The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1905-10-28
Reuben Whites
Escape

The mountain tourists. as they fol-
low along the banks Of the winding
saco toward the place of its birth in
the Great Notch. have their attention
attracted by huge rock by the road
side that bears the name of the Bart
lett bowlder.
1t is not 30 much the size OF the
rock as Its strange position that at
tracts the notice Of the passer-by. 1t
seems almost as though 1t was placed
there through the agency Of human
hands. standing, as 1t does, on the
summit of small knoll, with num-
Der Of smaller stones placed under 1t
In such a careful manner as to clev-
erly balance 1t. Could man have had
the power to do 1t, 1t could not have
been done more effectively.
Connected with this stone is q le-
gend of the early settlers. which
will endeavor to relate, 1t having been
handed down from generation to gen.
GRAFTON among the residents Of the
mountain region.
Among the first settlers of Conway
was man by the name Of Reuben
White. His cabin stood upon the high
bank overlooking the fertile region
that lies along the saco. where he had
made quite clearing and got the
most of 1t into q good state Of culti-
walton. He had been subjected to the
usual drawbacks incident to the set
tiers of that region, but thus far had
triumphed over them all. The wild
beasts had given him much trouble.
and the savages, when they came,
sometimes from the wilderness be-
yond the Notch, threatened him and
his with destruction.
One day, early in October. the set
tier took his rifle and started out for
tramp in the forest in search of
game. He turned his face up the val
ley. and striking the river something
like a mile above, he followed 1t until
he nearly reached a point where the
bluffs came down on either side al.
most to the waters edge. Thus far
he had Ill luck, for no game Of larger
size than q rabbit had crossed his
path.
It was now past noon. and he began
to feel - though . hearty meal would
do him good. SO no shot the mart rab-
bit that crossed his path, and pulling
OF its skin, soon had It ready for
cooking. Close up to the base Of the
cliff he built . hre. and In . little
time the rabbit was roasting above it.
SO intent was he with his work that
he saw nothing Of couple of-savsges
who for several minutes past had been
watching his operations. II he had
done 30. he would have been on his
guard. and not allowed his ride to re-
main where he had left 1t, leaning
against the clin a good dozen feet
away. Mindful only Of the meal he
was preparing. he saw not how the
savages, keeping well under cover,
were each moment drawing nearer
and nearer to him.
STOPPING over the f,re. and just in
the act Of removing the nicely
Drowned roast therefrom. he was
startled by q hand being laid upon
his shoulder. while q voice exclaimed
in his ear:
"The paleface is . prisoner. II he
tries to escape the red man will
strike him to the earth"
Startled by the unexpected presence
of the savage and the words he ut
tered, Reuben rose up, only to see
that he was completely at their mercy.
A savage stood beside him with up
lifted tomahawk,. while another had
got possession Of his ride, and stood
with 1t pointed At his breast.
For . moment he was speechless 1T
this sudden danger that threatened
him. but at last he found his voice.
What do you want of me?" he said
white man go with Intin." was the
answer Of the savage. while at the
same moment he produced some stout
thongs. and. signaling to his compan-
ion. he proceeded to bind Reuben's
arms behind him in such q manner
that he would be powerless to use
them. There was nothing he could
do but submit. To resist would only
be to lose his life at once.
Seeing their prisoner secure, the
savaSes fell to and devoured the nice
ly roasted rabbit, without 10 much Is
giving him . taste. This done. they
signined to him that he was to 70
with them. He thought OF those at
home, and Of the danger to which
they would be exposed, but there was
NO help for 1t. He must 20 with them
or die. He was powerless now to
help himself. There was but one
way, and that was to bide his time,
and II the opportunity occurred to
make his escape.
All that afternoon they kept on up
the valley, end, with every step the
settler put between himself and his
cabin. his heart seemed to sink still
lower In his breast. Night came at
last and thick gloom filed the val
Icy. But still the savases kept on.
The way was familiar to them, for It
was along the trail their race had
used for centuries on their way
through the Notch.
The night deepened. and with II