River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1901-01-03

awful rush. " as a cbAHtN" 4euAtA DG7ii
and it grew from narrow ledge only
foot above the water
Could he, as the stream hurled him
past, catch that bush? And if he
caught it, would IL sustain his weight?
4 There was no time to answer the
/ question in his mind. He was being
swept toward the falls with awful
rapidity, and the bush was his only
/ chance for life.
He braced his nerves for the strain,
and swan toward the ledge. The
next instant he had seized the bush
with both hands, and the current was
/ dragging at his feet. The first mo-
/ ment of suspense was over-the laurel
/ held!
Slowly he drew himself by inches
from the water, and finally lay weak
and painting upon the ledge.
! Spy mater, that was close!"
Up to this time he had given no
thought to his canoe or to the deer,
/ but now his attention was attracted
to the latter by a shrill bleat Of ter
/ ror.
The buck had also ben unable to
regain the bank, and, before the eyes
Of his former foe, he was swept, strug-
Cling, over the fall, followed by the
overturned canoe.
Hattou shuddered and turned his
gaze away. apparently his fate was
to be the same, for the cliff at the
foot Of which he lay was almost per-
pendicuar. and its side offered no
hold for the feet or hands of a climb
er. He could only maintain his posi-
tion until hunger and weakness
should make him fall into the tor
rent.
TO this, after revolving in his mind
every possible and impossible means
of rescue, he anally resigned himself.
The roar of the water filed his ears
and showed him the uselessness Of
shouting, even If there were anyone
in the neighborhood to hear.
The sun had reached the meridian,
and now began its descent toward the
west As the shadows heightened
the hunters thoughts grew more and
more gloomy. and he even questioned
whether it would not be better to
drop from the ledge and end the
matter at once.
Suddenly a prolonged "whoope-e!"
sounded family through the noise of
the fall from the woods above him.
In his surprise and excitement Hat
ton sent forth a yell of such volume
that it must have been heard, for
another cry came from the top of
the rock, and. turning on his back,
the hunter saw familiar face look
ing down at him.
He waved his hand and shouted
with joy, for with a friend like AT
Stevens near he felt confident of res
cue.
Aft was evidently shouting eucour-
agement to him. but Joe could only
see his lips move. Presently he
turned away. and when. after some
minutes, his face again appeared, it
was accompanied by another.
The two men were evidently dis
cussing the best means of getting
Hatton out of his perilous position,
and in a few moments, with many
encouraging gestures, they disap-
peared
For a long half-hour Joe had to
lie patiently on his back. consumed
with a desire to know whether or not
immediate help was at hand.
At the end of that time his friends
in need returned and. after scanning
the face of the rock. proceeded to
let down what the hunter soon rec
ognized as a wild grapevine, to the
end of which were attached a num-
Der of stout deerskin thongs. On its
safe arrival Joe looked first at the
rock. then at the falls, then back
nj the vine.
That's a mighty onsartain rope to
haul a man o. my heft up that cliff
with" was his dubious remark.
Then, with recldessness character
istic of his life and of the times, he
added, but here goesl"
He first looked to the fastening Of
the thongs to the vine. attached the
other ends closely to his leather belt,
to hold him if his strength should
fail, and, taking a firm grip with
his hands on the improyised rope,
shouted to those above to haul up.
Though they could not hear his
voice, they evidently understood his
meaning, for in a moment the vine
frightened and ne was lifted into the
air.
With many creak of the straight
ening flbers. each one of which sent
chill to the heart of the man swing.
I ing in midair. he was slowly drawn
to the top. And never did human be-
ing feel greater or more detout
thankfuness than did Joe Hatton
when with final pull on the vine
and a shout of triumph, he was land
ed in safety on the ground beneath
{ the trees
He made due Acknowledgements to
his reseuers. both of whom were
( hunters well known TO him. and in-
quired how they happened that way
in such good time.
well" said Stevens, me an Ben
here was comm up the river. an we