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

John LINK was sent In haste on an
u errand to his uncle's, a mile dis
tant. His way led along well trodden
path across belt of woods.
1t was in Western Pennsylvania in
the dark days of Indian wars; but the
savages had not been seen in that vicini-
ty for some time, SO that no danger was
feared for the lad on such short trip.
Indeed, he had passed over the same
road almost every day since his father
moved into the Presque Isle country
two years before, and had never met
anything stranger than a wild turkey
or deer.
John was brave, athletic boy of IA,
quite noted in the settlement for his
punctuality, and as sure to return as an
express. AS he left the door he noticed
that it was one o'clock, and said in a
jolly tone to his parents:
Now, for race with the shadow;
1 shall be back before it reaches the two
mark" rr.
So many years ago the pioneer of 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, and when some officer having
watch was present, the line of the
shadow made at noon by the perpen-
dicular window-casing was drawn along
the floor. Then the hours and half
hours were spaced off on either side, the
noon mark for the forenoon and after
noon. This kind of clock answered
very well when the sky was clear, but
in cloudy weather a settlers family was
sadly adrift on the flood of time
When the shadow had crept across
the two mark, the mother noted it, and
said to herself, " for once John is out
done" When half past two was reach
ed she went to the door and looked for
him. when the three mark passed she
felt very anxious about him, and called
to her husband who was in field near
by. Bat their confidence in the young
fellows ability to take care of himself
was such that they waited, though un-
easily, until after four, when the father
slung his gun across his shoulder and
started up the path by which the alb
sentee was expected.
Mr.. King was fine specimen of a
border man, tall, strong, steady nerved,
brave and.intelligent He was an expert
enced hunter and successful Indian
fighter.
But now leave him, as with cat-like
step and watchful.eye he treads the belt
of woods, let us go with John and dis
cover the cause of his unusual delay.
He had done his errand, his aunt had
stuffed his pockets with parched corn,
and en- his return he had reached a GER
tain bend in the path where he had sat
down on a mossy bank to tighten the
strings of his coarse shoes. just as the
matter was finished, noise caused him
to look sharply among the trees, when
he espied within few rods, running
toward him with tomahawk, an ex-
ceedingly large Indian. A glance was
enough to start the lad to his feet and
prompt him to his best speed for safety
But the warriors position was such as
to cut him off from the path to his
home, or to his uncle's so that no way
was left for him but to strike into the
untred forest and run for life. He had
gone but little distance when he heard
the step of his pursuer rapidly overtal-
ing him, and knew that he could not
escape by fight. And to aggravate his
case, he saw at this instant, just before
him, a large tree upturned by the roots
and lying directly across his course.
His fate seemed sealed; every instant
he expected to feel the edge of the battle
axe; and such horror had he of the
knife, and Of having his scalp stretched
over a hoop to dry, that he involuntari-
ly put up his hand to save his head,
fact about which in after years, he used
to laugh heartily. The tree, towards
which desperation impelled the boys
feet, had grown into three parts, and as
it fell the largest was uppermost, some
six or seven feet high, and the other two
directly underneath like the rails of q
fence; while. the great flakes of earth
adhering to its roots made cross sec
ton of wall two feet thick, a rod long,
and ten or fifteen feet high. What a
trapl
But as he came close to 1t he saw that
the prongs, as they lay one under an
other, were far enough apart for him to
slip between, which he instantly did.