The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-08
FAST MAHoLLoW TREE.
REUBEN PROUD's WONDERFUL Is
CAPE FROM AN INDIAN.

" hAAts
W II. Graydon. in the Brooklyn Eagle
In the spring Of l756. the year after Cen
Braddock's disastrous defeat. the Indians
were known TO be working their way
eastward through the province Of Penn
evlvania leaving a trail Of blood ana nre
behind them. The assembly at Philadel-
mia. reused TO tarIy action by the dan
ger that threatened the scattered set
Tiers. hastily constructed line OF forts
along the lower Susquehanna, between
Shamokin and Harris ferry Eacn was
supplied with siege stores, and garrlsoned
BY q small body OF provincial troops.
HspDilv these defensive arrangements
were completed in time. for the beginning
Of the summer found the river settle
ments still unmolested. Il is true that
rnassacres had been reported within a
hundred miles, and that the savages were
steadily advancing; but the stout-hearted
Calvanists stuck to their homes and their
crops. trusting 10 be warned in time OF
the approach Of danger. and knowing that
they could quickly reach the shelter OF
the neighboring forts. Within Few
miles of McKee's fort. on the opposite
and western bank of the Susquehanna,
at the mouth Of PENIS creek, four fami-
other. The original settler was Edward
Proud. fearless and upright man, and a
fitting type Of the heroes OF those cay :.
lFis grant OF land Jay between the river
and the creek, and here ne LED content
90 and happy life with MS wiIe anu sUIi'
Reuben Proud, The nero OF lhe stOly
purpose relating, was a emp q UT olu
block. He was a brave ana hOHest a.
his father, and few lads OF ms age g, Sou ~,
equal him in shooting, swimming OF
tramping the woods ana mountains fOI
his 10 years he was unusually suohS auu
self reliant; though stun a pey as heaI'
he was almost a man in build ana ehpe-
About noon Of a day in the early part
Of June, los, Reuben leIt ms lae -
little cabin and hurried across tne clear
ing toward the mouth OF rem creek;
on his back was strapped a pldnhet anu
q bag of provisions. ana ne carer a
nusket paddle and bunch OF traps
powder horn and bullet pouch uahkit9
al his sides. With his rudy cheeAs anu
athletic stride the lad made a pieas!ils
picture, and his heart was llsht a. ~, tlSS
prospect before him. lie mac WoIhtu
hard all the spring, and now ne W. NJ
bound on a trapping eHpe1lloh 10 nll,s
favorite haunt, seven miles up the creek
where mink and otter were always pleh-
tiful. No Indian outrages nad Deeh re
ported within eighty miles, ana me , So
Tiers along the river believed themselves
10 be secure for some time 70 com. 20
Edward Proud and his wife had readlly
consented to let their son venture from
home for a day and night. 80,
Reubens canoe, which he priced as hlsh-
~ as his gun. law moored IN Qulel cove;
with his luggage stored IN tne DOW anu
himself seated comfortably IN the ste.H
he pushed of from shore and began ms
seven mile journey rem creek -
lonely and romantic to-day, put al tildt
time il wound through a primeval wilder
ness that had seldom known the tread
OF man. For mile after mile lne Tau pau
died steadily upward against the cutIehl,
his canoe cleaving the watery solltudes
that each bend brought into view, ana
startling the FISH that teemeo every " mere mere
Birds tWittered IN the leafy canopy over
head and now and then a startled deer
interrupted while drinking, was or with
a crash to the depths of the forest.
It was late In the AFTERNOON Wheh Ise I
hen landed at the base OF bit OF rapids,
snd. after making the canoe secure, ne
started up stream with MS arms Auil o.
luggage A distance OF forty yarus
broupht him to a little open glade, knee
deem with rich grass. Above and below
were thick bushes, and on the right lay
the deep and narrow channel OF the
creek To the left wooded ana rocky
hun rose in q series of irregular terraces.
AT the bottom the declevity a black, trl-
angular Gift was visible and about tWen-
ton. a dead tree of large girth lowered
ten feet or more in air from tne top Vi
the first terrace. The tree had been snap
ned of and killed by lightning years be-
fore and the whited part that remained
rooted was shaky and rotten.
Reuben crawled into the cert Whcn
was barely large enough 20 admit MN, anu
a sharp turn brought him to an oDlong
cavern that was dimly lighted by crew
ices overhead. He regarded TINS place az
his own property, having discovered II
several years before and camped here
on many occasions since. A few cooking
utensils hung on the walls ana TO one
side Of the hard floor was his bed or
dried pine boughs. At the far END OF the
cavern the roots OF the aforementioned
dead tree projected from the roof and
a clear ray Of light shown down through
the hollow trunk. After cutting fresh
boughs for bedding the lad started up
stream with his traps ana set them al
different places, within stretch OF q
quarter Of mile. This tasS r,equ l,I ga
he returned the cavern. He mad noth-
ing to cook and a fire was not needed 1or
warmth, 50 he ate colo supper anu
then stretched himself on his fragrant
couch, feeling as snug and safe as though
he were in his father distant cabin.
He slept soundly until morning and IN
the gray light Of dawn he crept forth 70
the misty bank of the creek, intending 70
build a fire and eaten couple OF nsh
for his breakfast. But an immediate dis
coyery of starting nature changed ms
plans. His keen scent detected an oooi
of smoke and the direction whence II
came was indicated by the gentle breeze
that blew down the creek. Plainly there
was a fire close at hand and there was
every reason to believe that Indians were
responsible for it. No white men could
be IN the vicinity. Was II possible ina
the long expected raid had come at last?
AS he thought of the unprepared and
defenseiess settlers along the river val
ley, the lad at once made up his mind
what TO do With the courage and in
stinct Of a true woodsman he hastily en-
tered the cavern for his musket, and ther
mounted to the top Of the blun. AS stead
lily as a panther he crept forward alOnl
the wooden ridge. parallel with the cours,
of the creek and before he had gone
mile his vigilance was rewarded Th'
top of jutting boulder gave him cleal
view of the valley, and almost straight be
low him he saw a thrilling sight. Two
fires were burning on the bank of tn,
creeks, and around them sat at least Z
score of Shawnee Indians in hdeous- wal
paint and feathers. Some were toastins
meat in the flames, and others appeared
to be polishing guns and sharpening tom
ahawks. At a little distance stood tive
white men in fundamentally Frencl
officers.
With mingled anger and satisfaction
Reuben watched for a moment from hi!
place Of cOnceaiment. What lucky thins
il was that / came up here trapping!'
he said to himself. These rascals ex
peet TO move on down the river aftel
they've had their breakfast and take tn,
settlers at the mouth Of the creek by sur
prise. But now l can beat them with IN,
canoe by two or three hours and give tn,
alarm in plenty of time Well / had bet
ter be of. There's no telling what mich
happen If | fool around here"
30 he slipped down from the boslfa,