The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1886-07-03


sound reached her ears.
My great fear was that the In
dians would fire at us, which would
be pretty certain to result fatally,
as we were within easy gunshot dis
tance. But they evidently consid-
cred this unnecessary, as it looked
as though we must inevidently fall
into their hands.
Depite the utmost exertions of
Green, the savages gained steadily
upon us-a fact which was as ap-
parent to them as to us, and which
their repeated yells were intended
to osignalize.
When we embarked in our canoe
l don't think either Of us thought
of the rapids below. We startled
in such haste that we had little time
to think OF anything except as to
how we could get away as speedily
as possible. But when the roar be-
gan to rise in our ears, my friend
looked inquiringly atme. nodded
my head.
"rhe best thing that could be for
u.s."
l offered to take the paddle sever
al times, but he was not willing.
The changing of places would in
volve a moment or two of delay,
and there was no time for that.
However, as we approached the
rapids, could see he was q little
uneasy, and he made no objection
to my taking the paddle in hand.
Our hopes now centered on the
inability Of our enemies to guide
their craft through these rapids.
There was no question but that the
Indians could manage their canoe
with skill equal, if not superior, to
that with which we controlled ours;
but in going through this dangerous
place there were perils which might
easily shipwreck the most skilful of
their number as many of them were
hidden.
Before l attempted to shoot these
rapids, I had spent several hours
in surveying them from the shore, a
proceeding which am well satisf-
ed, proved my salvation in the ex-
plot afterward performed.
steered straight for the rapids.
AS we neared them, the roar became
deafening, the mist filled the air,
and the sight of the plunging, lash
ing waters was so appalling that
Mrs. Green covered her face to shut
out the dreadful sight, and the
father was compelled to grasp his
shrieking little girl, who was fairly
wild at the sight.
The canoe danced and spun
around like an egg-shell, and the
binding mist so covered us, and the
foaming waters so surrounded us,
that more than once l feared it was
all over with us, but l guided the
canoe with all the GOODNESS 1 could
summon, and, thanks to Providence,
we shortly reached the calmer water
below.
"Dare they follow us?" inquired
Green
eyes; it's too late to retreat"
The Indian canoe was at this time
close on to the rapids, and anxious
ly watching their movements, I saw
the occupants stop using their pad
dies while one of their number took
his position in the stern.
"That looks as though he under
stood it," l remarked, as ceased pad
ding.
So it proved. The savage soon
demonstrated that he had been
through this channel before. He
followed percisely the course I had
taken, and which was the only one
that offered the least chance ofsafety.
"There is only one who can bring
them through" l added, 4" and he
won't be there long"
I held my rifle until sure of my
aim, and then fired. The Indian
who held the guiding oar uttered a
shrek that sounded far above the
roar of the rapids, and springing
several feet in the air, disappeared
in the foaming abyss of waters.
The canoe, left without a controll-
ing power, was seen to spin around
as if in the malestrom, and then
striking a projecting rock, was shat
tered to fragments, the Indians
struggling frantically for life.
I reloaded my gun as quickly as
possible, and Green and l managed
to send a bullet through a couple of
shaven crowns, which were tossed
hither and thither like corks. The
others needed no such treatment.
They were so mangled by the fur
ious waters that when they foated
out of their grasp, not particle OF
life remaiued.