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

caught up his rife and FASTENED tt
where they were barking. They hat
struck fresh bear trail. and as he ar
rived in sight they fairly lifted it, going
on in q straight line down the river.
The chuse had led him several miles
and when at last he got his shot, thai
finished bruins career, he found that il
was three or four o'clock in the wafter
noon.
Swinging his game to sappling
out of reach of cat or wolf, he started
for home to get the old gray mare and
return and fet,h it that night.
Taking cut he approached the cabin
from the Western side, where the tim
ber grew heavy upto within a few rods
of the building, and, consequently, he
could not see the clearing, or what
might be transpiring there, until be
had passed through the wood.
Thus it was that when within but a
very short distance from his home, he
heard wild, piercing shriek; he could
guess that something terrible must be
taking place beyond the screen of bushes
and leaves.
Uttering loud shout, that his pres
ence might sooner be made known,
Brauson sprang forward with the leaps
of wounded buck, great fear at his
heart, but he had only too clearly recog.
nized in tha. scream, the agonized voice
of his wife. It took but moment for
him to near the intervening timber and
undergrowth, and, as he dashed out into
the clearing, holding his rife ready for
instant use, he comprehended in ono
swift glance, all that had taken place,
and what was further.
Near the end of the cabin, facing the
cliffs of which I have spoken, stood the
mother her facs as white as the dead,
her arms outstretched, and her staring
eyes fixed upon the precipitous height
up which the form OF an Indian warrior
was struggling. -...-.
"My child my child!" was all the
woman said, aud then Rufus Branson
saw that the bundle borne in tho In
dams arms was the form Of their only
child, little Maggie.
Firm of heart, and with nerves as
steady as the rocks around, the father,
for moment, actually quailed and
covered under what his quick sense
told him was the deadly peril of bis lit
tie Que
But he was quick to recover.
The Indian was drawing awoy :; step
by step he was increasing the distance,
and as e,occasionally glanced back
ward, the parents saw in bis hideously
painted countenance, the fell purpose
that actuated the abduction,
"Gnd and mo p Rranaan panitA,Ad.. -
he raised his rife, glanced through the
sights, and touched the trigger.
The Indian started, violently, at the
shot. :.
He was hit, but not badly hurt, and
with yell of devilish triumph, hepassed
upward. -,
'"Too low by couple Of inches," said
low, calm voice, at the settlers
elbow. -,
Branson started as though he himself
had been shot.
Where has that man come from I
Who is he ? Neither had seen him
approach.
But there was no time for explana-
tioE. The stranger, man rather be-
low than above the ordinary height,
whose fine, athletic form was fully dis
played by his closely fitting buckskln
garments, stepped forward a few PAGES;
and grimly planring his left foot in ad
! rance threw up an unusually long rifle
as though preparing to fire.
q eFor Gods sake, stranger, be care
full of ny child ~ cried Brapson. while
the agonized mother muttered an inaudi.
BILE prayer.
"It's our only chance. I know that
Indian" was the quick reply, and tie
sharp click Of the hammer, as it was
drawn back, told that the critical mo-
ment had come.
By this time the Indian had nearly
reached the summit Of the steep. That
he was wounded now became evident
as upon broad ledge Of rock be rested
moment.
The opportunity was seized BY tht
unknown. :. .
: Although the savage had taken stht
precaution 10 hold the child in front O.
himself as a shield, covering nearly th'
whole of his brawney chest, but leaving
his head uncovered, the stranger die
not hesitate to make the shot. For ont
second, as 1t gained its position, th'
rife waved, and instantly became a
immovable as though held by a vice
With clasped hands and straining eyes
the parents watched the statue like form
upon whose skill so much depended.
, Suddenly sharp report rang out
: the white smoke drifted away, and, al
the vision became clear, they saw th'
savage loose his hold upon the child
reel wildly for an instant, and ther
pitch forward upon the rocks. It ma.
be imagined that the father was no
long in reaching the place where tn
} child lay, and iu few moments NOR
the little one was in its mother s arms
.IToll NO who vou are that We ma