American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-02-27
THE STORY OF An INDIAN
HUNTER.

nj
THE Mohawks were fierce, bloc,
thirsty tribe of Indians; not slow in thei
acknowledgment of a favor, but lif,
long in the remembrance of an injury
Once aroused their anger could only b
appeased with blood. Shrewd as well a
savage and expert in the use of weapon
of warfare their presence always prove,
an inspiration of terror. ENJOYING from
time immemoral the uncontested Occu
pancy and range of the Valley of tn
Mohawk and the hills and woods of Her
kimer, when finally the white man bega]
to show his face among them all tn
fiendish qualities in their nature were ex
cited, and upon the slightest provoca
ton, as also quite frequently in the alb
sence of any prOvOcation whatever, tn,
tOmahawk was buried in the brains O
their hated rivals. The "huntine
grounds" of Herkimer belonged to them
SO they conceived; and the "pale-face
must hands off," or make an uncere
monious pilgrimage to that countr,
and the weary are at rest.''
While the major portion of the Mo
hawks followed Brant to Canada, vel
there were many remnants of the tribe
still scattered through the wilds of North
ern Herkimer, unwilling to Quit the an.
cestral lurking-places and game-abound
ing forests familiarly known TO all New
Workers rs the John Brown Tract ,
The writer remembers having met MANY
of these savages in the town of Sails
bury at different times, even SO late as
1888 and "a. They would frequently
call at his fathers residence and not ask
for, but demand, such articles of food
clothing and ornament as they might
chance to see or have reason to suppose
were among the family possessions A
hesitancy to comply with their demands
was attended by such peculiar aboriginal
contortions of cOuntenance and such
wsrlike gesticulations as would ordina-
rily Obviate protracted parleying and in
sure the qualification of their desires,
Not only were they consummate beg
gars, after this style, but they were also
most accomplished thieves and had a
peculiar penchant for fat lambs and
calves, which they would "gobble up
nd Abitsfm.
"Old Foster" as he was termed, was a
good Halter of the red-man. That was
= his forte. He was " at home" nowhere
else. And he had good reason for in
dulging his hatred; SO he used to say.
The Indians, according to his assevera-
tions, had sacked his earthly home and
tomahawked and scalped its inmates.
He had barely escaped by dropping un-
perceived through the trap door, crawl
ing out of the cellar window, and taking
refuge in the thick foliage of a conven.
lent hemlo OK, where he remained until
the work of slaughter and pillage was
completed, and the Indians had departed
for fresh scenes of perfidy and blood.
At that time Foster was a mere strip
ling; but he was old enough to form a
very vivid conception of the "situa-
ton" And he came down from that
hemiock "chockfui" of hatred and ven
geance.
Here" said Foster, " is my life-work;
and ana in for it. Those red devils
shall pay for this nights job, and a good
round price at that. The murder of nv
poor fathers family shall be avenged;
and the name of Foster shall be a terror
whenever Mohawk shall hear it."
And these were not idle words uttered
in haste and to be repented at leisure.
They were only faint reflection of the
terribly resOlute purpose that fired young
Fosters soul. He at once began to
familiarize himself with the uses and
capacities of the rifle. Several pieces
were tested by Foster before finding one
that would meet the peculiar demands of
the business he had on hand An En-
glish weapon finally found its way into
his hands that appeared to possess the
passed a considerable portion of each
day in 'prac icing" When he could
drive nail every shot at seventy Eve
yards, and split bullet on the blade of
jack-knife at sixty yaIds five shots out
of SIX, he esteemed himself ready for
. business" and prepared to enter upon
it without delay.
81 know" he said, "a little Indian,
somewhat bigger than me, who sits all
fi.fV IN a off fol,n -, Co.
Creek He'll do to begin on. Failing
to report at the hut at the usual time
with fish for supper the old Indian will
come to see what S the matter; and that'll
be chance No. g."
Creeping steaithiIy through the spruce
and hemlock trees that fringed the creek
Foster soon discovered his victim in his
accustomed place. The target was suffi-
GENTLY conspicuous, SO far as hitting it
was concerned; but the faH would not be
great enough to satisfy Fosters ambition.
So resting one end of dead, dry limb on
a falling tree he Jumped suddenly upon
it, and the noise of It's breaking rang
through the forest. The Indian sprang
suddenly to his feet and looked in the di-
rection whence the noise proceeded, per-
haps expecting the approach of a bear
on the way to the creek to slake it's
thirst. The next moment the sharp
crack Of the rifle was heard, and the In
dian fell backward into the creek, and
disappeared beneath its dark and tur-
bid waters. Reloading his rifle and re-
tracing his steps Foster proceeded down
the creek to the sawmilI, about a mile
distant, for the purpose of crossing the
stream ON the mill-dam, and awaiting
upon the other side the appearance of
the " old Indian" upon the scene of the
young ones disappearance.
Hunting to-day, are you:" said Mr..
Luther, who met Foster at the mill.
"Yes; looking around a little. Seen
any game down this way, Mr.. Luther"
Not to-day; but very large bear
swan the pond Yesterday, and my rifle
was at the house. Find anything above?
/ heard you shoot"
"Game is scarce on this side, Mr..
Luther. and / thought I'd try 'tOther
side. SlsOt something up there, but it
fell in the creek and sunk; but 1 don't
care much; guess 'twasn't good TO eat"
Foster continued his tramp in the
dense forest. Reaching point directly
opposite the Indian stump" he quietly
took position near the body of an i'm
mense tree and awaited events. ALI at
once game became unusually abundant;
squirrels were leapihg on the tree-tOps;
an occasional beaver, then a mink, would
make its appearance at the edge of the
stream, here some forty yards wide and
quite deep: and even deer and wolf
had come within range of the rifle, and
vet did it " hold it's peace" lest the ex-
pected game" on the other side should
lie frightened away. bate in the after
noon the old Indian made his appear
ance, sure enough. He looked up and
down the creek but could detect no