Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1886-12-18

over the stream. As they were softly pad
ding along, they heard the tramping o
many feet upon the banks, followed b,
frightful whoops and yells, which burs
from each side of the river. Indians ap
peared on either bank of the river and sic
nailed the unfortunate trappers to come
on shore. They were obliged to comply
Before they could aHght from their canoe
a savage seized the rifle belonging to Potts
Golfer sprang on shore, Wrested the weap-
on from the hands of the Indian, and re-
stored it to his companion, who was still in
the canoe and at once pushed out into the
stream. There was a sharp twang of a
bow and Potts cried out that he was wound
ed. Golfer urged him to come on shore
and submit as his only chance for life: but
the other knew there was no prospect for
mercy and therefore determined to die
game. Leveling his rifle heshot one of the
sayages dead on the spot. The next mo-
ment he fell himself, pierced with innum-
cradle arrows. The saYages next turned
their attention to Golfer The latter who
understood their language, overheard them
consulting as to the best method of des-
patching him, so as to derive the greatest
amusement out of his death. Some We're
for setting him up as a mark upon which
to try their skill. Finally the chief OF the
tribe, demanded if he could run fast. Col
ter saw the significance of the question
anG uttered a pardonable falsehood by an
swering, no. This strategy gave him some
advantage. He was led by the chief into
the prairie about 400 yards in advance of
the savages, and then, after being stripped
naked, was turned loose to save himself if
he could. A horrible war-whoop was the
warning to him that the whole pack Of
blood hounds We're after him. Golfer
didn't run-he flew. He had six miles to
traverse before he could reach the Jeffer-
son Fork. Think of it; several hundred
fiends after him at full cry. The plain
abounded with prick1y pear which terribly
his naked feet. He did not even
dare to look around for fear of losing a
step. When he had bounded over about
half the distance aero the plain, the
sound Of pursuit grew fainter and he ven
tured to turn his head. The main body of
his pursuers were far behind, but several
Of the fastest runners were scattered in the
advance. One fleet footed warrior. armed
with spear, was not more than a hundred
yards behind him. Inspired with new
hope, Golfer redoubIed his exertions to
such an extent that blood gushed from his
mouth and nostrils and streamed down his
breast. 4 furtiye glance discovered the
warrior within twenty yards of him ready
o launch his spear. Stopping short, he
urned round and spread cut his arms. |
The savage, confounded by this sudden
lction, attempted to stop short and level |
lis spear, but fell in the very act. His
pear stuck in the ground. and the shaft |
,rolze in his hand. Golfer plucled up the |
'ointed part, pinned the savage to the I
arth, and continued his fight The 9th
+ Indians stopped to howl overtheir slain
and Golfer made for the river
nd plunged in. He swan to a neighbor-
ag island, against the upper end Of which
be drift wood had lodged in such guam
ties as to form a natural raft. Under
his he dived and swan below water
ntil he succeeded in getting breathing
lace between the floating trunks of trees,
hose branches and bushes formed a
overt, several feet above the level of the
7ater. But the Indians We're still after
i'm. They too, reached the raft. The
cart of Golfer almost died within him as
e saw them through the chinks of his con
ealment, passing and repassing. and seek
lg for him in all directions. They finally
ave him up for drowned. As soon as it
as dark, Golfer fearing that the venge-
u red men would set the raft on
'e, dived under the raft and swan silent
down stream out of their reach. By
aybreak he had gained sufficient distance
relieve him from the terrors of his
wage foes But he was naked and alone .
the midst of an unbounied wilderness: !
'en should he elude his pursuers, days
ust elapse before he could reach any
ttlement, during which time he must i
averse immense prairies destitute of :,
ade, his unprotected body exposed to j
e burning heat of the sun by day, and {
e dews and chills of the night season, t
d his feet pierced by the thorns of the |
uel prickly pear. Though he might see