St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1892-12-17

the tall grass and went whistling over
my head. Then knew I was in for Il
Il saw twa'n't but . little way "a
the rapids. and quick Is . fash I made
up my mind what to do You can bet
that old birch-bark dartcd down
stream for the next mile!
THE reds yelled like maniacs when
they came out in the river and could
eco me padding away from 'em. Icould
see there were four of them. two in each
canoe. They couldn't be loaded much
heavier'n was, and they could catch
me anyway BY running ashore an
to the water rs long as didn't land.
Il tell you, II you ever get parcel o.
reds after You, just do something that'll
make their black eyes pop out Of their
heads-somethin& startling, you know.
They're chock full Of superstition, and
born towards, every one, where any
thing unnatural Is concerned.
| "When they see . fellow do some
thing that they've no idee any human
being would dare TO attempt. it just
strikes their weak spot every time.
III they don't come to the conclusion
that he is IN evil spirit. and let him
alone entirely. they're mighty sure to
form q good opinion Of his courage;
and they know that they can't calcu-
late at all on what's going TO happen
when they NEEDLE with such fellow.
That Just knocks the pluck out of the
varmints.
$50 instead Of landiag an taking TO
my heels, which looked to be my only
chance of saving my scalp, inst pad
died right straight on.
But didn't impress EN- very much,
for could tell BY the way the Indians
yelled that they thought I just didn't
know enough to land! I s'pose they
thought I was some greenhorn that
didn't know anything about fighting
Injuns. and was scared ont of my wits
to boot.
''They all padded like Sam Till. and
kept up the 'tarnalest screcchiug you
ever heard. OF course they gained on
me fast, with two paddles to my one,
and wondered why they didn't shoot
the two that hadn't fired at first But
it didn't tako me long to see what
''They thought I'd have to land when |
came to the rapids, and they were |
holding their fire to pick me of at short |
range while I was making landing.
THAT tickled me so that had to |
laugh, and padded all the faster as |
got within hearing O. the rapids.
"When / reached the first rifle, the I
reds wernt more'n twenty rods behind |
me, padding and yelling like mad. I
never let up till could feel the swift
pullin' the canoe along. Then
turned round an swung my old hat at
EN-. and yelled like steam-engine.
SWELL, If you wouldn't a died laugh
in to sec them Sioux about that time.
They stopped padding and stared at
me like they'd seen q ghost, As l went
shooting into tho big rollers. II I'D
gone down without saying anything
they'd thought it only an accident; but
when I laughed and yelled at them it
made their hair stand on end!
They could have popped me over Is
easy rs nothing at the distance. but
here wasn't one on them that had
sense enough left to think Of shooting.
felt kind Of ticklish myself, but
thinks l: In q case like this the bold
st course is always the safest I'LL
IAN ride her through I'm all right, and
4 happen to bust upon rock 'twon't
be no worse'n Icing hacked to pieces
md scalped.
Il reckon I've stcered a canoe
through rs rough places as any man
live. but, tell you. never got into
'uch q roaring. whirling, mixed up
ness of rocks and water Is that was
Ny canoe jumped and dipped, and was
lalf-full of water in no time. But
lidn't happen to hit any rock. and
Don was sailing into smooth water.
"Then ran her ashore 1t q sharp
END. Jumped ost into the river, an
brew my steel; traps into deep water I
'eside big rock. where l cd find 'em
gin. Then I:nipped the canoe bottom
ids mp. and set'it drifting down stream.