Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1893-04-06
DOWN THE RAPIDS.


We were merry party strolling among
the woods and waters Of the Adirondacks
magical word to summon up visions of
nature in her sublime Srandeur-lake
upon lake sparkling III the summer sun
like liquid diamonds; forest blending into
forest until they melted in the misty
shadows of the blue horizon; mountains
rising beyond mountains in the distance
until their pinnacles lowered above us
like giant fingers pointing upward; deep
abysses where the torrents roared and
thundered and the feeting shadows lurk-
ed like phantons.
We had cast life's cares and response
bilities behind rs and yielded ourselves
up to the rateful rest of the communion
with nature. Strolling in the forests,
just tinted with the first hues of autumn,
hunting on the lakes or fishing in the
teeming brooks-it was all one long
dream Of happy luxury.
Yet we did not wander aimlessly. We
had guide who chose our camps, coun-
seled and led us On our expeditions, and.
concerning him, one word. He was an
Indian-one of the few survivors of the
once powerful nation of the Iroquois-r
tall, angular, keen eyed man past the
middle age, the sinews of whose lean
body seemed nodded of iron Quiet, re-
served, speaking but seldom and then
briefly and to the purpose, he had yet
worked his way deep into our regard,
for as Colonel Hood afterward remarked,
''He was brave man and fine shot.
and what more could you ask?'
Brave he was certainly, as this narra-
tive will 80 to show, and fine shot, as
his prowess among the game had time
and again proved We called him John,
but his name was Wahneema, and he
had the proud blood of chiefs coursing in
his veins
Word came to us one morning that the
track of deer had been discovered on the
banks of steam mile or more up the
mountain
It happened to be Sunday d beautiful
day, and the majority Of the party, wea,
ried by a week Of such active life, pre-
ferred to remain in our cozy little camp
on the borders of the lake But Colonel
Hood and myself, the two most ardent
and experienced hunters present, shoul-
dered our rifles and announced our de-
termination to bag one or more of those
deer ere we returned. John quietly picked
up his gun and took the lead as we set off
A tiresome climb over rocks and fallen
trees finally brought us to our destina-
tion-a little mountain lake, from which
the stream dashed in foaming torrent,
fierce and irresistible Here we paused
to recover breath and enjoy the prospect
A beautiful scene it was too.
Above us rose the grand mountains,
their tops blushing crimson in the rising
sun; here little waterfall, like thread
Of gold and silver, flashing down the
mountain side and twining in and out
among the masses of trees and rocks;
there a glimpse of fairyland through a
forest opening. The lake, surrounded by
dense masses Of foliage, sparkled like a
jewel set in green, and on its surface
foated water fowl of every kind But
no deer were visible. We searched the
bank, but even Johns practiced eye
failed to find the traces.
Either we have been deceived or the
tracks are to be met on the opposite
margin" /" said the colonel Il don't in
tend to return until am satisfied So
here goes.
He hastily threw off his coat and vest,
but was checked by John laying hand
on his shoulder
Better not risk 1t, Chief" he said
quietly; "the suction of the rapids is ter
rible.'
fancied he was more anxious than he
chose to reveal and added my own ex-
postulations, but Hood was obdurate.
Nothing could restrain him when once
his mind was made up, and he had de-
termined to End the traces of those deer.
81 will make detour wide enough to
avoid the current he said and threw
off all except shirt and trousers.
John shook his head, but stood leaning
on his gun without offering further pro-
test.
The colonel plunged ina grave mis-
take, of which he was only too soon to
learn the consequences. | can see him
now, striking out with even, powerful
strokes for the opposite shore; turning
neither to right nor left, yet warily veer-
ing off from the dangerous rapids. But,
alas! he had fatally nliscalcu1ated the
grasp of their ravenous claws.
Even while admiring his perfect free
dom in the element, | noticed that he
was being drawn from the line of his
course gently, almost irnperceptibly at
first, but gaining in velocity as he neared
the treacherous suction. In an instant
realized his peril and sprang down the
bank with loud cry of warning. He
cast hasty glance to where the mist Of
the seething waters hung on the air like
cloud. then turned and struck out for
the open lake. But the precaution came
too late-too latei
For one moment he held his own
| against the current, advancing not an
inch, notwithstanding his desperate
strokes, and then suddenly, quicker than
eye could follow or pen could describe,
he was seized in the grasp of giant
hand, rcsistless in its might, and whirled
away like shaft from the bow.
Down! down. he went, along the speed
ing waters, smooth as glass, into the vor-
| tex Of the whirlpool, where they writhed
and hissed and Numbered on the Jagged
rocks. A single cry escaped him-a cry
that rolled from shore to shore and died
In quavering echoes high among the