The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1899-12-30

have been within dozen feet of us when
crack the stout hide line suddenly snap
ped, and away went the canoe with all our
stores and Jed's rifle, dashing madly down
the falls
"What fools to worry" cried Jed, when
we can get all the canoes we want!'
"Where?'
''Down in the burial ground, Of course
It's only mile or so. Come along"
Fortunately we were on the same side Of
the river, and an hours hard struggling
through the dense woods brought us to the
cemetery. We found that most OF the
canoes were in very bad condition, but fin
ally came across one that had seemed sea-
worthy. Our good fortune mended our
spirits, and as we sped onward we laughed
and joked and broke into rollicking songs
We had made mile or so when, shoot
ing round sharp elbow OF the river, we
were thunderstruck to find ourselves
ABREAST of large Indian camp pitched on
the bank. The narrowing OF the stream at
this point brought us within twenty yards
OF our foes.
Utteripg a howl OF rage, they made a
wild rush for the waters edge, threw them
selves into their canoes and came after us
in full pursuit. And foremost among them
we recognized the tall form of Wah-kia.na
With swift wave of our paddles we
turned the nose of our antique craft to
wa'd the bank, reaching which, we leaped
ashore. | seized the gun, and in two sec
onds we were tearing through the thick
underbrush toward the forest beyond
That afternoon and evening | tramped
many miles. At nightfall, being utterly
tagged out, threw myself upon the turf
beside small stream and was soon fast
asleep.
Iawoke little after dawn, cold and stiff
and desperately hungry. | was about to
cracking among the brushwood. set my
teeth and brought my rifle to my shoulder,
ready to fire as the thing should break
cover
Presently who should stagger into view
but Jed, the poor fellow ready to drop with
fatigue and hunger. We started off, but
soon Jed, VINO was carrying the gun, while
clambering over the rocks made a miss.ep
and fell. The weapon fell from his hand,
and, the trigger striking hard Ggainst q
stump, loud report followed among the
surrounding hills.
But that was not the worst. Jeds ankle
received a very rad twist in his fall, and
for some minutes the poor fellow was
agonized with pain.
Now we noticnd a column of smoke ris.
ing nearly opposite our position from the
other bank of the river
"a signaln' cried Jed. "They must
have heard the report. What a clumsy
idiot wasn'
"And see,' said l. there's an ans wering
signal to the right and another to the left.
But we've got good start of them, and be
fore they strike our trial we must be miles
away"
All that afternoon we toiled onward over
the rugged course. Meantime, however,
Jed's wounded ankle grew worse, until at
sunset it was swollen to twice its natural
size, and he could proceed no farther.
Twilight slowly darkened into night.
The moon rose and cast her fading light
upon the scene. A more welcome light,
think. | shall never behold.
Presently signal fires on the hills near
by told us that our enemies were close at
hand. Again | looked at the printing of
my gun and otherwise prepared for action.
For fully twenty minutes we heard moth
ing OF our foes, though we knew well the
cowardly fellows were debating how best