The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1899-05-23

SNI$SH 3SA Ly3R lo9o' L was en-
&T> -zSS ing the north
Ss<<2 i eastern eastern corner Gni"n of
bia, in an effort to gain some ethno-
logical facts concerning the strange
and aboriginal Indian races said to in
habit this practically unknown region.
/ had left Fort st. John on the Peace
River early in April, and by the 1st of
July had passed over the country to
the east of the Rocky Mountains, and
hau reached the head waters of the
Stachlne River, which stream / had
determined on following southwest to
the Pacific Ocean. 1t was not until
l had reached the country among the
head waters of the Stachine that nv
troubles began in earnest. Ny native
guides and escort had deserted me
one by one until at last I only had
two men with mean Indian and n
half breed. At the end of another
week seemingly the hardest part of
the journey had been gone over, and
we had safely reached the north fork
OF the Stachine
We had encamped, as was our usual
custom, as the sun went down, in the
lee of small cliff that jutted over
the right bank of the river. During
the last two days we had not seen any
signs of human habitatiOn in the
country, and, convinced that there
was nothing to fear from hostile at
tack, we had lighted a fire preparatory
TO cooking our evening meal, when
our fellclty was rudely interrupted by
several wild calls from n neighborin0
hill, repeated III rapid succession.
Instantly the fire was put out, and.
listening with strained ears. similar
wild shouts could be heard coming
from neighboring heights, doubtless
answers to tho first challenge A
minute more, and above our heads
'whistled the. purring ping of a bull
let, and then n blinking thud and a
shrill whistle as it harmlessly glanced
from the rock above our position. l
looked at my companions. DenaZee.
my Indian guide, was crouched
stealthily on the ground, with rifle in
hand, and every muscle in his body
a-quiver as he listened with an almost
tigerish CLEAN in his eyes for some
further signal of the approach of our
hidden foes. The half breed. on the
other hand, was literally frightened
out OF his wits, and stood trembling
and qnaking with fear and mumblinn
prayers under his breath, convinced
that his last hour had surely come,
until l awakened him from his stupor
by placing a gun in his hands and or
tn ow1
ing on the right of the cliff. which
commanded the open expanse around
for a considerable distance.
1t was no time for hesitation. If
we remained in our present exposed
position we must inevitably be shot
down like rats in trap, without being
able too make resistance. 1t was futile
to think OF escaping by land, while
our single canoe, from its long Journey
over land, leaked at every pore; vet it
was only by following the river that
we could hope to escape Leaving
the Indian to guard against change
in the plans of our assailauts and n
eudden attack, I called the shivering
half-breed from his lonely vigil TO as
sist me in repairing as best we could.
the cracks in our frail craft. Rub
bling it thoroughly all over with what
oil was left, I took all the gum and
balsam in the packs, and with it
placed the bacon, some fifteen pounds
( a. least, and half dozen candles INTO
Ntne pot. The whole mixture was then
ready. and the fire was once more
lighted. Our enemies, who for some
time past had been comparatively
silent, seeing that we were concerned
IN some preparation, again turned
their guns in the direction of the
fire, while we discrcetly retired 10 a
more sheltered position.
Taking advantage Of lull in their
firing, we seized the pot from Off the
fire, and while the mixture was still
boiling hot, daubcd the outside of the
boat with it from stem to stern. Bv
the time these preparations bad been
completed the east began to tako ON
rosy tinge, yelling the surrounding
landscape with an uncertain light.
whilo raw, penetrating vapor hung
over tho river completely obscuring
our surroundings There could be no
mistaking this fortunate dispensntiou
Of Providence so, quickly pushing
the canoe from the bank. tho load was
adjusted, and quietly we took our
positiOns, Dennzee in tho bow as
steef7man, and recognizing the abqo-
lute terror OF tho balf-hreed. seized
the stern paddle myself
We had not been % moment Got,
soon, for wo had scarcelv reached n
point ia mid-stream when through a