The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1893-05-26
DOWN THE RAPIDS.

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Wewere merry party strolling among
Che woods and waters Of the Adirondacks
magical word to summon upvisions of
nature in her sublime grandcur-lakeI
npon lake sparkling in 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 fleeting shadows Turk
ed like phantoms.
We had cast lifes cares and RESPONSE
Utilities behind us and yielded ourselves
mp to the grateful rest of the communion
with nature. Strollipg 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 a guide who chose our camps, coun-
rseled and led us on our expeditions, and,
concerning him, one word. He was an
lndian-One If the few survivors of the
once powerful nation of the Iroquois-a
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,
fog as Colonel Hood afterward remarked,
LIE was a brave man and fine shot.
and what more could you ask"
Brave he was certainly, as this nara
tive will go to show, and fine shot, as
his prowess among the game had time
ard 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
hanks of stream Il mile or more up the
mountain.
1t happened to be Sunday, beautiful
day, and the majority Of the party, wea-
risa by a week Of such active life, pre-
ferEed to remain in our coy little camp
OBJ the borders Of the lake. But Colonel
Hood and myself, the two most ardent
and experienced hunters present, Shout
cdered our rihes and announced our de
Termination to bag oae or more Of those
deer ere we returned. John quietly picked
C,,l Lad 49,, ,.,+
A tiresome climb over rocks and fallen
trees finally brought rs to our destina-
ti0n--a little mountain lake, from which
the stream dashed in Il foaming torrent,
fierce and Irresistible Here we paused
10 recover breath ana enjoy the prospect
A beautiful scene it was too,
Above us rose the grand mountains,
tbeir tops blushing crimson in the rising
Sun; here a little waterfall, like IL thread
OF gold and silver, flashing down the
1nountain 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, slarkled like a
jewel set III green, ana on its surface
Hoated 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 81 don't in
tend to return until am satisfied. Sc
here goes"
He hastily threw off his coat and vest
but was checked by John laying a hand
on his shoulder
Better not risk it, chief" he sale
quietly; the suction of the rapids is ter
yrible."
! fancied he was more anxious than ht
CHEESE TO reveal and added my own ex
p0siulations, but Hood was obdurate
Nothing could restrain him when once
his mind Was made up, and he had de
termined 10 ind the traces of those deer
81 viii make detour wide enough t,
avoid the current" he said and threw
off all except shirt and trousers.
John shook his head, but stood leanin,
ON his gun without offering further pro
test.
The colonel plunged ina grave mis-
take, of which he was only too soon t,
learn the consequences. | can see hin
now, striking out with even, powerful
strokes for the opposite shore; turnin:
neither to right nor left, yet warily veer
ing off from the dangerous rapids. But
alasi he had fatally miscsloulated Tia
grasp of their ravenous claws.
Even while admiring his perfect free
dom in the element, | noticed that h
WAS being drawn from the line Of hi
'course-gently, almost imperceptibly a
FIST, but gaining in velocity as he nearet
the treacherous suction. In an instant
realized his peril and sprang down tn
bank with loud cry of warning. II
cast hasty glance TO where the mist o
the seething waters hung on the air lik
q cloud, then turned and struck out 70