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

For an instant he stood as motioniess
as though made of stone gazing upon
| IL He knew as well as though he had
se-n her leave it there, that it was his
| wIfe's.
1t had been made but short time,
and along with it were those of mum.
Der of sayages.
In another instant the truth had
forced itself upon his mind-his wife
was being carried off by the Indians.
Perchance his child had been murder
ed and his cabin given to the flames.
The thought chilled his blood and made
his heart stand still.
But it was only for moment that
th;s spell was upon him. The next he
bad cast it off with the burden he bore.
With thud the carcass of the deer
struck upon the earth, and an instant
after Luke was bounding along the
trail with but one thought in his mind
to rescue his wife and avenge him
self upon her captors. This he would
do or lose his own life in the attempt.
Darkness mt length came. but this
did not impede his movements in any
great degree. Thanks to his knowledge
of that section, he did not 20 astray.
Nearly all the time he was upon the
trail, although the darkness was so
dense that he saw it not.
1t was well on toward midnight when
he saw a sign that told him that he was
close upon those he sought. The light
of campfire shone before him in the
darkness, and his heart gave quick
throb of Joy and hope. The moment
for which he had longed was at hand.
With cautious footsteps he approach
ed the spot whence the light proceeded.
Nearer and nearer he drew. until at
length he was so close that he could
see plainly the situation of affairs be-
fore him.
The redskins six in number, had
built their campfire close up the foot
of steep cliff and were huddled close
ly about it.
A little apart from them lay his wife
upon the earth, her limbs bound so
that she could not rise. Her babe was
upon her heart, and it was its cries
that had called his attention to the spot
where they lay half hidden in the dark
ness.
For a few minutes he did not move
from his tracks, but stood trying to de-
wise plan by which they might be
rescued with little risk to themselves.
BY chance he cast his eyes to the
summit of the cliff and in an instant
he saw "A means by which he thought
he might compass the destruction of
the Indians.
A huge bowlder, which hung above
the very spot where they were huddled
together about the fire, looked as
though a very slight effort would send
it crashing down upon them.
His wife and child were so far re-
moved from the spot that they would
be in no danger.
Hastily he decided to test the plan
suggasted; and, retracing his steps a
little. he clambered to the summit of
the cliIf, Approaching the bowlder, he
glanced below.
The savagcs were in the same posi-
ton he had left them. Could he but
send it down upon their heads there
was no chance for one Of them to es-
cape
Laying down his rifle he brought all
his strength to bear upon the rock,
which was so nicely balanced that it
moved slowly from its bed.
Straiping every nerve he finally sent
it to the edge, and then, As though pos
sessed of life, it bounded over and went
crashing down upon the doomed say
ages below.
There was no time for n sound to es-
cape their lips, but wild, startled cry
came from those of the captive wife.
With "A joyful shout Luke answered it
and then hastily descended to her side.
He cast a single glance in passing at
the spot where the bowlder lay and saw
that it had done its work well-every
one of the savages had been crushed to
death.
With heartfelt Joy Luke set his wife
at liberty and then without loss of time
they started for their cabin, which the
redskins had spared from the flames.
The cliff was called the Death Rock,
and that name it bears to this day
Boston Globe.