Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-05-04
Friract from Mr coopsr's ne0 Novel,
.THE PRAIRIE"

any i'm Italy; and as soon NOV q 10 oe ,Er.,' ~ "
soon moody to be moved,"-hsn'eo ana 'uie1'
Though the trapper MANIFEST" some sur
prise when he perceived '""' a,o'"e' "I@'
6gore was approaching HIM, ana 'na'' 100 "on
a;rec,;on opposite 10 the place where the emf
80, had made his encampmeut, ii was with
tbe s,eadiness Of one long accustomed to scenes
Of danger.
Tsis is man." he said, Sand one who has
white blood in his veins or his step would be
LIGHTER. IL will he well TO be ready tor the
worst. as the halfand-halfs ;hat one meets in
these distant districts, are altogether more BAR
barous ,hao the real s4rage
Hc raised his rifle while he spoke. and as
sured himself Of the state OF its Hint as well as
of the prinlins by manual examination But
his arm was arrested while in the act of throw
inc forward the mnzze &c the piece, BY the ca
DER and trembling hands Of his companion.
"For Gods sake, be not too 1,asty,' she said;
"it may be frlend-an acquaintanoe-a neigh
bour''
A friend!' the old man repeated, deliberate
" releasing himself al tive same time from her
GRASP. "Friends are rare in any Land, and less
in this. perhaps, than IN another; ard the neigh
bourhood is too thinly settled to make Ii likely,
TIA; he who comes towards US is even an &C
quaintance,
q Blu, though stranger, you would not seek
his blood"
The trapper earnestly regarded her anxious
and frightened features a moment, and then he
drop,ed the butt Of his rifle on the ground a.
gain, like one whose purpose had undergone a
sudden change.
"No," he said, speaking rather TO himself
than TO his timid companion, "she is right;
blood is not to be split, to save the lite OF one
= -. Ill, al a., Let
him come on; nv skins, my traps, and even my
rife shall be his, il he sees 6t TO demand them. "
He will ask for neither--He wants NEITHER
returned the girl, If he be an honest man, he
will surely be content with his own and ask
for nothing thai is the properly ofano,her,"
The ,rapper had not iime.to express the sur
pr;sr ne Eel, at the incoherent and contradicto.
nv language he he ard, for the man who was adj
yanc.us, was, already, within fifty feet OF the
place here they stood In the utean time Hec-
tor had no, been an indifferent witness OF what
was Messing Atthe sound Of the distant foot
steps, he had arisen from his warm bed at the
feet oC his master; aud now, as the stranger APP
peared ia open view he s,aiked slowly to-
wards him, crouching TO the earth like pan
Their abou, 10 lake MS leap.
"Csli invour dog" said firm, deep, manly
voice, III tones of friendship, rather than ct me-
mace: I" 1 love hound, and should De sorry TO
do an INJURY 10 the animal"
"You hear VIVA, is said about You, pup!" the
trapper answered: "come hither, fool. His
gro and his bark all that is left him now;
YOU NAV come on friend: the hound is toothless. !"
The stranger instantly prof ed by the inte'li'
gence. He sprang eagerly forward, and at the
next instant stood at the side of Ellen wade Al
ter assuring himself of the identity Of the latter,
by hasty hut keen glance, he turned his atten-
ton, with quckness and Impotence that prov
ed the interest he took to The result, to SINH
lar examination Of her companion.
"From wha, cloud have YOU fallen, my good
old mani" he- aid in a careless, of hand, heed
les manner thar seemed too natural 10 be as
sumed "Or do you actually live hereaway, in
the prairies!"
81 have been long on earth, and never hope
nigher t. Heaven than am al this moment
returned the trapper: "my dwelling, If dwelling
may be said TO have, is not far distant. Now
NAV take the liberty with you, that you are So
willing TO take with others! Whence do you
come, and where is your homer"
"Softly, softly: when have done with my
catechism it will be time to begin with yours
What sporr is this, you follow by moonlight!
You are not lodging the .buffaloes at such an
hour!' "a
81 am as you see, going from an encamp.
men, of travellers, which lies over yonder swell
in the land. TO my olfn wigwam; in doing SO |
wrong no man"
"AIl fair aud true. And you go, this young
woman to shsw yon the way because she knows
il so well and you know so little about it.
81 met her, as have met you, by accident.
For ten tiresome years have dwelt on these
open fields, and never, before tonight, have
found human beings with white skins on them
at this hour. Ifmy presence here gives Of.
fence, am sorry; and will go my way. 1t is
moreihan likely that when your young friend
has told her story, you viii be better given to
believe NINE,
s-Friend!'' said the youth; lifting a cap Of
skins from his head, and ruonIng his hogers
Ieisurelv through dense mass of black & shag,
ey locks, "if ever laid eyes on the girl before
to night, may l."
"You'ye said enough, Paul." interrupted The
female, laying her hand on his mouth with a