Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1874-01-31

earth Instantly picking up a stick he
placed his cap upon it, and SO placing
the rod on end that the cap would show
on the right side of the log as soon as
| the Indian came within a few feet of it,
the artful hunter crept stealthily around
the roots of the upturned tree, and
watched the movements of the enemy.
| After firing, the savage drew his
tomahawk and bounded forward like a
tiger. Reaching the log with the in-
strument ready for the fatal blow,
should he not find the pale-face already
dead. he saw the cap, and with "A whoop
! clutched the furry object he lifted it
high in the air, and stood gazing in
astonishment at the spot front whence
it came. Had he not been SO cha
grined at the deception, he doubtless
would have noticed an object dart out
from its hiding place, and have put
of the hunter was coming down upon
him, but he was outwitted, and, before
hardly aware of the sudden movement,
received the broad blade to the hand in
his dusky form.
The Indian plunged forward with
such force as to roll entirely over the
log, carrying the knife in his body.
Karr, believing his victory complete,
stood painting, bare and alone.
contemplating the scene. How long he
stood thus, he could not tell, but
probably not many minutes. when he
was startled by the click of a flint upon
the hammer-pan of a gun. Glancing in
| the direction from whence the noise
proceeded, he saw the Indian in the act
of re cooking his rife. The hunter had
no time to recover his knife, and, entire
ly unarmed, made for thicket lying be-
tween himself and the river. BY zig
gag course he reached the bank of the
Muskingum, but the water was too high
to make an attempt to ford it safe, and
too rapid to allow him to reach the OPP
posite bank by swimming. No time
could be lost i'll discussing plans for
further action, for the savage, although
| following through the underbrush by
trail alone, would soon put in appear
auce. Karr, never lacking for stratagem,
picked up small boulder, and putting
it into the slack of his hunting shirt
above the belt, ascended tree that
stood close upon the brink OF the bank,
but several feet above the water edge,
/ anu book IL ptSltlOu upon IlitlD du leaSu
| ten feet from the earth.
Not long after the borderer had taken
this elevated position, he saw through
the thick foliage of the tree the feath-
cred head of the savage darting here
and there among the bushes. In mo-
ment or two the Indian came out and
following the track of the hunter by
| sight as accurately as the hound will
the fox scent, he reached the spot ex-
actly beneath his enemy and stood
gazing right and left for the object of
his search.
Karr believing his most favorite time
! had come to act in self-defense, pre-
pared himself for the work. 1t would
not do to keep silent, for in doing SO he
would in all probability be discovered
and shot, for the Indian would soon dis
cover that the pale-fac had never left
the spot. Holding the rock as nearly
! over the head of the savage as he could,
karr, let the stone drop, and breath
lessly watched its downward course; the
| aim was a good one, and would have
finished the foe had he not turned Just
as the heavy weight was to crush his
skull. The borderer saw the change of
position and the rock light on the saw
ages shoulder and bring him to his
knees. Throwing himself from the
limb, Kerr followed the boulder, and
striking astride the stalwart form of the
Indian, clutched him by the neck and
both went at full length on the earth
The struggle that followed was fierce,
and of the most desperate character
Karr held the savage too tightly to
allow him to get at his knife or toma-
hawk, nor could the hunter loosen his
hold to obtain any weapon from the belt
of his foe, and the two, graphing like
tigers in the Jungle, rolled over and over
again until they reached the verge of
the bank, nor did they stop there, but
went splashing into the dark river below.
The water into which they fell was
not more than ten or twelve inches deep,
but fortunately karr came on top as
they landed, and kept the advantage.
Getting a vise-like grip upon the saw
ages throat he forced the copper-colored
head down upon the pebbly bottom of
the river, and held it there antil life
was extinct.
Just at the nightfall of that eventful
day, wearied and worn, Hamilton Karr
reached his island habitation bearing
lashcd upon his back three rifles besides
his own, while at his belt dangled three
scalps, trophies of an adventure he
cared not to repeat,