The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-08-19

AT this moment one of the SavageS,
who was blindly jabbing about in
every direction, approached man who
was calling to some others, apparently
directing them to go up stream. He
did not see the reckless fellow beh nd
him, who, in his turn, did not notice
the other. and, giving fierce thrust
downward, he struck the man who
was Speaking fair in the heel.
The moment he felt that his spear
had caught in something, the man who
had made the thrust threw up his
weapon, by putting his left hand, in
which he held rude shield. under the
spear, and giving it powerful jerk
into the air. AS he did this, up came
the foot he had speared, and down
went the unfortunate owner of the
foot, face foremost into the wateri
There was tremendous splash, and
a great yell of triumph. Everybody
fastened to the spot where the exulting
spearman held up the foot of his victim.
But the surrounding savages had barely
time to see that it was a black foot and
naked one, and therefore could not
be that of the white boy who had jumped
into the river, before the foot, which
was only held by its tough, thick skin.
was jerked away from the spear, and
the submerged savage arose from the
bottom, dripping with water, but with
flashing eyes and cries of rage. Raising
his spear, which he never dropped, he
glared around for an instant, to see who
had done this outrageous deed. 1t was
scarcely possible to make a mistake.
The man who had speared him stood
there, with his weapon in almost the
same position as when it held the unfor-
tunate foot in the air.
Instantly the angry savage dashed at
him, and as instantly the laundering
spearman fled as fast as he could through
the water.
The pursued man dived to escape the
spear which was hurled at him by his
assailant, and then, followed by the
whole party, yelling and shouting, the
two savages made their way toward the
opposite shore. Bounding up the bank,
the injured man only stopping for an
instant to pick up his spear. the band
of bowling blacks disappeared in the
woods.
Tom waited until the sound of their
harsh voices had died away, and then
he crept out of his hiding-place so
chilled and stiff that at first he could
scarcely walk, but with a heart full of
Joy and thankfulness for the great es-
cape ne had made. He pushed along
down the river, about as far rs he /
thought he had come IN, and then /.
turned inland to look for his horse. 1t /.
was now so dark in the woods that he
could not see for any considerab e dis /
lance, and, after wandering about for 4
some time, he began to fear that the an
imal had broken away and that he I
might yet be left in these lonely woods, /
to fall victim to his black pursuers, |
who might return at any time, or
some other band of equally savage bush /
men, who might come proving in that .
direction.
But suddenly he heard whinny, not |
far from him, and hurrying toward the .
joyful sound, he found his horse, tied .
Just as he had left him, and leaping on
his back, dripping, shivering and with
out hat, he rode away, at full gallop, /
for the bridge, the happiest boy in all
Australia!
No more short cuts for him, after sun
down, in that wild part of the country!
He never heard whether. the fellow
who had had his foot stuck succeeded
in catching the fellow who stuck it, or
the b acks ever came back to
look for the white boy who hid disap-
peared in the river; but he never ceased
to believe that no one could have made
a more lucky stroke for him than that
made by the laundering Australian saw
lge.-J0bn LeiCeeS, in 50. NjcboLltS.