Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1837-07-05

his eyes. All attempt to bargain with |
him, therefore, was useless the very !
proposition was repulsed with anger
and disdain. The spirit Of the trappcr
was reused his pride was piqued as
we'll as his passion. Ho endeavored
to prevail on his quondam mistress 10
elope with him. Ills horses were hcet
the winter nights were long and dark,
before daylight they could be beyond
the reach Of pursuit and once ut the
encampmeni; in Green river valley,
they might set the whole band Of Sho.
shonics at defiance.
The Indian girl listened and longcd.
Her heart yearned after the ease and
soiendor OF condition Of trappcrs
bride, and throbbed 10 be freed from the
capriclods control Of the premier s4uaw
but she dreaded the failure of the plan,
and the fury of a ohoshonIe husband.
They parted the g,d IN tears, anu the
nadcnp traveller 'n3fe mad than ever
with his thwaried passion.
TheirinieSiews had, probably, been
detected, and the JEALOUSY of the Sho-
shonIe brave arous ID clamor oil an.
cry voices is heard IN his lodge, with
the sound OF blows, AMI of female weep.
ing and lamenting. AT night as the
trapper lay tossing on his pallet, a soft
voice whispered at tue door of his
lodge. His mistress stood trembling
before him. She was ready to follow
whithersoever he should lead. In an
instant he was up and out. He had
two prime horses, sure aud swift OF
foot, aud OF great wind. In a few mo.
ments he and his prize we're careerlng
over the snow, with which the whole
country was covered. In the eagerness
Of escape, they had made no provision
for their journey days must elapse
before they could reach their haven Of
safety, and mountains aud praries be
trayersed, wrapped In all the dcsolation
Of winter. For the present, however,
they thought OF nothing but flight ; ur.
ging their horses forward over the drea.
ry wastes, and fancylng, in the howIng
of every blast they heard the yell of the
pursuer.
At early dawn the Shoshonle be-
came aware Of his loss. Mounting his
swiitest horse, he set off in hot pursuit.
He soon found the trail Of the fugitiyes
and spurred on in hopes of overtaking
them. The winds, however, which
swept the valley, had driven the light
saow into the prints made by the hor.
ses' hools. la little time, he lost all
trace OF them, and was completely
thrown out of the chase. He knew,
however, the situation of the camp to-
ward which they were bound, and
direct course through the mountains by
which he might arrive there sooner
than the fugtives. Through the most
rugged deGics, therefore, he urged his
course day AID night, scarce pausng
until he reached the camp. 1t was
some time before the fuguiyes made
their appearance. Six days had they
been truversiag the wintery wiIds. -
They came, haggard with hunger and
fatigue, and their horses faltering I'M
der them. The first object that met
their eyes, on entering the camp, was
the Shoshonie brave. He rushed,
knife in hand, to plunge it in the heart
that had proved false to him. The
trapper threw himself before the form
of his covering mistress, and feeble
and exhausted as he was, prepared for
a deadly struggle. Tie Shoshone
paused. His habtual awe oft white
man checked his arm; the trapper's
friends crowded to the spot and arrest
ed him. A parey ensued. A kind of
Grim. con. adjudication took place, such
as frequently occurs in civilized life.
A couple Of horses was declared to be
fair compensation for the loss Of
woman who had previously lost her
heart: with this the Shoshonie brave
was iain to pacify his passion. He re.
turned to Captain Bonnoville's camp,
somewhat crest. lallen, it is true, but
parted the officious condolements of
his friends by observing that two good
horses were very good pay for one bad
wife.