The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1877-01-31

the danger had come upon hlm so eu0'
dently that he bad no time to use II as !
an offensive weapon but being as &C.
tive as a panther, he raised il quietly,
and very dexterously warded off the
blow which otherwise must have clov-
en- lisskull
To add to the horror Of bis situation
his wife ran screaming toward the
scene Of the encounter. and the chill
dren followed, shrieking with terror.
Another blow was aimed at him,
which he also barely warded Off
Being pressed closely, he took a step
backward, in order 20 use his rifle,
when to tile horror Of his wife, he step.
ped over the brink, and fell to the
foot of the precipice, which at this
point was forty feet high.
The exultant savages then turned
upon Mrs. Mitlan, who, crazed by the
fate of her husband, assailed them
fercely With hatchet, the only weap-
on left her bat after struggle of a
few seconds, they succeeded in over.
powering and disarming her.
Their FIRST object seemed to be to
take her into captivity but when they
had bound her hands, Discussion ap-
parently arose between them. One of
the savages was raving wildly, and he
pointed to slight cut he bad receiv-
ed on the cheek from her hatchet,
during their brief encounter, and sho
surmisel that he was enraged at it
and was demanding her life.
The two savages talked excitedly in
their own tongue, and finally the one
who was unhurt pointed to one Of the
children--a boy Of seven or eight years
and said something that seemed to
pacify his brother warrior
They then quickly tied the poor
woman to tree, and seized her fright
ened children and bound their hands.
The little girl, who was about six
years old, they tied to the same tree
with the mother; but the boy they led
to a small tree about rod distant,
4. placed him, struggling with his back
to it, and his face toward Mrs. Mitlan,
bound him to it with thongs of raw
| hide so tightly that he cried with pain
| then, to the horror Of the mother,
they began to gather dry sticks and
to pile them about his feet.
| She saw now what their intention
was. The were going to roast her
little boy alive, before hei eyes, in re.
turn for the blow she had giving one
Of them.
\ AS she realized this, she uttered
such walls of anguish as might almost
kave touched the heart of wild beast
but the ,savaees only proceeded will
their work, stopping q moment. nov
and then, to taunt her with hideoni
grins Of exultstion.
The dry wood was soon piled abou
the screaming boy to heighth of tw'
feet, and when the woman saw then
preparing to. set it Oh Ere, she, will
: one mightly3ellort, broke the bond
with which she was tied and rushec
upon them, insaae as it was,s to hgh
: them with her bare hands.
So fierce was 4he onset that sh
spFang upon the savage who was up
: hurt 6efaro he had time to defend him
self, aud fastened her hapds upon hi
throat. lie made. an efiaft to Olsen
gage himself; but she clung to hir
like panther, and he began to stag
ger like drunken man.
But the other savage was at hand
and with his eyes gseRning with tn
? fierce passion Of his nature, he raise
I his tomahawk.
4 1t was momeut of awful peril --aT
parently without the hope Of escap
Q from instant DEATH She saw bim rails
! the cleaning weapons but IN her fa g
i and iispair would hot let 90 hof
on the throat Of the other
b dodge the blew and there 81 bed
y fraction Of second between
n eternity.
But the blow did moi fsoend upo
Q her helpless head. The crack of
t, rifle rang out not far eh the tomi
:. hawk fel3 harmless to the gf5und an
g the savage reelcd few steps bael
q ward and fell in motioRless hea
e A bullet had pierced to his heart.
Hold himl' Hold him = seeor
e longerl' called out . voice than ga'
ie the brave woman new courag &c and pe
se hope, and with all her strength she 7
y sisied the efforts Of the Indian 10 d
ID engage himself and hurl her from hiI
ga il was the voice Of her husban
who, rifle in hand, came rushing ups
D, the scene.
q Nov ID him go!' he said as
,h reached th spot. &
a. She I'D SO, leaping back TO avoid
" blow of his tomahawk, which he ST
Us grasped, and instantly The rife barr