The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1874-06-30
Selert Storv.
THE HUNTERS LEAP.
BY DUKE CUYLER.

One of the widest and most turbulent
Of the branches Of the Saco is the Ellis
River, which has its source in dark ra-
vine high up the storm.rent side of Mt
Washington, and thence like race horse
comes springing down over many huge
rock aud boulder to mingle its waters
with those of the parent river.
Some four miles above the place where
this union is effected there is wild cat
aract, (which in our day goes by the name
Of Goodrich's Falls.
Here, many years ago, an adventure
occurred, which we will now attempt to
narrate.
1t has been handed down from gene
ration to generation, so that at this day
all about the spot are familiar with the
story.
Many years ago, when there was hard.
ly settler whose cabin stood beneath
the shadow of the white hills, hunter
by the name of Silas Pendexter came
thither, and built his cabin on the high
bank overlooking the Sacc, in the lower
part of what is now known as the town
of Bartlett
Here for ear he lived alone, seeing
only now and then the face of one oi
his own race, and doing little or nothing
except what pertained to his calling
Unlike his neighbors farther down the
river he made no clearing about his cab
in, on which he might raise few of the
necessities of life. He depended upon
his rifle alone to furnish him all he need
ed. That which he could not obtain in
the forest he secured by exchanging the
fruits of his toll with those whose efforts
lay in another direction.
Few people came to his cabin. Now
and then a settler would come up to pay
him visit, or 60 on hunting trip with
him, Sometimes, too, a redskin would
claim his hospitality ;but these occasions
were few and far between.
The tribe of Pigwaket. who claimed
all the lands south of the mountains,
were never friendly to the whites, whom
they regarded as interlopers, come to
steal away the lands which were their
own and their fathers before them.
Day after day and year after year, the
settlers in the valley of the Sage worked
in the fields with their rifles beside them
or slept with them 80 close to their beds
that they could grasp them at the slight
est note of alarm.
Pendexter was no exception to this
rule Although in the main he got on
we'll with the red skins, vet there were
times when he escaped but narrowly
with his life. One of these adventures
We will now attempt to narrate.
One beautiful October morning he
took his rifle and set out for days hunt
in the forest. t...
Following the course of the Sage
across the wide meadows, he reached al
length the place where the waters of the
Ellis mingled with the Sage.
Here turning his face to the northward
he followed up the bank of the former
toward region where he knew the game
always abounded.
By making detour to the left he
avoided the high cliffs about the falls
and came on to. the river again some
half mile above. In doing this he
struck some fresh deer tracks, which told
him that the game he sought was close
at hand. and that by little caution he
would be able to go back heavily laden
to his hut. ......
A few minutes later, and his practiced
eye discovered other signs than those
made by the game he was seeking. HI
saw footprints of savages, evidently as
recently made as those Of the deer.
These admonisbed him that he hac
other game to be on the lookout for, or
rather that he must see that he was moi
himself hunted.
Cautiously he crept along through the
thick tangled forest, following the trai