Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-04-10
With great presence Of mind, Jason

said to his sister:
Don't hurry so, Abb. It's too
warm to hurry. Pm going to fetch out
some water" And setting down his
hoe. hr stroled lcisdrely across the
piece. whistl ng as he went. half ex-
pccting at every step to feel a bullet.
Grtting among the bushes. he ran to
.he house and caught down his gun
and powder horn, with the intention oi
making cuit through the wo' ds and
coming round in the rear of the savage,
who, he thought. would be intent watch
ng his sister.
But the leather pouch which held his
stock of bullets was gone from the peg.
In doing her work in the morning Abby |
had knocked il off, and il had fallen
down through an opening in the floor.
In breathless haste Jason searched
the room over, but could not find the
pouch. Knowing there was not sin- +,
Gle moment to lose. he set of with but
the single charge in his gun.
He had just got out Of the door when
he heard Abby scream. Then there
ioll Owed smotherlns sound. aud then
he heard her try TO call his name.
Even then the boys presence OF mind
did not desert him. lie knew that II
the savage were alone his sisters sole
chance of lie lay in the Indian's not
discovering that he was pursued.
lie ran to the edge of the bushes that
skirled the potatoes and looked out.
The rcd>kin was dragging Abby alter
him BY the wrists and was just enter
ins the woods Oh the farther side going
out toward the river.
From this Jason concluded that the
Indian had come down the stream IN a
canoe. which he had pr"bably not lett
far off. If the savage should regain his
canoe. JaSon's only chance would be to
shoot him from the bank This he re-
solved to attempt.
Not much more than mile above
the clearing the river makes great
bend. and at one point is quite swit
and narrow. Making circuit through
the woods. Jason ran to intercept the
Iudian al the bend.
He vas right in his conjecture, tor h'
had but just crcpt through some thick
ald,ls OH tue bank when he saw canoe
coming swiftly up the stream. The H.
diau's paddle glittered in the sun as he
sat in the stern, aud with quick. strong
strokes propelled the l'ttle craft against
the curr, mt. He could see ms sister
crouching in the middle Of the canoe.
with her head mufllcd in some coarse
cloth.
Jason cooked his gun. and. with the
greatest caution. brought the piece I"
b ar on the savage, determined TO fire
the instant he came near enough.
But the wary Indian either h' ard
some sound from the shore, or suspect
ed dan, ,cr at the narrow point IN the
channel, for. before he had come within
range Jason saw him creep forward aud
crouch beside his captive. in such a
manner rs t. shield his own body with
( hers.
Jason saw the >avase's sharp eyes
scanning the bushes. but he did not tire
| lest he should shoJt his sister.
Though bafiled by this trick, the bold
boy was not dsheariencd. Three or
four miles further up the river Was Il
rIuld, where the chanuei was broken by
/ l,d.es aud large bowl crS, ,agant which,
mar the upper eud OF the broaen va er'
were piled great heaps OF driit los aud
brush. Jason had trapped there aud
knew The place well.
There were three piles OF drifts in the
stream al That pOlut-One near Tie rlSht
bank, auotier on ledge httle iurtner
out. aud Il lew ruds hlg er ", ND Il
tAru Que lodged against Two cno'm 'us
rocks sui nearer the opposite bank.
1t Was between these banks aud the
snole that boats and canoes going up
usually passed; Tor the current here
was neither 50 strong nor 80 swift, but
now cd smvotnll over pebble bUttOh'
With hue canoe ur boat could Ut
pulled up against the current, ana lhe
water WAS not deep tut tnat indn could
wade and draw boat alter linn. IL"
snool al the savage when he drew his
canoe up the rapid WAS Jasons next
thought
After hot run he came out near the
rapids and easily waded across to the
first pile Of drift. Tlere were rocks on
which he was able to jump to the St
coud of the three. But 1t was only hy
wadlng that he was able to get to the
iurthest drift pile, the point he wished
to reach.
Several times he was nearly swept ava,
b, stumbling over the slippery rocks up
on the bottom. But hu got over, and
hiding himself partly under sone ol the
brush aud behind an old tilted stump.
he lay in wait for the indian.
From this lurking place he could mol
see down stream; but in about twenty
minutes he heard the ludian wadIng III
The rapid, splashing his way up pulling
the canoe alter him.
A minute later and Jason caught
sight of him-bcn over, as he carefully
planted his moccasined feet among the
slippery stones Oh the bottom. lie had
the line over onc shoulder, and tn,