The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1876-08-24
A SHOT FOR LIFE.

Where the Kentucky rlvef cuts 1t
way through the mountains, havin)
upon either bank bold, rugged cliffs, tina
left their SUBMITS five hundred and (
thousand feet, as the case may be, above
the stream, there lived in early times {
settler by the name Of Rufus Branson
who with his wife and little child, 6
charming young girl of eight or nine
years Of age, occupied the rude cabin at
the base of the precipice a little back
from the river.
Although greatly exposed to danger,
the Indians at that time being very plen-
tiful throughout the region, he
managed to live quietly for several
years.
The Indians frequently visited the
rude home of the hunter, and being al
ways welcomed and provided with such
food as was in the larder, they maintain
ed a friendly attitude. Especially we're
they fond of the child, Maggie, and more
than one fierce warrior had been seen sit
ting on the grass in front of the cabin,
listening to the childish prattle of the
little one, or else engaged in making ner
some toy or plaything from willow twigs
or plant bark.
In this manner several years had pass
ed, and Rufus Branson came to feel so
secure as though he were within the
walls of a frontier fort. One evening
Branson and his wife were seated near
the doorway, when suddenly a shadow
fell across the threshold, and the next
moments tall savage, whose Keeling step
and blood-shOt eye told that he was in
toxicated. appeared, and staggering upon
the long steps threw himself upon them.
His first demand was for fire water, which
was Of course refused, on theground that
there was none in the house. The In
dian became cross and ugly, and declared |
with terrible oaths that if the liquor was |
not produced he would murder the whole |
household. Branson was a brave, deter
mined man, and although he dreaded the
necessity, yet he saw he would be COM
oelled to take prompt steps to pre-
vent the savage from executing his
,hreat.
Waiting until the warrior had made a
demonstration, which he soon did by at
empting to draw his tomahawk, Bran
on sprang at him, knocked him down
With blow Oils first, and then quietly
lisarmed him and bound him where he
ay. After few moments of furious
aving and futile efforts to free
himself, the savage rolled over and
ank into drunken sleep. He did not
wake until the next morning, but be-
ore he did 80 the settlers had quietly re.
moved the bonds and restored the
Weapons, which he laid by the sleeper's
ide. The savage, on awakening, slowly
ose to his feet, felt his wrists, as if the
longs had left a feeling there, took up
is weapons, and, without speaking a
'ord, left and disappeared in the timber
ear by.
What do you think of that ?" asked
he wife, turning to her husband with a
frightened look.
"Pshaw Don't trouble your head
bout the drunken brute" answered the
ettler, lightly; but as he turned away
nd stepped into the yard he muttered
Like itH Well, not much. The fell
,w must be watched. / was in hopes
hat he would not have remembered,
ut that lump where my fist landed was
efficient, If nothing else, TO recall the
circumstance"
The summer passed, and they saw
heir drunken guest no more. He failed
0 make his appearance. But as the
raves began to fall, the settlers one day,
'hile returning from hunting on the
ills, and passing through a dense piece !
timber not far from the house, 1
lught sight Of figure lurking in the /
ushes, but quickly disappeared when |
G advanced 70 where IL was The figure I
~ that Of an Indian warrior, and