The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-08-17

The savage lying on the left side OF hin
moved, and he lay perfectly motion less
almost holding his breath, with his hant
under him in the same position as wher
confined, But the Indian only stretched
; himselfa little, and then was off to sleeI
again.
, Dick now went to work to free his othel
hand, but the knot was drawn so hare
that, even with the help Of the other, hi
found it impossible to do So
He remembered his pocket-knife, ant
that he had given it to his boy to play
with upon going out to work on the af
ternoon of his captivity. If he had il
now, how qnick he would be a free
man
The moon had risen, and was shining
down through the branches of the trees
and he saw its rays glittering on the
blade of knife in the belt of the savage
that had so recently moved.
1t was desperate undertaking, but
his situation required desperate meas
ures.
With the utmost caution he stretched
out his liberated hand and slowly drew
the knife from its resting place. The In
dian did not stir, and his deep breathing
told Dick that he was sleeping soundly.
A moment more and he was lying with
the cords cut from his limbs, with none
of the savages wiser for his motions.
Now came the most difficult part of the
opeiation-to rise to his feet and get be-
yond the confines of the campfire with
out awakening any of his captors.
But Dick proved equal to the emer-
gency Slowly and with the utmost eau
ton he rose up on his hands and knees.
The swapping ofa twig he knew, would
betray him to the watchful ears of those
about him.
On his feet at last, he stepped over the
sleeping savage whose knife he held in
his hand, and slowly approached the In
dian by whose side his rifle was lying.
That he did not mean to leave behind,
as he would need it for his own protec-
ton and to procure food with before he
would regain the settlement. STOPPING
down, his hand was upon it; when the
savage awakened by the slight motion he
made, essayed to spring to his feet.
That action cost him his life, for Dick
plunged the knife he still held in his
hand into his breast, and he fell back
with deep groan.
All caution was now needless, for every
savage was now awakened, and snatch
Up his rife, Dick sprang into the forest,
iollowed by war-whoop from the lips
If every red-skin.
A moment only was required to show
hem the situation, and to shake off the
leep that hung heavily on their eyelids.
hey saw their dead comrade on the
round, and caught glimpse of their
risoner as he sprang away. Then with i
mother fierce war whoop, breaking I
rom their throats, they started in pur-
uit. l
Dicks blood ran cold as he heard the
houts that rang through the forest and
,ell he knew that, if he again fell into
heir hands, he need expect no mercy,
,r they would avenge the death of their :,
omrade by the most fiendish of tor
Tres.
With only a few PAGES the start, he
new he had not much chance of escape; j,
1t, slim as it was, he determined to
axe the best possible use oft.
For half mile about the same dis
nee was kept between them, and then, fir
spite ofall his efforts, they gained upon CT
m, and he knew that in few minutes er
ore he would be in their power unless Ell
, could manage to deceive them in re
me manner and get them on another &C
lck. U
The part of the forest he was now in ra
rs very dense, so that only few strag. VI
ing moonbeams found their way here IL
d there through the tree-tops. No In '"
an was yet in sight, though they were oo y"
altered on every side through the for ~, ~
!, trusting more to the sense of hearing in
an tofollowing the trail made. A large in
le lay ou the ground before him, and tie
he passed the trunk he saw there was tn
,avity sufficiently large for him to force Tc
5 body into it. lie
This was the hiding place he sought, VII
d he at once availed himself of it. fol
acing his rifle in before him, he forced fir
5 way in for distance of perhaps an
enty feet, where he lay perfectly quiet lie
Ough almost afraid that the beating of mt
) own heart would betray him to his ~
emies. Il'
Hardly was he safely enconCed when s'' s''
heard the footsteps of the Indians as W
ey hurried by. In few moments they =, ~
d died away; and for the first time 90 90
ice he had plunged the knife into the bn
east of the savage he experienced tb
lsation Of relief.
Still, he knew that he could remain MI
lere he was but few moments, until
jured that they had all passed by; for
, long they would discover their mis-
re and return to look for his trail. He sp
lst emerge; and by striking out in an H,
posite direction from that which he th
been pursuing he hoped to elude !
rsut. nj
Five, ten minutes passed, and Dick was ro
the point of emerging from his hiding en-