Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1893-04-29
he Knew Of about quarter Of a mile

he knew of about quarter OF mile
away.
The field.o which we were work
ing had once been cleared. but was
now pretty well grown over with
bushes and small trees. He disap-
peared at my back, and gave him
no further thought for many minutes,
| had out my book and was making
some field notes when all of a sudden
it struck me that Peter had a pecu-
liar look as he explained how he had
received the wounds ON his hands.
remembered that his face hardened
and that there was cruel glitter in
his eyes. Things of this sort never
strike one at the moment. but are
vivid when recalled. When re-
membered his looks l wondered that
he had not killed the monkey for at
lacking him. and reflected that the
man must have hot temper when
aroused.
l do not suppose / devoted over
five minutes to this train OF thought.
As time passed forgot my surround
ings while busy with my pencil.
Peter had been gone about thirty
minutes. as | afterward figured up,
when / was suddenly clutehed by the
throat | was leaning back against
a tree hardly larger than mans arm
and was reclining to the left. My
eyes caught no glimpse of anything,
nor had my ears detected the slight
est sound. to put me on my guard.
The first sensation was exactly that
of falling. | remember a roaring in
my ears and fireworks dancing before
my eyes, and was perfectly conscious
that my throat was in the clutch of
human fingers. What saved me was
the tree and the position in which |
sat. did not realize that | strug-
gled to break the clutch, but | did
put forth mighty effort. My right
shoulder and arm were a lever against
the strangers right wrist, and as
heaved ! broke his clutch and leaped
to my feet.
1t was Peter. as you have suspected.
He had gone only a few rods away
and then turned and crept back on
me like u serpent. His route was
through bushes and vines, but when
/ came to go over it could not find
that he had broken twig. My
springing up threw him down. but he
was on his feet like cat. and with
Cry like that Of an enraged beast he
sprang for my throat again. His eyes
were fairly blazing. his face distorted
with passion. and | realized in an in
slant that it was his life or mine
He clutched for my throat with his
right hand as we rolled about and /
caught the ends of his first two fingers
in my teeth and bit to the bone. That
one bite gave me the victory. Still
gripping his fingers l struggled to my
knees, reached for my revolver. and
had the muzzle against his body
when the thought flashed across my
mind that he was the professional
stranger wanted by the police. Up
to that instant / had no thought as to
why he attacked me. When dropped
his fingers and covered him with the
revolver. he made no further resist
ance. The native of India, like the
Arab, believes in fate.
''Sahib, you have won" ne said as
I stood over him. ut was to be.
and 50 it is. Do as you will with
me,
peter, why should you seek my
life?" ] asked even yet hoping there
might be some mistake about it.
why did 1 strangle the others.
sahib? A voice commanded me and /
obeyed."
GOOD heavens. but you are not the
murderer of the farmer, the clerk and
the soldier-you who have been con-
sidered so faithful to the English?"
Even so, sahib. 1t was to be. and
it is. Take me to the police and I
will admit everything, and die like a
man"
/ drove him before me until we en-
countercd a troop of cavalry which
was then returning to town with no
less than twenty-six prisoners. Had
Peter denied his admissions to me
nothing could have been proved. and
he only would have been punished for
assault.
But he felt that fate had delivered
and he was willing to help convict
himself. He gave the particulars of
each murder with such detail that no
! doubt could exist. 1t was the SER
geant who had laceratcd his hands.
He was keeping shady while he waited
for them to heal. He would not have
accompanied me that day but for the
! fear. that he might be suspected.
though as matter of fact he would
have been among the very last TO fall
under the ban.
81 had no thought Of strangling you
when VIC started OUT he said TO me
after his trial. at was only after
/ you had noticed my hands. While
you appeared Indifferent. / was afraid
that you suspected. could have
snatched away your pistol and shot
you dead, or / could have beaten you
I to death with a club, but my creed