The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1877-05-31
pooo,ae voR tars
~ rnr INV. IRVING L. SEAMAN.

John King wah seal IN haste ou an er-
rnud TO bis usclc's, mile disiAnt. Ills
way led along well.iroddsu path across
3 belt Of woods.
twas 10 western Pennsylvanls Ia the
dark years Of lsdisn wAn; but The ssY.
ages had not been seen 10 that vicinity
tor some tims. so that no danger was
]. rsdtor lhe ad on such short trip.
Indeed, he bad passed over the same
road simost every day since bic ia,ber
meved ioto the Presque lsle country, two
years before, and hAd never met Aay.
thing s,sbgrr than a wild turkey or =
deer
John Vas brave, athletic boy Of four.
tees, quite noted in the settlement for
his pyaclnality, and As anre to arrive on
time as en- express. AZ be left the door
be RO.iced that II was one O'clock, aud
said 10 . jelly tone to his parents:
Now for race with the shadow, !
shall be back before Ii reaches The two
marx.
So many years ago the pioneers o. the
borders measured the flight Of time BY
sort OF sun.dial on the cabin floor. A
spot was selected where In clear days
the sun shone full through the narrow
window, aud when some officer having
watch was present the llue OF shadow
made at noon by the perpendicular win
dow casing was drawn along the noor.
Then the hours aud half hours were
spaced of oa either side the noon mark
for the forenoon and afternoon. This
kind OF clock answered very well when
the skies were clear, but in cloudy wea-
lher settlers family was sadly adrift
on the food Of time.
When the shadow had crept across the
two mark, the mother noted II, and said
to herself, For once John Is outdone.
When half past two was reached she
went to the door aud looked for him; /;
when the three mark Was passed she fel,
very anxious about him, and called to
her husband who was 10 the field near
by. But their confidence in the young
fellows ability TO the care OF himsel If was
such that ,hSy waited, though uneaslly,
until after four, when the father siung
bis gun across his shoulder and started
up the path by which the absentee was
expected
Mr.. King was fine specimen OF bor'
der man, tall, strong, steady-aerved,
brave and intelligent. he was M ex.
perienced hunter aud successful Indian
fighter.
But now, leaving him, as with q cat
ike step aud watchfnl eye be threads the
belt Of woods, let US go With John and
discover the cause OF bis unusual delay.
lie bad done his errand, his aunt had
stuffed bis pockets with parched corn,
and on his return he had reached 9 GER
tain bend Ia the path where he sat down
on mossy bank TO tighten the strings Of
bis coarse shoes. just as the matter
was finished, noise caused him to lsok
sharply among the trees, when he esped
within few rods, running toward him
with uplifted tomahswk, an exceedingly
large Indian. A glance was enough TO
start the sd to bis feet and prompt him
to his best speed for safety. But the
warriors position was such as to cut him
off from the path 10 bis own home, or to
bis uncle's; so that no way was left to
him but to strike iHto the untrod forest
and run for life. He had gone but lit
tie distance when he heard the steps of
bis pursuer rapidly overtakiDg him, and
knew that be could not escape by flight.
And to sggrevate his case, be saw at this
instant, just before him, q large tree up
turned by the roots aud lying directly
across bis course.
His fate seemed sealed; every instant
he expected to feel the edge OF the battle
axe; aud such = horror bad hc OF the
knife, aud of having his scalp stretched
on hoop TO dry, that he involuntariy
put up bis hand 10 save bis head, fact
about which, in after years, he used to
laugh heartily. The tree, toward which
desperation inpelled the boys feet, hud
grown In lkrce parts, aud as il fell the
largest was uppermost, some six OF
seven feet high, and the other two direct
ly underneath like the rails OF a fence
while The great nake OF earth sdhering
to It's roots made cross section Of wall
two feet thick, rod long, and ten OF
twelve feet high. What lrapl
But as be came close to il he saw that
that the three prongs, as they lay one
under another, were far enough apart
for him to slip between, which be iu-
stantly did, just in time TO dodge furi.
ous but fruitless blow from the tona-
hawk.
The Indian, perreiying that the place
was too small to admit bis huge body,
sprang around the root, thinking to
catch bis victim on the further side. But
the keen.eyed lad was too wary for him.
Detecting the red skin's purpose, like
llAsh be slipped back between The fallen
trees, so that, As bis bIoodthirsty enemy
dashed into sight with yell, the barrI-
esde was slill between them. At thi.
the savage rushed TO the fence, aud plac-
ing bis hands on the upper tree attempt.
ed 10 jump over, but be could not spring
30 high. Then be tried TO crawl through
where John bad just gone. but found
only room for bis ugly bead.
Amer little he turned about. aud say.
lug in broken English:
Good by-me 20 way, walked slowly
round the root aud disappeared. The