Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1874-10-21
Whole No, l67.

leaves. OtteflnS lOuu SnOut
that his presence might be sooner
known, Rranson sprang forward like
a wounded buck, great fear in his
heart, for he had only too clearly
recognized in that scream the ago
nized voice of his wife.
1t took but moment for him to
clear the intervening timber and
underground, and as he dashed out
into the clearing, holding his rifle
ready for instant use, he compre-
hended at one swift glance all that
had taken place, and what was fur
ther to fear.
Near the end of the cabin facing
the cliff, of which / have spoken,
stood the mother, with her face
pallid as death, her arms outstretch-
ed, her eyes fixed upon the pre-
cipitous heights up which the
Indian was struggling.
"My child! my child % was all
the woman said, and Barnson 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
father for q 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 hideous.
ly painted countenance the full
purpose that actuated the ab-
duction.
"God aid mew Branson mutter-
ed, as he raised his rifle, glanced
through the sights, and touched
the trigger.
The Indian started violently at
the shot. He was hit, but not bad
ly, and with yell of devilish tri-
umph he passed upward.
"Too low by a couple of inches" /"
said low, calm voice at the set
tiers elbow.
Branson started as though he
himself had been shot. Where
was this man from Who was he I
Neither had seen him approach.
But there was no time for explain
ations. The stranger, man rath-
er 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 ad-
vance, threw up an unusually long
rifle, as though preparing to fire.
"For Gods sake, stranger, be
careful of my childw cried Bran
son, while the agonized mother
uttered an audiable prayer.
"It's our only chance. I 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
reached the summit of the steep.
That he was wounded now became
evident, as upon the broad edge OF
n rock he paused for O moment.
This opportunity was seized by the
unknown. Although the savage
had taken the precaution to hold
the child mp in front of him as a
shield, covering nearly the whole
Of his brawnv chest, but leaving
his head uncovered, the stranger
did not hesitate to make the shot.
For one second as it gained its
position, the rifle wavered,
and then Instantly became i'm
movable as though held in a vice.
With clasped hands and staring
eyes the parents watched the
statute like form upon which so
much depended.
Suddenly a 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 in
stant and then pitch forward on the
rocks. 1t may be imagined that
the father was not long In
reaching the place where his child
lay, and in a few moments more
the little one was in its mothers
I arms.
"Tell US who you are, that we