The Press., 1884-03-13
(Harper's Young People.)
 A BRAVE DEED.
RY BEEN E. REXFORD.

E.
 'sSomebody ought to let the settlers at Armstrong's know about the danger they're in but don't see how we're going to do it.'' .S @
 The speaker was man dressed as 8 farmer; he was speaking to his neighbors, and they were all gathered in a large barn, built of logs, in one of the newly settled portions of Minnesota. It was in the time of the Indian outbreak, and they had sought safety here, men, women, aud chil- dren, inspired by feeling of terror only understood by those who have lived on the frontier, and know from actual exp+ri- ence the danger of such life in place, where the Indians are unfriendly and mur- derous.
 Stories had come to them of horrible massacres at New Ulm and other settle ments not far away, and they were expect ing an attack at any time.. Every hour passed slowly in fear and suspense.
 The remark with which I have begun this story was called out by the tidings which 8 scout had just brought in. He had learned that the Indiaus intended to attack a settlement some ten miles down the river. "Armstrong's," it was called, because the name of the leading man ther' 
 quite by itself, and as 1t had been but re- gently settled, the only communication it had with the outside world was by way of the river, and a rough trail along the bluffs.
 "Its' just like this" said the man. 'sThe Indians are scattered along, the river, on either side of it, for four or five miles below here, clear back to the swamps, thus cutting off all chance of eScipe for the folks at Armstrong's, if they knew of tie danger, for there are Indians on 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 comrs,. and that will 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 butcher ed, every man, woman, and child of them, as the whites were at New Ulm. Its ter rible, but I don't see how we can help it.. Its sure death to attempt to get from here to Armstrong's. The woods are full of In dians, and they'd discover fellow before he'd made two miles of the distance.
 Robert Woods listened to what was be- ing said with 8 sad heart. He was poor boy, with but one relative in the world, as far as he knew. That relative was sister living a Armstrong's.
 "Must stay here and let her be kill ed ?'' he said to himself-"let her be kill ed, without making an attempt to save her? No; I'll try to get to Armstrong; $ in some way, If die for it. y
 'See here,' he said, going up to the man who seemed to be the one i'll charge of affairs, 'sI have sister at Armstrong's. I 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 reply. II 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. thou sand of getting to them It would be like running gauntlet" rF.t- 5-t" ''Ill take that chance, then," said Rob- ert. 'I must go. Don't try to keep me back. I have plan that may work. I'll 1 try 1t, anyway"
 "What is it ?' they asked him. "How are you going?''
 ssBy river, 2 answered Robert 5,
 They're camped all along the bank a few miles below Lere, and no boat CT canoe could possl bly get past them unseen,' they told him. A*
 "But I am not going in boat or canoe, '' he said. "I going to float down in a tree top."
 Just at dusk that night a .tree-top drift ed out slowly into the river from the little beud below the settlement Hidden away among the branches was the boy who had determined to risk his life for the sake of other lives. q
 The current bore the tfee-top along past the shores where, for all the young voyager knew, all Indian might be lurking, hoping for a victim. Sometimes 1t a most touch ed the bank as the river made curve, and stream; then it would drift out into the middle of the river again.
 The moon rose by -and-by, and made the scene almost as light as day Robert was sorry about that, for 1t made his voyage seem more perilous, if it was not so. very dark night would have suited hin best ss-,,r..s...- 5r.s.s-. It seemed to him that he had been adrif for three or four hours before he saw ol heard any indications of life. Suddenly 1. figure rose up on the bank, and stooG there watching the river. It was an In dan. z He was not twenty feet away iron Robert, and the boy hardly dared breath, for fear. of being heard. It scene to hin las if the Indians sharp eyes must SCI through the branches and discover him. E But the Indian probably never though of such a thing as as persons being hiddel in the ,tree-top, and soon Robert had lief him behind. But there were others skulk ing up and down the river, and he sax several of them before he had gone mucl further. But they, like the first one, di, not seem to thlnk there was anything un unusual or suspicious in the floating of
 tree-top down the liver, and Robert pass ed them safely. ..| Presently he heard the sound of a pad de, and psering through tke branchas, h
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