South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1883-11-23


lie now busted himself in splitting
several logs of wood that lay before
the door OF his sap-house. They were
pretty rough customers according To
rustic parlancs, and he wac obliged
, TO resort to wedge aud beetle To sue
cesstully operate upon them. AT last
only one OF the logs remained un.
cleft.
This ore was very crooked in its
grain. aud of hard and stubborn
growth. and, despite his most strenu.
Gus exertions, seemed to defy him.
His axe scarcely made al impression
upon the spriugy wood and the wedge
would fly from the flinty log, az if
controlled by some adverse spirit.
But he worked on with will, and at
last succeeded in etfecting an opening,
though the wood stubbornly resisted
his efforts to be cloven entirely.
ugh! Big stick tough; come apart
hard, said gruf voice behind him,
and us the youth turned suddenly lie
found himself confronted by six stall
wart Indiana. They were brutal look
ing warriors. their faces hideous with
war-paint, and each one bore q rifle
and tomahawk.
Robert C'avcring was no coward
but if we SAID that he did not expert,
ence u shudder or dread at the mo-
ment,we should be asserting what was
not true. They were enemies. and he
knew they were visiting him with no
friendly intentions. But he controll-
cd his fear with an effort, and answer
ed as unconcernedly as possible, let.
ting his axe drop to pcrpendicu-
lar,
MY red friend says rightly it is a
very stubborn log But | hope to
succeed in dividing it at last
Guess not now. White boy our
prisoner. Walk woods with us to
Canada,' and the dusky spokesman
shook his ton.ahawk threateningly.
Il ought not to go with you repli-
ed the BOY cotuposedly' L have IA
mother and Il sister who depend on
me for their support. They cannot
take care Of themselves in the wilder
ness
White boy no see quick. We take
hem too, all go to Canada. Come
quick; we can't wait mu Ia of any,
was the cultural response
Come. Robbie, don't let them kill
YOU said his mother, whom he now
noticed for the first time, as sue stood
with her hands bound behind her back
aud little Maggie beside her, secured
IN the same manner.
The boys breath came quick. His
heart rose up within him, and called
for vengeance. He saw the flames of
the burning captive, and pictured the
years Of captivity with all of their
concomitants of horror, aud it seemed
10 him as though he would rather die
at oIce, than undergo all their tor
lures. His mother and sister must be
rescued too He could never live to
see his little. laughing eyed golden
haired Maggie. the squaw of one of
those savage warriors. His mother
white hairs should not be brought
down in sorrow to her grave.
But what could he dor His enemies
were SIX TO one against him, each one
Il strong armed, brawny brave, with
whom he could not have COPIED SUP
cessfully in trial of strength. His
rifle was beyond his reach, nor could
he have used it if he had held the
weapoL in his hand. Cunning was
the only resort left him by which he
could hope to outwit his enemies.
You most ready, hap growIed the
impatient warrior Indian in hur-
ry. Take scalp you no come quick
well, will go with YOU said
Robbie with all The sang.froid he
could muster But | dislike to leave
my work unfinished. Some of my
neighbors may ike to burn this wood.
So aid me, you and your companions,
in forcing this log asunder which 1
have tried in vain to split
'lielp do that easy, answered the
savage ginning with satisfactIon.-
why you no speak about it before?
Said what you want first we have him
split lore now
Lay hold now then with all your
strehtb, and we will sec what can be
done. It's contrary wood, and you
must pull hard
we pull jes' like mighty, gruntcd
the savage. Pull it apart soon, me
guess, and the accommodating red
men all lay hold Of the open seam
which the wedge bad already started,
and strained ike Titans.
Pull harder, all together now
cried Robbie, and he struck the i'm
bedded wedge with his axe, adroitly
knocking it from its place.
n mad cry OF CONSERVATION and
pain rose from the Indians as the
yawnlng seam closed like wise upon
their fingers. Too late they saw the
trap that the active brain OF the pale
faced boy had devised for them. Their
I howls and groans were friohtfnl.