The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1842-04-08

silence was AT last ih'eii"P'1" " NV
Scouts addressing his companion, with
out checking his pace, however;
Sand SO you were going in pursuit a.
lone, my young friend! | honor your
courage, my boy, but it would have been
rash, unacquainted as you are with the
cunning habits of these wood-hends'-
How could you expect to cope with them
single handed!'
81 could die, sir" said the young man
in a determined tone.
"Aud add one more to the number
scored in blood" rejoined the Scout
mo, no, young man, life is too precious
to be recklessly thrown away. Stout
hearts and strong arms are too scarce IN
new settlements, and we shall need all
we can muster berorc this bloody war Is
over"
"But you were going alone, were you
nol!'
"Aye, but my life is not so precious as
yours. If Mabel is lost, | should have
none to mourn me. Then again | know
the nature of these devils, and my chance
would be better. am glad of your COM
pnv, however; and from my heart, l
Thank YOU for the interest YOU take IN me
and nine. | have heard there was llk-
ing tween you and the gall, and | am re-
joiced u know that you are worthy OF her.
With the blessing of Heaven we may car
cumycnt them that have her yet; and ii
20 be she is alive, and we all get back to
the sc"Aoments again, she is yours, young
stcr. But II hey have murdered her
"Iou do not teor that EVENT." said the
young man hastily, the glow on his cheeks
giving place to the pallor of alarm.
81 don't know, James," replied the
Scout, shaking his head doubtfully:-"l
am 10th to think on it; but when their
blood is up, there's no knowing to wha,
lengths they will 90. If they suspected
now that any one was on their trail, and
she should hinder their flight, her scalp
would dangle ut their belts in a moment
The thought of the possibility of such
an event, produced protracted silence as
they strobe on their way brooding over
the situation Of the captive. Hour after
hour passed away and still they sIackencd
not their speed. But few words passed
between them, for besides the necessity
of restraining every possible noise thro'
fear of surprise, they were each too much
occupied with their own thoughts to con
tinue conversation. Many Il mile had
been passed over, when at last the Scout
hesita,ed in his rapid gait, and shortly
come to dead halt. The sun was gctt'
ing low, and the forest was so dense thai
the fading light scarcely penetrated the
thick iolagcs of the ovcrhanging branch
es. SO shrouded in gloom indeed, had
their way become that it required the clos
est scrutiny of the quick sighted Scout to
detect the trail, which at first was broat
and distinct as if the savages had rovet
carelessly along thinking pursuit out o
question; but for some distance it appear
ed that they had grown more careful, tol
it was evident that pains had been taken
if not to conceal, at least to render thcl
rout as little marked as possible.
"It is getting too dark to travel farther
to night" said the Scout in a low tone
as he leaned on his rifle against the trunl
of a fallen pine and wiped the drop from
his brow. "Something has occurred tt
make them more careful, for have OBJ
served the last hour or two the trail haj
been growing more faint as we proceed
You see by the prints on the leaves al
around us that they made halt here, pro
baby for consultation. And here you SEA
by the bent twigs that they have strucl
off in this direction. If they were alarm
ed they had got over it from the broat
trail they made again, or this may b.
some track of the deceitful beasts. A
there should be spring near from tn
trickling Of yondcr water" continues
the Scout, 'wc had better make stol
here for the night" and he proceeded t
disencumbcr himself of his accoutrements
"But there is still daylight, enough t
follow their track" said the young ma
impatien,ly of delay. every momcr
t is impor,ant--wc have broad trail beior
t us, why not follow it!'
"Patience, patience, my boy' said tn
old man, throwing down his huntin
, pouch. "'ris hard lesson, but 20
! must learn it. Make haste make vast
: are words full of sound wisdom, simp
a as they read, my young friend. | am
h anxious to overtake the varmints as yo
: arc, but there is more in the signs abo
: US than meets the eye, and | want bro;
+ daylight to pry into them. We ha'
s. travelled small piece to-day, and a goo
1t nights rest will refresh US for an ear
n start in the morning.
h SO saying the Scout set about those pr
J. parations for camping out, which lo