Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1881-01-15

r
before Thomas could carry III, rifle 10
his shoulder he Was surrounded hy a
dozen howling Indians. who spranc
from their hiding place III the ,hick.s,
hrandishing their tonalaaak rs and
yelling like mad
The old man WAS brave, tut H..
WASH I a fool; and. instead of showing
fight against such odds, he laid down
his rifle and folded his arms. He could
! talk but little Indian. and they couls;
even speak less English but hy signs
and motions he made out IL let them
Know that he wasn't on the war lath
but after furs. The Indians threat
ened no harm when they found him
peaceful, but We're much interested in
his arms and dress. for they hadn I a,
that time seen many white n en-. The
for you know the Indians invented
them; but til E skates puzzled them. A
thought seemed TO occur to the hunter,
as he saw theiF curiosity, for his gray
~" !" "iIihiS,~4iii'iiliN Ice Hltftta-
sim he said ,p9ttidg skate on II i foo,
and then he made with his hands the
gliding motion that the feet take in
skating. Ugh" - grunted the Indian
chief, pointing 10 the narrow blade OF
the skate, and shaking his head A.
plainly looks could do il he made tn.
hunter understand that he wasn't 81
green as TO believe that anybody could
stand up on those things. AS they
were near the the ice. Thomas pro-
posed to fasten them on young brave
i for trial.
The Indians welcomed the plan
with glee, for, though savages, they
were great lovers Of sport. Selecting
the bravcst and swiftest young fellow
! the chief bid him stick out his feet,
which he did rather suspiciously The
skates were soon strapped on, and the
young buck helped to his feet The
! ice was like glass, and as he started to
move you know what happened; his
feet flew out from under him, and
down he came with crack Such
houghts of laughter as the rest sent
| up! The young fellow was gritty. aud
scrambled up TO try it again, but with
the same result.
The chief now sgnaled to the hunt
er to show them how the Things
worked. Thomas fastened ON the
skates with great care, picked up
his rifle and used it as cane, pretend
ing to support himself. He moved
about awkwardly. fell down, got up
and stumbled around, the Indians All
the while laughing and capering al the
sport. Gradually Thomas stumbled q,
little farther away, whirling about and
to keep his balance, until he was near
! the point where the smooth ice lake
stretched miles and miles away
Suddenly gathering hinis If up he
grasped his rifle firmly, gave war
whoop as wild As the Indians own
and dashed up the lake like an arrow
skating as he never skatcd before. II
he had diappearei III tire air the In
dians couldn't have been more aston
ished. OF course they couldn't hope
TO catch him, over the CLASSY ice. and
they stood gaping after him, wonder
ing more and more at the magic re
IL occasins.' Nothing please old Thorn
as more in after years than 10 tell
how he fooled the red kins
An American was break fasting al
one Of the restaurants Of the palai-
Royal AT an opposite table va -eated
decidedly handsome woman Par
sienne from top to toe. OF course the
American looked at her. Jnd il o.
eurred TO him that SHE might no; I.e
altogether insenslble 10 his admirug
glances. He was sure o. il when tie
lady, in English and with the cute-.
Of accents said. Come here. nay
pretty one. II mus. Ice agreed that
the Yankee vas startled. Il .a. hardly
the style OF recognition he expected
bot perhaps he though, - himself il i.
the Paris way and was laying down
his napkin 10 20 over AMI low his ac-
know Judgements. when he observed 4
shaggy cur drag himself out from un-
der a chair and proceed to the feet 81
his fair ensIaver. Jofs l,.tit chen.
she said, as she s,roaei it, ugly head.
1t is sometimes we'll no. 70 bs ~,