Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-05-28
Dodging for Life.

the dark years of Indian wars but the
savages had not been seen in that vicin-
ity 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 wild turkey or
a deer.
Jshn was a brave. athletic boy of
fourteen, quite noted in the settlement
for his punctuality, and as sure to re-
turn on time as an express. AS he left
the door he noticed that it was one
o'clock, and said in jolly tone to his
parents:
'Now for 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 officer having a
watch was present the line of shadow
made at noon by the perpendicular win-
dow-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 food of time.
When the shadow had crept across the
two mark, the mother noted it, and said
to herself, "For once John is outdone. u
When half past two was reached she
went to the door and looked for him
wheu the three mark was passed she felt
very anxious about him, and called to
her husband who was in the field near
by. But their confidence in the young
fellows ability to take care of himself
was such that they waited, though unea-
silly, until after four, when the father
slung his gun across his shoulder and
started up the path by which the absen.
tee was expected.
Mr.. King was fine specimen of 6
border man, tall, strong, steadY-nerved
brave and intelligent. He was an ex
perienced hunter and successful Indiar
fighter.
But now. leaving him, as with cat
like step and watchful eye he thread
the belt of woods, let us go with Johr
and 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 be had reached Ger
tain bend in the path where he sat dow
on a mossy bank to tighten the string
of his coarse shoes. Just as the matte
was finished, noise caused him to lool
sharply among the trees, when he espie,
within few rods, running toward hir
with uplifted tomahawk, an exceedingl
large Indian. A glance was enough t
start the lad to his feet and prompt hir
to his best speed for safety. But tn
warriors position was such as to Gu
him off from the path to his own home
or to his uncle's; so that no way wa
left him but to strike into the intro
forest and run for life. He had gon
but little distance when he heard th
steps of his pursuer rapidly overtakin
him, and knew that he could not escap
by flight And to aggravate his case
he saw at this instant, just before him
a large tree upturned by the roots an
lying directly across his course.
His fate seemed sealed every instan
he expected to feel the edge of the bal
tie axe and such horror had be {
the knife, and of having his seal
stretched on a hoop to dry, that he il
voluntarily put up his hand to save hi
head, fact about which, in after years
he used to laugh heartily. The tire,
toward which desperation impelled th
boys feet, had grown in three part.
and as it fell the largest was uppermos
some six or seven feet high, and the otE
er two directly underneath like the rail
of a fence while the great fake of cart
adhering to its roots made cross sex
tion of wall two feet thick, rod lons
and ten or twelve feet high. What
trap
But as he came close to it he sa
that the three prongs, as they lay Oh
under another, were far enough apal
for him to slip between, which he il
stantly did, just in time to dodge fl
rious but fruitless blow from the tom;
hawk.
The Indian. perceiving that the plat
was too small to admit his huge bod,
swiftly sprang around the root, thinkin
to catch his victim on the further sid
But the een-eyed lad was too wary fl
him. Detecting the redskins purpos'
like fash he slipped back between tt
fallen trees, so that, as his bloodthirst
enemy dashed in sight with yell. tt
barricade was still between them. A