The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-09-05

I ilf UVIihtNs
"suppose' eaid, looking Straight q,
him. that those same white men saoul(
murder ard scalp your children and YOU
wives and burn their bodies. what woull
you DO 10 uliose mem"
XIII" ~ anBwcrod. In . harsh tone
regarding me suspiciously
"The Indians murdered my family-my
n,ihsr, ftther ANA llttlo slster-whsn
was boy said. still looking AZ him
siendlly
lie met my gazs boldly enough. but
with a puzzled expression which he could
E)t entirely hide
"well wflht7' ~ muAerri.
why did tho 1u'ittns make war on
women ana chliirn azd murder them ?''
asked him pointsdly.
KIN the she bear and cubS-no more
bears" was his iaoonic and ready an
swer.
"Ju' the warrto. whb killed and
Foalpsd women AMI tables was not n
brave but n cosi,rd." said. giving
hlm frOwn for frOwn.
lie started a little and glanced at his
rifle but made no answer
when you HnAAncrod ths white fam
ily In kentucky I'D you kill them nil:"
nSkei
"Yes, an" be answered. nercely.
Have you ever regretted numbering
;he mother and b-r little innocent
dnughtcr2"
NO" h. said their scalps are In my
cabn. asbi many others with hair hs
long"
iIc spoke with energy and bitterness.
Tho thought Of the two scalps In the
old monsters cabin made me resemble
him for the noncc.
You did not XIII them all." said.
''raere was one more. a boy. who e.
capped Ia the woods"
The chief sgculthily laid his hand on
his rifle and watched mc NJ closely as
WINS watching him.
II am the boy who escaped In the
woods" I said IN nrm voice.
The Indian grlblri h.s gun and
rprlng 10 his feet.
"A liei" he shouted Then h. quickly
added the question. What you wantg"
had placed my elbow on my knee and
rcS,s.i my chin on my hand. and when
be jumped up-r'Ehcr Unexpectedly to
me. confcss-l dld no, change my POSI-
lion or the expr,fssion OF my ooun.en-
ancc. My coolness quite evidently dis
concerted him. but no telling what the
scoundrel migts do now In his despera-
ton, Ho stood facing me not more than
ten feet away. holding his gun ready FOR
instant use.
Are you sorry you didn't kin me,
too7" asked, maintaining my control
In a way that surprised myself
Yes. XIII you now he said savagely.
raising his weapon almos to danger
Gus level
began to think had allowed him
too much advantage. | saw there was
no conceivable issue 10 the situation that
did no, involve the killing OF one or both 1
of Us and the chances were decidedly .
against mn. Sull. remained compare
lively cool and lmpassive Before I had /
bccn sustained by the consciousness OF
right ana justice Now It was case OF
aclf preservation
thought rapidly trying to plan some
way to regain my almost lost advantage.
kept my eyes fixed on him. II was
'lain that he half doubted my sanity.
lie kept his guard. and though vislbly
numidated, WAS dangerous and Ges-
,erntc.
1 noticed a faint gleam of lightning
through the tre,s back OF the Indian.
PRESENTLY a drop OF rain fell on tho
oals. An expcdien; occurrNd to me Ike
N inspiration.
! felt sure the chief had not noticed
he lightning. II must thunder In a
econd or TWO. Trusting to luck or Prov
ience, quietly but swiftly removed my
and from my chin and pointed upward.
olling my eyes ghoulIshly in the same
Erection. Almost instantly it thundered.
Startled by the strange occurrence.
he supeTstluouS savage dropped his
iiie' Before he could suspect the ruse
nd recover 1t, | had sprung up and
scuied my own weapon, and not mo-
len too soon, for when pulled the
'iGger the rifles cracked together. Ben
avis dropped without gT,oan and |
II a singing sensation at the bottom
my left ear. !
Throwing his bmhket over him, / re-
lrned 70 the tavern. which l entered ,
nobsorved.-John o. ochiltree. in Gin /
nnau Commercial Tribune.