Year: 1865

Holton was living on the frontier, about sixty
miles west by north of the Germantown of New
Elm. The family consisted of Mr.. and Mrs.
Holton, son, John, about IL years old, and
Susan and Mary, two daughters of the respect
| i've ages of and years.


Holton had pre-empted or squatted on farm
! something like a year before the outbreak,
and had got pretty well under way, having a
snug log house. with fair outbuildings, and
about forty acres fenced and under cultivation.
| The principal features of the establishment,
however, were the boy John and his dog Boase,
cross of the mastf and grey hound, feet of
/ foot powerful of muscle, and possessing unusu-
al intelligence.


John was lad of precocious development of
mind and body and might have passed for boy
of fourteen lie and Boase were inseparable
companions, and the boy taught the dog about
all he knew himself, excepting only, as he was
wont to say, such things as required speech
We are thus particular in our mention, of these
things, because this story hinges on the courage
and sagacity of John and the fidelity and intel
ligence of Boase.


The first knowledge which the Holtons obtain
ed of the Indian outbreak was communicated by
band of about twenty Sioux, who came upon
their dwelling lust after daylight one morning,
killed and scalped Holton before the eyes of his
Mortified family, shot the cattle, burned the
house and barn, and carried of captive Mrs.
Hoton, John, Mary and Susan.


Whittier these were being taken the captlyes
knew not Mrs Holton and the two little girls
were so overcome with fright and horror that
they seemed bereft Of reason but John, though
at irst stunned by the terrible scenes of which
he had been Witness soon recovered his self
possession and with characteristic courage be-
gan to cast about in his mind for some means
cf escape and revenge.


nj " | thought,
"he would come and help me get away"


The squad of savages having the captyes in
charge, dwindled down to only two in the
course of the day parties of from three to six
having successiyely left, as they came within
striking distance of opportunities for massacre
and rapine.


About dusk they entered an oak opening
which gradually changed to dense brushy
thicket, wherein the savages at last came to a
halt for the night They made no fire and
after partaking of frugal meal of parched corn
and dried meat they prepared to pass the night
by binding the captiyes' hands and feet, and lay
ing them close together, and then stretching
themselves on each side of them.


John was lying next to the savage on one side
bis thoughts busy with planning some mode OF
escape He had noticed that each Indian had
laid his gun by his side, and had a tomahawk
and knife in his belt, and mere boy tho he was,
FSS"NS~'NN-
weapons as they slept he would be able to free
himself and his mother and sisters from their
detested plastership. But how to do this, he
could not imagine, unless Boase should come to
his aid, as his hands and feet were securely
tied.


After remaining perfectly silent for hour
after hour, until not only his mother aud sisters
slept in spite of their fears, but also the watch
fulness of the savages was quenched in slumber,
L Ill In
to a sitting posture and peep about him He
first satisfied himself that the savages actually
slept, and then he worked his arms and legs to
overcome the pain and paralysis which had been
occasioned by their remaining so long bound
and in one position all the time keeping as
iharp look out in every direction as the pre-
vailing obscurity would permit.


As he thus sat peering into the brush he at
last saw some object slowly moving towards him.
Nearer and nearer it came but with perfect still
ness and occasionally stopped as If to listen
When it bad got within short distance of him
it stopped and gave low plaintive whine
John heart almost bounded into his mouth, for
in that whine he recognized the tones of his
faithful Boase, and in the exuberance OF ms
JOY be called the dog by name and held up his
hands towards him. Boase Immediately crept
forward, but John becoming alarmed at his own
rashness lay down again, beside the savage, lest
the latter should awake and detect the presence
of the dog.


But the Indian slept on, and after a short time
he again cautiously raised himselfto sitting pos
ture and to his great satisfaction he found Boase
crouching at his feet. He caressed the brave
fellow with his bound hands and then holding
them up SO Boase could see the leathern thong
with which they were tied, told him to gnaw it
into. Boase seemed to comprehend the case at
once for he instantly set to work and soon set
his young masters hands at liberty.


What to do next? was the next question:
John was so overcome for time at the terrible
task before him that he forgot that his feet were
still bound until he attempted to rise Then he
was reminded Of the fact. Should he let Boase
gnaw them loose, or should he withdraw the In
dams knife from his belt and cut the thong
Deciding upon the latter course, he gently pos
sessed himself of the knife, cut the thong, and
then cautiously drawing the tomahawk from the
savages belt he rose to his feet. He had deci-
ded upon his courses


Pointing to the sleeping savage, he patted
Boase on the head and whispered him to seize
the Indian she moment he stirred then taking
the Indians gun, he cautiously cooked it, placed
the muzzle to the heart of the other savage and
fred killing him instantly.


As the surviving savage, aroused by the fe-
port Of the gun, attempted to spring to his feet,
Boase, with howl of vengeance, dashed at his
throat, and Win ieW JerrlDle Jedtlugs ana
crushing, killed the bloody wretch outright.


Mrs Holton, Susan and Mary awakened by
the noise of the gun and hearing the brief but
terrible struggle between Boase and the Indian,
set up a series of terrified screams which it took
poor John awhile to quiet. When, at last, the
assuring voice of John, the severing Of bonds
the gambols and caresses Boase and the lifeless
bodies of the two Indians enabled Mrs. Holton
and the little girls to understand what had actu-
ally TRANSFERRED their JOY was beyond expresson
and was manifested by them all rushing into a
compact pile, the chief elements of which were
John and Boase, mellowed by hugs and kisses


AS soon as calmness was restored, Mrs. Holton
and John resolved to set ont on their return, pi-
loted by Boase, without delay and taking the
weapons of the dead warriors, they started on
their toilsome journey. They proceeded slowly,
as little Mary had often to be carried, aud the
way through the brush WAS very difficult But
the day soon dawned, and in crossing prairie
during the forenoon, they were overtaken by
large number of settlers who were fleeing from
the murderous wrath of the savages and with
them they soon reached Mankato in SAFETY
From thence they came East to Massachusetts,
where their former home was, and where they
still reside, Boase and all.


-


IN taking revenge, man is but even with his
enemy; in passing it over he is his superior.