Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1882-02-01


Indians, or to have undertook venture
of almost any kind to relieve the weary
monotony Of his situation,
Al length he felt that he must do
something to divert his mind, and taxi
ing his rifle one morning he walked up
the creek to the cabin of the nearest
mincr-a iaciturn fellow who seemed
to court solitude, but whose cabin was
in sight Of his own-and asked him It
lie would not 6s favor, keep an eye
Oh his hut that day.
| Scarcely looking up, the man gruny
assented, then turned to his work,
which seemed to be the fashioning of a
rude chair from some "shakes" which
he had split.
Thanking him, Bentley turned away
aud proceeded rapidly up from the creek
among the hills, resolved on good
long tramp at any risk 1t was II fine
day, Ills spirits rose as he climbed
the rocky bluff, and caught the pincy
odor of the evcrgrecns which clothed
their sides.
For two or three hours he hunted
for game, but fouud none. There were
as he knew hundreds of black tailed
deer in the miles of woods through
which he had come; but the wind was
blowing steadily in the direction he was
travelling, and he began to be aware
that he must change his course if he
would carry home u haunch of vcni-
son.
Accordingly he now bore of to the
eastward, and, ranging among the hills
in that quarter, succeeded about noon
in shooting fine buck.
Salt and matches he had brought
with him from the cabin, as also q
cantecn of cold coffee aud Il half-dozen
"hard tack" In the course of an
hour he had dressed his dcer-atter q
manncr-kindled fire and was dining
with relish off some of the choicest
tidbits roasted on the Goals.
Later on he secured one of the hind
quarters, bundled up in the skin for
convenience in carrying, and then set
off to return to the creek.
But meantime the sun had become
clouded in; and after going on for
some minutes a feeling of uneasiness as
to his course began to steel upon him.
Uncasily he cast his eyes about him
for some point Of observation which
would enable him to overlook the sur
rounding country.
Out to the east there extended a
range Of high bluffs, or rather long
rocky ridge, and for this he at once
directed his steps. AS the distance
was scarcely more than mile he soon
reached the ridge.
Scaling the crags in front, he saw,
upon gaining the summit, that the end
of his journey, in that direction at least,
was reached. For, stretching away on
either side and in front, there extended
a deep, black canyon, and the ridge on
which he stood proved to be, on the
side next the canyon, sheer precipice,
from one hundred to one hundred and
fifty feet in height.
Bcwidered, and fairly out of reckon
ing, my friend turned to look in the
direction from whence he had just come
when almost the first object that met
his eyes were fifteen or twenty horse
men riding at gallop round the base
of hill, making directly toward him,
and not more than half mile away.
1t hardly needed second glance to
assure the startled miner that they
were Indians, and that they were after
him-attracted no doubt by his incau-
tious campfire.
AT first the peril Of his position near
ly overcame him with terror. There
seemed positively no avenue of escape.
The savages could easily seperate at the
foot of the bluff and surround him !;
while the only alternative left him was
either to fight or to fling himself into
the yawning depths of the canyon.
Instantly the Indians perceived that
he had discovered them, and set up a
hideous yelling, and began to spread
out in line to surround his perch on
the bluff.
The canyon was his only chance Of
escape, and he turned with desperate
earnestness in that direction--spurred
by the yells of the Indians which rang
in his ears, as he ran along the edge Of
the precipice, eagerly scanning the
rocks for some fissure by which he
might climb down.
Already he was nearly inclosed by a
semi-circle of the sayages, In his