The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1924-10-03
CHAPTER xvll-Continued.

In April the two friends set out
afoot for the lower end of the High
lands On the river they hired a Dutch
farmer to take them on to Albany In
his sloop. After two delightful days
at home, General Schuyler suggested
that they could do a great service by
traverslng the wilderness 10 the valley
of the great river of the north. as far
as possible toward Swegachie. and re-
porting their observations to Crown
Point or Fort Edward. If there seemed
TO be occasion for 1t. and If not, they
were to proceed to General Herkimers
camp at Oriskany ana give him what
help they could in protecting the set
tiers in the west.
you would, need to take all your
wit and courage with you" the gen
eral warned them. "The Indians are
IN bad temper. They have taken 70
roasting their prisoners at the stake
and eating their flesh. This is a haz-
ardous undertaking. Therefore, give
you a suggestion andno an order"
"I'll go lone" said Solomon. IF
get ct up 1t needn't break nobody's
heart. Let Jack GO to one O. the
forts"
mo, I'd rather &c into the bush with
you" said Jack. "We're both needed
there. If necessary we could separate
and carry our warning in two direc-
lions. Well take a couple of the new
double-barreled rifles and four pis-
tolls. If we had TO, | think we could
fight hole through any trouble we
are likely to have"
SO K was decided that they should
20 together on this scouting trip into
the north bush. Solomon had long be-
fore that invented what he called "a
lightnin' thrower'' for close fighting
with Indians, TO be used II one were
hard pressed and outnumbered and
likely to have his scalp taken. This
odd contrivance ne had never had oc-
casion to use. II was a thin, round
she'll of cast iron with tube. a flint
and plunger. The shell was of about
the size of large apple. 1t was to be
filed with missiles and gunpowder.
The pIunger. with its spring, was set
vertically above the tube. In throw
Ing this contrivance one released it's
spring by the pressure of his thumb.
The hammer fell and the spark 1t
made ignited fuse leading down TO
the powder. It's owner had to throw
It from behind tree or have a share
in the peril ii was sure to create.
While Jack was Mt home with his
people Solomon spent a week in the
foundry and forge and, before they
set out on their journey, had three Of
these unique weapons, all loaded and
packed in waterproof wrappings.
About the middle of May they pro
ceeded in q light bark canoe to Fort
Edward and carried It across country
to Lake George and made their way
with paddles TO Ticonderoga. There
they learned that scouts were operat-
ing only on and near Lake Champlain.
The interior Of Tryon county was said
to be dangerous ground. Mohawks,
Cagnawagas. Senecas, Algonquins and
Hurons were thick in the bush and all
on the warpafh. They were torturing
and eating every white man that fell
In their hands, save those with Tory
mark on them.
Were skeered o. the bush." said an
elderly bearded soldier. who was. sit
ting on a log "a man who goes into
the wildwood needs to be good friend
o. God"
"But Schuyler thinks force of Brit |
Ish may land somewhere along the big |
river and come down through the bush, |
road as they advance" SAID !
Jack
"a thousand men coulo make a toll
able Vaughn road to Fort Edward in
Solomon declared. That's
nebbe the reason the Injuns are out
N the bush eatIn' Yankees. They're
ryin' fer to skeer us an keep us err
way. BY the hide an horns o. the
ievill We got TO know what's a-goin
m out thar. You fellers are a-settin
round these ere forts as If We had
lothin' to do but chaw beefsteak. an
wipe yer rifles an pick yer teeth. Why
lont We go out thar In the bush and
10 little skeerin' yerseives? Ye're
Ike lot o. OIL women set.in' by the
Ire an tellin' ghos stories.
1--WE got 'nuff to do considerin' the
,ay we git" said a sergeant.
HI an Tophet What do We want
paw" Solomon answered. Amt We
fillin' to fight fer yer own liberty
githout bein' paid fer 1t? Ye been
licked an robbed an spit on, an
ragged Ground by the heels, an We
on'i want to fight less somebody
avs ye What dam corn fiddle o. a
ian We mus be-"
Solomon was putting fresh provisions
mis- pack as he talked.
"AIl the Injuns o. Klnady an the
reat grass lands may he snookin' n
own through the bush. We're bound
n T. know what's goin' on out thar.
ERE liable 10 he skeered, but also
n likewise we'll do some skeerin'
ore we give up-you hear to me-
Leu and solomon 10 on - The J