Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-02-15
flash in the white mans eye had crw.

1 flash in the white mans eye had crw
ed him, and he lay quiet again.
Once or twice the watchers in the
gorge beneath had risen and moved
about as though preparing for an as.
i sault, and then the hunted hunter had
crOuched at the narrowest point of the
narrow entrance to his lair, where be
was hidden behind a great mass of rock
and with one hand upon his prisoner
and the other grasping his weapon, had
waited as the panther waits to spring !:
but the Blackfeet made no attack,
The day declined. Tie sun went out
Of sight behind the great mountain
peaks to the west; the cry of the coyote
sounded clear from the plain, and the
curtain OF night began to fall. aft@
Now was the time of greatest danger,
and Churchill knew It, Now, if ever,
he must escape. l.
/ Thicker grew the shadows, more and
more intense became the silence, and
the blackness of the canyon beneath
crept upward. Night had come. ed
Fol, time Churchill had remained
mOtionless in deep thought, but now,
just as the sharp rattle Of pebble told
him of the stealthy advance of his foes.
he bestirfed himself. 5T
Approaching the Indian whom he
had captured, he carefully raised him to
his feet, so arranged his bonds that he
might run while his hands were still
tied, and then, securely and without
the savage's knowledge, fastened at his
back the pOwderhorn, containing almost
pound of powder. Last of all, he Open
ed the horn and stuck into its mouth
bit of cloth, twisted and torn from his
own clothing. 3ss..', ..s:}
The rattle of pebbles was now oftener
heard and q slow, creeping sound. The
Blackfeet had already begun to climb
toward the ledge. 1, |
Churchill seized his dusky companion
and urged him toward the point where
the descent began. He would have re-
sisted, fearful of many things, but the |
mighty strength of the white man over
came all resistance.
Together the two stood at the head of |
the narrow pathway up which the In |
dians were tOiling. tai4e |
The muffied breathing of the assault |
ing party could now he heard, and the |
occasional clink of some weapon |
against the stone. The hunter waited |
no longer.
Quickly striking a match he touched
The bit of cloth which was stuck in the |
open mouth of the powder horn, and at
the same instant, with q terrific yell, he
dealt the man before him heavy blow,
which hurled him staggering down to
meet his coming friends.
The cloth blazed; there rang from
'he stumbling. flying Indian shrek of
mingled pain and horror an answering
cry of rage and surprise broke from the
Blackfeet before him. And then, even
as the prisoner was among his brother
braves once more. there burst upon the
night a roar like that of angry thunder;
\ great light famed over red men, bluff
and gorge an irresistible something
rocked the very earth, hurling the
Indians PROSTATE; light, flying steps
passed down the narrow causeway out
nto the night; then silence and dark
cess returned again.
But Churchill had escaped! n
-
The Frye and Rock" camp breakfast.
ed upon venison next morn, for the mi
1ers following their comrades trail,
had secured the game which he had
killed, and brought it safely in; but
when the hunter himself arrived, and
told his wonderful tale, fear of massa-
sacre fell upon all; the digging were
deserted, and the entire party, laden
with gold dust and tools, hurriedly |
scrossed the range.n
But the Indians would not have trou-
bled them had they remained, for they
too, deserted the hill country and so
long as the legened of the ''fire fiend"
is told about Blackfeet camp fires, so
long will the red man avoid the country |
by such a creation. And so,
freed from both miners and savages,
tue hole elk range is undisturbed, and
the little streams gather golden san ds
for future prospectOrs, while as yet the
story of Ned Churchills adventure re-
mains bar to the region for both red
men and white.