Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1900-07-21
%JOB Work.
SUCH AS
POSTERS, H4NDBILLS,
BILL HEADS, LETTER
HEADS, CIRCULARS,
ENVELOPES,
CARDS, ETC.
Done at This Office.
EDWARD c. DAN


cdging closer and closer TO his victim.
But Morgan manfully stood his ground,
with his rifle clubbcd. until the dreaded
tomahawk was about to descend.
Then he threw himself slightly for
ward and brought down the butt Of
his gun. the two blows beng stimuli
tancous, and took effect
The stock of the rifle was shattered
upon the bronzcd skull, and the edge
of the tomahawk was broken against
the barrel of the piece, after cutting
two fingers from Morgan's left hand.
Without any delay, tha led man
reached down To draw his knife. when
Morgan, with view of preventing 1t,
grapplcd and threw him to the ground.
Here II terrific struggle took place, in
which none but natures weapons were
used. Morgan in his day was II skill
ful pugilist and wrestler. and for n
brief while he was master of the sit
uation: but his waning strength soon
gave away the advantage and the
Indian rolled him underneath.
| The red man had been guilty Of
some thievcry before reaching this
spot, for he wore Il woman'S apron tied
around his waist. He had tied 1t OH
with great care, so that 1t was not torn
away. although it got slowed around
once OF twice during the struggle.
The Indian planted one knee on the
breast of Morgan, and then let ont
series of yclls, which We're heard ut the
house, nearly Il mile distant. Having
given vent to his feelings in that fash
ion. he reached for tn, knife ut his
girdle.
And in doing SO, he received n warn
ing against the sin of th!cvcry. The
| knife was so much confined by the
apron-string that he was p,rplcXed
While the Indian was tugging awk
wardly at it. Morgan got one Of his
dusky fingers between his teeth and bit
like wise.
The yells Of eXultation were now
changed to roars of pain, and the Ind
ian tried desperately tn jerk the finger
from its torturng Imprisonment, while
ut the same time he continued vaguely
graSping for his knife. Convinced that
this weapon must finally decide the
contest Morgan made equally desper-
ate efforts to obtain 1t, and 1t thus
happened that both clutched 1t at the
same time, the white man by the
handle and the red one by the blade.
Morgan, feeling the knife slowly slip
ping from his grasp under the pull Of
| his adversary, shut down l.arder with
| his teeth upon the finger. The Indian
gave Il spasmodic gasp; the knife was
dcXterously twitchpd from his hand.
which was severely cut, and both ad-
| versaricS Sprang to their feet.
Morgan. however. had secured the
knife. That now being the only wenp-
on between them he made the b.st
use OF it. The first blow struck bone
and accomplished nothing but the
second was Il disastrous one, and th'
Indian sagged heavily downward.
The pioneer fell with him, and fol-
lowed up the blow, until the Indian
was ctfectually finished. Morgan was
so exhausted that when lie staggered
to his feet he could scarcely stand. As
soon as he regained enough strength
he started for home, hurrying as fast
as possible. His family were I'M
mrasurably relieved to see him alive,
even though wounded; for the pant
ing children had brought the terrible
tale with them, and the sound of the
rite-rcports apprised them Of the
fight under way.
Although Morgan lived several
miles from the settlement, yet he had
a few neighhors dwelling nearer by.
When his fingers were dressed he and
some members of the family started
out in different directions, until all
the neighbors We're reused and gath
cred ut his house. 1t was
then found that nearly dozen We're
OH hand, and they set out ut once for
the scene of the struggle.
Reaching the saplings where the
Indians made their first stand, they
discovered the first lying dead, killed
by the shot of Morgan, fired from be-
hind the walnut tree; but the other,
much to their astonishment, had
vanished
Making their way to the spot where
the final struggle took place the set
tiers saw evidences Of its frightful
character. The ground was stamped
and torn, and blood was scattered all
around.
"IIcre is the trail" said one, point
ing a little to one side; land it doesn't
look as If there'll be any trouble In
following it."
There could be no difficulty indeed,
for the green sward was marked toO
plainly with crimson, and the men
walked along over the trail until 1t
led them to fallen tree-tOp, where
| the miserable Indian had dragged.
himself. He was endeavOring to
dress the would with the stolen apron
about his waist.
As the men came up. he extended his
hand and said in broken English:
How do brOder-hOw do, brOder!
But the settlers We're In no senti-
mental mood. and. cOnceiving the In
dian to be mortally wounded, they did
that which they would have done had
he been uninjured-put him beyond
all possibility of further suffering or
harm. Saturday Night.
|