The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-10-14

dlscerncd his master Just as he Tell. tlasseninS
towards him, and snalching up the boy in his pro-
sress, he assisted him 10 recover his feet With
on, speaking word, he then applied his brand, in
many different places, to the grass before them,
which was quickly enveloped in one wide sheet Of
FIRE. The flames behind came roaring on; but
those before spread with equal velocity. Lifting
The still insensible stranger his shoulder, Mum
90 now led the boy, and treading on the part Of
the soil left bare and blackened by the flames,
they closely followed the retrea,ing fire, soon lea
Ting behind them wide strip of naked earth to
pro,ec, them from that which was advancing As
the latter reached the place where Aiungo's con-
fugration began, and gradually, us the last vestige
Of heritage was consumed. sunk down and smoul-
dered away, the honest negro sent up the shout of
exullalion, which had heen differently construed
by the agonzed Eleanor.
The little plantation of the Squatler was protec-
ted from the devourng element by precaulion
which settlers in our prairie countries usually take
A strip of grass surrounding the fence had been
pre-, ousy destroyed, when the flames reached
which, they could go no farther in that direction,
but the man body continued its devastating pro-
gress along the prae till it AT last was only seen
as disan: glimmering light on the verge of the
horizon.
On the arrival of Wilson at his cottage, the
stranger was placed OH couch, and consigned to
the charge of NIungo, while The Squalter himself
bent over his insensible wife, and busted himself
IN restoring her suspended animation. When she
at length opened her eyes, and became aware that
her husband and child had not persisted in the
flames, but were standing well and unframed be-
fore her, the delighted consciousness was near pro.
wing too mnch for her exhausted strength, agitaled
as she had been during the few past hours with
such various and trying emotion. At first she
talked wildly and incoherenlly, but the icversh
hut,er of her feelings at length subsidized into Joy
Gus calm; and she poured out to heaven he thank
lulness of her heart in unworded prayers; while
the tears in the dark eyes of Susan, now also re-
covered, told more emphaticuy than words could
haze done, the big and unspcaliablc emotions of
her bosom.
But the joy which animated every breast, on
account of this unlocked, for deIiverancc, was dcs-
incd to be of short continuance. This eventual
day wa, yet TO be marked with other trials. a.
bout noon two liorsemen were seen riding along
the prairie in the direction Of the SIua,ler's owly
abode, in one of whom the quick eyes Of appre-
h,, ia Lao, n,
tened visit Wilson had sd much reason to dread,
They approached the cabin, and, dislnounling
from their horses, entered the apartment.
"iIow d'do how DIDO" said the lawyer whose
customary salu,alion underwent no alteration.
whatever was bis business. "lou didn't expect
10 see me so soon, gucss;'
"And pray, sir, what may be your business
with me" demanded the squatcr in answer TO
the others in,erogatiyc.
Fair and softly Mr. Wilson, Gas you are pleas
ed to call yourself,) fair and softly 80 far in
day"
"Mr Duckhorn,' said the Squattcr again, turn
Ing to the companion Of the lawyer, who was no
other than the backwoods-man the reader has seen
him closetcd with ON the previous evening" Mr.
Backhorn may | ask you the reason of your visit;
for have cause to believe that | am not indebted
to Mr. Facias' friendship for his appearance here
this morning"
"Why, you see, Mr Wilson, its rather an awk.
ward business that we come on, and am main
sorry that | have taken any part in it,"
Explain, sir"
Some how or other, Mr. Fncias has taken up
notion tina, your name is not Wilson, and YOU arc
that is that YOU was-I mean 10 say tha,-pcr-
hapS, sir. you had better walk this way"
The iacc Of the Squaer was very pale; bu, by
no other outward sign did he eAhibl, any emotion
lie stood erect in the middle of the apartment
drawn proudly up, his lips slightly compressed
and his eye resting with steady expression" more
in sorrow than in anger" on the countenance Of
Buckhorn. lie was about asserting 10 the propo-
son of the honest backwoods-nan, when racas,
cdgng TIP to han, and trying to assume u bold de-
meanor, while, ut the same time, the huskiness Of
his voice and the rcpressible uepdalion of his
hnhheT, c'hceu 'hat hc ulu not Iccl rs boIu us lie
wished to appear, interrupted his purpose.
"Our business said the lawyer, "may soon
be told. arrest YOU by virtue Of this authority"
exhibiting piece of paper which he held in his
handy " on suspicion of being William Woodyillc,
con, cied of the murder of John Thornton"
The affect Of this annunciaion, although an,ic-
pa'ed, may be readily imagined. Eleanor sprang
to the side of her husband, and looked into the
face Of his accusCr "wilh that mute eloquence
which passeh speech" She spoke not word,
she wep, not tear, she did not mp'orc his mercy
but there were many unultorable things told in the
silent agony of that single glance. Her children
clung 10 her garments, from behind the screen of