- Daniel Boone is captured by Indians when he tries to rescue his abducted daughter.
- On a ramble through a forest, an Indian maiden approaches a swiftly running stream, crosses on a narrow stone dam, and, with the aid of a long stick, carefully picks her way over the rugged rocks beyond. She does not go far, however, until she makes a misstep, slips and seriously sprains her ankle. Daniel Boone's daughter, also roaming in the forest comes upon the injured girl and carefully assists her over the dangerous rocks to a place of safety. On this eventful day, Daniel Boone and a companion had made preparation for a hunting expedition. Everything in readiness, the horses brought around to the cabin, his wife, two daughters, and the man left behind to protect them, assemble outside the cabin to witness their departure; they mount and ride away into the forest in anticipation of a good day's sport Immediately after their departure, one of Boone's daughters is sent to the spring after a pail of water. She returns hastily and frightened, with the news that a band of Indians are approaching the cabin. Knowing what this means, they all enter and bar the doors and windows to resist the attack. In those days, an attack by Indians was a common occurrence and the cabins were built with loop-holes four or five feet from the ground to enable those within to repulse, if possible, the attackers. As the Indians approach nearer and nearer, they drop flat on the ground and crawl stealthily up to the cabin, by this means keeping below the range of the loop-holes. One Indian, however, stands up and is immediately shot down. Several more attempt to rush upon the cabin, but meet with the same fate. Within the cabin a different scene is enacted. The protector of the cabin fires from one loop-hole, and then another, as fast as the guns are loaded and handed to him by Mrs. Boone and her daughters. A fearful discovery is then madeonly one shot left The powder horns are empty: In desperation, Mrs. Boone peeps through one of the loop-holes, realizes the situation and swoons. The door is battered down, the protector killed, the house set on fire, and Boone's two daughters abducted. Indians execute a dance around the frightened girls while the cabin burns, and then put off to their camp. Boone and his companion return and find nothing but smoking ruins where stood his home; no sign of life visible. Knowing full well the perpetrators of this disaster, he and his companion take an oath of vengeance. They endeavor to find the trail and leading their horses, search on through the forest. Boone comes upon a handkerchief, which he picks up and recognizes as belonging to one of his daughters. Hope arises that they may still be alive. In hopes of sooner picking up the trail, Boone departs in one direction and his companions in the opposite. In the meantime the Indians have returned to their camp with the captured girls. While a sentinel keeps watch over the camp, and when he moves away from the tent containing the prisoners, an Indian girl steals out presently followed by one of the abducted girls, whom we recognize as the one in the opening scene. The Indian girl helps her to escape the notice of the sentinel, leads her down through the woods to a spot where a horse has been tethered to enable her to escape. The escaping girl mounts the horse and disappears in the forest, the Indian girl returning quickly to the camp. The sentinel covers the escape, the camp is aroused and pursuit started. The white girl gallops on. She soon comes upon the companion of Boone, who has struck the trail, hastily explains her escape and together they dash through the forest closely pursued by the Indians. Seeing further efforts to escape by this means is useless, they dismount and, crouching behind a rock to await the arrival of their pursuers. As the leading Indian comes within range, a well-directed shot tumbles him from his horse. A second meets the same fate, and still a third. Panic seizes the remainder of the band and they turn and flee. All this time Boone has ridden on, vainly searching for some clue to the direction taken by the Indians. At last disheartened and worn out, he dismounts, rolls himself in a blanket and soon falls asleep. He is discovered by the Indians, captured and carried off to their camp, and tied to a tree. Wood and brush is piled around him and set on fire, while the Indians perform a war dance and torture him while dancing around him. After the repulse of the Indians in pursuit of the escaping girl, she and her rescuer come upon an Indian sentinel standing on a cliff. Silently the man creeps behind the Indian, seizes him by the throat, and after a desperate struggle, succeeds in throwing him over the cliff. The girl approaches, and together surveying the surroundings, discover the Indian camp where her sister is still held captive. Rescue seems impossible. The Indian's bow and arrow lay on the ground. An idea comes to the resourceful pioneer. To think is to act. Knowing well the superstitions of the Indian, he drops on his knees, hastily prepares the head of the arrow, lights it, places it to the bow, and, with unerring aim drops it directly in the Indian camp. As it strikes the Indians become panic-stricken and flee, leaving him to his fate. Then is displayed a remarkable feat of which but few dumb animals are capable. Boone's horse, having been led by the Indians to the camp, succeeds in severing with his teeth the bands that bind Boone's arms. Boone sets himself free, rushes into a tent, and returns with one of his captured daughters bound hand and foot. Just at that loment the Indian chief returns and a great hand to hand encounter with knives ensues. The Indian is overpowered and killed. Meantime, his other daughter and her rescuer have made their way to the camp, and the scene closes with the happy reunion of Boone and his two daughters. -- The Moving Picture World, April 6. 1907
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