The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1841-05-21
than can with pack of noisy fellows along with

revolved The question in his mind. : In an affair
of this kind, [ never found him wrong. Major
McCulloch, we will commit the business to him
alone
Il am glad to hear you say so, Colonel ex-
claimed Welzel, whose eyes now suddenly br ght-
ened with hope and joy-'l'll give good account
of myself
Il shall go with you, Lewis said Elliott, impa-
lently-'l will 90 at the risk Of my life!'
So you may replied the hunter; you will do
no harm, You won't be hadslrong, because you re
green hand, and will have to do jest ms tell you.
Pesides, you ought TO help Rose out Of the bad box
your iooery got her into.
Where do you purpose goins' asked Colonel
Zane
Straight to the mouth Of Short creek; that's the
pint Old Cross-Eire always crosses at. It's Citing
fur in the afternoon, so we III have 10 be brisk.
Ellil, is your rifle and all your iiAins III good or
| der?'
AN right responded The youth.
'Then, come, let's be off,
The Two adventures shouldered their freocks,
and MS they passed through the gate of the forii'
cation, many brief PRAYER for their success was
uttered by the inmates Of the FORT all of whom had
been deeply interested auditors of the cony ersalion
above related, They pursued well beaten path
four or FIVE miles up the bank of the river, until
they reached the mouth Of large run, which emp
tied itself into the Ohio, Immediately opposite n
small island in the stream. Here, nature appeared,
in her widest aspect
This is suspicious looking place. observed
Elliott.
Not hi,,' replied Wezel, There laini been
an Indian here for long time, A good while back
it was famous place for them to cross over in
their canoes. and nany's the time I've laid for
DAYS and nights ut stretch, on the pint of lha, lit
tie island wander, watching the movements Of the
red skins to get chance to riddle their hides with
my old women here, and the hunter patied the
breech Of his gun with manifest affection. odd
CrosS-Fire,' he continued, used to paddle over
hereabopis; but me and him have had so many
cracks at each other, along wander, that he's got
aeard to vinlur his old rcd hide in this quarter any
more He's got his ferry At Short creek, now
and there's where we'll have to nail him.
do YOU think the old fellow himself carried of
Rose" Intercepted Elliott.
list as sarlin he did as my names Lewis Wet
eel
Then, Lewis, ] am resolved that my rifle shall
kill the Internal scoundrel'
'Tui, tut, Elliott, Do Jest as tell you; I did nj
fetch on along to talk that way. BOY there's nary
man in this part Of the universe that I'D trust with
Old Cross Fire
'Bur if IL fair chance should offer, Lewis, why
may not us well pull at him.
because it wouldn't be Of no use, at all; for ii
runs strong in my head that powder and lead can't
Kill him. My old woman here has tried SO often tn
hush his jaw without doing it, tina, I've made up
my mind to try him some other way. He's go, n
charmed life--iha'sa clear case'
Fudge, Lewis! DO you believe in such old
womans stories =
| ,l,,t I H., or,l
thing; bu, must say that I've satisfied myself that
Old Cross-Tire is proof agin rifle balls, any how.
Rut we must move along quicker, Elt We're
only half way to Short creek, and we haven't a
minutes time to spare
Il can keep up with you-move along said the
youth.
1T is high time TO quit talking, now observed
the elder hunter in sollcned tone, after they had
left the run some in their rear. "A body has Ia be
quic, when he giIs about the Indians, or they be
mighty apt to git about him.
Elliott promised to keep silence. The two hun.
tiers now qnirkened their pace, though care was
taken to bring their feet to the ground MS lightly n;
possible. Weizcl. who walked before his youth
ful companion. continually glanced his well-prac
tsed eyes around him, penetrating the niazc, o
the forest on every side. lie moved with surpriS
ing stiffness, and never uttered II syllable, unless I
might have been to check his comrade for making
unnecessary noise
When the hunters reached the mouth Of Shor
creek. the sun was nearly ready 10 disappear he
hind the bold heights on the opposite shore of the
Ohio. The banks Of the creek, Mt It's confluence
with the river, were abrupt, though not high, and
: covered even 10 their extreme borders with lux
uriant growth Of pawpaw The outer edge OIL
beach Of either stream was dry and sandy; bur 4
wide strip Of wet and unctious earth next 10 Tho
waters edge, had been exposed TO view by the re-
cent subsistence Of u lreshet.
This is the ecnd Of our tramp whispered Wet
eel to hi, companion They were then siandin!
ut the lower angle Of the junction of the streams
screened, however. from observation by the ihirl
pavpaw grove which extended 10 the verge Of thu
prccpice.
What j. to be done now = asked the yoa,h il
, like low whisper.
en- see,' said Wc,zel you stay where yo,
r are, and do no, nudge peg. nor mike bit o
, noise, while 90 and look around little
lie CAUTIOUSLY drew the branches aside and eli
r ded through The bushes with qnielness peculia
to the skru Indian hunter. After M absence o
+ several minutes he returned, and made signal II
Elliott TO follow him. The latter stepped lorwar'
as cautiously as he could and accompanied Levi
Il lew r0fiS up Inc creek UhHk. WHcH lnc tIutT nun
: ter called the attention of his companion to tn
: slumps Of two bushes. on which the recent mark
q Of the Ratchet were Visible.
. This one whispered Wcizc, stopping dow,
: to the nearer stump, was cut by Old Cross-Fir
e himself.
How do yon know 'hnt'' inquired Elliott.
C Cant You see that This was cut b. lefi-hand
Q ed man. The highest pint Of the slumpis AWAY
where the heel Of the Ratchet cuts ii and that hig
pint is next TO US on this stump, and on the lei
Il side
= Il understand you,' said the youth. Yam
e reasoning is conclusive that the bush was cut by
.. lef-handrd man.
]. Now look a, the Other stump resumed Wetze
and give me your idea about that
IT Elliott carefully examined the second stump, an
10 venured his opinion promptly.
l. This one, said he, twas cut by n rght-hnnde
man, because the highest point Of the stump is o
the right side
That's right, Elh I've larnt you that mucf
|. and irs worth minding too
why il the information so vnluable''