Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1899-04-05


bind his hands behind his back i'm
such manner that he found it i'm
possible To use them in the leas..
They had been very consi,lerate of
his comfort; and he determined. by
appearing as cheerful az possible, to
drive away from their minds ANY
thoughts they might have of any un
Willingness 10 accompany them, SO
that his chances of escape might be
better. though their suspicious were
constantly on the alert.
In this manner the dav passed
and with the first shades of evening
they made preparations to encamp.
\ fire was made-as they considered
themselves SO far from the settlements
that they need fear no danger from
the ~hltes-and n couple of the par.
" soon brought IN game TO afford
them IA generous supper.
This cooked and partaken of. they
all lay down t0 rest, Dick. with
sa'agc on either side of him. so close.
that he could not stir without being
aware of the motion. aud, as an extra
precautlou. they had bound his feet
together AS tightly rs his wrists. and
the prisoners heart began 10 sink
Within hun "a il had done before:
for he saw while thus bound no pos
sible chance of escape offered 10 him.
\ couple Of hours passed. and still
Dick had not closed his ewes. One
after another of the Savages dropped
off. as be knew bv their hard. regu
lar breathing. until at last. he was
the Only one Of ;he group who was
not asleep.
ON. if his hands were only free.
how soon he would be AT liberty
again,
lie pal upon the thongs with
all h:s power until they cut deep into
the flesh like the keen edge of the
knife; aud at last. to his great iov.
he foand the knot that held his left
hand had slipped little. Another
strain, aud it moved little further:
and with another it was parted so far
aSunder that, with trilllng exertion,
he pulled his hand through.
The savage lying on the left side
of him moved; and he Law perfectly
motionless, almost holding his breath.
with his hand under him in the same
position as when confined. But the
Indian only stretched himself little.
aud was then off to sleep again
Dick went To work to free his 9th
er hand; but the knot was drawn So
hard that. even with he help of the
other, he found it impossible to do
SO.
lie remembered his pocket knife,
aud that be had given it to his Lov
to play with on going out the even
Ing of his captivity. If he had il
now, how quick he would be free
pan.
The moon had ris, II. and was shin
ing through the branches of the
trees, and he saw its rays glittering
on the blade of knife in the belt of
the savage that had SO recently NOV.
ed.
1t was "a desperate Undertaking.
but his situation required desperate
measures.
With the utmost caution he sire CHI
Ell out bis liberated hand, and slow
ly drew the knife from it's resting
place. The Indian never stirred.
aud his deep breathing told Dick
that he was sleeping soundly. \
moment more, and be was lying with
the cords cut from his limbs, with
noue of the savsges wiser for his mo-
tiOns.
Now came the most difficult part
of the operation-tO rise to his feet
and get beyond the confines of the
campfire without awakening any of
his captors.
But Dick proved equal to the emer
gency. Slowly and with the utmost
can'ion he rose upon his hands and
knees. The swapping of twig, he
knew, would betray him to the
watchful ears of those about him.
On has feet ut last, he stepped ov.
er the sleeping savage whose knife
he held in his land, and slowly ap
preached the Indian by whose side his