Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1885-08-22
But as the Colonel allowed them to

Dut US tH6 COAohci aiAoHCd tnCin W
come and go as they liked, no ques-
tions were asked him. By-and-by, as
they went On talking, Sam Jack got
up and got behind the door leading
into the Colonel's bed room, which
stood aiar, just back of his chair.
They were so busy talking that they
did not notice it, and forgot it in q
few moments, and after o time John
and Mark both went out to do some
work, leaving the Colonel alone, as he
thought.
Some minutes passed, and he had
fallen into a browse, when suddenly
the outside door flew open with a
bang, and a gigantic Indian, named
"Seek-um- O-cum," from down Hall
fax way-not one of the Maine In
dams, but one that the British had
hired to kill the Colonel--leaped into
the room, frothing at the mouth like
q mad dog, having wrought himself
up to a fearful pitch that he might
have courage to commit the deed.
He was brandishing huge knife
around his head, and Colonel Allan,
who was quite unarmed and wrapped
closely in the bedspread, could do
nothing save fix his eyes sternly on
those of the would-be assassin.
With a frightful howl the savage
sprang upon him to strike, but at
that instant Sam Jack, who had some
how heard of his coming, and who
had been standing behind the bed
room door all this time, bound
ed out, and with one blow of a club
which he had concealed under his
frock, laid the red miscreant stiff on
the floor.
Drawing his own knife, Sam Jack
might have had Seek-um O-cum's
scalp off in short order. But the Col
onel forbade him, and when at length
the would-be murderer came to his
senses, the Colonel merely pointed to
the door, and babe him "go home"
At another time while alone on a
trip during the early part of the win
| ter, to confer with some Of the Pc
nobscot Indians, then camped on the
Schoodic lakes, he was chased by a
party of six hostile Indians from
across the border, who wished to
take him prisoner, in order to get
the large reward offered for his cap
ture, dead or alive, by the British.
These savages had been lodging his
steps for two days and finally came
up with him as he was going down
| the lower lake on skates.
CHANGING to glance over his shout
der, when about q half-mile out from
the shore, he saw all six of them
dashed out upon the lake in full
chase. They also were on skates.
| Colonel Allen well knew what his
fate would be if taken. Like any
strong imam who feels his life is at
stake, he struck out with all his pow
ers to escape. But the Indians were
more practiced skaters than he.
CHANGING back, the Colonel saw that
despite his utmost exertion the saw
ages were slowly coming up with
him.
"Their exultant whoops sounded
nearer and nearer. Worst still, he
now discerns black line of open
water not more than mile ahead,
stretching far out from the shore
nearly across the lake. 1t did not
look very wide; but exactly how
wide it was he could not at first tell.
If too wide to leap across, he would
surely be taken. But, rejecting
that to drown was as good or better
than capture, the brave Colonel
strained every muscle, and skated
straight at the open water. The
nearer he came the broader the gap
lookedl
at is rod wide, surely" thought
the colonel. "Can / i can't. But
i I mnst Z, and he cnllactad al Of his