It's our only chance, know tina
Indian Was the quick reply, and tn
sharp click! click! of the hammer, as i
was drawn back, told that the critica
moment had come.
, By this time the Indian had nearl,
i, reached the summit of the steep. Tha
he was wounded, now became evident
; as upon the broad ledge of rock h
paused for moment. This opportuni
ty was seized by the unknown. AL
though The savage had taken the pre-
f caution TO hold the child up in from
: of himself as shield, covering nearl,
the whole of his brawny chest, bu
leaving his head uncovered, the stran
ger did not hesitate in making his shot.
For one second, as it gained its posi-
, tion, the rifle wavered. and then in
stantly became as immevable a.
though held in vice. With claspeC
: hands and staring eyes the parent.
watched the statuelike form upon
l which so much depended.
: Suddenly sharp report rang out;
the white smoke drifted away, and a!
the vision became clearer, they saw the
: savage loose his hold upon the child
! reel wildly an instant, and then pitcl
2 forward on the rocks. 1t may be i'm
e agined that the father was not long il
r reaching the place where his child lay
: and in a few moments the little on
was in its mothers arms.
i Tell US who you are, that we may
g know what name to mingle with Ou
: prayers, exclaimed the mother, as tn
stranger prepared to depart.
e My name is Daniel Boone,' he salt
n and was gone.