The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-11-22

AHo suH was perhaps TWO nous
above the horizon when he reached
the place where the Indians had en-
camped on the night following the
capture OF his wife. Here he spent
some half an hour in examining the
different footprints, and when, among
Others, he found those of his pretty
bird, and saw where she had passed
the night. his agitation and excite
ment became painful, and he several
times groaned out as one enduring
great bodily suffering.
At length he set his teeth hard, with
an answering determination drew
his hands slowly over his face, and
outwardly became more composed.
Then he commenced a broad circuit
around the camp, to End the depart.
ing trail In doing this he discovered
2. point where three horses had filed
IF from the main body; and suspect.
ing these had been detached and sent
OFF with the fair captive in a home
ward direction, he at once resolved
to follow this trail instead of the
other.
"Ef I'm wrong" he muttered,
goodbye to little Kate for the pres
emit; but eff I'm rights and it, in one
human mater to do it, I'll hev her back
ag'ln. and the scalps of them as TUX
hertz
With this he again set forward in
the manner described, and. with only
now and then brief rest, continued
the same hurried pace till near sun
set, when he came upon the previous
nights camp of the three Indies,,
showing that thus far he had gained
upon his enc mics. With the widest
anxiety of hope and fear, he now made
an eager search for the footprints of
his little wife; and when at length he
found them, where she had dismount-
ed and been secured to a tree, thus
proving that her life had so far been
spared and he had taken the proper
course, such cOntending emotions of
joy and rage took possession of him
joy at the discovery and rage against
her foes-that for time he was like
one demented.
Since branching off from the main
body. the three warriors had kept a
straight course. little north of west;
but on the third day Jack Hawks
worth reached a spot on an open
plain, where they had made halt,
and from which, to his surprise. he
now found the trail led directly
south. toward a range of hills
that could barely be discerned
in the blue distance. Knowing
Glat among these hills was a rare
spring of medicinal waters, which the
Indians not unfrequently visited, it oc-
Cured to him that the present party
had gone thither. and might, perhaps,
make a halt long enough for him to
come up with them. The idea afforded
him fresh hope, and raised his spirits
materially as he started onward again.
When night again fell upon the
scene, the hills were looming up in
rugged lines before him, but still miles
away. Knowing the exact location of
the spring, and that it was so situated
as to command view of the broad
plain in the direction of his approach,
he resolved weary as he was, to push
on in the dark and gain safe position
among the hills before morning, even
should he not succeed in surprising his
enemies while resting in supposed Sc
curity.
1t was life or death to him, and he
strained every nerve and muscle to the
last tension, and succeeded in reach
ing the base of the hills in such an ex-
hausted condition that he was obliged
to throw himself down on the earth
and rest for an hour to recover
strength enough to go through with
what was yet before him. He had two
miles yet to go to reach the spring,
and when at last he slowly dragged his
aching frame in sight of it the late
moon was already silvering the tops
of the trees, and he knew that day was
about breaking.
But now there came a thrill of ioy
to his heart that sent new life through
out his dropping frame; for now it
was he who heard the whinny of
horse only few rods distant, and felt
assured that he had not made fatal
mistake in his calculations. Guided
by the sound, and moving with the
stealthy caution of panther, he soon
reached a grassy and beautiful plat
eau, where he saw the three animals
he had so long followed picketed with
in half pistol shot of him. The horses
showed some fear at his advance. and
more than once snuffed and snorted so
loud that he fairly trembled lest their
masters should come to learn the
cause. He reached them, however,
without discovery, and in less than a
minute had cut every throat AS they
foundered, groaned, fell and kicked
they made noise that reused up the
sleeping savages and brought them
upon the ground in frightened haste;
but for this the old hunter was pre-
pared. Throwing himself down be-
hind one of the animals, with his long
rifle brought to bear upon the point
from which the indians were hur-
riedly approaching, he waited till
he saw moving SHADOW between
himself and the background of
the sky, and then taking as good
permit, he pulled the trigger. With
the sharp report the savage dropped.
and his companions close behind ut
tered yells of dismay and terror. But
their wells were not as loud and ter.