Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1888-11-15
No. e.,

gone little more than II hundred yards
after first discovering the water when I
found its source.
1t was little spring at the G.se Of a
large tree, few yards up the hill.
The clear water was only few inches
deep, but it was deep enough to drink
from.
My first impulse was TO shout for
Jack, but my thirst had become so in.
tolerahle that | could not wait second
and laying my rifle down, dropped
upon my hands and knees having no
onp to drink from-And prepared to
drink like cattle.
But was not destined to quench
my thirst so soon as expected.
What was it saw in the impM wa
ter that almost froze the blood in nv
veins, and sent it back to my heart with
something like an aSues chill ? Ah.-
| will never forget that picture. seen u
mere instant, nor cease to shu(lder when
| recall that moment of horror, that
seemed like an age!
Another second and my lips would
have ruillel the mirror-like surface of
the spring, broken it intoa score Of rip
pies, but just in time saw, in the paid
water the reflection Of something that
hung over me. Leaning forward from
behind the tree, and ben,ling over me.
were the dark face and shoulders Of An
Indian and swarthy arm "plifted
tomahawk, which gltterel in ray Of
sunlight that came through the foliage
like the fatal eye Of the serpent when
it charms to destroy.
For an instaDt--not so much as q
quarter Of second-I was rlralyzed
with horror and incapable of motion.
In that brief space l recognized the
face reflected IN the spring rs that Of
our guide, the treacherous savage who
had appeared so meek and harmless vt
the railroad station-poignantly remem.
bered the warning Of the grocer-klt
that was on the brink Of eternity I
There came lightning like eaction.
IN the shape Of the nature Of self-pres.
ervation.
1t is possible that all these thoughts
had flashed through my mind within
that bare fraction Of second that it
took the assassin to raise his weapon to
the proper height to strike the intend
ell blow. Certain it is that the impulse
Of elfpreservation- which seems like
something written within u man that
makes him act before his own mind can
do it-prompted ME to straighten my
arms and throw myself backward with
myself backward with sucn violence
that L turned Il complete somersault
down the the hill.
AS | did so, felt the wind from the
deceLdine tomahawk in my face and
heard it strike the water with q splash.
1t had come down within an inch of
my forehead!
Realizing that my danger was not
over vet, sprang to my feet. snatchel
my rifle from the ground, and confront.
ed the would be. assassin. l saw that
in his sudden surprise at missing his
mark he had let his tomahawk fly from
his hand, and it was sticking IN the
earth at the bottom Of the shallow
spring.
As he stopped to grasp it again, I fir.
ed, and would you believed it ? although
not more than six feet from him, ! miss
ell him My hurry and trepidation sent
the bullet flying harmlessly over his
head and away into the bushes, and as
the report rang ont and l saw the sad
re- sult, my heart sank within me.
But vigorous action of some kind was
ROW necessary, and knowing how we'll
an Indian handles II tomahawx. l con-
cluded that my only hope Of safety lay
In graphing with him and keeping him
in such close quarters that he could
not strike.
"You mnrderous rascal !" l yelled ut
the very top Of my voice, and as he rose
with his weapon, l dropped my rife
and rushed upon him with'a tierceness
that had never before supposed to be
in my nature.
l grasped him firmly about tn. body
before he hal time to raise his toma-
hawk, and began shouting ina voice
that made the woods ring: Jack! Jack
Jack! Help? Help"
Then, while the savage struggled to
free himself, and struggled As hard to
hold him. the thought occurred to me
that he might have already quietly
murdered Jack before attacking me, in
which case my situation was very near.
ly hopeless.