The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1875-06-10
Se1et Sturg
AN INDIANS REVENGE,
by RALPH RINGWooD.

.--.-...-BY RALPH -RlNGWOOD' -. .---
Where the Kentucky river cuts its way
through the mountains, having upon
either bank bold, rugged cliffs that lift
their SUBMITS five hundred and thous-
and feet, as the case may be, above the
ttream, there lived in the early tmes.a
settler by the name of Rufus Bransop,
who, with his wife and only child, a
charming little girl of some eight or nine
years, occupied the rude cabin at the
base of the precipice little back from
the river.
Although greatly exposedto danger
the Indians at the time being plentiful
throughout the regioh-he managed to
live peaceably for several years.
The Indians frequently visited the rude
home of the hunter, and being always
welcomed and provided with such food
as might be in the larder, they maintain
ed friendly attitude.
Especially were they fond Of the child
Maggie, and more than one fierce war
rior had been seen sitting on the grass in
front of the cabin, listening to the prattle
ofthat little one or else engaged in max
ing it some toy or plaything from willow
twigs or plant bark.
In this manner several years had been
passed, and Rufus Branson came to teel
as sure as though he was within the
walls of a frontier fort.
One evening Branson and his wife
we're seated near the doorway when
suddenly dark shadow fell across the
threshold, and the next moment tall
savage. whose reeling step and blood
shot eyes told that he was intoxicated,
appeared, and staggering to the log steps
threw himself upon them.
His first demand was for fire water
which was of course refused on the plea
that there was none in the house.
The Indian became cross and ugly,
swearing with terrible oaths that if the
liouor was not produced he would muir
der the whole household. Branson was a
brave determined man, yet he saw that
he would have to take steps to prevent
the savage from executing his threat
Waiting until the warrior had made a
demonstration, which he soon did by at
temptinq to draw his tomahawk, Bran
son sprung upon him, knocked him down
With a blow of his fist, and then quietly
d;sarmed him and bound him where he
Law. After a few minutes offurious raw
ing and futile efforts to free himself the
savage rolled over and sunk into drum
ken slumber.
He did not wake until the next morn
inc but before he did so the settler had
quietly removed his bonds and returned
bis weapons, which he lay by the sleep
er's side. .'''''
The savage on awakening rose slowly
to his feet, telt his wrists as though the
tbrong had left a feeling there, took up
his weapons, and, without speaking
word, left and disappeared in the timber
near by.
"Wbat think you OF that2" asked the
wife, turning to her husband with scared
"Pshaw! Don't trouble your head
about the drunken brute, " answered the
settler lightly, but as he turned away
and stepped into the yard he muttered
Like it! Well not much. The fellow
must be watched. Twas in hopes that he
would not have remembered but the
lump where fist landed was enough,
if nothing else, to recall. the clrcum-
stancess", A. 100.
The lsGmmer passed and they saw
their drunken guest no more He failed
to make his, appearance. But as the
leaves began to fall the settler one day,
while returning from hunt on the hills,
and passing through dense piece of
timber. not far from the house, caught
sight Of figure lurking among the bush
es, but which quickly disappeared when
he advanced toward where was. The
figure was that of an Indian warrior, and
Rufus Branson knew it was the one
whom he had knocked down and bound
the previous summer. -W a1,el d
The knowledge was not in any way
comforting, and hence he did not tell his
wife of the discovery. 1t would only
alarm her, without perhaps, any good
result. b He simply told her he had dis
covered bear tracks near by, and that
she and the child had better stay close to
the house when he was a bsent
Several days afterward Rufus Branson
heard his dogs in the timber down by
the river, and knowing they never open
ed without good cause he caught up his
rife and fastened to where they were
barking. They had struck fresh bear
trail, and as he arrived in sight they fair
ly lifted it, going off in a straight line
down the river,
The chase led him several miles, and
when at last he got his shot that ended
bruins career he found that it was three
or fo,lr o'clock in the afternoon,
Swingingsshis game in a sal ling out Of
reach Of cat or wolf he started for home
to get the old gray mare and return TO
fetch it that night. est tg.t . !
Taking a near cut he approached the
cabin from the western side, where the
timber grew heavy up to within a few
rods of the building, and consequently
r NuEtl 8ds iUf l8ii Vru 10 .-u'