Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1877-08-04
flows through a rocky mountain gorge.
Death, terrible, inevitable death. is GER

italn.
Il reject your Offer"
"What -
He leaped to the ground as he spoke
| with fierce oath of doubt and anger.
calmly repeated that l scorned his offer
and was willing to meet my fate.
He placed whistle to his lips, and ;
half dozen of his followers came up. They
were ordered to take me to the bank o.
| the river, which flowed a few rods below
on the lldno. and, after short course
flowed through the rocks near the edge
of the hills.
| They obeyed by leading me to the place
where 1 was securely bound to log, my
right arm alone being free.
"Once more, will you accede to my re.
quest ?n demanded the ruffian.
II have decided" replied, calmly.
ssThen launch him, and Dios tie der
was lifted and placed withinihe cold
waters of the Rosciero. A moment later
the swift current was bearing me Onward
toward the rocky gorge.
For about half an hour, perhaps, ex-
perienced no painful sensation, save Il
cold. dull feeling of numbness and inca
pacity to move. l seemed to be dream
ing, and was being borne through the air
gently, for the current, though swift,
moved smoothly.
AT last was aroused from from my
stupor by keen, cold feeling of pain
near my heart. 1t was that of death; for
suddenly my whole frame became racked
with shooting pains, which caused my
limbs to become almost cOnvulsed, and
strain thes:strOng withes with which l
was bound.
But what was the sound which now
greeted my agitated hearing-that dull,
half-subdued falling Of water? A mo-
ment later was borne round sharp
curve in the stream into still fiercer
current, and the full consciousness OF
my fearful position suddenly broke upon
mel had entered the mountain gorge,
and was fast nearing the falls.
l closed my lips firmly in mute resig-
nation and despair. Death. fearful ell
evitable death, stared me in the face!
Suddenly sharp pain shot through
my left limb. as if swords point had
entered it. That member became free,
and swung with the motion of the log
now to the right, now to the left, strik-
ing against the rocky bottom of the
river, and mangling it badly.
Apparently, some sharp-pointed rock
had severed the rope. and now | felt the
blood once more circulate through my
veins.
Unbinding the rope by severe effort,
by means of my left hand had the sat
isfaction of feeling that l was free, and a
wild CLEAN of hope shot through my
soul but still retained my hold on the
log, which was rapidly rearing the cat
aract whose deafening roar was now TO
be distinctly heard.
Every moment brought me nearer the
falls, SO near indeed that 1 could see.
even in the darkness, the surface of the
water f1ecked with frothy foam. The
course became more irregular and rocky,
and the sides of the gorge more shelv-4
ing.
Suddenly the log shot ahead with fear
der that projected above the water with
a stunning shock; then shot from its
course upwards. lost my hold. seemed
carried upward with great force, and un-
conscious on the hard rocks at the side
of the stream; while the log shot over
the precipice, down, down, sheer fifty,
feet.
1t was broad daylight when recover
ed my senses. l opened my eyes and
stared vacantly about me, at the same
time attempting to rise. My every bone
and muscle seemed bruised and broken;
yet | succeeded in gaining straight
position. Four feet below was the still
roaring river, fastening to the falls be-
meath.
had been landed on a level shelf on
the shore OF the stream, and found but
e. l. leo =
juries, i'm scaling the slight elevation and
reaching the more level llaHO beyond.
Here | rested for few moments, bind
whereabouts; then | started in north
westerly direction for post OF B.
Four hours afterward, ragged, and so
lame that could scarcely walk, l en-
tered the encampment. The sentinel
stared at me mutely, assisting me to my
quarters, whence, after death-like sleep
of a few hours, repaired to head-quar-
ters.
General Fernido greeted me warmly
no little establishment at my
pale face and swollen hands. He had
missed me, and, fearing that had prob
ably wandered from the camp and been
by the insurgents, had sent
Jul SCOutS, WIZ uau JuSe iCeuiuCu WILL
no tidings OF me.
Astonishment gave way to gratefulness
when related my strange experience.
which, one year afterward, when left
for New York, the rebellion having
been crushed, assumed substantial
evidence of sincerity in the shape Of a
splendid medal and seventy ounces of
gold.