Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1889-03-21

that the Indians were very much scat
tered and that he had gained ground
to considerable distance from the
main body; but one Indian. who
carried q spear, was much before all
the rest, and not more than hundred
yards from him.
A faint CLEAN of hope now cheered
the heart of Golfer. He derived con-
fdence from the belief that escape
was within the bounds Of possibility.
But the confidence was nearly fatal to
him, for he exerted himself to such q
degree that the blood gushed from his
nostrils, and soon almost covered the
fore part of his body. He had now
arrived within a mile of the river,
when he distinctly heard the appall-
ing sound of footsteps behind him, and
every instant expected to feel the
spear of his pursuer. He again
turned his head and saw the savage
not twenty yards behind him.
Determined, if possible, to avoid the
expected blow, he suddenly stopped.
turned around and spread out his
arms. The Indian, surprised at the
suddenness of the action and perhaps
at the bloody appearance Of Golfer,
also attempted to stop, but, exhausted
with running, he fell while attempting
to throw his spear, which stuck in the
ground and broke in his hand. Golfer
instantly snatched up the pointed part,
with which he pinned the Indian to
the earth, and then continued his
flight
The foremost of the Indians, on ar
irving at the place. stopped until 9th
ers came up to join them, and then
gave a hideous yell. Every moment
of this time was improved by Golfer,
who, although fainting and exhausted,
succeeded in gaining the skirting of
cottonwood trees on the borders of the
fork, to which he ran and plunged into
the river. Fortunately for him a lit
tie below this place was an island,
against the upper point of which a
raft of drift timber had lodged. He
dived under the raft, and after several
efforts got his head above water,
among the trunks of trees covered
over with smaller wood to the depth
of several feet. Scarcely had he Sc
cured himself when the Indians ar
rived on the river, screeching and
yelling, as Golfer expressed it, "like
so many devils"
They were frequently on the raft
during che day and were seen through
the chinks by Golfer, who was con-
graduating himself on his escape, I'M
til the idea arose that they might set
the raft on fire. In horrible suspense
he remained until night, when hear
ing no more from the Indians, he dived
from under the raft and swan Instant
ly down tho river to q considerable
distance, when he landed and travelled
all night. Although happy in having
escaped from the Indians. his situa-
ton was still dreadful He was COM
pletely naked under a burning sun, the
soles of his feet were filled with the
thorns OF the prickly pear; he was
hungry and had no means of killing
game, although he saw abundance
around him and was at q great dis
tance from the nearest settlement. Al
most any man but an American hunter
would have despaired under such cir
cumstances. The fortitude of Golfer
remained mistaken. After seven days
OF sore travel, during which he had no
other sustenance than roots, he 1t
length arrived at Lisa's Fort on the
Big Horn branch of the Yellowstone
river.-N. Y. Graphic.