Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1914-05-06

hold 'em right here as long as pos
sible an then skip out an join you
up near Eleck Teterboard's place on
the Burr Oak road" Whereupon he
noiselessly made his way short dis
lance from the path and concealed
himself until he discovered Jesse and
Frank Inness, when he Immediately
fired the shot TO which reference has
already been made. Then, after the
attempt of Inness to brighten or
wound him, he effected his escape
and later joined Godfrey and Fran
ces as agreed on. 1t was not till
they were within a short distance of
their destination that anything fur
Their occurred to offer the slightest
hope to the dispairing Frances. They
had already crossed the line into
Minnesota and were moving slowly
northward when a human voice sud-
denly broke the stiffness of the quiet
day and for time caused them much
uneasiness, for they imagined it
might be Jesse and Inness still on
their trail. Their fears were not for
long however, for as they listened
more intently they recognized the
voice of the preacher, who, at too
great a distance to notice them, was
ioyously singing as he rode on his
way
mo foot of land do possess,
No cottage in the wilderness,
A poor wayfaring man."
"It's that preacher! I'd like darned
we'll to punch his head for him, bet
he'd be singin' different tune af-
ter that" boldly asserted Mr.. Cobb.
my esteemed associate, you would
do wisely either to restrain your ex-
uberant feelings or vent your surplus
energies in some other direction, for
do assure you, my dear sir. that in
my unbiased judgment yonder pro-
phet is not a man to approach with
hostile intent, albeit he is not man
of war; So, then, mon cher, be not
obdurate but have due regard for the
safety of your own valued person
and separate yourself, / beg of you
from all warlike intentions in sc
far as they may point in the direc'
ton of yonder expounder of the bles-
sed gospel"
i Frances, overjoyed at the well
known voice of the preacher, who
was a great favorite of hers, made
desperate attempt to attract his
attention by screaming at the top OF
her voice, but before she could carry
out her purpose black hand was
! over her mouth and Niger Godfrey
Missed in her ear a warning against
making an cutlery to attract atten-
ton. The following evening they
sighted an Indian encampment, on
the bank of river, which the half
breed told Frances, was the point at
which they were aiming, and there
they arrived just as the shades OF
evening were beginning to darken
the eastern hills.
CHAPTER XVII
Should the reader be at all curl
Gus to know how Niger Godfrey
CHANGED to be in the vicinity so OPP
portunely just when Jim Cobb most
needed a fitting accomplice in his
designs upon the person of Jesse
Badleigh, it will be necessary for him
to remember that on that day in win
ter when Frank Inness saw and fol-
lowed the stag across the river,
casual mention was made of a cave
near which the animal was browsing
when discovered by the hunter.
At the point where this cavern is
located the bluff rises to an altitude
of three hundred feet above the lev
ell of the river which lazily flows
along it's base; the cave itself rang
es one hundred and twenty feet
above the river level and may be ap-
preached from the east or from the
west.
Anterior to the coming of the
Whites there was a we'll defined trail,
made and used by the Indians In
their visits to the Ice Cave. This an
cient trail crossed the Oneota river
at a depression in the small savan-
nah which lay short space to the
south and east, and then winding its
way in a northwesterly course along
the precipitous bluff side, passed the
mouth of the cavern in its undulating
progress to the west.
The cave is an interesting curios-
ity. Also, in a certain qualihed
sense, it is an attractive freak OF
nature, the like of which is not 20
be found in any other part OF the
s.hte. It's phenomenal Characters
tics have given the cavern a wide
reputation among scientists as well
os curiousity seekers who have Wis