The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-07-29

Drawing his own knife, Sam Jack
might have had Seek-'um-O Gums scalp
off in short order. But the colonel for
bade him; and when at length the
would-be murderer came to his senses,
the colonel merely pointed to the door,
aud badc him ''go home"
At another time while alone on trip,
during the early part of winter, to con-
fer with some of the Penobscot Indians,
then camped on the Schoodic lakes, he
was chased by a party of six hostile In.
dians from across the border, who wished
to take him prisoner, in order to get the
large reward offered for his capture, dead
or alive, by the British. These savages
had been dogging his steps for two days,
and finally came up with him rs he was
going down the lower lake on skates.
CHANGING to glance over his shoulder,
when about half-mile out from the
shore, he saw all six Of them dash out
upon the lake in full chase. They also
were On skates. Col. Allen we'll knew
what his fate would be if taken. Like
strong man who feels that his life is ut
stake, he struck out with all his powers
to escape. But tho Indians were more
practiccd skaters than he; glancing back,
the colonel saw that despite his utmost
exertions, the savagcs were slowly COM
ing up with him.
"Their exultant whoops sounded
nearer and nearer. Worse still, he now
discerns black line of open water, not
more than q 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, reflect
ing that to drowa was rs 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 looked
ats q rod wide, SURELY" thought
the colonel. "But God helping me, |
can clear tiff get good jump"
He was now within ten rods Of it.,
and q couple of lungcs moro brought
him within a hundred feet of the black
water. 1t now looked wider still.
"Heavens! it's twenty feet" muttered
the colonel. "Can II can't. But |
mustm and he collected all his strength
for the terrific jump.
The Indians now saw what he
meant to do. They were scarcely hum
dred Yards behind him, and seeing his
design, they yelled horribly-to fuster
him. Two of them hurled their toma.
hawks, one of which whirled past the
colonel's head; the other skipped along
the ice between his feet ; and both
pumped into the water ahead of him,
Just as he jumpedl For collecting all of
his strength at the final forward lunge,
he sprang for the ice on the other side
barely landed on the brink of it-fell
and slid far along on his hands and knees !!
third tomahawk whizzcd by him, aud
cut into the ice, before he could regain
his legs; and one of the Indians who
had halted little way back to upsling
his gun. fred at the same instant, send
ing ball skipping along the ice.
But the Indians had all stopped. Not
one of the six dared take that perilous
leap; aud as the colonel scrambled to
his feet again and dashed away. he heard
one of them exclaim:
"Ugh! big Jump"
Before they could 60 ashore and clam
be. through the thick brush 90 as to
come out ON the ice below, the colonel
had mile the start of them again,
which so dishcartencd them that they
gave up the chase. For they knew there
was block-house at the foot of the
lake.
An hour later Colonel Allan arrived at
the block house somewhat fatigued-but
otherwise none the worse for his race and
his big jump.-Youths Companion.