The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1877-09-11


saying in broken English, " Goodbye
me go way" walked slowly around the
root and disappeared. The boy knew,
however, that IL was only trick, and
kept his eyes and ears alert against sur
prise.
Immediately lie detected the snakish
eyes of the savage cleaning at him from
among the dry leaves on the ground at
the corner of the root on the opposite
side of the fence, where the old rascal
had crept, in order to watch the young
ster unseen.
After lying in this position for two or
three minutes-only his head in sight
and that covered with leaves--he made
another terrible dash around the
root. But John was too quick for him,
and slipped safely between the logs.
Failing again the wicked redskin re-
sorted to another ruse. He began to
parley, saying " Me good Injun = me
no hurt. Shake hands !" And he
thrust his had through the barricade.-
OF eouse he did not succeed in cheating
biiC iibIlC lCliOW Wy buCh bl1ollOW OC-
vice, and so again changed his tactics.
Presenting his gun he commanded
John to surrender or be shot; but he
preferred to die by bullet rather than
tomahawk, and so stood his ground
Strangely enough, the Indian did not
shoot; but after looking across the
sights of the gun making fearful faces,
he placed the weapon belinda tree some
rods away, and resorted to the dodge of
parleying once more.
"Injun hungry-good boy go home
get Injun bread.'
But John did not think it best to
start for home on such an invita-
ton.
The next effort was to kill the lad by
throwing his tomahawk at him between
the trees, but he misealculated the space
and struck the weapon against the log,
breaking out the handle, which, falling
at Johns feet, was Immediately picked
up by him as means of defense.
One of the savage's devices, by which,
perhaps, ,he meant to frighten his victim,
was to place his hideous face at the
opening between the logs, and howl
and gnash at him like wolf
But the boys courage had rallied, and
he began to pelt his enemy with stones
and Jumps of earth obtained from the
upturned soil, giving him many sting
| ing hit. This SO maddened the Indian,
that he drew his scalping knife and gave
chase for along time, perhaps thinking to
tire the youngster out by constant dodg-
| ing. But in this plan he was mistaken,
for resolute hard-working frontier boy
has vast fund of endurance. Once the
| cleaning knife, thrust between the logs
after him, came near doing its bloody
work but Johns grit was aroused, and
he struck the brutal hand a heavy blow
with the tomahawk handle.
But the many turns and tides, tricks
and dodges of that fearful struggle, can
never be related. There are some scenes
too tragical for words /; besides the par
| ticulars are covered under the drift of
forgetfulness ever heaping above the
past. t
OF course, during all that terrible
afternoon, Johns thoughts and eyes
were constantly turning in the direction
of his home. He knew that his father
would seek him before night, and as the
hours wore on he began to look with
great anxiety for his coming. He had
the common faith of all children in
parents, and felt they would not leave
him to perish. 1"
At length he caught glimpse of
form coming up the path. Oh, how his
heart bounded
With renewed force he began to hurl
at his foe everything he could seize, rails
ing such commotion as to attract his
fathers attention, who comprehending
the whole scene at a glance, and stole up
within gunshot of the unsuspectfng red
man.
The sequel is soon told. The crack Of
the settlers rifle signaled the Indians
fate
The warriors trinkets were taken as
trophies his gun having bullet, but
no powder in its chamber, could not be
fired, thus explaining why he had not
shot the boy when he had threatened to
do so. 'at1
These trophies are still treasured by
the grandchildren of our hero, who are
justly proud of such an exploit. 90
-. IL