The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1891-12-18

Stoou tncFt III the WOOu rs tfdEsuNtu.
What fate had befalIen her parents.
II they had been met on the prairie by
that band Of red tends? she thought
The imagination was almost madden.
ing to her.
Suddenly she was aroused to the fac,
that the cabin was burning and tina,
She must make an effort 20 escape.
But where should she 60?
She dared not turn back into the
woods again, for she would be sure q
encounter the party from whom she
had fled. Then il she ran to the prairie
on the other side. she could be easily
seen and captured.
What should she doe
Suddenly she thought Of the river.
II she could but reach that some ave
a Of escape might present itself.
She must make an attempt TO gain
the river at all hazards.
Darling from tee to tree. Alice
started IL the direction Of the river.
keeping aiorgthe margin Of the woods
About a hundred yards before her
was a deep. rocky gully leading to the
river. II she could only reach this
without being seen by the Indians, she
might hope toescapc.
But 10 reach the gully it vas
necessary FOR her to cross a small
clearing where the logs used in the
construction Of the cabin had been Sc
cured While crossing the clearing
she would be exposed 10 the view OF
any savages who might have their eyes
directed that way
The rocky gully opened the only way
OF escape. Every moment was pre-
cious
Hoping the Indians might be toe
greatly diverted by the burning cabin
and riding its contents to observe her.
Alice ran with all her speed toward
the hollow.
She had Just reached the brow Of the
gully, when . fiendish yell from the
wood announced the discovery Of her
flight
She darted one swift glance over hel
| shoulder and counted six ugly warriors
dash OFT Of the woods in pursuit. ther
She snsd. like a hunted fawn. down tbs
rocky hollow.
Escape now seemed hopelc-~ But
Alice Rogers was a brave girl. and de
\ termlned not 70 give up before she was
forced 10 20 50.
Her face was white with wild appre
hension. and her heart beat f~iercely,
but she ran ON. the yells Of the red
skins ringing hideously in her ears
Her presence Of mind did not oncs
| desert her. and her excitement only
served to render her speed more rapid
Great rocks obstructed her path here
and there. but she surmoun.ed then
| all and gained the river we'll ahead q
her pursuers.
She did not hesitate long as to hel
method Of escape. Ind eed. the Indians
gave her little time for contemplation
Fastened TO a sapling on the shore
was m old log dugout which Mr.. Rog
ers had used for = boat
The dugout was deep and wide. hav
ing been followed out of . large log.
II was the work Of a second for Alice
to unite the rope from the sapling am
spring into the dugort
The river WAS higa. and as the cir
| sank exhausted 70 the bottom OF tbs
| strange craft a strong current caught
Il. carrying il from shore with . dizzy
swiftness-
When the Indians came rushing
| down the river bank their surprise was
most overwhelming. The girl they
had thought 10 capture 50 easily was
nowhere in sight
Exclamations OF wonder and disap
| pointment broke from the redskins
and they began hunting among the
| bushes in hopes OF finding their victim
there.
The floating log down the river a few
| rods did not suggest TO them the leas'
hint Of Alice's place o. concealmen'
and refuge
The dugout was borne rapidly along
| on the swift current Al first Alice
| could hear the Indians voices distinct
liz as they made thorough search FOL
her along the river bank, and she
feared they would follow on down ths
stream and discover her at last
But gradually the savage tones he
came more indistinct, and finally IN
audible. and she knew they had turnee
another way.
How long she driftcd OF the curren'
Of Che river she did not know. Sh'
was afraid 10 raise her head 20 lool
about her lest some savage lurlsin;
near might discover her retreat
She Law in the bottom Of the dugou
with the hot sun pouring down upol
her in pitiless power. She was q pre-.
TO torturing thoughts
she thought Of the destruction Q
the 4 pioneer home, where they had a.
worked so hard; then she wondcre
IL her parents were alive, and tried :
pray that they might be spared. LAS
She thought Of the settlers beyon
them. and her mind drew a horr'b i
picture Of an attack in whch she .
Bruce nowell's manly form fall undo
the blow Of a tomahawk
Ths hidcous imagination ztupche