The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1906-04-07

Ballard, young and comely maidea.
upon whom his own affections had beer
placed for a long period.
ITO think" muttered Joel, "tAat such
q scamp should entrap such a lovely
girl as Eliza! 1t makes me feel ugly
all over. I was a fool that ddn't make
inal end of the boasting blackguard.'
The last period Of Logston's colloquy
was scarcely uttered when the crack Of
rife saluted his ears. His horse stag
gered few PAGES and fell, severely
wounded. Before Joel could disengage
himself from the saddle, a rife bal
whistled through his hunting shirt, graz
ing the skin, producing a plentiful effu
sion Of blood. The hardy forester, In
ured to scenes Of danger, was on his feet
in an instant, firm and self-possesned
casting keen and rapid glances around
him to discover his foes. The smoke
from their rifles was curling gracefully
upward, but they were invisible, having
hidden themselves behind trees. The
quick and searching eye Of Joel was not
long at fault. In reloading his gun, one
OF his enemies exposed a portion Of his
body. Logston fired, and the savage
cried out and fell. Another Indian i'm.
mediately rushed from his hiding place
with loud yell and uplifted tomahawk
The woodsman dubbed his rife; his as.
sailant Instantly stopped, and hurled ths
weapon In his hand with such precision
that 1t would have been fatal to him
had he not with cat-like agility, sprung
aside, thus avoiding it.
Logston now rushed upon him, think
Ing to dispatch him by a well-aimed
blow with his dubbed rife, but the wary
savage anticipated his intentions, In ev'
cry instance, managed to eiude his furi.
Gus blows. The conflict went on In this
manner for a considerable time, with nc
advantage on the part of Joel. Finding
that this kind Of warfare was Of nc
avail. and that he was wasting his
strength In vain, he threw away his rife
and closed with his adversary in q hand
to-hand struggle.
Logston grasped the athletic savage In
his sinewy arms and dashed him to the
earth, but found It quite out Of the Ques.
ton to hold him there; for he was nearly
nude, and his skin was so unctuous that
he could easily slip from beneath hii
opponent.
As neither was armed, the struggle
was long and desperate, Joel continuing
to throw his antagonist to the ground
and he contriving, as often, to slip from
his grasp. Thus they exhausted theis
strength, without giving or receiving any
fatal injuries.
The forester, perceiving that his mus.
cular powers were rapidly falling, adopt
ed a new plan of offensive operations.
As often as the savage attempted to
arise after he had hurled him to the
ground, he dealt him a blow Just under
the ear that knocked him down again.
This change of tactics operated admira.
bly,, and the Indians swollen and bat.
tered face soon gave tokens of its Ell.
cheney; his energies were fast failing
and his efforts grew less vigorous. Al
length a blow, we'll directed and power.
full, caused him to lie motionless, and
Joel was about to grasp his throat and
strangle him, when he perceived that he
was silently and stealthily endsavorins
to get his knife from his leathern sheath.
Logston seized the weapon and plung.
ed 1t into the Indians bosom. He ex-
pired with a hollow groan, and the
woodsman leaned against tree, painting
with exertion, to rest after the conflict
Casting his eyes toward the spo,
where the other savage had fallen, he
perceived that he was still living, and
with heroic frmness had succeeded In
reloading his gun, although it was evi.
dent from his movements that his spine
was broken. The wounded and wretch.
ed, though determined, being had not
sufficient command over his disabled
body to sit upright long enough to fire
but as often as he attempted to present
his gun, he fell forward upon his face
and again struggling with the uncon.
querable spirit, which neither pain nor
danger could subdue, braced himself with
his weapon for another trial
Upon the writing warrior there was
depicted an expression of mortal hatred
and impotent fury that even Logston
shuddered as he staggered away from
the spot.
Miserable cre-turv' he exclaimed
"Your backs broke, and you can't never
git over it; so I'll leave you to fight II
out with death the best way you can
but you'd better be dead a hundred
times"
Joels horse had gotten upon his feet
again, and did not appear to be seriously
injured.
1--WE amt worth much, neither on us
I reckon" added Joel, addressing the
animal, and caressing his neck affec.
tionately. "But you mu ~try to get me
to Boonesborough some Wy or other.
At that stage Of the woodsman's apos
trophe to his horse, cry from the
wounded Indian attracted his attention
and looking in that direction the cause
was at once apparent. Vesuvius, who
precious to the fight had scented a deei
and followed him some distance, had
now returned to search for his master
and seeing the wounded savage sitting
upon the ground, instantly attacked him
Springing upon the Inflated being, the
dog sunk his sharp teeth into the throat
and with continual shakings, dragging.
and billings, worried the life from hi