Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1890-08-14
DEATH ROCK.

Bmong the first to build his cabin on
the steep bank overlooking the smiling
valley Of the Saco was a man who bore
the name of Luke Garland.
With his wife aDd child he had made
the long journey through the trackless
forest from the settlement at Dover to
this spot, which he had selected for u
new home.
Once arrived there, he had hastily
thrown up temporary shelter, com
posed of rocks and bark stripped from
the trunks of the hemlock and the
birch. and, with his family housed
tncrein, he set to work TO build stout,
substantial cabin, that could defy the
elements and the wild beasts and saw
ages that roamed through the forest.
1t was the work Of weeks to finish it
to his mind; but at last il was complet-
ed, much to his pride and satisfaction,
and they took up their abode therein.
This done he turned his attention to
the forest below the bank on which his
new home stood, with the determine
ton of getting us large spot cleared
A. possible for the reception of seed
che ensuing spring. Until then he had
TO depend upon his rifle alone to pro-
vide the food necessary for their susten-
ancc.
But this was an easy task. The for,
est aud mountains abounded in game,
and when he went forth in quest of it
he never returned empty-handed.
For a couple of months after they
had become settled in their new home
all went we'll with them.
Lukc's wife, who had ut first felt
tlmld at being so far removed from
neighbors. got over this in great
measure and became contented with
her new homo.
NOW ana then party of redskins
Would maize their appearance at the
caoln, causing momentary sensation
OF lear, but as they appeared peace
ably inclined this feeling soon passed
OIL
The cabin stood almost upon the trail
that led through the Great Notch to the
regions beyond, aud it was owing to
this fact that it had so many visits from
the red men,
Luke Garland always treated them
with courtesy aud, when food was
plenty in the cabin, they never went
away hungry.
nus the summer passed and tho
early autumn days were upon them.
Already the naples ON the sides of the
mountains had douued their robes of
crimson aud gold and high on the top
most bluffs the SuOw-white tracks OF
winter became visible.
npn a thn soft Ian. tool. ~, iii, and
plunged into the forest in search of
new supply of food, He was not SO
lucky as was his wont aud when at last
he started a deer his ill-uck pursued
him, for Instead of his bullet bringing
the game down it only inflicted
wound, and the deer bounded swiftly
away Through the forest.
Hastily reloadiug his rifle Luke fol-
lowed swiftly along the bloody trail
From the amount of blood the creature
was losing re felt sure that it could not
run far before it would sink To the
earth. But he had miSculcuMtcl the
strength of the animal. which leu him
over nearly mile of ground before he
came upon it lying dead in its tracks.
Throwing the carcass across his
shoulder he lost no time in turning his
footsteps homeward.
For something like an hour he kept
steadily ON his way. and then his course
took him across the Indian trail of
which we have before spoken. Stand
Ing upon it he hestated for moment
which way to take. To follow it would
make the distance home little great
N, but then he knew that the way was
moother, and this was Of some con-
sequence considering the burden he
bore.
He decided to take the trail. and with
out further loss Of time hurried onward,
but had gone hardly n dozen rods be-
fore he paused abruptly. Casting his
eyes down at his feet, as it were, by
chance, he had seen something that had
instantly brought him to standstill.
(; was the imprint of y woman's foot
In the soft earth,