Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-17
that had evidently Belonged to some Of

Braddock's Inflated soldiers.
Another, to whose face broken nose lent
most ferocfous aspect, held in his hand
pair OF plump hens, which he had captured
and killed outside From his words and
gestures he seemed anxious to make fire
In the chimney and cook the fowls. To this
the others plainly objected, and after they
had talked for awhile in low and broken
English, Oliver suddenly discovered that
they were on their way to attack Fort
Hunter. L IL
The lad now almost forgot his own peril
as he listened keenly for further informa-
tion, and before long his patience was amply
rewarded. He learned that the Indians be-
low him were the advance guard or larger
force, which they expected to join shortly at
the foot of Peters mountain. Then they
planned to push on to Fort Hunter. reach 1t
before sunset, and rush through the gates.
1t appeared that scouts had apprised them
of how easily the fort could be taken by
surprise, and of the feeling of confidence and
security that prevailed there.
Though Oliver knew that his SITUATION
was still very critical, the uppermost
thought In his mind was to thwart the
threatened attack, and he saw pretty clear
ly how 1t could be done, provided the op,
go. you painted fiends," he whispered under
his breath. Then we'll see who gets to the
fort first. Oh, but you'll suffer for all the
settlers you've murdered Co..
However, the Indians were provokingly
slow about going. They kept talking and
gesturing, and all the time Oliver shivered
and perspired for fear they would take a
notion to explore the loft. z-a.. ~ -
But finally, after ransacking CHEST OF
drawers and slashing 1t with their torna-
hawks, the whole party slouched out OF the
door and their soft tread faded from hear
Ing. Doubtless mere curiosity had drawn
them to the house. or the hope that 1t was
still inhabited.
oliver did not dare to stir for several min
utes, though 1t seemed a much longer time
than that owing to his excited state or MIND.
Then he rose, stretched his cramped legs
bit and cautiously descended the steps to
the lower floor.
The house stood near the southwest cor
ner OF the clearing, and looked toward the
river From the door a narrow road, with
bushes on each side, led straight for fifty
yards to the thick chestnut timber; several
hundred yards to the right lay the base OF
the mountain, and a short distance to the
left the clearing was bounded by the chan
mel of the run.
oliver hurried first to the right hand end
of the house, and peeping through a crevice
of the logs he saw the last of the Indians
just vanishing I'm the rocky thickets of the
mountain. He waited little longer to
better his chances of escaping observation
and then crawled on hands and knees out
Of the door. He rose to his feet as soon as
he was fairly started down the road. and
STOPPING low he ran swiftly between the
bushes and tall grass.
He was close to the shelter Of the trees
when the sight of a copper-colored snake
squirming across the path caused him to
start back and spring erect. Instantly. but
too late, he repented his imprudence. A
musket cracked sharply his right and
he felt bullet whistle by his ear.
Oliver was badly frightened, but he had
his share of the pluck and grit that made
the settlers of those early days what they
were. As he plunged into the timber a
second report rang out, and a bunch of
leaves was nipped from a sapling at his
side He sped on like deer. wisely keeping
to the road, where he could make the best
speed. He now heard no sound of pursuit
but well he knew that the crafty savages
were coming swiftly and silently on his
track.
Faster and faster the lad ran. What IL
the boat should be gone? The thought
struck chill of terror to his heart, for in
that event all hope of life was gone as well.
Gaping the tomahawk--of saving the occu-
pants of the fort from "a like fate.
The remembrance that other lives than
his own were at stake kept up his courage
and strength but he was badly winded
when he came to where the road swerved
to ford re run. Here he took to the shall
low CHANNEL, leaping rocks and logs and
splashng through pools.
At last he caught a glmmer of the broad
river ahead, and an instant later he eagerly
tore apart clump 9f water birches. He
uttered a low cry of delight, for there was
the boat just as he had LETT 1t. the paddle
still lying on the bottom.
oliver quickly dragged the light craft
over sand and gravel and launched It on
In and began to paddle with all his might
for mid-stream. Hope thrilled his heart as
he glanced back between the strokes. The
shore was thirty yards behind-forty-ffty
: h! There they were. Out from the bushes
leapt the painted sayages. and a blood
curdling whoop echoed from mountain to
n ountain. Two muskets cracked, but still
the daring lad padded on, hoping to in
crease the distance before dropping under
cover But a third shot tore the paddle
from his grasp. and then quickly a clever
ruse flashed into his mind He uttered a
cry of feigned agony, tossed up his arms
and fell Imply to the bottom Of the boat
There was silence for a moment, and
then the bullets began to whistle. Some
flew overhead, and some spattered the wa
ter roundabout half a dozen pierced the
sides of the boat, but luckily did not harm
the PROSTATE lad.
Finally the fusillade ended, and not a
sound was heard but the ripping Of the
current. The Indians clearly believed that
the fugitive was dead, and not worth the
waste of more powder and ball.
The boat drifted on and on, now pitching
and tossing amid rapids, now grinding on
submerged rocks and grass-bars. Oliver did
not dare to rise. He knew that the current
trended toward mid-stream. and in this
thought there was comfort and cheer.
Fer fully half an hour he lay on his back.
gazing up at the blue October sky. Then
satisfied that the danger was past. he sat
up and looked about. Peters mountain vas
hidden by bend of the river. and there
was no trace oI the INDIANS on the shore
With part of his shirt he plugged up several
of the bullet-holes that were leaking, and
then started to paddle Justify.
In little less than an hour Oliver landed
under the stockade Of Fort Hunter and
walked calmly through the open gate
There had been considerable anxiety over
his absence, but no one had a word of re-
proof for the brave lad when he had related
his thrilling adventure.
At sunset the Indians arrived, doubtless
disappointed to find the gates closed. The
watchful sentries discovered them lurking
In the timber, and they were greeted with
so hot and scattering a fire that they re-
treated in haste, leaving three dead behind
During the perilous weeks that followed
Fort Hunter was not molested, and in time
the settlers went safely back to rebuild on
the charred ernbers Of their homes NJ G.
Plaster I'm COIOrs