The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1878-11-14
A CLOSE SHOT.

Where the Kentucky river cuts it,
way through the mountains, having
upon either bank bold rugged cliff:
that lift their SUBMITS FIVE hundred and
Ia thousand feet, as the. case may be-
above the stream, there lived, in early
times, settler by the name of Rufus
Branson, who, with his wife and only
child, charming little girl of some
eigh, or nine years, occupied a rude
cabin at the base of precipice little
back from the river.
Although greatly exposed to danger
the Indians at that time being plenti-
full throughout the region-he man
aged to live quietly for several years.
The Indians frequently visited the
home of the rude hunter. and being
always welcome and provided with such
food as might be in the larder. they
maintained q very friendly attitude.
Especially were they fond ofthe child
Maggie, and more than one 6~rce war
rior had been sitting on the grass in
front of the cabin. listening to the
childish prastie Of the little one, or else
engaged in making il some toy or play
thing from twigs or bark.
In this manner several years had
been passed, and Rufus Branson came
to feel aa secure as though ne was within
the walls of frontier fort.
One evening, Brauson and his wife
were seated near the doorway when
suddenly shadow fell across the thres-
hold, and the next moment, tall savage
whose reeliug and bloodshot eyes, told
that he was intoxicated, appeared, stag
gered to the log steps and threw HIM
self.upon them.
/ His frs. demands were for "fire-wa'
ter" which were, of course, refused on
the plea that there was none in the
house.
The Indian became cross and ugly
swearing, with terrible oatbs, that if th'
liquor was not produced, he would mur
der the household. Brapson was
brave man, although he dreaded TIT
necessity, yet he saw that he would b.
compelled to take prompt steps to pre-
vent the savage fiom executing hi
threats Waiting until the warrior hat
made deuonstration-which he sool
did by attempting to draw bis touahawl
Brsnson spraDg upon him. knocked hin
down with blow of his fist, and the'
disarmed him and bound him where b
tlay. After few MINUTES Of futile eft
forts to free himself, the savage rolie'
over and sunk into drunken slumber
He did not awake until next morn
ing, but before he did so, the settle
had quietly removed his bands, and re
stored the weapons, which he laid b
the sleeper's side. ,
The savage, on waking, rose slowl
to his feet, felt his wrists, as though tn
\ thongs had left feeling there, took U
his weapons, and without speaking
word, left, disappearing in the timbe
that stood near by.
"What do you think Of that + asEe
the wife, turning to the husband with
scared look.
"Pshaw! Don't trouble yourself abor
thr drunken BRUTE" answered the settle
lightly, but as he turned away, an
. stepped into the yard, he muttered
: Like it Well not much. The fel!o
must be watched. I was in hopes b
would not have remembered; but thu
lump, where my fist landed, was enough
if nothing else, to recall the circuu
stances" -,
The summer passed ; they saw tt
. drunken guest no more. He failed
. make his appearance. But as II
. leaves began to fall, the settler, one da
: while returning from hunting Oh tt
!, hills, and passing through dense pie'
- Of timber, caught sight of 6gu1
lurking in the bushes, but wbic
, quickly disappeared when he advance
r towards where it was. The figure vi
that of an Indian warrior, and Ruf'
= B,ansnn would have sworn that it VI
q the Indian whom he had knocked dow
0 and bound the previous summer. Fl
e knowledge was not in any way comtor
ing. hence he did not tell his wife
: the discovery. 1t would have alarm'
hor without. perhaps, any good resu
He merely told her he had discover.
ID bear tracks near by, and she and T.
Is Is child must stay within or close TO t
lie house when he was absent.
= Several days afterward, Rufus Bra
J., SON heard his dos in the timber, CO..
lie by the river, aud knowing that tn
never opened without good cause