The Hazlehurst signal. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1883-1885, 1884-04-03
BRAVE ROBERT.

~
nesota.
Somebody ought to let the settlers
at Armstrong; know about the danger
they're In. but l don't see how we're
going to TO It."
The speaker was q man dressed asa
farmer; he was speakingto his neigh.
bors. and they were all gathered In a
large barn. built Of logs, In one OF the
newly. settled portions OF Minnesota.
II was In the time Of the Indian out
break, and they had sought safety here.
msn, women and children, inspired by
feeling OF terror only understood by
those who have lived on the frontier.
and know from actual experience the
danger OF such life In places where
the Indians arc unfriendly and mur-
dcrous.
Stories had come to them OF horrible
massacres at New Ulm and other set
Elements not far away, and they werc
expecting an attack at any time. Every
hour passed slowly In fear and stis-
pcnsc.
The remark with which have begun
this story was called out by the tidings
which q scout had just brought In. He
had learned that the lrdlans Intended
10 attack settlement some ten miles
down tho river. Armstrong;" II
was called, because the name OF the
leading man there was Armstrong. 1t
was lonely place. quite by itself. aud,
rs Il had been but recently settled, the
only communication II had with out
side world was by way OF the river,
aud rough trail along the bluffs.
"It's Just like this" said the man.
''Thc Indians are scattered along the
river, on either side Of II. for four or five
miles below here. clear back to the
swamps, thus cutting OF all chance OF
escape for the folks At Armstrong;, II
they knew Of the danger, for there are
Indians on the other side OF them. The
only chance for them to save themselves
Is In getting together rs we've done.
and holding out against the redskins
until help comes. and that will be soon,
I'm sure. But they don't know any
thing about whats been done or what
Is going tn be done; therefore they'll
be taken by surprise, and they'll be
butchercd, every man, woman aud child
Of them, as the whites werc at New
Ulm. It's terrible. but I don't scc how
we can help II. It's sure death TO at.
tempt tn get from here TO Armstrong;.
The woods are full Of Indians. and
they'd discover o 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 tho
world, as far rs he knew. That rcla-
two was d sister living Mt Arm
strag's.n
"Mnst I stay here and let her be
killcd?" he said to himself-"let her
be killed, without making an attempt
10 save her? No; I'll try to get to
Armstrong; In some way, II ] dio for
IT," ..,
"See here" hc said, going up TO the
man who seemed to be the one In
charge of affairs, II have sister at
! Armstrong;. can't stay hero and do
nothing while she's In such danger. I'll
undertake to get there and givo them
warming"
"Why, boy. you'd DO shot before
you'd got out OF hearing almost" was
the reply. ..l know Il seems cruel for
MS To stay here while they're exposed TO
such danger; but we've got our families
to protect, and wc know that there Isn't
one chance In 4 thousand Of getting 10
them. 1t would be like runninga gaunt-
let" .
"rl take that chance. them" said
Robert. III must 20. Don't try TO
keep me back. have plan that may
work. Ill try It, anyway"
"What Is ite" thoy asked him. "How
are You goinG'" d..
They're campcd all along tho bank
few miles below here, and no boat or
canoe could possibly get past them un-
seem" they told him.
"But I am not going In . boat or CO.
noc." he said "Tm going " hoat
down In tree-t0r.
Just at dusk that night troe.top
drified out slowly into the river from
the little bend below tho settlement.
Hidden away among the branches was
the boy who had determined TO risk his
LIE for the sake OF other lives.
The current bore the trce-top along
past tho shores where, for oil the Young
voysger know. an Indian might be
lurking. hoping for = victim. Some
times It almost touched the bank ~
the river made q curve, and tho cur.
rent ran close by tho edgo Of the stream;
then Il would drift out Into the middle
Of the river again. I'd .5aa -
The moon rose by.and-by. and made
the sccnc almost rs light as day. Rob
crt was sorry about that, for u made his
voyage seem moro perilous, II Il really
was not 90. A very dark night would
have suited him best.
Il seemed 70 him that he bad been
adrift for three or four hours before be
saw or heard any indications Of life.
Suddenly . figure rose up on tho bank.
and stood therc watching the rivvr. II
was "a Indian. Hswas not twenty feet
away from Robert, and the boy hardly
dared breathe for fear Of beIng hesrd.
Il seemed to him - Il the Indians sharp
eyes must sse through the brancbes and
discover him.
:, But the Indian probably nsver
thought.of such . thing - psrsoa's BE-
Ing hidden In . stree-top, and soou Bob
erf had Left him behind. But there
were others skulhns up sad dews the