, 1880-02-26

suniown--l was choppMg wood at
GOOD distance from the house, just rs
/ was about 70 throw my AK on my
shoulder and trudge homcward--the
shadows Of the trees becoming longer
and the light duller-I heard tie 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
o take my rifle with me.
"When | had got about half way on
my journey / found myself in q dense
piece of woodland, but thinking no harm
l 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. l stopped and watched these
shadows, not imagining danger.
"Suddenly terrific war-whoop, sent
out of dozen throats, filled the forest,
and then before l recovered from my
astonishment | found myself surrotinded
by painted devils fourishing weapons Of
every savage fashion | ATTEMPTED to
use my AK upon these iends but they
had calculated upon this, and before |
could get it from my shoulder L was
struck on the right arm with heavily
loaded stick. 1t was paralyzed for the
moment, and the only weapon / could
use in my defense lay at my feet. 1t
was instantly picked up by one OF the
crew and | was hurried to large beech
tree, and tied with ropes, which 1 saw
had been stolen from my own barn!
"When they had SO tied me that I
could not move torch was lighted, and
by the reflection on each face l 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 l
was brave il was now the time for me to
show how pale face could endure the
fire -t.. -,r..
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 me and fred, destroy me-
While these preparations were going on
I thougat 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. sqs aI ..,t.
while l was thus meditating, the
torch being momentarily pushed so near
my face that the skin was blistered, the
report of rifle was heard, and 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 secopd fend, dressed in, a
long lleelskm robey and iwho had been
standing before me- exercising his era
torical powers. fell fat ON his face. just
US a report Of the second gun was heard,
ball crashed through his skull. They
forgot me and made toward the river 7;
but they had hardly run dozen yards,
when devil who held the handle of
scalping knife in his mouth, and who
had more 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 crewatha not even stop
ping to gather up their dead, they ran.
swiftly away. '"-huar .E
"While 1 was thus rejoicing in my
heart at the timely assistance that had
thus come to me, 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.
"Atter a 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 whero / was to
brain and then scalp me. But when l
had worked myself into this belief, at
the same time Straining every nerve to
burst asunder the cords that bound me,
l felt hand touch mine.
81 cried hoarsely; Who's this 2
"Aud to my astoniahment, my wife in
a low voice, her limbs trembling in ox.
oiSement answered
tfT - T1I,,