West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1878-10-26
A WILD ADVENTURE.

Sam S. Hall, "Buckskin Sam and
old hip Ford were trapping in the
Arkansas River region. They were men
OF desperate courage, who had taken their
lives in their hands too often To care for
the dangers they were exposed 20. Old
Rip was man who stood five feet
eleven In his mOccasins--a man whom
you would hardly care TO meet in the
close tug of a desperate battle. His
hard brown face was scanned with scars
from bullet, knife and claws of wild
beasts, and his muscular body showed
the marks of many a desperate struggle.
"Buckskin Sam was the beau ideal of
mountaineer and plainsman, the Western
hunter that the novelist paints and the
school-boy dreams of and wishes some
day to be. Although not 30 powerful
as Old Rip, he was q man Of great per-
sonal strength and desperate courage.
For many a year these two had roamed
the trapping grounds together, fighting
Indians, grizzlies aud wolves, chased by
night over the burning prairies, defend
ing their camp against the sudden at
tacks of red fieRds, or spending reck-
lessly at the monte board the money
they had earned so hardly on the trap
ping ground
They had been out all winter, and as
spring approached, the last cache was
covered, and the trappers now began 10
think OF returning home. The camp
was built up near the river, n tributary
OF the Canadian which flowed through
dismal canons, in which the light of day
never shows, under the shadow of giant
cliffs upon which human beings never
yet Sc foot and only spreading out at
places where the cunning beaver had
built his dam. The river was broken by
great rapids, and abounded in rare fish,
upon which they had feasted royalty
for many day. They had canoe, and
had been discussing the chances of going
down the stream in that, in order 10 save
time.
am ready TO take the chances if
you are, Rip" said Sam.
don't like TO give myself away, "
said Rip. What do you know about
the river, after we get down to the big
canon, and who ever passed through
itT'
"Thats the fun Of the thing. Rip.
We do what no one else dare do" said
Sam.
don't like it, replied Ford, who
was by far the most prudent Of the two.
"I-ba! what in Jehu is thatP They
seized their weapons and ran To- the door
OF the hut, just in time 10 see a dozen
Indians running down through the grass
blocking up the only way of escape.
The moment the repeating rifles began
TO play upon them they went out of sight
among the rocks and began their gradual
approach, which could only end i'm one
way-the white trappers would be over.
whelmed
There's only onechance, Rip" cried
Sam.
"And thatY
The canoe"
am your man." cried the giant
trapper. You push the canoe into the
water and throw in the weapons, while
keep those fellows At bay. oh. would
you? Take that"
An Indian had raised his tufted head
10 get better shot at the trappers. but
before he could get back the unfailing
eyes OF the trapper had looked through
The double sights and the rife cracked
The Indian sprung suddenly 20 his feet,
spun sharp around upon his heel and
fell dead In his tracks.
The next moment the canoe shot from
the bank and headed down through the
boiling food, plunging in the canon be
low 20 rapidly that the Indians had
scarcely time to recover from their
amazement at the sudden exodus before
the trappers we're out Of sight. One of
the Indians bounded 10 his feet and ut
tered low signal-whoop, and two large
canoes, containing in al about fifteen
men, rounded point In the river above
the canon and came flying down under
the strokes Of the paddles. The Indians
on the shore simply pointed down the
stream, and the canoes dashed bv AT 3
furious speed, the wild yell Of the pad.
dlers announcing 10 the white men that
they were pursued The first rapid
passed, they entered a long stretch -of
water where the current was only four
OF hve miles an hour, and there the pro-
Pelhng force in the other canoes began
70 tell, and the Indians gained rapidly.
On each side Of the canoe the canon
was Ike q wall, two hundred feet In
height and the trappers could only put
al their strength IN the paddles aud