Year: 1877

THE LUCKY SHOT.


There are many incidents connect
ed with the early settlement of Ken
tucky, that have not as yet been
touched upon by the sketch writer
or the novelist, much as has been
written of those days; and the fol
lowing is one of those that have for
so long time lain buried, and now
for the first time brought before the
gaze OF the great public.


Among those who regarded them
selves as living within the confines
of Boonsborough. though so far
from the station that bore the name
of its founder as to be almost unpro-
tected by it, was a settler by the
name of Dick Turner. He had built
his cabin on the very outskirts of
the settlements, and with his wife
and three children had for two years
lived in peace and quietness, unmo-
Tested by the savages that were at
all times in greater or less numbers
abroad Oh the war path. Their near
est neighbor was half a mile down
the river, out of sight and hearing,
and had it not been for the smoke
that every morning curled above
the tree tops, one would not have
known, standing in Dick Turner
door way, but that his was the only
settlement for miles around, for on
every side was the forest unbroken,
as in the days before Daniel Boone
led the first party of hardy adven-
turers over the Cumberland Mount,
aims.


One afternoon, the last of Au-
gust, as Dick was working in his
clearing, and a point as far from the
cabin as it was possible for him to-
be without being in the forest, he
was startled by the sudden appear
ance of half dozen Indians, hide
Gus with war-paint, who surrounded
him almost before he could spring
and grasp his rifle, which he always
carried into the field when at work.


Startled by their sudden appear
ance, he made a motion towards it,
but heavy hand was laid upon his
shoulder, its owner said in broken
English, "White man go with u.s."


"No," said Dick, looking him
sonara in the face HCan't do that
too much work to do.'


And he pointed to the work he
had been doing, and then casting a
wistful glance at his rifle which was
now in the hands of one of the In
dians.


"Come," said the savage, who ap-
peared to be as leader, as well as the
only one vino could speak a word
of English. "White man must CO."


Dick glanced towards the cabin,
and saw his wife standing in the
door, apparently in great alarm at
his situation. The savages saw her,
and after a word or two among
themselves, three of them started
in that direction. Unperceived by
his captors, Dick made sign that
his wife fortunately understood, and
she disappeared within, closing the
door in such manner that the saw
ages failed to obtain admittance, as
Dick saw to his great Joy, when,
after trying it for few moments,
they hastily returned and joined the
others. Evidently small in point of
numbers they did not care to waste
slime that would be necessary for a
seige; so they desisted from their
efforts to make captives of the wo-
man and children.


"Come," said the savage, laying
his hand on the captive's shoulder;
and Dick, who had felt his heart
rise that his loved ones were left
behind, went almost cheerfully into
the forest, in which the shadows OF
night were already beginning to
gather, casting only one backward
glance at his home, to wonder when
he would see it again.


Then he resoluteIy put his face
forward for the fate the future had
in store for him. The future might
be long captivity, or it might be
death; yet, as he walked between
his captors, and the shadows grew
deeper about him, a hope was in his
heart that be might escape perhaps
before the sun would rise on the
morrow.


That night was long and weary
one to the settler. Evidently they
feared pursuit, and stopped not fol
rest nor food until the sun was al
hour high the next day. Then, as
II feeling secure, they had long
malt, made fire, and one of the
number shooting deer, they had &
plentiful repast.


Thus far the savages had used
him well, only taking the precautiol
to bind his hands behind his back
in such manner that he found !,
impossible to use them in the least
They had been very considerate Of
his comfort, and he determined, by
appearing as cheerful as possible, tc
do away from their minds any
thoughts they might have of any
unwillingness to accompany them
so that his chances of escape nigh
be better than though their suspi
cions were constantly on the alert.


In this manner the day passed
and with the first shades Of aVenine