Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1874-01-31
.+.a;obt line down the river.

straight line down the uYer. .f.
The chase led him several miles,
and, when he at last got shot that
| finished bruins career, he found that
| it was three or four O'Clock in the af-
ternoon. Swinging his meat to a
sapling, out of the reach of cat OF
wolf, he started for home to get his
horse and return and fetch 1t that
night.
Taking a near cut, he reached the
cabin from the western side whert
the timber grew heavy up to within
a few yards of the building, and con-
sequently he could not see the clear
ing, 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 guess that something terrible
must be taking place beyond the
screen of bushes and leaves. Utter
ing loud shout that his presence
might sooner be known, BransOn
sprang forward like wounded buck,
a great fear in his heat; for he had
only too clearly recognized in that
scream the agonized voice of his
wife. ..
1t took but moment for him to
clear the intervening timber and un
dergrowth and as be dashed out into
the clearing, holding his rifle ready
for instant use, he comprehended in
one swift glance all that had taken
place, and 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, her arms outstretched, her
eyes fixed, upon the precipitous
heights up which the figure of the
Indian was struggling.
'My child! My ehild!" was all the
woman said, and Branson saw that
the bundle in the Indians arms was
the form of their only child,
Maggie.
Firm Of heart, and with nerves as
steady as the rocks around, the faith
er for moment quailed and covered
under what his quick senses told him
the deadly peril of the little one
But he was quick to recover.
The Indian was drawing away;
step by step he was increasing the
distance, and as he occasionally
glanced backward and downward,
the parents saw in his hideously
painted eountenance the full purpose
that aetuated the abduction.
"God aid mel" Branson muttered,
as he raised his rifle, glancing through
the sights, and touched the trigger.
The Indian started violently at
the shot. He was hit, but not badly,
and with yell of deylishv triumph
he passed upward. ...,
"Too low by couple of inches"
said low, calm voice at the settlers
elbow. a. 5'sa..aisis is H..a-. l+a a
Branson started as though he Kim
self had been shot. Where was this
man from? Who was he? Neither
had seen him approach. But there
was no time for explanations. The
stranger, a man rather below than
above ordinary height, whose fine
athletic form was fully displayed by
his closely fitting buckskin garments,
stepped quickly forward few PAGES,
and firmly planted his left foot in
advance, threw up an unusually long
rife, as though preparing to fire.
'For Gods sake, stranger, be care
full of my childp' cried BransOn,
while the agonized mother uttered |
an audible prayer. ,z
'It's our. only chance. l know
that Indian" was the quick reply, |
and the sharp click! click! of the |
hammer, as it was drawn back, told |
that the critical moment had come.
By this time the Indian had near
ly reached the summit of the steep. |
That he was wounded now becam
evident, as upon broad edge
rock he paused for a moment. This |
opportunity was seized by the un-
known. Although the savage had
taken the precautiOn to hold the |
child up in front of him as ashield, |
covering nearly the whole of his |
brawny chest, but leaving his head
uncovered, the stranger did not hes
itate in making the shot.
ri For one second, as it gained Its
position, the rifle wavered, and
then instantly became as immovea-
bic as though held in vice. With |
clasped handsea and staring eyes the |
parents watched the statue-like form |
upon which so much depended.
Suddenly sharp report rang out;
the white smoke drifted away, and
as the vision became clearer, they
saw the savage loose his hold upon
the child, reel wildly an instant and
then pitch forward upon the rocks.
1t may be imagined that the father
was not long in reaching the place
where his child lay, and in few
moments more the little one was IN
its mothers arms. .
''Tell us who you are, that we may
know what name to mingle with our
PRAYERS" exclaimed the mother as the |
stranger prepared to depart.
"My name is Daniel Boon," ne
said-and was gone
. odd Minutes OF WatLing.
While you are arranging the par
lor inst have q thought for the Wis