The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1904-06-24
A FRONTIER HERO.
~O

raid would be made, because he did
not know when the expected tribes
would arrive. but he was certain that
1t would take place very soon-any
day. in fact
Hugh, I'll tell you what We'll do"
John said to his brother. "You take
old Doll and follow father up. You'll
be pretty sure to overtake him some
where on the road. I'll go down the
river to st. Mary's and let the folks
there know what to look out for"
Cant do It," said Jim Grow. "In-
Jun both sides river, all along road,
clear down to big bend."'
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 the "big bend"
where the roads ran over which set
tiers from above would be likely to go
If they became frightened and sought
safety In flight
Jim Grow was evidently in a 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 l could only get beyond the big
bendw
Just then tree-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 OIL the lookout as
yet believing, as no doubt they did.
that the whites had no anticipation of
trouble ahead.
"Tll do it," he decided, and he jump
ed into a boat and rowed out into the
river after the tree-top. which he sue
ceeded in pushing up against the bank,
where 1t 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.
if what Jim Grow said is so. So l
shan't worry any about you, and you
needn't worry any about yourself"
They saddled old Doll, and John saw
his 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 a 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 a current of about a mile
an hour. 1t was now past shutdown,
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 "bie
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
Il M 4vH hA ak h. Cal