Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-02-24
4 StOru Of SkatinG.

bear on ice. And nothing ever hap
pened to me to make story out of-ex-
cept being scared off field of ice near
the woods once by a screech-owl IN the
pines. It was almost dark, and we had
naver heard such an unearthly scream
before. "It's a wildcat !" shouted one
Of the boys; and by the way in which
we scudded for home you would have
thought it was a race for the village
championship.
Did you ever hear how the hunter who
was taken prisonerby the Indians showed
them how to skate? No? Then it's
just as good as new.
1t was 100 years ago, in the old pion-
eer days. Away up at the northern end
Of the great lakes a bold hunter and
trapper made his camp. He hunted
for sport in the summer, and trapped
for fur in the fall and winter. He knew
every river and creek, every hill and
valley in the great woods better than
you know the streets of the town; and
he had studied the cunning ways and
bright tricks Of the beaver, otter, mink
and martin, until he knew just where,
and how to set his traps for them. He
bought good many skins of the friend
ly Indians who lived near and early
every year he would take a big load of
them to the nearest trading-post to sell
bringing back powder and lead, with
tea sugar, and other good things for his
table. The hunters life isn't half so
fine as the story books make it but old
Thomas Judson-for that was his name
enjoyed it better than any other.
In the winter he had to wear snow
shoes in going through the woods to
visit his traps and one year he brought
back pair Of skates, that he thought
would be handy when the ice was clear.
And very handy he found them at such
times, for he could skate dozen miles
as easy as he could walk two, and the
pack on his back never seemed so light
as when he had his steel shoes on, and
could skim along the CLASSY surface of
the lake or river.
One very cold, clear day, when the
ice was good, he went to visit some mink
traps almost twenty miles north Of his
cabin. He skated to near the spot,
along the shore of the lake, and then
took off his skates and put on his snow
shoes to travel over the deep snow
mile or two into the woods. He knew
that an Indian tribe from Canada had
come down to make war on those who
lived near him, but never thought they
would trouble him.
All at once his good dog Bruno, that
had been running ahead on a deer-track,
stopped, shifted the air, bristled up an
grily and began to growl and before
Thomas could carry his rifle to his
shoulder he was surrounded by dozen
bowling Indians, who sprung from
their hiding in the thicket BRAN
dishing their tomahawks and yelling like
mad.
The old man was brave, but he wasn't
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 could speak even
less English but by signs and motions
he made out to let them know that he
wasn't on the war-path, but after furs.
The Indians threatened no harm when
they found him peaceful, but were much
interested In his arms and dress, for
they hadn't at that time seen many
white men. The snowshoes they under
stood all about, for you know the In
dams invented them but the skates
puzzled them.
A funny thought seemed to occur to
the hunter, as he saw their curiosity, for
his gray eye twinkled merrily. Ice
moccasin, he said, putting a skate to
his foot, and then he made with his
hands the gliding motion that the feet
take in skating.
"Ugh !" grunted the Indian chief.
pointing to the narrow blade of the
skate, and shaking his head. As plainly
as looks could do it he made the hunter
understand that he wasn't so green as
to believe that anybody could stand up
on those things. As they were near the
ice, Thomas proposed to fasten them on
a young brave for 6. trial.
The Indians welcomed the plan with
glee, for though savages they were great
lovers Of sport. Selecting the bravest
and swiftest young fellow, the chief
babe 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
q crack Such shouts of laughter as
the rest sent up The young fellow was