The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1890-08-14
DEATH-ROCK.

Oo WA1SA LIE uOW 5WOOus WILL
the determination of getting as large
q spot cleared as possible for tho re-
ception of seed and heensuing spring.
Until then he had to depend upon his
rife alone to provide the food neces-
sary for their sustenance.
But this, was an easy task. The
forest and 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 well with them.
Now and then party of redskins
would make their appearance at the
cabin, causing momentary sensation
of fear; but as they appeared peace
ably inclined, this telling soon passed
of.
The cabin stood almost upon the
trail that led through the Great Notch
to the regions beyond. and it was
owing to this fact that it had 80 many
visits from the red men.
Luke Garland always treated them
with courtesy. and, when food was
plenty in the cabin, they never went
away hungry.
Thus the summer passed, and the
early autumn days were upon them.
One day the settler took his rife and
plunged into the forest in search of q
new supply of food. He was not 80
lucky as was his wont, and when last
he started deer his i'll luck pursued
him, for instead of his bullet bringing
the game down it only inflicted u
wound, and the deer bounded swiftly
away through the forest.
Luke followed swiftly along the
bloody trail. From the amount. of
blood the creature was losing he felt
sure that it could not run fur before it
would sink to the earth. But he had
miscalculated the strength of the ami
NAL, which led 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.
Casting his eyes down at his feet, as if
it were by chance, he had seen some
thing that had instantly brought him
to standstill It was the imprint of
. woman's foot in the soft earth.
For an instant he stood as motionless
as though made of stone, gazing upon
it. He knew as well as though he had
seen her leave it there, that it was his
wGe's.
1t had been made but q short time,
and along with it were those of a num-
ber 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 mur-
dered and his cabin given to the
flames. The thought chilled his blood
and made his heart stand still.
In an instant Luke was bounding
along the trail, with but one thought
in his mind-to rescue his wife and
avenge himself upon her captors. This
he would do, or lose his own life in the
attempt.
Darkness at length came, but this
did not impede his movements in any
great degree. Thanks to his knowl-
edge of that section, he did not 90
astray. Nearly all the time he was
upon the trail. although the darkness
was SO dense that ne saw it not.
It was well on toward midnight
when he saw sign that told him that
he was close upon those he sought
The light OF a 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 close athand.
With cautious footsteps he ap-
preached the spot from which the light
proceeded. Near, and near he drew,
until at length ne was so close that he
could see plainly the situation OF affairs
before him.
The redskins. six in number, had
built a campfire close up to the foot of
a steep cliff. and were closely 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 callod his attention to
the spot where they lay half hidden in
the darkness,
For few minutes he did not move
from his tracks. but stood trying to
devise plan bv which they might be
.esoued with little risk to themselves.
By chance he cast his eyes to the
Iummit of the cliff, and in an instant he
aw means by which he thought he
pight compass the destruction of the
Rvages.
A huge boulder which hung above
he very spot where they were hud-
He'd together about the fire, looked as
though very slight effort would send
t crashing down upon them.
His wife and child was 80 far re-
moved from the spot that they would
be in no danger.
Hastily he de idej to test the plan
and retracing his steps a
title. he clambered TO the summit of
he cliff. Approaching the boulder, he
glanced below.
The savages were in the same posi-
ion he had left them. Could he but
'end it down upon their heads there
vas no chance fer one of them to
escape.
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.
Straining every nerve he finally
ent 1t to the edge. and then. as though
possessed Of life it bounded over and
vent crashing down upon the doomed
avages below.
There was no time for a sound to
scape their lips. but wild startling
ry came from those of the captive
wife. With joyful shout Luke
it and then hastily descended
0 her size.
He cast q single glance in passing at
be spot where the boulder lay and
aw that it had done its work we'll