Year: 1874

"cie onlhihS. 1uey nau StfuCk
fresh bear trail, and, as he arrived in
sight, they fairly lifted it, going off in
straight line down the river.
The chase led them several miles
when he at last got a shot that finished
bruins career, he found that it was
three or four o'clock in the afternoon.
Swinging his meat to a sapling, out oi
the reach Of cat or wolf, he started for
home TO get his horse and return and
fetch it that night.


Taxing a near cut, he reached the
cabin from the western side, where the
timber grew heavy up to within few
yards Of the building, and consequent
ly he could not see the clearing, or
what might be transpiring there until
he had passed through the wood.


Thus it was that, when within short
distance of his house he heard. wild
piercing shriek; but he could not guess
that something terrible must be taking
place beyond the screen of bushes and
leaves. Uttering loud shout that his
presence might sooner be known,
Branson sprang forward like wound
Ell buck, great fear in his heart, for
he had only too clearly recognized in
that scream the agonized voice of his
wife.


1t took but a moment for him to
clear the intervening timber and un-
dergrowth and as he dashed out into
the clearing, holding his rifle ready for
instant use, he comprehended in one
swift glance all that had taken place,
and what was further to fear.


Near to the end of the cabin on the
cliff of which l have spoken, stood
the mother, her face as pallid as death,
her arms outstretched, her startling
eyes fixed upon the precipitous heights
upon which the figure Of the Indian
was struggling.


MY child my child.' was all the
woman said and Branson saw that the
bundle in the Indians arms was the
form of their only child, Maggie.


Firm of heart, and with nerves as
steady as the rocks around, the father
for moment quailed and covered
under what his quick senses told him
was the deadly peril Of the little one.
But he was quick to recover.


The Indian was drawing away 4: step
by step he was increasing the distance,
and as he occasionally glanced back
ward and downward the parents saw
in his hideously painted countenance
the full purpose that actuated the
abductor.


"God aid me-" Branson muttered,
as he raised his rifle, glanced through
the sights and touched the trigger.


The Indian started violently at the
shot. He was hit, but not badly, and
with n yell OF devlish triumph he pass
ed upward.


Too low by Il couple of inches"
said low, calm voice at the settlers
elbow.


Branson started as though he him
self had been shot. Where was the
man from? Who was he! Neither
had seen him approach. But there
was no time for explanations. The
stranger, man rather below than
above the medium hight, whose fine,
athletic form was fully displayed in
his close-fitting buckskin garments,
stepped quickly forward few PAGES,
and firmly planting his left foot in adj
vance, threw up an unusually long
rifle. as though preparing to fire.


For Gods sake, stranger, be care
full of my child" cried Branson, while
the mother uttered an audible prayer.


1T is our only chance. know that
Indian" was the quick reply, and the
sharp click, click of the hammer as it
was drawn back told that the critical
moment had come.


BY this time the Indian had nearly
reached the summit of the steep. That
he was wounded now became evident,
AS upon o broad ledge of rock he
paused for moment. This oppor-
tunitv was seized by the unknown.
Although the savage had taken the
precaution TO hold the child up in front
vi nun as Siiciu, CoNciluS ucaiiS
the whole of his brawny chest, but
leaving his head uncovered, the stran-
ger did not hesitate in making the
shot.


For one second, as it gained its
position, the rifle wavered, and then
instantly became as immoveable as
though held in a VIC. With clasped
hands and staring eyes the parents
watched the statute-like form upon
which so much depended.


Suddenly sharp report rang out,
the white smoke drifted away. and as
the vision became clearer they saw the
savage loose his hold upon the child,
reel wildly an instant, and then pitch
forward on the rocks. l. may be i'm
agined that the father was not long in
reaching the place where his child lay,
and in a few moments more the little
one was in its mothers arms.


''Tell US who you are, that we may
know what name to mingle with oul
prayers" exclaimed the mother, as the
stranger prepared to depart.


"My name is Daniel BOone," he
sald-and was gone.


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