Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1886-12-04

ed part, pinned the savage to the earth,
and continued his flight. The other In
dians stopped to howl over their slain
companion and Golfer made for the river
and plunged in. He swan to a neighbor-
ing island, against the upper end of which
the driftwood had lodged in such guam
titles as to form a natural raft. Under
this he dived and swan,
below water until he succeeded in getting
breathing place between the floating
trunks of trees, whose branches and bushes
formed covert several feet above the lev
ell of the water. But the Indians were
still after him. They too, reached the
raft. The heart Of Golfer almost died
within him as he saw them, through
the chinks of his concealment, passing
and repassing, and seeking for him in all
directions They finally gave him up for
drowned. AS soon as it was dark Golfer
fearing that the vengeful red men would
set the raft on fire, dived under the raft
and swan silently down stream out Of their
reach. By day break he had
gained sufficient distance to relieve
him from the terrors of his savage foes.
But heswas naked and alone in the midst
of an unbounded wilderness, even should
he elude his pursuers, days must elapse
before he could reach any settlement, du-
ring which time he must traverse immense
prairies destitute of shade, his unprotect-
body exposed to the burning heat Of the
sun by day, and the dews and chills Of the
night season and his feet pierced by the
thorns of the prickly pear. Though he
might see game in abundance around him
he had no means of killing any for his
sustenance and must depend for food up
on the roots of the earth. But he pressed
brayely on in defiance of these difficulties,
and after braving dangers and hardships
enough to break down any spirit but that
of d western pioneer, arrived safe at a soli
tary post on branch of the Yellowstone.
The author of Astoria adds 'sSuch is a
sample of the rugged experience which
Golfer had to relate Of savage life, yet
with all these perils and terrors fresh in
recollection, he could not see the Astor
expedition on their way to those regions
of danger and adventure, without feeling
a vehement impulse to join them. A
western trapper is like sailor; past haz-
ards only stimulate him to further risks.
The vast prairie is to the one what the
ocean is to the other, boundless field of
enterprise and exploit. However he may
have suffered in his last cruise, he is al
ways ready to join a new expedition;
and the more adventurous its nature, the
more attractive it is to his vagrant spirit.
Nothing seems to have kept Golfer from
continuing with the party to the shores of
tile Pacific but the circumstance of his
having recently married. AL one day he
kept with them balancing in his mind the
charms of his bride against those of the
Rocky mountains; the former, however,
prevailed, and after a march OF several
miles, lie took a reluctant leave of the
travellers, and then turned his face home
ward"
It was such men as Golfer who, ienor-
ing danger and bearing hardships and suf-
fering with Socratic Indifference, made
way for civilization and progress in this
boundless western country.
1t is but even justice that the name of
this adventurous hero should be kept from
oblivion by the sparkling cataract that
bears his name.
How vagurly could he have forseen the
development of this section of the country
of a century after his time
And low the great work has Just begun.
Dur possibilities are infinite; the prospect
before us grand, inspiring, ennobling