The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-02-26

But at the time of which am speaking
she was in no condition to tramp in the
woods.
"One day, quite late-it was near
sundown-I was chopping wood at a
good distance from the house Just as
| was about to throw my AK on my
shoulder and trudge homeward-the
shadows of the trees becoming longer
and the light duller-I heard the break
ing of dry twigs near me, as if some one
was cautiously stepping on them. l
looked about me but could see nothing.
Now it happened that / did that day
what | had never done before; forgot
to take my rifle with me.
"When had got about half way on
my journey | found myself in dense
piece of woodland, but thinking no harm
| trudged into it, singing to pass the
time. l had just about got into the
heart of this wood when [ found myself
suddenly surrounded by fitting, dancing
figures. 1 stopped and watched these
shadows, not imagining danger.
Suddenly terrific war-whoop, sent
out of dozen threats, filled the forest,
and then before | recovered from my
establishment found myself surrounded
by painted devils fourishing weapons of
every savage fashion. | ATTEMPTED to
use my AK upon these fends but they
had calculated upon this, and before l
could get it from my shoulder | was
struck on the right arm with heavily
loaded stick. 1t was paralyzed for the
moment, and the only weapon I could
use in my defense lay at nay feet. 1t
was instantly picked up by one of the
crew and was hurried to large beech
tree, and tied with ropes, which L saw
had been stolen from my own barn
when they had so tied me that l
could not move a torch was lighted, and
by the reflection on each face saw that
they were fiends and relations of the
man | had accidentally killed.
81 began to talk to them of their evil
conduct, but they only laughed and
howled. They informed me that if |
was brave it was now the time for me to
show how pale face could endure the
fire
CAT this four or five of the painted
fends ran into the woods, one carrying
my ak, in order to gather up dry twigs
and branches that would readily be
piled about nue. and fired, destroy me.
While these preparations were going on
| thought of my poor wife, the condition
she was in and the danger she would be
exposed to if the devils, after they had
DESTROYED me, should venture to the
cabin.
While l was thus meditating, the
torch being momentarily pushed so near
my face that the skin was blist tered, the
report OF ride wa, heard, aud one Of
the Indians who had been dancing
around the tree, standing oftener on his
hands than on his feet, while in that at
titude tumbled over dead. There was
instant commotion among the savages ;
but before they recovered from their
surprise, a second tiend, dressed in a
long deel skin robe, and who had been
standing before me exercising his ora
torical powers. fell fiat on his face. Just
US report of the second gun was heard,
ball crashed through his skull They
forgot me and made toward the river :;
but they had hardly run dozen yards,
when a devil who held the handle of
scalping knife in his mouth, and who
had mere than once threatened to raise
my hair, was, as heard third report,
struck in the stomach. He fell and
writhed at my feet in terrible agonies.
| pitied him. The third shot, no one Of
which had failed to miss its object, so
frightened the crew that not even stop
ping to gather up their dead, they ran
swiftly away.
"While / was thus rejoicing in my
heart at the timely assistance that had
thus come to me, 1 tried to look in the
direction in which the shots had come
The torch had been extinguished, and
for several minutes | stood bound to the
tree in silence as dead as the night
was dark
CATER while family heard, as if
it were the steps of panther or wild
cat, something walking cautiously over
the dry brambles that filled the forest
| thought it was one of the savages who
was making his way to where | was to
brain and then scalp me. But when l
had worked myself into this belief, at