The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1841-12-17

hour. The mission he was ou---thc anxiety he
felt in the fate of one 50 dear TO his heart, had kept
| him restless and uneas,. lie hardly thought of his
own siluatlon-of the dangers that surrounded him
although the occasional cry of some wild animal, or
the sudden cracking Of the dry limbs around him,
would for moment recall him TO a sense OF his
own peril 1t was sometime past ere Lis pertur-
bed mind was sufficiently composed to induce sleep.
| Even when, from sheer weuriuess, his senses were
| locked in sunbcr, his tceming brain was busy
/ with images connected with the malden's captIyi-
| ty, plainly manifested by his murmured cxcama-
tons, frequent shfngs of position and sudden
starts, When he awoke he sprang upon his feet
and turned TO arouse his companion, but he found
he had got The start Of him Another glance dis
covered to him the Scout seated On the messy roots
of tall oak, with the provisions fer the morlng
meal in waiting before him.
"Youug limbs require more rest than aged ones
said the old man with 4 smile, after saluting bis
companion. g Whe'yOu have been dreaming
! there have hccn taking look about ne. One
cannot pass through the woods as he would upon
the beaten highway. ! told you last night. he
continued, us he applied himself TO the coarse Vi
! "nds before him. "thnt we wanted daylight 10 read
the signs hercab0uts and the event has proved that
was right. If we had followed on the route pro-
posed by you last night James, we should have had
pcsky tramp of it and that is all for our palms.
Cunning vurmnts are them red skins, but they are
not foxy enough to cheat the old Scout yetn'
"Surcly, sir, that is their trail branching of TO
The right over the hiIIock yonGer" asked the
Young man in tone of surprise.
"Sarin true, there's no mistake about that, boy
One with half an eye could follow path marked
us that. But see here, just 90 beyond that
clump Of bushes, there by that cedar 10 the left
and bring what You find"
The Young man did us he was bid, and after II
brief search he returned with strip of calico, a
mere shred, which he found attached 10 4 thorn
BUSH
"Thcre," continued the Scout, 'tle threads
YOU hold came from the poor girls dress, either
left by design or accident 1.-THE former, it proves
that she is not frightened out Of her wits ut any
mle;-ir the latter, hold it as Il sign that ProvI-
dence is with us and will guide us Alright, If we
will only do our pant by useing proper discretion.
cakeruie now, that the suyuges began to suspect
that they might he followed, und part Of them
were sent Off this way leaving broad trail, for
fools to follow if they will but not one well arn-
ed in their diSlltics the old hunter" added the
Scout with low chuckIc. "Ey observing the
place." he continued "whcre You found that
piece Of cloth, yen will nd,lfyou look sharp Ma
bells loor-prns-on one spot in parlckler, where
sue GTOuhu NcI Hccl lHlo INC lull, 'HC p'"NO S"''
as if on purpose. Shoulder your pack my good
fellow, and let us be OF, reckon Us how we shall
be close on their heels by night fall"
1t took bu; IL short time 10 get ready, and they
Immediately started off ON the new trall the Scout
Leading the way with such rapid pace that his
companion. who was 10 inexperienced walker,
found it difficult 10 keep up with him. The trail
on which they now struck was that of three per-
sons only, IA near as they could make ont, the
great body of the party having probably gone of
IN another direction 10 draw oil the pursuit, should
one be made, or perhaps on some other predatory
expedition. Ere long the Scout found it necessary
TO slucken his speed and to examine more careful
" to ascertain the route OF those they were pursu-
ing At times the trail would be lost altogether,
but the quick eve Of the Old man which seemed to
take in every object, hover minute, ut II glance,
would soon discover it again. Great precaution
was observed as they proceeded, for they knew not
how far distant they might be from the foe. AT
times the Young man WAS directed 10 ascend some
tall tree which commanded view Of the surround
ing country, in order 10 detect any sign Of the u-
gitiyes--al other times the Scout would come 10 n
stand and place his ear to the ground for the same
purpose Int except the trail they had as yet dis
covered nothing.