The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1921-11-02


VX7HEN the young hunters
wv DeerSlayer and Hurry Har
~, reached the Lake Glim
merglass. the Hurons were on the war.
path. Floating Tom Hutter; the only
BETTER on the lake, knew the redmen's
ways and had built his house on piles,
. quarter Of mile from shore. with
MIN lived his daughters, Judith, hand
some and flirtatious, and Hetty, n
young woman with the mind of a child.
Hurry Harry, a handsome giant Of the
woods, had been one Of Judith's many
M0oers.
Floating Tom had another home.
the Ark, a crude houseboat propelled
by sweeps and q sail. Here the hunt
ers found him. As the Ark passed an
cverhanging sapling, warriors, be.
daubed by war paint, leaped for the
ROOF. They fell into the lake, but
yella and pattering bullets from shore
told that they were out in force.
Hutter was q hardy fighter, Hurry
mad the strength Of ten ordinary men,
ana Natty Bumppo had won the name
of Deerslayer because Of his unerring
aim with the rifle. They might have
w1thstood siege Of weeks. But Hut.
ter and Hurry. tempted by the bounty
Tor scalps, determined to raid the In
dian encampment, where they expect.
ed to find only squaws and children.
OeeBlayer refused to Join this cow
ardly warfare. But warriors were In
the tents and the raiders were CAP
tured. Deerslayer, now the sole reli-
ance Of the girls in Hutter's lake
girdled house. could not attempt their
rescue.
His simple honesty and modesty
made a profound impression upon Ju-
dith. who had hitherto listened too
willingly to the honeyed words Of Eng
fish 0ihcers. Her arts were forgotten
in the presence OF this native woods.
man who was blind to feminine wiles.
Although the Indians had no canoes,
Deerslayer knew that they could
quickly make RATS, and he was glad
enough that he had agreed to meet at
the lake that night his dearest friend,
the young Delaware warrior, Big Ser
pent. At sunset he unanswered the
Ark near the rendezvous and Big Ser
pent leaped aboard. The bank re-
sounded with exultant yells, and a 1
score Of savages splashed into the wa
ter. Deerslayer and Big Serpent bent
to the sweeps and foiled them. Big
Serpent's hatred Of the Hurons was
white hot for they were carrying into
captivity his betrothed. the lissome
Hist-oh-Hist.
II was simple-minded betty who
lrst went to the rescue Of Hutter
and Hurry. She believed that read |
ing her Bible to these savages would
soften their hearts. She was allowed
TO converse freely with the captives,
for the Indians had a superstitious be- |
lief that the gods spoke through those
whose wits were weak. Her pleading |
words, however. fell upon deaf ears.
Deerslayer, with keener knowledge Of |
Indian character, ransomed Hutter
and Hurry with some ivory chessmen
Tat the redmen deemed idols.
While the released captives slept
and the girls watched. Deerslayer and
Big Serpent padded away to rescue
Hist-oh-Hist, who had sent word by
Hetty that she would be on a conspic-
uous point Of land when q bright star
came out over the hilltop. The star
come out but Hist did not appear.
The Delaware and his paleface COM
Fade crept notselessly to ridge where
they could overlook the encampment.
Big Serpent chirruped like a squirrel
and Hist guarded BY an old nag, was
70 suddenly silent that they knew she
At last the two women passed them.
Big Serpent dragged his beloved to-
ward the canoe; Deerslayer clutched
the old woman. but her screams
the camp. He ran for the ,
.anoe, but as he pushed It of an In
liam landed squarely upon his back.
Deerslayer thought not of himself, but :
ave the canoe 20 powerful a shove
hat It slided hundred feet away. He
aled into the lake, arose with his
and they foundered In
water. He vas quickly