The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-10-14
Mi8rsIIaMeo uS.s
THE SQUATTER.
co y rINU Z ID.
ATALE OF ILLlN OILS.

,iango's soul was to much absorbed IN what
was passing the prairie to admit of being moved by
this occurrence. The elder boy had followed his
father beyond the enclosure, aud was now running
N his footsteps towards the traveller, whose horse
seemed near to dropping fom the combined effects
of terror and fatigue
"Dey'l both be lost, ''cried he, while large drops
of sweat stood upon his ebony face 'Alassa; roar
ed he in voice meant to be very loud but scarce
" articulae from the excess of his emotion
,'Massa, what for you be damn fool J" forgetting
respect in the extremity Of the occason-"Come
back you too massa Charles. Dere!' continued
he, as a shoot of flame assembled high through the
air, with loud cracking noise, like voey Of
musketry fired in quick successon--'Dere, toP
You so; why you no come back pray come back,
Ma.sa."
la, the voice of Nlunso, hoarsc with agony,
either did not reach the ears for which it was in
tended, or otherwise was disregarded. By this
time, the traveller and Squat,cr had approached
within hundred yards Of each other, ind the fire
was roaring and raging at a much less distance
than that behind the former, and advancing with
rapidly ,ha, seemed to preclude all hope. Poor
Mnnco in the anguish Of his r,ind, bit his thick
lip. til the blood flowed p'olusely, and swung his
long arms aloatlks mad.nnn. Eutall at once he
ceased, and rushed into the cabin. A thought,
seemed TO have struck him; in less than an instant
he dared on, Of the door again, with huge brand
Of fire in hi, hand, aud rushing into the woods
with a velocity greater than one would have be-
!ieyed possible, he was quickly lost TO sight.
In the meanwhile the fire continued to rage with
undated fury, sometimes, as it reached place
which had been Marked during the preceding sum
mer. with greater fertility than the rest, rising IN
the air as high as the mast of tall admiral; aud at
others, when the wind blew IL stronger gust, swce-
ping the vide range with speed that delcs dcs-
crp,ion. The Squattcr, followed by his son, con-
,inued TO rush forward towards the traveller, and
had neaaly reached him when tho horse on which
the latter vas mounted rccled and fell, throwing
his rider with violence to the earth. What was
now to be done? There was no time for iellec-
lion. Stunned by MS fall, the unfortunate s,ran-
ger lay as molon'ess as death. The sturdy Squat
ter, himself now nearly exhausted by agitation and
fatigue, stopped 10 raise him. Graspng him with
his rul! eiior, Of remaining strength, he lifted the
inanima,o traveller from the earth, and throwing
him across his shoulder turned to rcracc his steps
4, ,hi, momen, he bchcld his son. \ cold chill
thrilled through his heart.
Turn back" he cried in frenzy, he stag
gercd along beneath his burden, "turn back
,urn back
The hoy unhecding this monitor, continued Il
advance; and the foot of the father, his s.reng,l
unneryed by tho terrible conflict Of his feelings
became cniansed in the long grass. lie made ;
desperate elliott to release HIMSELF and, failing it
the attempt, staggered and fell 20 the glound.
At this moment, during a temporary pause u
the wind, dense mass Of bleak and pitch,
smoke rushed forward in advance Of the flames
and completely hid the PROSTATE forms from sight
The state of Eleanor, whose eyes were rivetc,
with frantic energy on the spot where her HUSBAND
crbcd She did not Shrek she did not faai
but SO I'd leaning in marble lixedness, against III,
door, unable to move or breathe, awaiting. in aw
fal suspense, for the volume Of smoke TO rol
away. The flames continued TO drive on, thci
roar and cracking sounding or her ear with an in
creased and terrible loudness. In vain, as he
trembling boy, with instructive fear, clung TO he
garments, did her eye endeavor to penetrate tn
urid mass, which now seemed to her agi,ated ap
prehenson, TO have reached the spot where tn
devoted squatter fell. Again the wind lucd
sud fresh burst Of vapor rolled along the ground
AZ this crisis, loud shout reached her tlroug
tho sulIocaling canopy, sounding on her heart liz
the dea,h-shriek Of her partner. AS if in conirma
ton Of the agonizing apprehension, the flames nov
shot up in several places nearer To her, by man
yards, as her eye too surely knew, than the spo
where he fell. Nature could no longer endure III
struggle Of conflicting emotions; and she sunk
without an audible exclamation, pale and breath
less to the earth.
But the event had been other than it SCENE
from the poin, Of view which the anxious wife ha
occupied. Mungo. with the sngaclty of arouse
affection, had rushed directly into tho forest wi,
the flaming brand, with which we lately saw bir
leave the cabin, and running along in the edge
the woods, where the moisture of he ground pre-
vented tho FIRE from penetrating, he at length g
merged again into The prairie, few feet in fror
efthc rspijly advancing n'mcs. Ills qnick cy