Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1892-03-16

was prize or winch any band or
Indians might we'll be proud, for he
was no less a parsonage than Capt.
Cassidy, whose name is inseparably
connected with the history of our
frontier. Their first proceedings
was firmly to secure his hands behind
him, and to start southwark with
him. Crossing the Ohio, they
plunged into the wilderness, and
travelled two days without hating,
except for few minutes at the time.
At the end of this period, they Sc
lected place to camp for several
hours. Captain Cassidy was dashed
to tree, by thongs passed around
his waist, in addition to those by
which his hands were already bound,
and left in charge of the old Indian
and the boys, while all the warriors
departed on a hunting expedition.
Captain Cassidy possessed all the
patience, hope and cunning Of the
veteran ranger, and he stood with
his back to the tree through the
entire afternoon, without muir
muir, or even word, escaping him
but all the while his keen eyes were
never removed from the Indian and
boys. He knew the warriors would
return shortly after dark, and that,
if he intended to do anything to-
wards effecting his escape, it would
have to be done while they were
absent. Accordingly, when the
eyes of his captors were removed
from him, he tugged away at the
thongs which bound him, and, af-
ter several hours stealty efforts, he
found, to his unspeakable JOY, that
they were loosened, and his hands
were free.
Carefully avoiding any move
ment which could attract the atten-
ton of those around him, he toiled
away at the thongs which bound
his waist. AS the twilight came
on, he grew holder in his efforts,
and soon freed himself entirely of
his bands. Providentially, at this
moment, the old Indian sent off the
boys to collect some sticks for
kindling fire. They were absent
some time, during which the old
man grew drowsy and commenced
nodding forward. No circum-
stances could have conspired to
make more favorable opportunity
for Cassidy. Stepping carefully
from the tree-so carefully, indeed,
that the ear of the old Indian then
the most wakeful, as his senses
were nearly asleep failed to de-
tect his cat-like tread. 1t was not
until the hunter had stopped and
picked up a gun and pouch that
the drowsy sentinel looked up
This look merely afforded him a
glance of his retreating figure, as he
plunged into the forest with the
speed of deer and disappeared.
A long, shrill, tremendous whoop
from the throat of the old Indian,
awoke the echoes of the forest arch
es, and lent wings to the hunters
flight. Scarce ten minutes had
elapsed when every one of the In
dams who had started out in the
hunt rushed into camp, so close
were they at the time of his depart
ure. Cassidy knew they would
soon be upon his trail, and, with
the intention of throwing them off,
he took an opposite direction from
that leading to his home.
So soon as it was dark enough to
conceal his tracks, he changed his
course so as to proceed toward the
Ohio river. Away he sped, like a
frightened deer, now seating HIM
self "a moment upon a log, and,
with painting heart, listening for.
the sounds of his pursuers; then
starting up as the falling leaf was
mistaken for their stealthy tread;
now looking back through the
gloomy aisles of the wood, and fam
cying a score of inanimate objects so
many of his enemies, and again
speeding away, until, convinced
that he was beyond all danger, he
dropped down to slow walk, and
leisurely continued his flight.
At this instant the stiffness of
the night was broken, in the dis
lance, by that long, dreadful cry of
the Indian bloodhound, which was
upon his trail The most intense
darkness could avail nothing 'gainst
the wonderful power Of scent pos
sessed by this brute, and a new
terror accelerated the flight of Cas-
sadly. Close behind this terrible
animal, could be heard the Indians
themselves, speeding along with
such swiftness that the hunter felt