Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-02-15
Ned Churchfll's Adventure. {
BY MAJOR HAMILTON.

1ars'g Ned Churchfll's Adventure. 3 :.
| BY MAJOR HAMILTON.
In October the Bye and Rock can
ran short of meat, and the bean bag W
produced to determine which of Il
thirteen saltwater miners should drC
pick and shovel, shoulder rifle, an
with a wary eye for the Blackfeet. Wis
| the hills after game ;,snd Ned Church,
the keenest witted and best shot of tt
party, drew the black bean. ~ ;Ii5a
| There was elk in the timber. red de-
upon the bottoms, sheep along the ride
es, and Indians scattered everywhere
but, armed with q Wine hester repeate
and carrying powder, ball and enoug
to reload bis cartridges wheD once fire.
Churchill gave no thought to danger
but, as the early dawn tinged the dist
ant peaks, he turned his face northwar
and bade his comrades adieu. saJ9
rs Eff ye hear my rifle, boys, q coupl
o'ye take my trail an bring in tn
game.
I'll hang up what I kill an 60 on
Ell kin git half-dozen buck, 'twon'
be too many. / may be back to- morrow
i
sun up, two days of, look me up, 70
I'll need buryin.' So long!"
Luck to ye! cried his companions
and the solitary huntsman strobe AVA
through the cleaning of the dawn.
Ten miles to the northward ran linz
of hills spurs of the great Rocky
chain. .sgas o,5.-1ff lcissa-i :
Toward these Churchill made his way
following the general course of thu
streams, and, ashis distance from camp
increased, with ever greater watchful-
ness. , W f'j ,ia1tH il
Along creek bottoms, across the piney
ridges, through the half gorges that
now debouched from the mountains be-
fore him. the hunter still pursued his
way, until, when the sun was less than
three hours high upon his daily journey.
Ned paused to rest among the ragged
boulders that crowned a steep bluff
overlooking broad extent of country
and fairly within the Indian haunted
hunting grounds. saf rn# a5Jps
Before him lay the wilderness, even
as in the day when first the greater
earth rolled her dripping bulk upward
from the waters and met the glad rays
of new born sun. This was the forest
primeval, or as part of it, scanned and
ribbed by the rocky fingers of the great
mountains, the very sanctuary of the
elk-a hunters paradise, but for the
savages who claimed it.
To-day, however, the field seemed
clear, and, after careful reconnOis-
sance of the great extent of the country,
before him, Churchill once more resum.
ed his journey, but now as hunter,
for his goal was reached, his game at
hand. t4a a'
First catch your rabbit runs the old
.prOverb. Within two hours, Ned's rifle
had spoken thrice, and, as its clear
echoes died along the rocky ridges,
three magnificent elk sank, never to
rise again. ThIice had the hunters
knife opened the red veins. and behind
him hung three head of noble game.
The sun, grown cold in the falling of
the year, had risen to the zenith, and
marked the hour of noon. The miner
sought the side of a little stream, to rest
and eat bit of corn bread for his mid
day repast. =. .
He had seen no Indians, not even
signs and yet within this debatable land
he dared not light fire to cook meat,
but must needs lunch upon the food
which he had brought from camp. ~
Eff this yere continues said our
friend to himself. as he munched at his
cold dinner, AM the reds don't drive
me away, I'll gather enough tneatlafore
tomorrow night to last the boys until
Christmas, am kin light out for home
ag'in. I'm glad, for its lonesome work
at the best, an thar's no doubt but the
Injins is nigh about somewhar."
He reloaded the cartridges which he
mad fired, replaced them in the maga-
zine of his rifle, then laying the weapon
upon the ground, with his pistol at its
side, lest it should slip from the holster
into the stream, the hunter kneeled at
the brOokside, and bent his lips to the
water to drink.
Long and deeply he drank, the cool
draught quenching his thirst but for a
single instant his frontier instinct was
at fault. The rush of the water filled
his ears, and he heard not the cat like
tread that approached him. The sheen
of the sunlight was in his eyes, and he
saw not the creeping shadow upon the
sand, until, as he raised his head, satis-
fed, a fierce, blood courdling yell sud-
denly burst upon the air. cries rang out
all about him, and, with mighty rush
ing sound, heavy body leaped upon
his back, and he was precipitated, head
foremost. into the shallow stream be-
fore him! 4L
The Indians were upon him; the
arms of a deadly enemy grasped his
throat !; the hot breath of savage was
upon his cheek. Surprised and over
powered, he was lost.
But no! With strength that was
herculean, Churchill struggled to his
feet, and throwing his brawny arms
backward clasped them about the red
skin who had thought to make him his
prisoner-clasped them with a grip SO
powerful that a grOan was forced from
the dusky throat, and the bones of the
unhappy captOr cracked; then utter
ing yell Of defiance to the swarming
horde behind, he darted across the
stream, and still carrying the Indian
who was now shield from the bullets
of his en- emies, the desperate man ran
with wonderful speed toward narrow
gorge, quarter of mile away.
So sudden was the act that for mo-
ment the Blackfeet stood astounded
then dTsing not to shoot, lest they
should kill their own brave, who dan
gled limp and almost lifeless at the
white mans back, with one impulse
the entire party sprang forward in pur.
suit.
But that instant of hesitation haC
been of priceless value to Churchill. HI
had gained q distinct lead, and ever
though Handicapped in the race, yet il
was a race for life-his life, and befor,
even the f1eetest runner could overtak,
him, the hunter had reached the gorg,
and disappeared among its rocky wind
ings.
When the pursues had entered tn,
canyons mouth, however, their victim
was again discernible, clamberins rap
idly toward an outjutting ledge, hal
way up the PERCEPTIONS side, still carry.
ii,g his living shield.
With fiendish shout of exultation
the red skins paused. Let the whit,
man climb! From the ledge which h'
had now reached there was but one es
cape-but one path-and that down
ward. The game was theirs, and they
could afford to wait; and as Churchill
covered himself at last behind the grea
bou!ders strewn upon the narrow shelf
the Indians seated themselves in open
view beneath. He had no rifle. Why
hide? They wonld soon tear the scalI
from his crown with no further trou