Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-05-22
From The Westey7, SUtrrnfr.
THE INDIAN Halter.
EY JAMES uAyY

rev hours, and stepped into u store to purchase
some triling article OF which stood in need Fin
di,s number OF persons there, und beint not I'M
wiling to while away few minutes in conversation.
leaned my back against the counter and addressed
myself to a well dressed farmer, who answered my
enquiries respecting the country with intelligence
and cvility.
While thus engaged, my attention vas drawn to
person who stood near. lie was man who miuh,
have been about so years OF age His height did not
exceed the ordinary stature, and his person was rat
or slender than otherwise; but there was soethinu
IN his ar and features, which distinguished him from
common men. The expression of his counteuancr
was bcen and daring. His forehead was elevated
his chcekbones high, his lips snail aud compressed
while long exposure to the climate had tannc, his
complexion 10 deep olive. The same cause seem.
cd to have hardened his skin and MUSCLES, SO as to
give him the appearance of living pet.ifaction
There was over all settled gloom-a kind of for
ccd composure, which indicated designations but not
content. In his eye, there was sometime ,,nculor
yet IT was difficult to tell in what that pccu!iartv
consisted 1t was a small grey orb, whose calm,
bold, direct, glance seemed TO vouch that it had mol
covered with shame, quaed in danger. There
was blended in that eye searching kernucss, with
a Quict vigilance-a watcifll, saCacious self nos
scssion-so often observable in the phySornomv or
those, who are in the lrabt Of cxpectino. mcrt;no
and oYcrc oming peril. His heavy eyebrows had
once been black but time had touched them with his
Tencil.-Hc was dressed in coarse, grey hunting
shirt, girded round the waist with broad eathnrn
belt, tightly drawn, in which rested long knife. q
weapon common TO the western hunter Cpon the
whole, there was about this man an eyprcssion NJ
grim and gloomy sternnqss hxedness of purpose and
intense, but smothered passion which starnnei hin,
as OF no common mould; yet there were indications
OF openness and honesty, which forbade tIstr,rst
HIS was not the unbushing front of hardy Gull: NOR
the lurking glance of underhanded villaI1y. 4
stranger would not have hesitated to confdc in his
faith or courage, but would have trembed at the ra
ofpfovoking his hostility.
had barely time to make these observations when
several Indians, who had stroled into the village
entered the store. The effect of their presence up
vi the oacAwoodsman, WHOM have described was
instantaneous and violent. His eyes rolled wildly
as II he had been suddenly stung to madness. nlea
inpg with strange iercness, supernatural lustre
IKE that which flashes from the eyebals Of the nan
ther, when crouched in dark covert, and ready to
dart upon his prey. His hollow check was flushed
the muscles, that but moment before seemed so ri
gid, became flexible, and moved conrulsycly-IIis
hand sliding quietly to the hilt of his large knife, as
IL by INSTINCT grasped it firmly and it was easy to
perceive that single breath would be sufficient to
blow up the smotherd fire. But, except these indi
cations he remained motionless as a statue, eazino
with hook of intense terocity at the intruders The
Indians halted when their eyes met his and exchauo
ed giances ofinteigence with each other-Vbet6
or II was from instinct, or that they knew the man.
or whether that sagactv, which is natural to their
race led them to read danger in his scowlnr visa orc
,hey seemed willing to avoid him, and retired. The
oackwoodsman made motion as if to follow but sew.
watched
silent scene with interest, gently withheld him. and
after conVersing with him few moments in On earn.
nest, but under tone, edhim off in one direction while
the indians rode away in another.
iIavlng understood from the farmer, With whom
Tad been talking that he was about to return homo
and that my route led through his neighborhood, i
cAeertuy acceptedthe offer of his company and we
set out together. Our discourse very naturally frI
upon the scene we had Witnessed and expressed al
curiosity to learn something of the history and char.
n no man uyhn b,l; II
so forcibly upon my mind
"He is strange, mysterious looking being saidI
], 'and should think he must be better or worsc
III an other men,"
SA AMI MoNsoN rs a very good neighbour" re-
Piled the farmer, cautiously.
''You say that in Tone" reoined /, (which seems
10 imply, that in some other respects he NAV ,io be
good"
''WeI as to that cannot say Of my own snowl-
edge, that know any harm of the man."
And what do other people say of him:"
The farmer hestated, and then with a caution ve.
ry Common among people of this description, repli-
People often say more than they can prove. It's
not good to be talking of ones neighbors. And Mon
son, asl said before, is good neighbor.'
But 4 bad man, as l understand yoll."
"No-%ar from 1.-THE mans we'll GnouGir-cx-
cept-' and here he lowered his tone, and looked eau
tousy around
rifle" '''' "''
How so;-does ne sAootEis neighbors cattle
No sir-Samuel Monson is as much aboye a mean
action, ~ any other man"
What tfcn:--5 he quGrrelsomc:'
''Oh, bless you, no!-Therce not n peaccabler
man in the settement;--but he used 10 be a great
Indian fighter in the last war, and he got sort
. haunted TO the woods;--ard folks do say that lie
Is still rather TOO keen the track Of moccasin"
Il do NIT exactly comprehend you, my dear
sir. The Indians are, believe, now quiet, and a,
peace with US"
''Why, yes, they are very peaceable. they never
come near US, cXtept now and then little party
comes in TO trade"
They civil arc they not"
Yes sir, quite agrceabe-bating The killing Of
hog once in n whie-aDd that we don't vally-see-
lng that 1t Is but Just naur 10 the poor savage to
shoot any thing that runs i'll the woods"
"In what way then does this Mouson interfere With
:hem'"
Ibid not eay, Stranger, that Mouson done it,
No. no; | wouldn't hurt mans character; but the
fact and truth about this. Now and then an IN