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

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 yOungster unseen.
After lying in this position for two
or three minutes, only his head in
sight, and that covered with leaves, he
made another dash around the root
But John was too quick for him, and
slipped safely between the logs once
more.
Failing again, the wicked red-skin
resorted to another ruse. He began to
parley, saying, 81 Me good Injun-me
no hurt. Shake handp' And he thrust
his hand through the barricade. OF
course he did not succeed in cheating
the little fellow by such shallow de-
vice, and so again changed his tactics.
Presenting his gun, he commanded
John to surrender or be shot; but the
lad 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 his gun and making fear
| full faces, he placed the weapon behind
|
to the dodge of parleying once more.
"lnjun hungry-good boy go home
get Injun bread"
But John did not think it best to start
for home on such an invitation.
The next effort was to kill the lad
by throwing his tomahawk at him be-
tween the trees; but he miscalculated
the space. and struck the weapon
against log, breaking out the handle,
which, falling at Johns feet, was i'm
mediately picked up by him as a 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 humps of earth obtained
from the upturned soil, giving him
many singing hit. This SO mad
dened the Indian, that he drew his
scalping-knife and gave chase for a
long time, perhaps thinking to tire the
youngster out by constant lodging.
But in this plan he was mistaken, fol-
a 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 hanG
a heavy blow with the tomahawk han.
die.
lI,f hn ~ on nm ND III frI1 1yl
and lodges of that fearful struggle
can never be related. There are some
scenes too tragical for words beside,
the particulars are covered under the
drifts Of forgetfulness ever heapinp
above the past.
OF course, during all that terrible
afternoon, Johns thoughts and eyes
were constantly turning in the direc-
ton OF his home. He knew that his
father would seek him before night
and as the hours wore on he began tC
ing. lie had the common faith of al
children in parents, and felt they
would not leave him to perish.
a length he caught distant glimpse
of a form coming up the path. Oh
how his heart bounded
With renewed force he began again
to hurl at his foe everything he cou(t
seize, raising such a commotion as tC
attract the fathers notice, who, com
pretending the whole scene at glance
stole up within gun-shot of the unsus
pecting red man.
The sequel is soon told. The crack
of the settlers rifle signaled the
Indians fate.
The warriors weapons and trinkets
were taken as trophies; the gun, hav.
ing bullet but no powder in its cham
Der, could not be fired, thus explaining
why he had not shot the lad when he
threatened to do so.
These trophies are still treasured by
the grandchildren of our hero, who
are Justly proud of such an exploit.
In those early times American boys
were trained in a school chat developed
a rugged and noble manhood. Chris
ti0n Union.