The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1877-06-14
Dodging for Life.

John King was sent in haste on an
errand 10 bis unclc's, a mile distant
His way led along . well-:rodden path
across belt Of woods
IL was II Western Pennsylvsnia in
the dark years Of Indian wars; out the
savsges had not been seen in that
vicinity for some time, SO that m dan
ger was feared for lad on such shor.
trip. Indeed. he had passed over the
same road almost every day since his
father moved into Presque Isle country,
two years before, and had never met
anything stranger than . wild turkey
or deer.
John Was q brave, athletic boy Of
fourteen. quite noted in the village for
his tunctuality, and Is sure 10 return
on time As sn express As he left the
DOR he no,iced that it was one o'clock,
and said in jolly tone to his parents ::
Now for . race with tho shadow
shall be back before it reaches the two
mark"
So many years ago the pioneers
measured the flight Of time by sort of
sun-dial on the cabin floor. A spot
was selected where in clsar days the
sun shonc fall through the narrow win
dows, and when some officer having q
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 a clock answered very
we'll when the skies were clear, but III
cloudy weather a settlers family was
sadly adrift on the floor Of time
When the shadow had crept across
the two mark, the mother noted it, aud
said to herself: For o:ce John is out
done" When half-psst 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 10 her husband who WAS in a
field near by But their confidence in
the young fellows ability to take care
of himself WAS such that they waited.
though uncasily, until after four. when
the father flung his gun across bis
shoulder and started up the path 10y
which the absentee was expected.
Mr.. King was ine specimen Of q
border man. tall. strong. steady nsrved,
brave and intelligent. He was an OK
perienced hunter and successful In
dian fighter.
But now. leaving him. as with = cat.
like step and watchful eye hc treads
the belt Of woods, let us go with John
| and discover the cause of his unusual
delay.
He had done his errand, his aunt had
stuffed his pockets with parched corn.
and on his return he had reached . GER
tain bend in the path where hs sat
down on . messy bank to tighten the
strings of his coarse shoes. Just
as the matter was finished, q noise
caused him to look sharply among the
trees, when he espied within few rods.
running toward him with up!ifted
tomahawk. ali exceedingly large Indian
A glance was enough to start the lad to
his feet and prompt him to his bsst
speed for safety. But the warriors posi-
tion was such as to cut him off from
the path 10 his home. OF TO his uncle's !;
SO that no way was lef. him but TO
strike into the untrod forest and run for
life. He had gone bat a little distance
when he heard the steps of his pursuer
rapidly ovortaking him. and knew that
he could not escape by fight. And to
aggrAvate his case, he saw Ut this in-
slant. just before him. large tree up
turned by the roots and lying directly
across his course
His fate seemed sealed every instant
he expected TO feel the edge Of the bat
tie axe, and such !. horror had he OF the
knife. and having his scalp stretched on
a hoop TO dry, that he involuntariIy put
up his hand to save his head. fac.
abou, which III after years, be used to
laugh heartily. The tree. toward which
desperation impelled the boys feet. had
grown in three parts, and as it fell the
larges. MAS uppetmost. some six or
seven feet high. and the other two di-
rectly nndern2ath like the rails Of .
fence; while the great fake of earth
a5heriug to its roots made = cross sec
tion Of wall two feet thick, = roi Ion z.
aud ten or twelve feet high. What a
trap
+ But a he came close 10 il he saw the
, three prongs, as they lay one under an
+ other. were far enough apart for him Ia
slip between, which be instantly did
, JUS, in time 10 dodge s furious bu.
/ frultless blow from the ,omahawk.
+ The indisn porceiviug that the place
MAS too email to admit his huge body.
swiftly spraug around the root. think
ing 10 catch his victim on the othe +
side. Bus the keen eyed lad WAS too
wary for him. Detecting the red skin $
purpose. like . flash he slipped back
F between the fallen trees, 81 that, a. his
hgooithirsty enemy dashed in sight
with yell. the harricsie was still be-
tween thom. Al this the sav,ge rushed
I IN tie fence. and placing his hAnis on
the upper tree. attempted 20 Jump over.
bat he could no, spr,ng So high Then
he tried 10 crawl through where John
had just gone. bu; 'ouai only room for
his ugly head.
After a little be turned about. and
saying ia broken English. &c 81 by
rae go wav." walked SLOWLY round the
root aad disappeared The boy know.
however, IL wss only trick. aud kept
hi. eyes ani "aFs alert agsiu.; surprise
Immediately be detected the snskish
sy,s @. tie savsge cleaning at him
tfo,n under the Try leaves oa the
sroata a, the corner Of the goos On tAc
opposite side of the fence. where the
Id rascal hal ereps in order to wa. b
the vuanSsteg unseen.