The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1882-02-11

ridges of the mountains Tower;na
around us on every side were the tall
cliffs OF the mountains, their majestic
peaks standing out clear and bold in the
biting winter atmosphere Below us Law
the dark thread of the Huerfapo River
locked IN the icy embrace of a Colorado
winter.
Leading down to its brink from where
we stood was a sheer descent, almost en-
tIrely unbroken by tree or bowlder We
were looking upon one OF those mysteri-
Gus phenomena known as a "weird
shoot, which nature had cleared either
by fire or tornado
The shoot was about sixty feet wide.
and, with the exception of a few Jagged
rocks, afforded clear roadway from top
to bottom. 1t was now covered with a
gilstenlng bed of frozen snow, utterly
impossible to man, or even the sure
footed deer.
1t was no time, however, to study this
lce-sllde, when my dearly-loved brother
was captive IN the hands of remorseless
red demons.
We were within few rods of the
camp, and thlther we cautiously directed
our way through thicket of scrub oaks.
cab" whispered the scout to me. as
he pointed to an article standing against
tree, known as a " toboggan, :" "the
red tiends have been ENJOYING sleigh
rides, seer'
Still more silently we moved toward
the camp, until we caught sight of Al
bert, standing bound to tree, Just in
| front of us.
Around the fire, considerable dis
| lance from the prisoner, were the bucks.
! laz1ly reclining on ther blankets, watch
| ing several squaws preparing meal.
! he scout motioned me to remain
where L was, while he began to creep to-
ward Albert. This he succeeded in do
ing, under the cover of a scrub oak.
which frlnged the whole camp.
Never IN my life did [ spend such an
lntelminable five minutes. My eve was
fixed upon my savages, and my rife at
full-cock, ready to fire should an alarm
be given.
1t seemed to me that the scout must
have easily traversed the distance halt a
dozen of times. SO long was it, in fact,
that L began to fear some accident had
beIallen him.
turned my eyes to see what was oc-
casionIng the delay. To my amazement
Albert was no longer bound
At that instant my heart leaped into
my throat as | heard the savage yell
which announced the discovery Of the
loss Of their prisoner
The scout and my brother were at my
side
Horror filed our bosoms as we heard
other shouts and louder ones, which rang
nd Il.
Businesses.
We turned to see the meaning of this
increase Of sound.
"Merciful heavensl The whole band
have come back p exclaimed my brother.
We are lost % shouted /, in a frenzy
Of excitement, as [ saw the savages en-
terIng the other side of the village, and,
led by the surprised watchers, start in
pursuit.
1t had been possible to escape from
three or four ordinary braves, but to
evade hundred or more of the best and
most experienced red woodsmen, that
was impossible.
"We are lost!" therefore I again said.
Not SO, responded the scout eve
have one chance in a hundred I'll take
! that chance !"
SO saying, he darted aside from the
| trail and seized the toboggan.
"To the shoot to the shoot !" he ex-
claimed.
Meanwhile, the bullets were clipping
the branches about us on either side, and
the air was cleft with blood-curdling yells
such yells as only issue from demon
| Threats.
They were gaining rapidly upon us,
one h1deOus stalwart especially near,
while but a short space behind were three
or four others.
1t was doubtful if we could gain the
shoot in time, but, straining every nerve,
we reached it, with the foremost indian
not far distsnt.
Luckily for us, he had discharged his
rifle early in the chase, and must depend
upon his knife or dubbed weapon.
As the scout threw down the toboggan,
he shouted:
"Give that head chap dosel Don't
waste your metal, else it will go hard
with us "
He had placed his rifle in the hands Of
| Albert, and was arranging the toboggan
which, [ must explain, is smooth
board, about eight feet long, with the
end turned up IN front like the dashboard
of a sleigh. This is held in position by
thongs and posts set in the board A to-
boggau of this length affords a seat for
four people.
Ordinarily. not one Of u would have
thought of using the shoot, for to de-
| scend that fearful decllyity seemed GER
tain death.
Now, the thought of the risk was MT
so appalling, With the alternative of
cruel torture and ignominious death be-
| hind us.
/ / stood a second only with my rifle
| poised. My muscles grew tense with
/ the thought that [ must kill. l pressed
my finger on the trigger; the hammer
| fell.
But there was no report! The chief
rushed upon me. with his cleaning knife
! brandished above. In a second more,
the glittering steel dropped from his
hand, and with a groan he fell to the
! ground.
Albert had performed the work in
which had failed
! But few feet behind the CORY body
were two savages to take his place.
"Get on get on - exclaimed the scout,
as he set the example.
In a second we were seated on the
craft. and III it began to move gently for
ward
The two braves were at the brink, and
one had his hand upon my shoulder.
The quick wrench [ gave precipitated
the toboggan forward, and we began to
move faster. \ couple of shots rang
through the startled air, one of them