Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-10-07

| W tuelT ehTS WueH tne reuSklnS 1Ounu
that their prey had scented their ap.
proach and fled. A backward glance
and q second shout told them that
the savages were not lingering about
the fire, hut were coming on i'm fierce
| pursuit.
The brothers knew that the race
| before them was one for life or
death. So they strained every nerve,
and with such success that they were
enabled to maintain the distance be.
tween them and their pursuers, and
at one time to increase it. And SC
the race went on until at length the
night was passed, and the gray light
of dawn began to light up the east
and lessen the shadows about them.
"We must be near the river,
James, and l don't think the saw
ages will care to follow us beyond
exclaimed Walter, who was slightly
in advance, as he paused moment
for his brother to come up.
E" Heaven knows | hope not; |
can't keep up this pace for a great
while longer"
Courage, James, courage! We
have done too much to fail now, and
fall beneath the red hands of those
bowling savages. Just beyond the
hill yonder is the river, ane once on
the other side l think we will be
safe"
But what is that, Walter? |
mean the roaring sound which fills
the air."
"Only the wind and rain | think
Quick quick The redskins are
gaining on u.s."
With every nerve strained to the
utmost tension, the two men sprang
up the hill, The roaring sound in
creased in violence until it was al
most deafening. The summit of the
hill was gained at last, and the fugi-
tives paused, spellbound with horror
and dismay.
James was the first to speak.
"Great Heaven, Walter, the river
is breaking up!"
He was right. With q mighty
and resistless force the great mass of
water and ice came plunging along,
with sound almost as deafening as
that of thunder. The warm rain
had caused the river to suddenly
rise and break the armor of ice with
which it was bound.
Blankly the brothers gazed into
each others faces. Death before
and behind threatened them. They
were betweent he upper and neither
millstones, either of which would
grind them to powder.
water Is more merciful than
the savages. We had better trust
ourselves to 1t than them" said
Walter.
They sprang down the hill to the
bank of the river. Just as they
reached it shout of triumph came
from the throats of the savages.-
They had reached the summit of
the hill and beheld the wild rushing
of the river, and felt assured that
their prey must now fall into their
hands.
There is but one chance for us,
Walter" said James, gazing into
his brothers. face, land that Is to
trust ourselves to one of these float
ing cakes Of ice, hoping that it may
carry us to the other shore. There
10 q Soou Ouc iOI OuT purpose p8SS-
ing now. Follow me. 1t is our
only chance"
1t was fearful leap, but his feet
struck the spot he intended them to,
and in moment his brother was by
his side. The motion they gave the
cake sent it far out into the stream,
where it joined others; and they
were whirled along with resistless
force by the current, which, to their
great joy, they found set toward the
opposite shore. Several times they
were In danger of slipping into the
boiling flood, but at last they reached
in safety the point desired, despite
their insecure footing and the nu-
merous shots which were fred at
them by the disappointed and en-
ragged savages.
Thankful for their almost miracu-
lous escape, the brothers sent back
an answering shout of defiance, and
then fastened on to their settlement,
which they reached without further
adventure.
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