Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1892-07-05

Hey.
He trod lightly and listened in
tently, but for some time he failet
to detect anything suspicious, ant
he was beginning to hope that
after all, it was nothing more thar
some falling leaves, when he heart
the same again. AS quick al
thought he wheeled around, ant
was certain he saw a shadowy figure
glide backward into the darkness
behind him. It's action convinced
him that it was human being, ant
thinking it might possibly be {
white man, he called out in hall
whisper:
Come forward, my friend"
He listened, but nothing but thu
desolate signing Of the night wine
through the branches reached him
He repeated:
"Come forward, my friend.
shall be- glad to keep you com
pany."
This invitation, cordially as i
was given, failed to elicit any re
Spouse, and as before, he resumed
his journey.
Bowdoin was now convinced tina
he was followed by an enemy, ant
he determined to make ready fol
any emergency. Besides his loaded
rifle, he carried knife at his waist
which he losened, so that no delay
might be suffered in drawing il
forth. He then raised the hammer
of his gun, and dropped the muzzlt
in the hollow of his left arm, while
he kept his right hand upon its
stock.
A considerable distance was pas.
sed in this manner, the old man
treading so lightly that he could
scarcely detect the noise Of his own
footsteps, and now and then paus.
ing to glance behind him.
When for the third time the tip,
tip, tip, was heard in the soft snow
he waited till it was very near him,
then suddenly wheeled. Had he
been a second later, that second
would have been his last. Close
enough to be revealed in the dark
ness, was gigantic Indian, with
his tomahawk raised in the very act
of striking.
This sudden confronting of the
savage SO disconnected him that he
failed to strike the blow with his
tomahawk, but held it poised q
moment, until the work could be
made sure. Upon detecting him
in this act of hostility, Bowdoin
dubbed his own rifle, and brought
it down with crushing force.
The two weapons encountered in
the air, and rather singularly, each
was knocked from the hand of the
other.
As the Indian meant evil, Bow
doin Immediately sprang forwar d
and grappled with him. The old
man, although the inferior of the
savage in muscular power, was a
skillful wrestler, and threw him
quickly and with great violence;
but, despite his utmost effort, the
Indian quickly rose to his feet
again, when he was seized and
thrown with such force that he re-
manned stunned for few seconds.
During this brief interval, Bow
doin found his strength yielding,
and felt at his waist for his knife,
in order to finish the contest. To
his great chagrin, he discovered
that it was lost. He then ran his
hand around the waist of his adver-
sary, but there was no weapon
there. The combatants were with
out arms, except such as nature had
provided them, and the contest was
virtually reduced to trial of
strength and endurance.
In such a conflict as this there
could be little doubt of the result.
Bowdoin, although once the pos
SCISSOR of great strength and activity,
was now too old to do himself JUS
tice. His antagonist was young,
1.-THE and powerful, and his supe-
rior in every manner, except the
single one of pugilistic science.
This might prevail for a short time,
but in the end would be compelled
to succumb to youth and endurance.
In the hope that his wary antag-
onist had been suitably impressed
with his own ADVANTAGE. Rowdo;n