Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1899-06-08

, llttlng OF the Jog we could see our
savage foes clambering down the
face of the rocks towards our
nights encampment. All was silent
for minute, when O series of
prolonged warning signals burst on
the air, to be answered from the oppo-
site shore; and then, crouching low in
the canoe, we were treated to the I'M
welcomed sensation of murderous
slugs flying over our heads.
Turning for q moment to catch a
glimpse of our late assailants, of whom
by this time 1 had calculated we had
seen the last, my blood nearly froze
in my veins with terrors, when saw
that they had likewise launched q
canoe, manned by four stalwart pad
dlers, and were striving to overtake
us; while dusky savage in the bow
had been placed so as to try and pick
us off.
SO intent had we been on the dan
ger from our pursuers that we had not
taken notice of a new and more men
acing danger ahead. For fully two
miles we had been dashing along at
| frightful speed, accelerated by the
swiftness of the current, which flowed
in markedly perceptible grade,
when the banks on either side
seemed suddenly to converge into
huge cliffs not more than forty feet
apart, through which the seething
waters tumbled and boiled as in
millrace. Like an arrow our little
boat shot through the gloomy portals,
frowning on either hand, darting this
way and that, dipping and dancing
about like cork, and doing exactly
what the current willed. At the very
first swirl, made discovery that
gave me an additional SILVER. The
canoe, rudely caulked, was beginning
to show signs of distress, and tiny
streams of water were pouring through
the partly re-opened cracks. Neither
would it bear much longer, so it
seemed, the pressure from the paddles,
which were now used merely to guide
our course from being wrecked on the
numberless jagged reefs and boulders
projecting above the seething waters.
If the water pulled one way and the
paddles another the frail thing
squirmed and twisted like snake in
stead of obeying the steersman, so
that it was quite impossible 10 make
her respond readily or effect sharp
turn. No doubt Denazee discovered
this as soon as did, but he gave no
hint of it, as with intent face and
skillful arm, he did his part of the
work to perfection. The half-breed,
meanwhile, lay sobbing and moaning
in the bottom of the boat, until
aroused him to action by sundry
kicks, and impressed on his sadly be-
fuddled and dazed brain the necessity
of unceasing baling to keep US from
laundering.
What satisfaction might have been
gained from this welcome fact was
dissipated by new and more porten-
tous danger. From the Shiny cliffs
rising sheer and smooth two hundred
feet into the air came the menacing
peal of angry shouts, and almost i'm
, mediately we were running the gaunt-
let of shower of huge boulders from
new assailants who had gathered on
! the top of the cliffs. We did not dare
! to turn round to see il those in the
, pursuing canoe were following, but
, from the fact that for several minutes
/ we had heard nothing from their di-
rection we concluded that they had
= not dared to enter the canon; never
theless, we felt that our doom was
sealed by the force which they had
, planted on top of the cliffs. The mar
row gorge contracted still more, and
we had now come to spot where
J whirlpool followed whirlpool in fear
, fully quick succession, and we NO
/ sooner caught our breath after escap-
> ing one than we were struggling
3 wildly with another. Our frail craft
: appeared to undulate over the frothine
| waves rather than to cut through
| them. and it seemed as if every move,
> ment of the water might be felt
a through her thin skin.
Suddenly my paddle was wrenched
: from my hands as a huge boulder
} which had boen thrown from above
struck it but few inches from my
e hand We gave ourselves up for lost
? and the meanings of the half breed
! were pitiful to hear He had beer
4 struck with several jagged stones, ant
z his arms and shoulder were bathed il
blood.
Z For mile after mile we were tumblet
2 about, and tossed from wave to wave
. over whirlpool, rock, and rapid like
4 chip of bark. At times a huge wave
9 curling and kissing wonld lift us clear
s out OF the water and hurl US through
I the air for several feet. To make mat
S tiers worse, the seams, from these Sc
: we're buffetings, opened wider ant
/ wider every moment; and although
both the half-breed and mysel
o crouched low in the canoe and bale'
a with that desperation born of love 0
a life, we did it SO clumsily in our hast