The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-08-20
that young fellow was one. Instead of
"NOW cot"

making off, he came straight ashore at
me! You see, he was sure had not an
other shot ready.
''He had my hatchet and knife, and
I'll be hanged if he wasn't coming
ashore to have it out against me with
my own weapons.
when he was within five yards 1
lifted my gun and put the butt to my
shoulder.
'He laughed in ridicule and showed
the canoe ashore. At that instant I
didn't see what to do except shoot him;
but the other Indian gave a cry from
the canoe. He had seen me loading and
his word told the young brave the fix he
was in.
"Well, sir, that word and my mer-
cifulness in kind o. hesitatin' about
shooting him was nearly the end of me,
for the reckless young rascal flung my
hatchet so suddenly at my head that
only just managed to dodge it. Next
instant he sprang at me with the knife.
"But he jumped straight at the
muzzle of my gun, and the force of the
blow that he got took the breath out
of him. He grabbed himself with both
hands and fell forward. Before he
could pick himself up l knocked him
senseless with the butt of the gun
What did do then? Why, l hauled
at my trolling line, and pretty soon it
came loose from the dummy. Then 1
tied the hands of the one had struck
tied them behind his back-and tied
his legs and left him to come to his
senses.
"When l went to the other fellow in
the canoe | found he had tainted from
| loss of blood. lifted him out and tied
him SO that he could not move in case
he should revive while l was off for
their guns.
"By the time l came back they had
both returned to their senses. 1 carried
the one that had hit on the head over
to where the other one was and eX-
| planned to them both, as well as l could
with my limited command of their Ian
guage, what l intended to do. Then 1
put them both into my canoe and made
| for my cabin.
''Well, sir, got the bullet out of the
wounded redskin and nursed and fed
him for more than two weeks before he
was able to sit up. Meantime / kept
the other one bound firmly with thongs
and chains from my traps. / wished l
had not felt it necessary to do so, but
| knew there was no trusting him.
"As soon as / thought the wounded
one was strong enough to stand the
trip put them both in their own canoe,
which | had recovered. I gave them
enough to eat for a week and placed be-
side them their rifles, unloaded. | gave
them no ammunition, for / did not
think / could trust them. Then / cut
the thongs that bound the unwoundcd
| one.
Young braves said go back to
your people and tell them the white
man is their friend. If Indian does not
try to kill white man, white man will
not kill Indian. Tell your brothers
how you tried to murder me and how
treated you. And ask them if they do
not believe that a great spirit watches
over me. If Indian hunts me Indian
heap die, Now go.'
II tell you, Bob, it made me feel good
for a week to see the look of Joy and
hope in the faces of those two young saw
ages. Did / see them again? Yes, and
their tribe, too, all good friends of mine
after that.
But it's bedtime, if we're going
trolling early in the morning, and III
tell you the rest another time. "-Myron
B. Gibson, in Youths Companion.