Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-02-15

tuciu bio ISoNSu NouPhhASHS9'
} his place of conceament he one da
discovered an Indian picking evergreen
and gathering herbs of various kind:
and seeing no others with him, conclude,
that this was the "Medi cine man." an
that the present would be good time +
interrupt his practice. No sooner ha'
the bullet done its work, however, thar
the warwhoop sounded from. a half. dozer
throats not far rway. Toere were too
many for one to grapple with, and Foster
sought safety in flight The timber wa.
thick and heavy, and the ground qnitt
uneven; and Foster knew every rod ol
it. Just under the brow of & neighbor
ing hill was "Raltlesnake Den" and in
this he determined TO take refuge. The
Indians were coming in hot pursuit, but
so far had not seen the enemy, and We re
guided in the chase entirely by the
sound of his retreating footsteps. They
gave the "Den" q wide berth, supposing
certain death to be the penalty of near
approach. On reaching the top of the
hill, they paused and listened for the
sound they had been following. but
listened in vain.--A short consultatio
was held during which the "Den" was
mentioned; but the idea OF its search
was rejected as being unworthy of
sane mans consideration. If the enemy
had taken refuge there. his death was
certain and if any sought an exploration
OF those dark recesses. the bill of mort
ality would be so much the greater-so
they argued. But hark! sound was
heard away of TO the right, caused
probably, by passing VOL If or fox; and
in that direction the Indians dashed with
the utmost speed. When they were
well out OF the way, Foster cautiously
LET. his retreat and started for the
neighboring settlement" Lucky for
him that the day was cold or his life
would no doubt have been the price OF
his temerity in invading the precinct of
rattlesnakcdom.
The day following, Foster was met at
Luther's by several of the Mohawks, who
though they had not seen him in the
woods, charged him with shooting the
medicine Man" Foster did not in
direct terms deny the"soft impeachment"
but attempted to prove an alibi, in
which he was not encouraging!y success
ful. They then demanded his rifle, tina
they might compare its bore with the
hole in the dead mans head But,
impossible; the gun having been loane d
to friend, who had gone moose hunting!
Give bullet, than; we measure him. ="
said the Indians.
"Oh. yes, said Foster" "you can
have bullet; never refuse bullets to
Indians; good Tor them" And he
lumbled all his pock cts; then looked on
the mantelpiece; then examined his
"multum in parvo" box, but without
finding a single bullet.
81 declare" said Foster; that fellow
has taken the bullets, and moles, and
powder, along with the rife, and can't
give you a bullet to-day; must wait till
he comes back. next week"
UGH" said one OF the Indians !;
Dead lnjun no keep so long; must
plant. Me feel pockets"
"No, said Foster,"I never low linens
in my pockets; don't like 'em; but Luth-
er may feel, and if he finds bullets on me,
you may toma hawk me on the spot"
And Luther did leel; and though he
handled at least pound OF bullets in
those capacious pockets, still he did not
find any!the Mohawks were satisfied with
the examination; for they had unbound
ed confidence in Luther, who had shown
them many favors-only, however, for
fear of incurring their enmity in case
of refusal. Still, they were not
convinced OF Fosters innocence of the
charge they had preferred against him )
and Waughlegakah, the ex chiefs son,
said to him:
"Your turn next; Ingen have revenge
revenge sweet"
"All right" said Foster. casting 9
glance at Luther's rifle, hanging against
the wall (his own concealed beneath the
feather and straw bedsl. "All light,
Waugh; you redskins killed father;
family. all but me; and | am ready to
go when can stay no longer. Come,
stepping forward and taking down the
rifle, "let's 60 out and settle it now"
No." said Waugh; Inien no fgh
rifle with bow and arrow; he have rifle
next moon then white mans blood"
Waugh soon received his rifle, anC
sailed forth TO meet Foster. They agreed
10 meet for the conflict next day, at th'
edge OF an immense swamp.
Immediately after breakfast, next morn
ing, Foster shouldered his rifle an(
started for the scene of conflict, to-day
to become the field of blood and death
Following a circuitous path, which LEI
through a 40 acre lot OF heavily-timbere'
woodland, he at length reached al
elevated point from which the cntir
swamp was visible. Taking position
upon a ledge of rocks. he calmly awaite
Tho annaarance of Waugh: nor had b