The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-06-11
A BRAVE DEED.
A Story of the Indian Troubles in
Minnesota.

I = - (
; Somebody ought to let the settlers a
Armstrong; know about the dange
they're in but don't see how we're go
ing to ldosit
The speaker was a man dressed as 8
farmer; he was speaking to his neigh
bors, and they were all gathered in q
large barn, built of logs in one of the
J newly settled portions Of Minnesota. II
was in the time of the Indian outbreak
and they had. sought safety here, men,
j women and children, inspired by feel.
ing of terror only understood by those
who have lived on the frontier, and
know from actual experience the dan
ger of such life in places where
the Indians are unfriendly and murder
ous..'
/ Stories had come to them snf horri-
bic massaeres at New Ulm and other
settlements not far away, and they were
expecting an attack at any time. Every
hour passed slowly in fear and sns-
pense. g,.e. &.
The remark with which have begun
this story was called out by the tidings
which scout had just brought in. He
had learned that the Indians intended
to attack settlement some ten miles
down the, riV err Armstrong; it was
called, because the name of the leading
man there IVas Armstrong 1t was a
lonely place, quite by itself, and as it
had been but recently settled, the only
communication it had with the outside
world was sby way, of the river, aud a
rough trail along the bluffs.
'eIt's just like this" said the man.
"The Indians are scattered along the
river, on either side of it, for four or
Ave miles below here, clear back to the
swamps, thus cutting off all chance of
escape for the folks at Armstrong; if
they knew of the danger, for there are
Indians op the other side of them. The,
only chance for them to save themselves
is.In getting together as we've done, and
holding out against the redskins until
help comes, aud that viii be soon. I'm
sure. But they don't know. anything
about what's been done or what is going
TO be done. therefore they'll be taken
by surprise, and they'll be batchered,
every man, woman and child Of them,
as the whites were at New Ulm. It's
terrible, but 1 don't see how,we can help
it. It's sure death to attempt to get
from here to Armstrong;. The woods
are full of Indians, and they'd discover
fellow before he'd made two miles of
the distance.
Robert Woods listened to what was
being said with sad heart He was
poor boy, with but one relative in the
world, as far as he knew. That relative
was sister living at Armstrong's.
Must / stay here and let her be kill
edp he said to himself-"let her be
killed, without making an attempt to
save herr Nc; I'll try to get to
Armstrong; in some way, if I die for
"See here" he said, going up to the
man who seemed to be the one in
charge of affairs, 81 have sister at
Armstreng's. | can't stay here and do
nothing while she's in such danger. I'll
undertake to get there and give them
warning"
why, boy, you'd be shot before you'd
got out of hearing, almost" was the re-
Ply.,ss1 know it seems cruel for us to
stay here while they're exposed to such
DANGER but we've got our families to
protect and we know that there isn't
one chance in a. thousand of getting to
them. 1t would be like running gaant
let"
"I'll take that chance, then, said Rob
ert. must go Don'ttry to keep me
back. l have plan that may work.
I'll try it anyway
"What is it, they asked him. How
are you going7''
By river" answered Robert
They're camped AL along the bank a
few miles below here, and no boat or
canoe could possibly get past them un-
seer" they told him.
But am not going in a boat or ca
noe he said, m going to float down
in tree-top."
Just at dusk that night tree-top drift
ted ont slowly into the river from the
little bend below the settlement Hidden
away among the branches was the boy
who had determined to risk his life for
the sake of other lives.
The current bore the tree-top along
past the shores where, for all the young
yoyager knew, an Indian might be lurk-
ing, hoping for victim. Sometimes it
almost touched the bank as the river
made 4 curve, and the current ran close
BY the edge of thestFeam then it would
drift ont into the middle of the river
again.
The moon rose by-and-by, and made
the scene almost as light as day. Rob
eFt was sorry about that, for It made his
voyage seem more perilous, If il really
was not 50. A very dark night would
have suited him best.
Il seemed to him that he had been
adfift for three or four hours before be
saw or heard any indications Of ife-H
sadden1y figure rose up on the bank,
and stood there watching the river. Tt
was "A Indian. He was not twenty feet
away from Robert, and the boy hardly
dared breathe for fear Of being heard.
L seemed to him as if the Indian sharp
eyes must see through the branches ard
discover him. -
But the Indian probably never thpught
cE such q thing IS . persons being bid.
den II the tree top, and soon Robert had
left him behind But there Eere others
sknlking up and down the river. and he
saw several Of them before be had gone
lAnch farther. But they, like the first
one. did not seem to think there vas.
my ding unusnal Or suspicious IL the
llnntinn uk 8 tree top down the river and
Robert passed them safely
Presently Be heard the sound Of =
paAdies and peering through the
hFnnc he saw canoe coming to-
Nhld him. liere we're three Indians
ln0e was being steered straight
IL she tree top. He believed that bis.
I nee there had been discovered. tt
sse barely pos BE hat It had not, how
sxeks bus f the Indians ran into the.
le top. IS It looked s. + they intend
/ 81 - lt certainly would BE- Il he re-