The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1879-01-08
A wild Western Adventure.

the Arkansas river region. They
were men Of desperate courage, who
had taken their lives in their handi
too often to care for the danger they
were exposed to. Old Rip was Z
man who stood five feet eleven in biz
moccassins-a man whom you woulc
hardly care to meet in the close tug
of desperate battle. His hare
brown face was scanned with scart
from bullet, knife, and claws Of wilc
beasts, and his muscular body show,
edthe marks Of many a desperate
struggle. "Buckskin Sam" was the
beau ideal Of a mountaineer and
plainsman, the Western hunter that
the novelist paints and the school
boy dreams Of and wishes some day
to be.
Although not so powerful as old
Rip, he was a man Of great personal
strength and desperate courage. Fol
many a year these two had roamed
the trapping grounds together, fight.
ing Indians, grizzlies, and wolves
chased by night over the burning
prairie, defending their camp against
the. sudden attacks Of red fends, OF
spending recklessly at the monte.
board the money which they had
earned so hardly on the trapping
ground.
They had been out all winter, and,
as spring approached, the last catch
was covered, and the trappers began
to think Of returning home. The
camp was built up near the river, a
tributary Of the Canadian, which
flowed through dismal canons in
which the light Of day never shows,
under the shadow Of the gigantic
cliffs upon which human beings tlev.
er yet set foot, and only spreading
out at places where the cunning bea.
yer had built his dam. The river
was broken by great rapids, and
abounded in rare fish, upon which
they had feasted royalty for many a
day. They had canoe and had
been discussing the chance of going
down the stream in order to save
time.
81 am ready to take the chances, il
you are, Rip" said Sam.
7 like 70 give myself faway,,,'
said Rip. "Whatdo you know ofthe
river after we get down tn the big
canon, and who ever passed through
it?"
"That's the fun of the thing, Rip.
We will do what noone else dare d."
said Sam.
II don't like it" replied Ford, who
was by far the more prudent of the
two. "I-ha! what in Jenu is that?''
They seized their weapons and ran
to the door Of the hut, just in time
to see dozen Indians running down
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 be.
gan their gradual approach, which
could end in one way only-the trap
pers would be overwhelmed!
"Thcre's only one chance, Rip
cried Sam.
"And that2"
"The canoe"
81 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 your Take that"
An Indian had raised his tufted
head, to get better shot at the trap
pers, but before he could get back the
unfailing eyes Of the trapper had
looked through the double sights, and
his trusty rifle cracked. The Indian
sprung suddenly to his feet, spun
sharp around upon one foot and then
fell dead in his tracks.
The next moment the canoe shot
out from the bank and headed down
stream through the boiling flood.
plunging in the canon below SO rap
idly that the Indians had scarcely
time 10 recover from their amaze
ment at the sudden exodus before
the trappers we're out Of sight. One
Of the Indians bounded to his. feet
and uttered a low signal whoop, and
two large canoes, containing in all