Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-03-27

saw or. heard any indications OF me-
Suddenly q figure rose up on the pan u =
and stood there watching the river. ~
was an Indian. He was not twenty feet
away from Robert, and the boy hardy
dared breathe for fear Of being heard
II seemed to him as If the Indians sharp
ewes must see through the branches ana
discover him.
But the Indian probably never
Thought of such q thing as 3 person pc
ing hidden in a tree-top. and soon ROD
ert had left him behind. But there
were others skulkine up and down the
river, and he saw several of them before
he had gone much further. But they'
like the first one, did not seem to THINK
there was anything unusual OF sus7
picious in the floating of tree-top
down the river, and Robert passed them
safely.
Presently he heard the sound OF
paddle, and peerlng through the
branches, he saw canoe comlngi
toward him. There were three Indians
in it.
The canoe was being steered straight
for the tree-top. He believed that his
presence there had been discovered. 1t
was barely possible that it had not.
however; but, if the Indians ran into the
tree-top, as it looked as if they intend
ed to, it certainly would be- if he re-
manned crouching on the tree. He low
cred himself noiselessly into the water
until only his head remained above the
surface.
The Indians ran the front of the canoe
upon the trunk of the floating top, and
one of them got out and stood upon It,
steadying himself by holding to the
branches, while his comrades made
some changes in the blankets and other
articles in the bottom Of the canoe. The
Indians feet were not foot from Rob
ert's head. The extra weight caused
the tree-top to sink lower in the water.
and once or twice, while the Indian
stood there, Robert came near strang-
ling, for the water rose to his mouth.
But he managed to lift himself little
higher, and keep above the threatened
danger. 1t was with such intense relief
as only they can imagine who have been
in similar position that he saw the In
dian get back into the canoe.
After that Robert saw. no more of the
Indians, though he heard several whoOps
and their answers little distance back
from the banks.
By-and-by he knew from the trees and
some of the bluffs along the stream that
he was nearing the settlement where his
sister lived.
Half an hour later he padded his
leafy boat ashore, and climbed the bluff
bank. Before him, peaceful and unsus- .
picious of danger, lay the little settle
ment of '.Armstrongs
He hurried to the house where his
sister lived, and reused the owner of it,
To him he told his story in a few brief
words. The place was in danger. The
settlers must be got together, and that
at once. The Indians might come at
any time.
The man started in one direction, and
to visit all the houses and rouse their
inmates. Armstrong; house was the
largest one in the settlement, and the
most substantially built. and here the
settlers gathered. bringing guns, pitch
forks, scythes and whatever seemed
likely to be of any sposs BILE use as =
weapon. The house had large cellar
under it, and in it the women and chill
dren were placed.
In less than half an hour from the
time of Roberts arrival they were ready
for the Indians. And by-and-by the In
dams came They had expected to find
their victims asleep; but they found
them very wide awake. There .were
three or four guns of the repeating kind
in the little party, and as soon as the
Indians were seen coming across the
clearing, fire was opened on them. The
shots were fired with such rapidity that
the besiegers evidently thought the be-
sieged to be much stronger in number
than they were. The surprise of the
sudden and altogether unexpected at
tack threw them into confusion, and
they retreated after firing a few HARM
less shots.
The next day assistance came to the
little towns along the river. But if
Robert had not done what he did, it is
quite likely every soul at . Armstrong"
would have been butchered that night.
He was hero among the thankful set
tiers on account of his brave deed, and
he deserved to be, for by it he had
saved good many lives. Such deeds
are grand and truly great ones, and the
doors of them are our truest heroes
Ebes E. Rertord, in Harper's Young
People.
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