Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1901-02-07
lorse's neck when an Indian warrior

~ 10 uO uispdTdStutut 10 NudElty
TO say that when he found himself
suddenly face 10 face with the red
man his mouth opened as wide as did
his eyes, that the color fled from his
cheeks, that his heart futtered like
bird in cage, and that for q mo-
ment he could not stir.
"Ughl" grunted the savage, white
boy walk the woods with red broth
err" meaning he would go with him 20
Canada.
But Charley was not quite ready TO
do that Stepping back quickly, he
fitted one Of his tack-headed arrows
to the string OF his bow and dis
charged it full at the Indian.
The warrior sprang aside; but he
was not quick enough. for the shaft
had been well aimed. 1t passed
through his neck, between the skin
and the flesh.
Uttering cry of anger, he leaped
on the boy and caught him by the
throat. He hastily felt for his tom
ahawk, and in the heat of his rage
would undoubtedly have ended the
poor boys career then and there; but.
missing the handle at the first grasp.
he suddenly changed his mind. and,
lifting the boy 10 the back OF the
gray horse, tied him securely and led
the animal toward the party that was
with the canoe.
The two boys exchanged sorrow
full smile as their eaptors brought
them together. William had been
placed in the canoe, where there were
two hogs, which the savages had
plundered from settlement lower
down the river.
These hogs belonged to man
named Sargent, who lived in Walpole.
and he and several of his neighbors
had gone out that very morning In
search of the marauders, They had
tracked the thieves to the river, and
suspecting they might be Indians, had
embarked in boat and rowed up
stream, hoping to come upon them
unaware and recover their stolen
property.
A little cove shot into the river at
the point where the two boys had
been captured. and the stream thus
made bend around this point OF
land. The Indians, their canoe and
their horses were on one side OF the
bend, and the armed white men In
their boat were approaching the
other. just before they turned the
bend, one of the white men heard ths
snort of a horse. Surprised at this,
they rested on their oars moment,
and then rowed on more cautiously.
Passing around low, wooded bank,
they saw sight that made them halt
again. A canoe with three Indians In
It was pushing away from the shore.
They could see that il was heavily
laden, for II sunk deep into the water.
Only one Indian was padding, and
the canoe very slowly advanced into
the middle of the stream.
A fourth Indian had Just entered
the river with two horses, on the
back OF one OF which was white boy,
with his arms pinioned behind him
In the canoe, by the two dead hogs,
was prostrate figure, which they
had no doubt was another captive.
Sargent instantly ordered his party
TO fire. They did so, and two OF the
Indians in the canoe fell dead or fatal.
ly wounded. The Indian who was
padding threw down his paddle, and
plunged into the river. A shot was
fired at him. which either killed or
disabled him, for he sank, and WAS
seen no more.
The Indian on horseback did not
lift his gun. but very quietly urged
his horses across the river. Two OF
the settlers fred at him, but the only
result was the splashlng OF his naked
skin by the disturbed water.
"Those horses are stolen. and the
red imps mustn't get away with
! them" said Sargent; but don't fire
again. We may injure the boy
The settlers bent TO their oars. and
In few moments swept up alongside
of the struggling horses.
The savage did not wait for them
20 come up, but leaped into the water,
md deliberately swan 10 the nban.
doned canoe, which was floating ten
or Dozen rods from the New llnmp
shire side. This he clambered into.
seized the paddle, and began to steer
II toward the Vermont shore.
After they had seized the horses,
the white men turned their attention
TO this bold warrior, who seemed de.
termined to escape with the canoe,
Two Of them, who had reloaded, shot
at him. but. though both expert
marksmen, they failed TO harm him
The close proximity OF their bullets.
however, forced him TO relinquish the
canoe.
Holding his rife above his head, the
undnunted savage swan to the Yer.
mont shore, and. landing unharmed,
disappeared In the forest.
The white men now rowed up "a
the canoe, which was drifting aim
lcssly round and round
Don't shootl I'm white boyl"
cried voice, as they approached.
II was poor William, who, with his
limbs bound with deerskin, was Just
able to sit up in the canoe.
swell. you've saved the horses any.
how; but the colts gone, sure" he
exclaimed, as he glanced around, and
saw that the horses were secure.
One OF sargent's men jumped
aboard the canoe, and padded II
ashore, where William and Charley
were both released from their bonds
Then the boys mounted their horses
bid their rescuers adieu, and returned
10 the block-house, which they
reached just before Sundown.
Williams wound was not serious
one, and he soon recovered from 81;
but he was accustomed 10 relate. az
he told the story In after years. that
he never felt DO queer in hi. Ifr ns he
did while lying curled Down ly the