Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-03-18
A PAIR OF SKATES.
How. They Helped Young Prisoner
Escape from His Indian Captors.

ANSW AAaii poiilC AaAs ~etliiCA <ApboSt,
who, in 1886, when eight years of age.
was taken captive by the Indians, Civ
| en- the Indian name of Pea-ha-la and
| kept a prisoner for many months. One
| day party of s.braves'' returned from
| a tour for plumber, bringing with
them, among other things, several
| pairs of skates. How Daniel used these
| to outwit his captors and make his es-
cape is told as follows:
Like lightning a thought flashes
| through the lads brain-but he must
be cool and calm. Pointing to the
skates with great solemnity, he ex-
claims: behold the gifts of the Great
Spirit! What will Ca-hau-wuk, my
father, and Shin-gas. the Powerful, do
with them? My young brothers must
now serve the Great Spirit
The Indians look at one another;
they crowd around Shin-gas and Ca
hau-wuk, shake their heads and look
troubled. Pea-ha-la is filled with a
sudden Joy which he conceals; he
! knows now that the Indians are utter
| ly ignorant of the use of skates. With
an assumption of greater gravity-for
| the perilous life of the New England
settlers had made even childhood and
youth shrewd and wise beyond their
years-he cries: "Ca-hau-wuk, my
father! Shin-gas, the Powerful! listen!
will tell you how, by these gifts, you
may call upon the Great Spirit who
| dwells in the Southwest" He touches
the skates with reverent gestures as he
speaks.
'sLet us listen to the pale face,'''.
cry the young braves, gathering
| around Pea-ha-la.
''Speak, my son. How shall we call
the Great Spirit?' answers Ca-hau-
wuk, glancing around the assembly
with a look of command.
''Come, then, Ca-hau-wuk, my
father, and Shin-gas, the Powerful!
come, my young brothers! let us 60
down to the great water. There will
tell you how to use these mysterious
wings in calling the Great Spirit,
| cries Pea-ha-la, rejoicing.
The Indians look at one another;
doubt, anxiety are struggling on their
of command, and they follow Pea-ha-
the lake.
! Bidding four of the young braves sit
upon the ice, for the lake was well
frozen, the pale face binds the skates
| on their feet, reserving the best and
sharpest pair for his own use. Rising
now, Pea-ha-la makes series of wild
and solemn gestures, with his arms
| extended toward the southwest. Then
he whirls around in circle, bowling
toward the old chief. Then he skates
rapidly around the young braves. The
| group on the shore are watching
| gravely and in silence these mysterious
! gyrations. Wider and wider grow
| Pea-ha-la's circles, till suddenly, flying
! swiftly toward them, he shouts: ''To
your feet! to your feet! to your feet,
young braves! the Great Spirit calls
you! Follow me! We go, my father!
We go, Shin-gas the Powerful! Away!
| Away
| In great confusion and swift alarm
the young braves try to rise; they fall
and stumble one against another in
| alright The old chiefs look on in
amazement. In the midst of their
cries and yells Daniel puts forth his ut
most strength and speed, and crying:
away! Away! Follow! Follow!n
he flies on like the wind, making for a
! bend in the lake, small cape, behind
| which he will find shelter from possible
| arrows.
"Pea-ha-la! Pea-ha-la!" shouts Shin
gas, passionately.
"Pea-ha-la! Pea-ha-la!" cries Ca
| hau-wuk, mournfully.
"Pea-ha-la, La-la-la," answers echo
family.
| But Daniel needs not. Still calling:
"Away! Away! Follow! Follow!''
| every nerve is strained to reach the
small cape; then away he speeds to the
| clear ice beyond.
The young braves on shore level their
| bows, arrows go flying, but it is too
late. Pea-ha-la is gone. 1.-The Great
! Spirit has sent for him. say the old
| chiefs, mournfully; and though the
young braves doubt somewhat the in
| tegrity of Pea-ha-la, all return resigned
| " to the wigwam, where the squaws
set up great lamentation, as for the
| dead.
Winter is nearly over. In his log
| house at Penacook, one Sabbath even
| ing, Deacon Abbott is reading his Bible
| before evening prayers. Mother Abb
| bott and her boys are reverently listen
| ing, when suddenly there is commo-
ton in the garrison; dogs bark, chill
| dren scream, lights are flying to and
| fro, the sentry has spied an Indian and
| given an alarm. The Indian approaches
boldly and gives peace signal. He
says he brings news from Daniel Alb
bott moment later he is conversing
amicably and intelligently with the
sentry. Before many minutes more
| glad news flies through the garrison.
Mother Abbott and the good deacon
open their door to listen to the stir.
Presently figure clad in deer-skin,
with the Indian leggins and moccasins,
| rushes wildly toward them. 1T is |.
| mother, Pea-ha-la, who loves you! 1t is
| /, father! fear not. Don't you know Pea
ha-la-no, Daniel?' And the young
Indian laughs.
In another moment fond arms are
clasping the long-lost SON, kisses are
| showered on the dear bronzed young
| face, and the brothers strive to see who
| will get nearest and stay closest to
the hero of the night. The neighbors
| flock in to see Daniel, and to weep in
| ioy with his mother; then long, half
sad, half merry evening is spent listen
| ing to the tale of his capture, his life
in the wigwam village, his escape and
| journeying through the wilderness.
The skates-the Great Spirits ''myste-
rious wings"-are passed round from
neighbor to neighbor, and handled and
n