Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-01-11

and the man redoubled his cries, protest
ing that the Indians would soon recap
ture him if he did not succeed in getting
across the river.
Poor fellow exclaimed Norwood
Come my friend this is unlike you!
Are you not touched by the terrible
fears and miserable condition Of the
wretched man.?
"Not l." said Kenton "This distress
is not real; it is an infamous plot to
allure us to the other side. The white
| scoundrel is backed by score of red
| skins, no doubt"
care you really in earnest?" asked
| Norwood
Perfectly so. You are laying a trap
to deceive u.s." said Kenton, ceasing to
use his paddle.
The fellow on shore solemnly protest
ed that he was not, but was acting in
perfect good faith.
How many Indians are there up in
| the woods behind your resumed Ken
| ton, laying down his paddle.
The man swore that there was not one
there to his knowledge; but he expected
every moment the woods would be full
Of them, when he, unfortunate fellow,
| would perhaps be burned at the stake,
the subject of tortures impossible to de-
scribe
Now back water little, and keep
the boat steady" whispered Kenton;
then addressing the fellow in distress:
IF we go ashore, you promise to play
US no Indian tricks?'
mot trick" was the reply: and the
white impostor called heaven and earth,
and the Maker of both, to witness his
truthfuness
Turn the boat quite round. head tn
the opposite shore 50 as 10 bring Won
between myself and him." said Kenton,
in allow voice.
What if he should prove to be no
impostor after all?" remarked Allan.
Nonsense! Look. l can see a paint
ed face Deeping from behind bush.
| Steady-as you are. When I have fred.
drop your paddle and let fly at the In
dian, if you get chance"
| The little boat now lay quietly upon
| the water; and before the man on shore
perceived what was intended, Kenton
raised his piece and discharged it.
The white man fell-scrambled to his
| feet-and fell a second time. Allan had
kept watch of the red face behind the
bush, and the instant Kenton fired. seiz-
ed his own rife and followed his exam
| pie with all the celebrity and precision of
a practiced hunter The painted visage
| disappeared, and loud warwhoop re-
sounded through the forest.
"You see | was right" said Kenton.
"You have finished your fellow. and the
white renegade has got what he won't
get over in a hurry
His distress seems to be more real
now" observed Allan, as the wounded
man attempted to recover his feet for
the third time with no better success
than before.
While Norwood was speaking, several
Indians appeared on the bank of the
river, and our two friends were saluted
with shower Of balls.
! Load your rifles" said Kenton. cool
! ", "and | will pull up close to the shore.
and get as far out of range as possible.
Several of their balls, you see, have
| touched the boat"
Simon bent smartly to the paddle. and
the tiny vessel shot rapidly through the
yielding waters. The young hunter re-
| loaG2i --- 80 '.u'intS 81 ~
o~nnv o. l., ,,..i-i.rl ~. l.&
ears, spliutereI the boat. or, their force
being spent, fell harmless a few feet
| from them.
Several of them are at work
in the water; I wonder what they are
doing?' said Allan.
| "They have doubtless sunk canoe
there, and are now raising it; they in
tend to follow u.s.
You are right; they are dragging a
birchen vessel from the water"
The canoe had left the opposite bank
and was now rapidly approaching, pro-
PEELED by four savages.
They are Miamis," observed Kenton;
1--WE must sink them"
but how? Rifle balls make but small
holes; we might perforate the bark in
dozen places below the waterline and
not affect our purpose"
I'VE have been trying some expert
ments ut Boonesborough lately, with
balls linked together in this Manner"
replied Kenton, holding up two bullets
fastened together by a small chain
about eight inches long. These balls.
when projected from the rife, separate
the length of the chain. and at the dis
lance of $50 yards will pass through a
board an inch in thickness. SO you
perceive that it Will not take many such
shots to sink one of those canoes. for
they are not much thicker than brown
lpaper"
The Miamis swept toward our friends
with loud cries, thinking to terrify them,
and render resistance less effectuaL
Il don't care so much about destroy
ing the poor wretches. as | do about
sinking the canoe" added Kenton. in a
suppressed voice. Let us get the first
fire, if we can. Do you fear them?"
Il never was afraid in my life" said
Allan. coolly.
The words had scarcely left Norwood's
lips when a shot from the savages cut a
button from his hunting frock.
That was very well DONE" remarked
Kenton. They are near enough let
Us have Il shot-it's our turn now. Fire
at the canoe, and you can't help doing
damage"
Both took steady aim. and the Indians,
anticipating their intentions endeavorcd
to screen themselves by lodging their
heads down into the canoe
That will only make it worse for
them" said Kenton; and then both fred.
The result fully oQuallcd their expec-
tations; the fragile vessel was 50 badly
cut that it Immediately filed, and tre
Indians lcaped into the water, some Of
them severely il not MORALLY. wounded.
In Il few seconds the canoe sank.
Then tho terrified Miamis made Il Erea-
S3l3sliEE i'm the water, while those on
the bank yelled with rage. The two
youuE men ggaspel the paddles and used
'them wish e,t.n oEos- tNot in half an
anr-r rH- SID esa.-s- VAS ~~a- or heard.