Year: 1875

early times a settler by the name OF Rn-
fus Branson, who, with his wife and on
ly child, charming little girl Of some
eight or nine years, occupied the rude
cabin at the base of the precipice little
back from the river.


Although greatly exposed to danger
the Indians at the time being plenti-
full throughout the region-he managed
to live peaceable for several years.


The Indians frequently visited the
rude home of the hunter, and being al
ways Welcomed and provided with such
food as might be in the larder, .hey
maintained friendly attitude.


Especially were they fond of the child
Maggie, and more than one fierce war
rior had been seen sitting on the grass
IN front of the cabin, listenidg TO the
prattle of that little one or else engaged
in making it some toy or plaything from
willow twigs or plant bark.


In this manner several years had been
passed, and Rufus Branson came 10 feel
as sure as though he was within the
walls of frontier fort.


One evening Branson and his wife
were seated near the doorway, when
suddenly shadow fell across the thres-
hold, and the next moment a tall savage
whose reeling step and bloodshot eyes
told that he was. intoxicated, appeared,
and staggering to the log steps threw
himself upon them.


His first demand was for "fire water"
which was of course refused on the plea
that there was none in the house.


The Indian became cross and ugly
swearing with terrible oaths that if the
liquor was not produced he would muir
der the whole household. Branson was
brave, determined man, and although
dreading the necessity, yet he saw that
he would have to take steps to prevent
the savage from executing his threat.


Waiting until the warrior had made
demonstration, which he soon did by at
tempting to draw his tomahawk, Bran
son sprung upon him, knocked him
down with blow of his fist, and then
quietly disarmed him and bound him
where he lay. After few minutes of
furious raving and futile efforts to free
himself the savage rolled over and sunk
into drunken slumber.


He did not wake until the next morn
ing, but before he did so Ihe settler had
quietly removed his bonds and restored
his weapons, which he lay by the sleep
er's side.


The savage on awaking rose slowly to
his feet, felt his wrists as though the
thongs had left feeling there, took up
his weapons, and, without speaking a
word, left and disappeared in the timber
near by.


"What think you Of that?" asked the
wife, turning to her husband with scared
looks.


"Pshawl Don't trouble your head
about the drunken BRUTE" answered the
settler lightly, but as he turned away
and stepped into the yard he muttered;
Like i'll Well not much. The fellow
must be watched. was in hopes that
he would not have remembered, but the
lump where my fist landed was enough,
if nothing else, to recall the circum-
stances"


The summer passed and they saw
their drunken guest no more. He failed
to make his appearance. But as the
leaves began to fall the settler one day
while returning from hunt on the hills
and passing through a dense piece o.
timber not far from the house, caught
sight of a figure lurking among the
bushes, but which quickly disappeared
when he advanced toward where it was
The figure was that of an Indian warrior
and Rufus Branson knew it was the one
whom he had knocked down and bound
the previous summer.


The knowledge was not in any way
comforting, and hence he did not tell hi:
wife of the discovery. 1t would only
alarm her, without perhaps any good re
suit. He simply told her he had discov
cred bear tracks near by, and that she
and the child had better stay close to tn,
house when he was absent.


Several days afterward Rufus BransoI
heard his dogs in the timber down b,
the river, and knowing they never open
ed without good cause he caught up hi
rife and hastened to where they wer
barking. They had struck fresh bea
trail, and as be arrived in sight the,
fairly lifted it going off in straight lin
down the river.


The chase led him several miles, an,
when at last he got his shot that ende,
bruins career he found that it was thre
or four o'clock in the afternoon


Swinging his game in a sapling out G
reach of cat or wolf, he started for HON
to get the old gray mare and return I
fetch it that night.


Taking near cut he approached tn
cabin from the western side, where til
timber grew heavy up to within fe'
rods Of the building, and consequently h
conld not see what was transEiring ther
until he passed through the wood. Thu
it was that, when within short distanc
of his home, he heard wild, piercin
shrek


He could only guess that somethir
terrible must be taking place beyond Il
screen of bushes and leaves. Uttertng
loud shout that his presence might
sooner known, Branson sprung forwal


with the leap of wounded buck, a gre


fear at his heart, for he had only t,


clearly recognized the scream and Il


agonizing voice of his WIFE


1t took but a moment for him to Gle


the intervening timber and undergrowi


As he dashed out into the clearing, hol


ing his rife ready for instant use,


comprehended in one swift glance


that had taken place, and what was furt


er to fear.


Near the end of the cabin facing t


cliffs of which have spoken stock I


mother, her facing pallid as the def


her arms outstretched, and her eyes f


ed on the precipitous heights, up viii