Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1904-06-15


The "big bend' was about ten miles
away, half way Of the distance, by
river, to st. Mary's. Once beyond that,
according to Jim Crows knowledge Of
the situation, there would be no danger
likely to befall the traveller, but the
question was, how to get beyond It. 1t
seemed that the Indians had camps
on both sides Of the river between Mr..
Sanford's place and che ".big bend,'
where the roads ran over which set
tiers from above would be likely to 60
If they became frightened and sought
safety in fight.
Jim Grow was evidently in rather
nervous condition Of mind, for he was
anxious TO be gone. He had risked
a great deal in doing what he had to
warn Of the danger ahead the white
family who had befriended him, and
he did not care to arouse the suspicion
of his red brothers. Therefore he made
his visit brief one. and disappeared
in the forest.
II can't bear to think Of letting the
Indians kill off everybody at st. Mary's
without trying to do something to
warn them Of their danger" said John.
If could only get beyond the big
| bendv'
Just then a ree-top came floating
down the river, close to the shore
where they were standing. Many Of
Its branches were above the water,
and so thick were they that one could
not see through them.
A plan flashed through the boys
brain. Why could he not conceal him
self among the branches Of the tree
top and drift down the river in it?
The Indians along the shores would
not be likely to ssupect that it gave
shelter to anyone They probably. were
not suspicious, or on the lookout as
yet believing. as no doubt they did,
that the whites had no anticipation Of
trouble ahead.
''I'll do It." he decided, and he jump
ed into boat and rowed out into, the
river after the tree-top, which he Sue
ceeded in pushing up against the bank.
where it anchored itself among the
bushes, temporarily.
He explained his plan to Hugh.
You'll have no trouble in getting
away without any help from me-" he
said. Its all clear in that direction,
II what Jim Crow said is so. So I
shan't worry any about you, and you
needn't worry any about yourself"
They saddled old Doll, and John saw
MS brother ride away, wondering If
fate would ever bring them together
again. Then he climbed out upon the
tree-top. and let himself down among
its branches, with the lower part Of his
body in the water, which was warm,
and not at all unpleasant to come in
contact with. He found that he could
very easily support himself by throw
ing his arms over the branches Of the
tree-top In such manner that moth
ing but his head would be out Of water.
He pushed the novel craft away from
shore and presently it caught the cur
rent and swung out into the stream.
AS nearly as he could calculate the
stream had current Of about a mile
an hour. 1t was now past sundown,
and dusk was setting in. There would
be about eight hours Of comparative
darkness in his favor, and allowing
his calculations Of the movement of
the current to be correct they would
take him well along toward the "big
bend"
It must have been nearly midnight
before he came upon any indication of
the enemy. Then he saw the flicker
of camp fires here and there along the
shores. BY and by they were left be-
hind, but presently he came upon 9TH
ers. These he passed safely, and as
the first red CLEANS Of dawn began to
show in the east he felt quite sure
that he had got out Of the enemy's
country.
But in this he was mistaken, as he
soon found out. AS the tree-top swung
around little curve in the stream he
saw quite little village Of wigwams
ahead, on the side Of hill sloping
OOWA w IAO A4fCAs "A Col CA VA OIL 0I1Ay
Of the camp convinced him that It be-
longed to one Of the nonresident
tribes, and he concluded that it was
well his trip had not been put of until
morning. provided it proved to be
successful one, Of course-for If this
were another tribe, the union Jim
Grow had spoken Of would no doubt
be made at once, and the war on the
whites be Immediately begun. >
Hewas SO intently engaged in watch
ing the camp as he drifted past 1t, that
he did not notice the approach of
canoe containing two Indians until 1t
brushed the branches Of the tree-top,
as it passed by. He would not have
known, then. what Jared his craft,
had not one Of the Indians said some
| thing. as he put out his paddle and