Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-04-14

distance; aud as he scrutinizcd the land
scape, his sharp eyes detected, even at
that distance, three crows flying over
the woods along the shore.
| Suddenly the crows ciroIed around aud
Owed downward and faint. inquisitiye
car-r-r was borne TO his ears on tho still
morning air. Reuben had noticed that
the crows always uttered this peculiar
cry when they saw q human being In an
unexpected place; and hc was sure that
the Indians and their captives were even
now on the shore of the pond OF bay.
Then he made his way down the steep
side of the ridge. whittier Tige had pre-
ceded him, but in thick group of hem
locks at the foot Of tho ridge he met Tige
coming back with bristlcd hair.
The dog turned, but stood still at
Reuben's fest, as IL listening His hair
rose more stiiiiy on his shoulders, and no
backed against Reuben's legs. His
whole aspect seemed to give warming OF
danger near.
This hint was not lost on the young
woodsman, who quickly stepped aside
and concealed himself in the dense hem
lock thicket. Tige crouched by his side.
The boy and the dog had scarcely
hidden themselves when two Indians
came swiftly up the hillside, their
moccasined feet scarcely seeming 10 stir
dead leaf or crackle a twig, as they
went backward upon the trail over which
they had came Each carried gun, and
had tomahawk and scalping-knife at
his belt. The faces of both were streaked
with war-paint, and their black hair
stood up in tall, stiff tufts.
Silent and swift as two spectres, they
glided past, and in a moment were lost
to view. Reuben's heart beat fast, and
he could see Tige's eyes glowing like fire
from his strong hatred of the redskins.
But not growl escaped the dog.
The reason why the savages were re-
tracing their steps occurred instantly to
Reuben. They had led their captives
to the larger lake and secured them there,
and had gone back to fetch their canoe.
Emerging from his concealment,
Reuben pushed forward as fast as Tige
could follow the trail. In few minutes
he caught glimpse of the water through
the trees ahead.
But Tige now unexpectedly held back
again; and after peeping ahead TOR some
minutes, Reuben moved cautiously
around to the left, TO gain the ctver of q
swamp of fir balsams.
1t was fortunate he did so, for on creep
ing forward through the thickets here
till he could gain nearer view, he saw
third Indian coming along the shore
with bunch Of fish in his hand. The
savage approached the embers of fire
which was smouldering beside drift-log,
and sat down.
Raising himself cautiously for little
better view around, Reuben discovered
large black object beside tree, which
after moments keen scrutiny he saw
was Mercy Cary, tied to small tree,
with the brass kettle over her head!
Immediately, too, he espied little
Josh's bare head and woe begone face.
The lad, like his sister, was bound TO a
sapling close to the shore, his hands tied
behind his back and around the tree.
Reuben reflected hurredly. What no
did must be done at once, for the other
two lndiuns would soon return with the
canoesand probably embark with their
captiyes upon the lake.
Presently he heard little Josh crying
dolefully. 30 Mercy" whimpered the
lad, my arms ache awfully, they are
tied terribly Tight.
Mercy said something to him in low
tone, which Reuben could not distinguish,
for her voice was mu He'd in the kettle.
The Indian, who was placing the fish
on the embers, grunted angrily, rose,
and gave Josh three or four Lard blows
with stick The boy screamed from
the pain. and his sister, unable to see,
but nearing the blows, cried out, too.
Thereat the savage rushed toward her
and rained blows upon the kettle to
Tighten her into silence.
Reuben, his blood boiling, was already
sighting along the barrel of his tiintlock.
but he did not fire until the Indian had
drawn back little fir IN the children.
Then the old musket roared heavily
on the morning air and the young marks
man saw the Indian fall. Thinking that
he might he wounded merely, and that
he would crawl 10 his gun, Reuben re-
manned concealed, and hastily reloaded
his piece.
But Tige had run out, and Reuben
had scarcely time to ram down a charge
when he heard frightful outcry from
the wounded Indian. Tige was taking
satisfaction for his own wound by fierce
ly shaking his hated enemy.
Hearing the shot and the growls of the
dog. Mercy made q supreme effort to
withdraw her head from under the kettle,
and had succeeded in doing SO as Rueben
dashed forward.
With his knife he cut the thongs that
bound her arms, and those which bound
little Josh.
He seized the savage's gun, threw the
brass kettle into a thicket, and started,
leading Josh with q strong hand, while
Mercy followed hastily in his steps, and
Tige brought up the rear.
Having first taken u look around to
get his bearings, Reuben made wide
circuit across the swamp and far of to
the southwark of the trail along which
the Indians would come. He hoped that
the two redskins might have crossed into
the ravine, on the other side of the hem
lock ridge, before the shot was fired, and
that they had not heardit. The distance
was two or three miles.
After a hot walk oe two or three hours,
Reuben, with his companions, came
around 10 the lower lake. where he had
left Silas Cary.
But before this time Nathan Wilson,
with the party from the block house and
two dogs, had arrived at this spot, and
with Cary had set off up the brook, fol-
lowing the trail, as Reuben had done.
They reached the foot of the second lake
Just in time to see the two Indians escap-
ing in their canoe.
A scout returned and found the three