St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1892-02-06

shoulder and counted six ugly warriors
dash ont of the woods in pursuit, then
she sped, like q hunted fawn, down the
rocky hollow.
Escape now seemed hopelesA But
Alice Rogers WAS . brave girl, and de.
termined not to give up before she was
forced to do So
Her face was white with wild appre.
hension, and her heart beat 6ercely,
but she ran on, the yells of the red
skins ringing hideously in her ears
Her presence of mind did not once
desert her, and her excitement only
served to render her speed more rarid
Great rocks DISTRACTED her path here
and there, but she surmoun.ed them
all and gained the river well ahead Of
her pursuers-
She did not hesitate long ~ to hex
method of escape. Indeed. the Indians
gave her little time for contemplation.
Fastened to . sapling on the shore
was an old log dugout which Mr.. Rog-
ers had used for Q boat
The dugout was deep and wide. hav-
ing been followed ont of . large log.
1t was the work of . second for Alice
to unite the rope from the sspling and
spring into the dugout
The river was high, and - the girl
sank exhausted to the bottom of the
strange craft . strong current caught
it. carrying it from shore with . dizzy
swiftness.
When the Indians came rushing
down the river bank their surprise was
most overwhelming. The girl they
had thought to capture 20 easily was
nowhere in sight
Explanations of wonder and disap.
poiutment broke from the redskins.
and they began hunting among the
bushes in hopes of finding their victim
there.
The floating log down the river few
rods did not suggest TO them the least
hint of Alice's place Of concealment
and refuge.
The dugout was borne rapidly along
on the swift current At first Alice
could hear the Indians voices distinct.
" Is they made thorough search fol
her along the river bank, and she
feared they would follow on down the
stream and discover her ut last
But gradually the savage tones be-
came more indistinct, and finally in
audible, and she knew they had turned
another way.
How long she drifted on the current
Of the river she did not know. She
was afraid to raise her head to look
about her lest some savage lurking
near might discover her retreat
She lay in the bottom of the dugout
with the hot sun pouring down upon
her in pitiless power. She was . prey
to torturing thoughts
She thought of the destruction Of
their pioneer home, where they had all
worked 30 hard; then she wondered
IL her parents were alive, and tried to
pray that they might be spared. Last.
she thought Of the settlers beyond
them, and her mind drew . horrible
picture Of IN attack In which she saw
Bruce Rowell's manly form fall under
the blow of . tomahawk.
The hideous imagination stupefied
her and she drifted ON, not realizing
any danger to herself.
Suddenly great log. sweeping down
the river, flung itself with tremendous
force against the dugout, and before
Alice could comprehend her peril, she
was struggling in the water.
At last she managed to grasp the
edge of the duRout and cling wildly to
il, while trying to draw herself mp.
But her heavy skirts dragged her
back, and the turbulent water gurgled
about her rs II seeking to draw her
forcibly from her frail hold
"Hold on. ALICE"
Il was Bruce Howell's voice that
called clearly to her from the wooded
shore.
Could she cling there till he reached
her?
She felt strangely weak. but the wa
ter kept her from losing consciousness
Just q she felt her hands slipping
away from the edge of the dugout
Bruce's strong arms caught her and
bore ner carefully to land
As she sat, wet and exhausted, on
the woody bluff where Bruce had
placed her, he said:
Thank God, Alice! I was In time to
save you"
How did you happen TO b here,
Bruce?" she asked
Providence must have guided me
this way" he returned News OF
Black Hawks raids has just reached
the settlement. and I was hurrying to
your fathers cabin to warn you when
my attention happened to be drawn
toward the dugout drifting on the
river. II must have been . glimpse OF
your dress that caught my eye, but be-
fore / had time to look more closely
the log had upset the dugout and you
were struggling in the water. But tell
me, Alice, how you happened to be in
the dugout"
81 was chased BY the Indians"
CHASED by the Indians! My God!"
"Yes. and sought refuge in the old
dugout."
''Your parents?"
Tears sprang into the girls lovely
eyes
''Oh. Bruce! l fear to think what
may be their fate. They started to
Updike's store this morning, leaving
me alone 1t the cabin"
Then she briefly related the appear
ance OF the Indians, the burning Of the
cabin and het own narrow escape.
bruce Howell tried to relievs Alices
anxiety and bade her hope foi the best
They were twenty-five milea from
the settlem ent and il would b. ueces-
saxy to exercise the utmost caution IN
tying % rsash il that day.