River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1900-06-21


ON ONE of The last days of May. 1856.
two boys. Charles Flanders and
William Wheeler. were sent out from
the block-house, at Charlestown, n. H.,
on the Connecticut. to look for two
horses that had strayed into the
woods.
The missing animals were gray
horse and a black mare, respectively.
The mare had her young colt with her.
They both belonged to Williams fla
Their, and the settler had promised the
boy that if he would find the horses,
and bring them safely home, he would
rive him the colt for his labor.
The lads started off about six
o'clock in the morning. taking their
way down the river. William had his
fathers gun; but Charley, who was
younger, had not been allowed to take
one. Guns and ammunition were too
scarce at the fort to be intrusted to a
boy II years old.
1t was really dangerous to go out I'M
armed a great distance from the
block-housc. for wildcats and wolves
were numerous in that region. and oc-
casionally a bear was seen. The boys
themselves thought little of the peril,
but it was not without misgivings that
their mothers had seen them depart.
Whistling merrily, the boys went
away from the settlement into the for
est. All along the river, there were
many natural "opens" in the woods.
They passed one and another of these.
searching keenly for every sign Of the
missing animals, and listening for the
bells. In the early times OF the col
onies the settlers usually put a bell
on each horse as well as on their COWS
In one Of these "opens" they scared
up flock of cartridges. William at
once proposed that they should set
some snarcs in the bushes on either
side of the path. ard p"rhep, they
might catch game enough for din
ner by their return. Accordingly they
went to work to set the Snare~. each
setting "A bort dem Then they went
forward again.
Charley was the happy posScssor of
jack-kuift and be husied hi'-seli in
makinga bowand arrows a. he ttudgcd
along. The bow he ta>hiouco from an
ash limb. and be THROWS were OF oak
headed With sharp tack~ that the boy
happened TO have il his pocket The
bowstrin@ was OF stout twinc When
completed, il was hardly equal to an
English long bow. nor was Charley a
Robin Hood; but il was nevertheless
quite a dangerous weapon in his hands.
He amused himself shooting at SPUR
rels and birds. and was in high spirits
when he hit one.
The only traces Of the animals they
were hunting after that they had yet
seen were their tracks, which they
ever and anon came across in the
"opens" or imbeddcd in the banks of
the streams.
They listened and listened for tine
friendly cIinking of the bells. but could
not hear them. Yet they felt assured
that they were on the right course
They had proceeded about three
miles when Williams quick ear caught
The familiar ling-a-ling of bell But
1t was great ways off, and seemed to
be growing more indistinct.
Its in the next open said Will
liam. THAT is Sukey's They can't
he far Oft Good luckl Now I'll
have my colt and no trouble"
The boys were then in the thick
forest, The last open" was half a
mile behind them; the next might be
as far in front of them. They hast
encd forward eagerly. following the
sound of the bell that came tiukling
at intervals through the woods
They came to the open" a square
like area of nearly four acres. lying
low and level on the banks of the
Connecticut All at once the bells
ceased tinkling
That is singular. Perhaps they
have gone down TO the river to drink"
remarked William. looking in that di-
rcction.
"Oh. no. there's the horses over by
that clump of birches," cried Charley
Cant YOU see the old gray's side?"
That's strange. anyhow" declared
William. The last time | heard the
bell. could swear it was on the other
side of the open
The bell commenced tinkling again.
Il most assuredly was on the opposite
side, near the stream
''Sukey and her colt must be over
there" said Charley. but lis strange.
as YOU say that they shouldn't be to-
gcther."
Well, you go that way and l will
go this. If we can catch them. we can
ride home. | do hope the colt is not
lost or hurt"
William started in the direction to-
ward the river. and of course Charley
walked off in a course just opposite
When the latter was about halfway
across the clearing. he turned around
to look at William. To his surprise.
his companion was not to be seen.
While he was gazing in that direc-
tion, he saw two Indians rise up
from behind clump of alders and
look toward the river. At that in
slant William reappeared around
bend of the stream. where he had
been hidden from the sight of his
friend
As soon as William saw the savages.
he turned 70 run. One of the Indians
at this fired after the fleeing boy and
shot him through the wrist
The Shot vhirled him violently
round The savages then seized him.
and binding him with a decrskin
thong. carried him 10 their canoe
which was in the river not rar distant
Meanwhile, Charley. seeing the
plight of his companion. was moving
slowly away from the dangerous
He hoped the Indians
had not seen him Alone and without
any suitable weapon. he knew that he
could do nothing toward rescuing
moor William. His plan was 10 return
TO the settlement as quickly as pos
sibIe. inform his father OF the circum-
stance. and have party start at once
to the rescue.
In order to reach there at the short
est notice. he had made up his mind
n catch the gray horse. He could
80 the animal still standing half
within the grove of poplars. and had
no suspicion that anything was
wrong.
Directing his steps toward the pop
airs. Charley crept up near and near
r.. looking warily around for fear of
:, III -, ~ within Eve feet of