Year: 1860

beaver. The spot chosen for his winters resi-
dence was within twenty-five or thirty miles Of
the Indian town of Chllicothe, but as they sell
dom go far to hunt in the winter. he had little
to fear from their interruption. For ten or
twelve weeks he trapped and hunted in this SOL
itary region unmolested His success had equal
led his most sanguine expectations, and the
winter passed away so quietly and so pleasantly,
that he was hardly aware of its progress.


About the middle of February, he began to
make up the petry he had captured into pack
ages, and to load his canoe with the proceeds of
his winters hunt which for safety had been Sc
created in the willows, u few miles below the
little bark hut in which he had lived. The day
before that which he had fixed on for his depar-
ture, as he was returning to his camp just at
evening, Fleahart's acute ear caught the report
of a rifle in the direction of the Indian towns,
but at so remote a distance, that none but
backwoodsman could have distinguished the
sound. This FASTENED his preparation for de-
camping. Nevertheless he slept quietly. but
rose the following morning before the dawn;
cooked and ate his last meal in the hut to which
he had become quite attached. The sun had
just risen, and he was sitting on the trunk of
fallen tree, examining the printing and lock of
his gun, casually casting a look up the river
bank, he saw an Indian slowly approaching with
his eyes intently fixed on the ground, carefully
inspecting the track his moccasins left in the
soft earth as he returned to his hut the evening
before. He instantly cooked his gun, stepped
behind tree, and waited till the Indian came
within the sure range of his shot. He then
fred and the Indian fell. Rushing from the
cover on his PROSTATE foe, he was about to ap-
ply the scalping knife; but seeing the shining
silver breaches, and broad bands on his arms,
he fell to cutting them loose, and tucking them
into the bosom of his hunting shirt. While
busiy occupied in securing the spoils, the sharp
crack of rifle and the passage of ball through
the bullet pouch at his side, caused him to look
up. when he saw three Indians within hundred
yards of him. They being tor numerous for
him to encounter, he seized his rifle and took to
flight. The other two, as he rany fred at him
without effect. The chase was continued for
several miles by two of the Indiais, who were
the switest runners. He often stspped and
"treed," hoping to get shot and kill or disable
one of them, and then overcome the other at
his leisure. His pursuers also "treed" and by
flanking to the right and left, forced him to un-
cover or stand the chances of shot.


He finally concluded te leave the level grounds,
on which the contest had thus far been held, and
take to the high hills which lie back of the bot
toms. His strong muscular limbs here gave
him the advantage, as be could ascend the steep
hill sides more rapidly than his pursuers. The
Indians, seeing they could not overtake him, as
a last effort stopped and fired. One of the balls
cut away the handle of his hunting knife, jerk
ing it so violently against his side that for
moment he thought he was wounded. He i'm
mediately returned the fire, and with yell of
vexation, they gave up the chase Fleahart
made circuit among the hills, and just at dark
came on to the river, near where the canoe lay
hid. Springing on board, he padded down
stream. Being greatly falgued with the effort
of the day. he lay down in the canoe, and when
he awoke in the morning the boat was just en-
7 tering the Ohio River. Crossing over to the
southern shore, he, in few days, pushed his
canoe up to Farmers Castle, without further ad-
venture, where he showed the rich packages of
petry, as the proceeds of his winters hunt, and
displayed the brilliant silver ornaments, as the
trophies of bis victory, to the envy and admira-
ton of his less venturous companions.