The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-08-28
A CLOSE SHAVE.
nv KENNETH KARL.


nv KENNETH KARL
1t was at the close of a midsummer's
dav that | was returning to camp with
nv pick ana shovel upon my shoulder,
wraricd by a long tramp among the
hills, whittier myself and companion
AL been attracted by the god fever.
My luck had been very good that day,
AMI my consequent good spirits were
materially heightened by the anticipa-
tju.l II the bountiful supper of savory
vruison that | knew my comrade would
have prepared for me. To tired and
hungry man there is nothing so pleasing
as the prospect Of good supper and a
quiet smoke after the fatigue of the day,
unless, indeed, it be the actual enjoy
mrnt of these Injuries.
Casting my eyes heavenward, per-
c2.vrd that the storm that had long been
brewing, was now fast coming on, and
in apprehension | quickened my pace,
DESTROYS of reaching camp before the
breaking of the tempest, which prom
Used to he one Of great fury. Already
the wind was rising to almost gale,
dark masses of cloud scudded swiftly
across the sky, and few drops of rain
spattered into my face
The shades of twilight were rapidly
deepening around, and fearful of the
consequences of being belated among
the hills on a dark and stormy night |
hurried on, casting furtiye glances in
the direction of the approaching tempest
Suddenly. series of sharp yells
| pierced my ears, and number OF dark
objects spriuging down from the rocks
on my left, rushed toward me with
braudishcd knives.
One glance sufliced to assure me that
nv only hope of escape lay in flight
| Dropping my spade and picE | turned
and fled mp the valley with the savages
in hot pursuit, discharging their arrows
and giving utterance to the most horrid
| Wells.
| Un-lin@ing my rife from my back as
| ran. / watched over my shoulder for a
favorable opportunity to draw bead on
| one of the redskins. AT length the
opportunity presenting itself | wheeled
and fired The foremost savage sprung
into the air and with loud yell fell up
on lis frce, and again sped forward.
TufuiHg into narrow ravine / dashed
up lis winding course in the vain hope
of rluding my pursuers. To my I'M
| spraka ir horror | suddenly found my
self confronted by a tall cliff and realized
that had reached the termination OF
the raviRr To retreat was now impOs-
slide rs the cries OF the approaching
sava.,'S warmed me that they had al
ready turned into the gorge and would
soon ia. Upon me
i.l..,Ard MILDLY around for some ave
nae oi escape, but only the steep wall
OF l'.e Forge frowned down upon me 81
ii in inorkary. | at once saw that unless
| rould scale the cliff in froRt. was lost
Springing forward began the ascent
fear lending me the strength of despera
ton. Up-up | went, here finding ,
trembling foothold on a projecting ledge
there drawing myself a little higher by
means of struggling bush.
Higher-stili higher-but AT length
could 90 no further, and sinking down
exhausted, upon narrow ledge of rock
| awaited the onset of the savages.
In an instant they were beneath me
, and at sight of my helpless situation
cry of demoniac JOY escaped them tina
I curdled the blood in my veins.
! " | had dropped my rifle in the ascen
: and was now completely at their mercy
, without the slightest protection betwee
D. me and their arrows.
With triumphant yells they groupe
Il together at the bottom of the raVint
their hideous countenances glowing wit
IL notwithstanding loath to end N
le suffering and thereby deprive then
e selves of the enjoyment my discomftur
/ afforded them.
'r Richly would they revenge the deaf
'e of their comrade.
At length they raised their bows.
# closed my eyes ana tried to pray. M
ar past life fitted before me like panori
70 ma at that awful moment. ] though
to of faraway home and friends-of n
! companion and his lone condition.
W At that instant there was blindin
II flash of lightning followed by a peal {
- thunder that shook the cliff to its vel
N base. A huge mass of rock, loosent
of DN bHt tOuGuSolpIlt AO"h A "
as neighboring height with a deafenin
NJ noise. crushing number of the sa'
IL ages beneath its weight. The other
ah terror-stricken. turned and fled down tt
10 ravine.
90 :" The storm now burst forth in all
II, fury The lightning cleaned, the thu
n der crashed, the rain fell in perfe
~ deuge Deep darkness set in, al
10 20 shrinking back into the shelter of t
- rock, gave vent to my overjoyed fet
sl' ings at the unexpected deliveranc
' Ge scarce needing the elements that rag
10 around me.
nc When at length the storm had su
70 sided, | crawled down from my per
~ and CROPPED my way, not without gre
w. difficulty. to camp. Here, under Il
congenial influence of warm fire 81
G 4: a good supper, in some measure reco
-. Is cred M accustomed buoyancy of spir
LII and related to my alarmed comrade t
'se story of my wonderful escape.
10 But it was many days before entir
No " recovered from the effect of that tt
10 rible ordeal.