Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1906-03-08

Ballard, a young and comely maiden
upon whom his own affections had beer
placed for long period
ITO think" muttered JOEL "tAat such
a scamp should entrap such lovely
girl as Eliza! 1t makes mo feel ugly
all over. l was fool that didn't make
n final end of the boastinS blackguard. y
The last period Of Logston's collsQuy
was scarcely uttered when the crack OF
a rifle saluted his ears. His horse stag
! gered a few PAGES and fell, severely
wounded. Before Joel could dlssngays
himself from tho saddle, 4 rife ball
whistled through his hunting shirt. graz
Ing the skin, producing 4 plentiful sfu-
sion Of blood. The hardy forester. in
ured to scenes Of danger. was on his fset
in an instant, firm and sslf-possssss1,
| casting keen and rapid glancss around
him to discover his fees. The Asks
from their rifles was curling gracefully
upward. but they wxs invisisls, AavfaS
hidden themselves behind trsss The
quick and searching sys Of Jo~ vas not
long At fault. In rsloading his sua. enc
Of his enemies exposed 4 portion OF his
body. Lsgston fred, and the savage
cried out and fell. Another Indian I'm
mediately rushed from his hiding place
with a loud yell and upliftsd tomahawk.
The woodsman clubbsd his rins; his as
sailant instantly stopped, and hurled the
weapon In his hand with such precision
that it 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 4 well-aimed
blow with his dubbed rifle. 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 considerable time, with no
advantage on the part Of Joel. Finding
that this kind Of warfare was Of no
avail, and that he was wasting his
strength in vain. he threw away his rifle
and closed with his adversary in 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 his
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 their
strength, without giving or receiving any
fatal injuries.
Tbo Formation bic vous-
cular powers were rapidly failing, 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 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 eff
cheney; his energies were fast failing,
and his efforts grew less vigorous. At
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 stealthly endeavoring
to get his knife from his leathern sheath.
Logston seized the weapon and plung-
GU IL illlO luo lHulAh OOooiAls AAC GA
pired with a hollow groan, and the
woodsman leaned against a tree, painting
with exertion, to rest after the conflict.
Casting his eyes toward the spot
where the other savage had fallen, he
perceived that he was still living, and
with heroic firmness had succeeded In
reloading his gun, although it was evil
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 gum 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 writhing 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-tur." he exclaimed.
"Your backs broke, and you can't never
git over it, 80 I'll leave you to fight it
out with death the best way you can:
but you'd better be dead hundred
times"
Joel's horse had gotten upon his feet
again. and did not appear to be seriously
injured.
1--WE amt worth much neither on us,
l reckon" added Joel, addressing the
animal, and caressing his neck affec-
tionately. But you mr~try to get me
to Boonesborough some (iy or other
At that stage of the woodsman's apos-
trophe to his horse, cry from the
Indian attracted his attention.
and looking in that direction the cause
was at once apparent. Vesuvius, who
precious to the fight had scented deer
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
log sunk his sharp teeth into the throat,
and with continual shakings, draggings
and billings, worried the life from his
body.
Cro be continupd)