The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1877-08-02
EotluiI.a for LIFE.

John King was sent in haste on an err
rand to his uncle's, mile distant His
way led along well-trodden path across
a belt of woods.
John was a brave, athletic boy of Il,
quite noted In the settlement for his
punctualty, and as sure to return on
time as an express. Az he left the
door he noticed that it was 1 o'clock, and
said in a jolly tone to his parents
CHOW for a race with the shadow; /
shall be back before it reaches the two
mark"
He had done his errand, his aunt had
stuffed his pocket with parched corn, and
on his return he had reached a certain
bend in the path, where he sat down on
messy bank to tighten the strings of
his coarse shoes. Just as the matter
was finished, noise caused him to look
sharply among the trees, when he es-
pied, within a few rods, running toward
him with uplifted tomahawk, az exceed
enough to start the lad to his feet and
prompt him to his best speed for safety.
But the warriors position was such as to
cut him off from tho path to his own
home, or to his rlncle's; SO that no way
was left him but to strike into the TN
trod forest and run for life. He had
gone but little distance when he heard
the steps of his pursuer rapidly oyertak-
ing him, and knew that he could not
escape by flight. And, to aggravate his
case, he saw at this instant, just before
him, a large tree upturned by the roots
and lying directly across his course
His fate seemed sealed; every instant
he expected to feel the edge of the battle
ak; and such a horror had he of the
knife, and of having his scalp stretched
on hoop to dry, that he involuntarily
put up his hand TO save his head, fact
about which, in after years, he used to
laugh heartily. The tree, toward which
desperation impelled the boys feet, had
grown in three parts, and as it fell the
largest was uppermost, some six or
seven feet high, and the other two di-
rectly underneath like the rails of
fence; while the great fake of earth adj
herring to its roots made a cross section
of wall two feet thick, rod long, and
ten or twelve feet high. What trap
But as he came close to it he saw that
the three prongs, as they lay one under
another, were far enough apart for him
to-slip between, which he instantly did,
Just in time to dodge furious but fruit
less blow from the tomahawk.
The Indian, perceiving that the place
was too small to admit his huge body,
swiftly sprung around the root, thinking
to catch his victim on tho further side.
But the keen-cyed lad was too wary for
him. Detecting the redskins purpose,
like flash he slipped back between the
fallen trees, 50 that, as his bloodthirstv
enemy dashed in sight with yell, the
barricade was still between them. At
tins the savage rushed to the fence, and,
placing his hands on the upper tree,
attempted to jump over, but he could
not spring SO high. Then he tried to
crawl through where John had Just
gone, but found only room for his ugly
head
After a little he turned about, and,
saying III broken English, "Good- by
me so way" walked slowly behind the
root and disappeared. The boy knew,
however, that it was only a trick, and
kept his eyes and ears alert against sur
prise.
Immediately he detected the snakish
eyes of the savage cleaning Mt him from
among the dry leaves on the ground at
the corner of the root ON the opposite
side of the fence, where the old rascal
had kept i'll order to watch the young
ster 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 redskin re-
sorted to another ruse. He began to
parley, saying, &c Me good Injun-me
no hurt. Shake hand " And he
thrust his hand through the bar
ricade OF course he did not succeed in
cheating the little fellow by such shall
low device, and SO again changed his
tactics.
Presenting his gun he commanded
John to surrender or be shot; but the
lad preferred to die by a 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 fearful
faces, he placed the weapon behind a
tree some rods away, and resorted to the
dodge of parieying once more.
"Injun 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 between
the trees, but he miscalculated the space,
and struck the weapon against log,
breaking out the handle, which, falling
at Johns feet, was Immediately picked
up by him as means of defense.
One of the ssvage's devices, 10y which
perhaps he meant to frighten his victim,
was to place his hideous face at the open
ing between the logs, and howl and gnash
at him like wolf.
But the boys courage had rallied, and
L. -, -