The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1880-10-08
THE ICE MOCCASINS.

6dhCH pilSONtl DS tue INDIANS SnOWeO Nncu
how to skate? No? Then its just as good
as new
1t was hundred years ago, in the old pio-
neer days. Away up at the northern end of
the great lakes bold hunder and trapper
made his camp. He hunted for sport in the
summer anG trapped for fur in the fall and
river. He knew every river and creek. every
hill and valley in the great woods. better than
you know the streets of the town and he
had studied the cunning ways and bright
tricks of the beaver, otter, mink and martin,
until he knew just where and how to set
traps for them. He bought good many
skins from the Indians who lived near and
early every year he would take a large load
Of them to the nearest tradiag-post to sell
bringing back powder and .ead, with teas
sugar, and other good things for the table
The hunters life isn't half 50 fine as the
story books make it: but old Thomas Judson
for that was his name-enjoycd it better
than any other.
In the winter he had to wear snow shoes
in going through the woods to visit his traps;
and one year he brought back pair of skates
that he thought would be handy when the ice
was clear. And very handy he found them
at such times as he could skate a dozen miles
as easy rs he could walk two, and the pack
on his back never seemed so light as when he
had his steel shoes on, and could skim along
the CLASSY surface of some lake or river
One very cold, clear day, when the ice was
good, he went To visit some mink traps, al
most twenty miles north Of the cabin. He
skated TO near the spot. along the shore Of the
In l-p nd tbaF, off lot
his snow shoes to travel over the deep snow
a mile or SO into the woods. He knew that
an Indian tribe from Canada had come down
to make war ON those who lived near him,
buthe never thought they would trouble him.
All at once his dog Bruno, that had been
running ahead on a deer track, stopped,
shifted the air, bristled up angriIy and began
to growl and before Thomas could carry his
rife to his shoulder he was surrounded by a
dozen bowling Indians, who sprang from
their hiding-place in the thicket, bTandishing
their tomahawks and yelling like mad
The old man was brave, but he wasn't n
fool and instead of showing fight against
such odds, he laid down his rifle and folded
his arms. He could talk but little Indian,
and they coud,eyen speak less English but
~EitN btli 70
know that he wasn't on the war path but af-
ter furs. The Indians threatened no harm
when they found him peaceful, but were
much interested in his arms and dress, for
they hadn t at that time seen manywhite men.
The suov-shoes they knew all about, for you
know the Indians invented them; but the
skates puzzled them. 4 thought seemed t.
occur to the hunter as he saw their curiosity,
for his gray eye twinkled merrily. 'Ice
moccasin," he said, putting a skate on his
foot, and then he made with his hands the
gliding motion that the feet take in skating.
"Ughr' grunted the Indian chief, pointing
to the narrow blade of the skate, and shak-
ing his head. As plain as looks could do it
he made the hunter understand that he
wasn't green enough to believe that anybody
could stand up on those things. As they
were near the ice Thomas proposed to fasten
them on young brave for trial.
The Indians welcomed the plan with gIee,
for, though Savages, they were great lovers
OF sport. Selecting the bravest and swiftest
young fellow, the chief bade him stick out
his feet, which he did rather suspiciously
The skates were soon strapped on, ana tho
young buck helped TO his feet. The ice was
} ike glass, and as he started to move yoJ
know what happened his feet flew out from
under him, and down he came with crack
Such shouts of laughter as the rest sent up
The young fellow was gritty and scrambled
up to try it gain, but with the same result
The chief now siEnaled to the hunter t
show them how the things worked. Thomas
fastened on the skates with great care, pick
ed up.hs rifle and uSediJ as a cane, pretend
ing to support himself. lie moved abou
awkwardly, fell down, got up and stumble,
around. the Indians all the time laughin!
and capering'at the sport. Gradually Thom
as stumbled little farther away, whirlin!
about, and making believe it was very har
work to keep his balance, until he was nea
the point where the smooth Zee lake stretch
eel miles and miles away.
Suddenly gathering himself up he graSpe
his rifle firmly, gave war whOop as wild a
the Indians own and dashed up the lake lik
an arrow, skating as he had never skated be
fore. Ii he had disappeared in the air tn
indians could not have been more astoniSheG
OF course they couldn't hope to catch hin
over the CLASSY ice, and they stood gapin
after him, wondering more and more at I'll
magic 'fce moccasins." Nothing please
old Thomas more in ..after-years than to te
how he fooled the redskins.