Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-06-27
DODGlNG FOR LIFE.


John King was sent in haste on an
errand to his uncle's, mile distant.
His way led along a well-trodden path
across belt Of woods.
1t was in Western Pennsylvania in
the dark years of Indian wars; but
the savages had not been seen in that
vicinity for some time, so that no
danger was feared for the lad on such
a short trip. Indeed, he had passed
over the same road almost every day
since his ather moved into the Pressure
Isle country, two years before, and had
never met anything stranger than a
wild turkey or deer.
John was a brave, athletic boy of
fourteen, quite noted in the settlement
for his punctualitv, and as sure to re-
turn on time as an express. AS he
left the door he noticed that it was one
clock, and said in jolly tone to his
parents:
CHOW for a race with the shadow !;
shall be back before it reaches the
two mark"
SO many years ago the pioneers 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 Off
Ger having watch was present the
| line OF shadow made at noon by the
| perpendicular 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 afternoon. This kind of
clock answered very well when the
skies were clear, but in cloudy wealth
er 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
reached she went to the door and
looked for him; when the three mark
was passed she felt very anxious about
him, and called to her husband who
was in the field near by. But theil
confidence in the young fellows ability
to take care Of himself was such that
they waited, though uneasily, until
after four, when the father slung his
gun across his shoulder. and started
up the path 10y which the absentee was
expected.
Mr.. King was a fine specimen of a
border man, tall, strong, steady-nerved,
brave and intelligent. He was an eX.
perienced hunter and successful In.
dian fighter.
| Dat loo, him, ,xrif1,
like step and watchful eye he thread:
the belt of woods, let us go with JOIN
ard discover the cause of his unusua
delay.
He had done his errand, his aunt haC
stuffed his pockets with parched corn
and on his return he had reached a GER
tain bend in the path where he sal
down on messy bank to tighten The
strings of his coarse shoes. Just us The
matter was finished, noise caused hin
to look sharply among the trees, wher
he eSpied within a few rods. running
toward him with uplifted tomahawk
an exceedingly large II lian. A glance
was enough to start the lad to his feet
and prompt him to his best speed fol
safety. But the warriors position was
such as to cut him off from the path
to his own home, or 10 his uncle's
so that no way was left him but tC
strike into the untrod forest and run
for life. He had gone but little dis
lance when he heard the steps of hi:
pursuer rapidly overtaking him, anC
knew that he could not escape by flight
And to aggravate his case, he saw al
this instant, just before him, a large
tree upturned by the roots, and lying
directly across his course.
His fate seemed sealed; every in.
slant he expected to feel the edge OF
the battle AK; and such horror had
he of the knife, and of having his
scalp stretched on a hoop to dry, that
he involuntarily put up his hand to
save his head, a fact about which, il
after years, he used to laugh heartily
The tree, toward which desperation
impelled the boys feet, had grown in
three parts, and as it fell the largest
was uppermost, some six or seven fee,
high. and the other two directly un.
derneath like the rails of fence
while the great flake of earth adher.
ing to its roots made a cross section
of wall two feet thick, a rod long.
and ten or twelve feet high. What a
trap
But as he came close to it he saw
that the three prongs, As they lay one
under another, were far enough apart
for him to slip between, which he in.
stantly did, Just in time TO dodge fu.
rious but fruitless blow from II toma,
hawk.
The Indian. perceiving that the place
was too small to admit his huge body,
swiftly spraug around the root. think,
ing to catch his victim on the further
side. But the keeu-eyed lad was too