Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-02-26
A BOLD sTRlTAGEM.

ed through the gathering twilight of an
early summer evening upon the Missouri
river.
Within its radius of light three young
men, evidently western hunters or
border-men, were seated IN converse
ton.
The eldest Of the party was not more
than three or four and twenty, stand
ing fully six feet in his moccasins a
perfect type of perfect man, for as
such Bill the hunter was known
throughout the great West.
His companluns, named Darle and
Fitch, were scarcely twenty years Of
age, and seemingly little accustomed
to the dangers of the romantic life they
were leading.
The point where the trio were en-
camped On the river was within q quar-
ter Of mile Of the Great Falls.
A narrow belt of stunted pine and
sickly cottonwood trees grew upon
either shore, affording them a tempor-
ary covert from the lurking redskins.
All day Bill and his two companions
had ridden hard in pursuit of a party Of
Blackfeet Indians that had succeeded
in running of a number Of horses be-
longing to an emigrant train but as
night drew near, and thei: animals
began to show signs Of exhaustion, the
pursuers deemed it highly necessary to
halt for the night and give themselves
as we'll as their horses, rest.
After night had fully set in, arrange
ments were made to guard against sur.
prise.
Leaving his companions in camp,
Bill went out to reconnolter the i'm
mediate vicinity before lying down to
rest.
He had not gone but a few minutes
when Darle and Fitch heard a sound
resembling the dip of an oar.
AS they were but few steps from
the rivers bank they crawled thither
Immediately and looked out upon the
water which lay before them in the
light OF the full neon.
To their surprise they discovered q
canoe, containing two savages, put
cautiously out from the shadow Of the
opposite bank aud move directly to-
ward the point where they were con-
cealed.
Being but little experienced IN the
true nature Of the Indian, the young
hunters were unable to define the real
intention Of the two approaching Black
feet.
Had they possessed the knowledge
Of ther friend Bill, they would have
readily seen from the ,avages' stealthJ
movements, their mufled oars, and
their crouchlng posture, that they were
stealing upon them with murderou'
intent.
Hoping that Bill would return before
the Indians reached the bank and helT
them cut of their dilemma, the ysuns
men remained silent and watched the
canoe.
The sayages were within a few fee
of our young friends.
A short consultation was held IN
whispers, and the young hunters con-
cluded to bring their rides to bear upon
Blackfeet, come veal or woe.
The savages landed and made fast
theifcanoe.
TAe next instant they sprang wildly
Harvard and fell dead, pierced through
the heart by bullets from the rifles by
Darle and Fitch.
But our young friends triumph was OF
short duration.
Scarcely had the report Of their rifles
died away on the air ere a score o.
savages rose up from the shadow OF the
bank and bounded towards them with a
yell.
In a moment the young men were
helpless captives, aud subjected to a
series of kicks and cuffs from their cap
tors, who had become terribly enraged
BY the death Of their two friends.
Still Bill the hunter was absent, and
his two captive friends finally came to
the conclusion he had been murdered.
The savages spent some time in vain
trying to devise some new and cruel
mode of torture for their captives.
At last they resolved to set the cap
tives adrift Oh the river, IN the canoe, to
be dashed to pieces over the great iails
below.
1t required bat few minutes to bind
the captives hand aud foot on their backs
in the bottom of the canoe so firmly
that they could scarcely move a mus
Gle.
This done, the canoe with its domed
occupants, was pushed into the middle
OF the stream and sent adrift.
Oh, heavens Fitch this is a terri
BILE fate = exclaimed Darle, as he real
lied that there were drifting toward the
falls.
Let US hope for succor from Bill, re
piled Fitch.
Impossible, Fitch Bill is killed him
self or else he would be around ere
this. Harkl hear the roar OF thu
tails growing palmer and palmer w
are moving iast--see how those stars
fit over usv
'Alas-Alas = sighed Fitch.
c,,-..l., 90 Tho will of Tho ctYrront thf