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

f the murdered family was in the neigh
orhood to which his steps were imme-
lately directed. The house was desert
d.. He entered the battered door, and
blowing the crimson train that run along
floor of the front room, he proceeded
" fatal bedroom. The Stiffness of
u '% brooded over the place as he stood
'. nm nc gazing on the crimsoned floor,
I''i with the blood Of the victims.
a.; 'el I fire cleaned in his eyes as
Ms g'1''y ,sted on the dabbled walls
al" ','' !',s We. For a while he re-
'""'''eu ''o"' is breast heavlng with
emotion, overm'e ring his ut,erance.
At length he found nr1s
Accused race !'''rus ;,,o,, ,o,,roon
his clenched teeth, "aica cnr noch Jron
will be too poor reN,ge, 7" and he
clulched his rifle with c6i,ylsivc GRASP.
while an expression almoA demon;aI
shot wildly over his face.
For the reader to understand O o,uso
of the emotion exhibited by the ',ou,
|
we need only say, that the murd,.cd
mother Of the family was his only siste.
and the Toung female carried into captivi
ty was his sole remaining child, who hat
been on a visit to her aunt during the
summer-her own mother being dead
Good reason had he for his emotion, with
the blood Of his kindred all about him
clinging in clots to his very feet as if
crying for vengeance, and knowledge
of his idolizcd chiId's neutrality-suspicious.
more cruel suffering and death, racking
his mind.
Not long did the unhappy man remain
in the chamber Of death. With a moan
rather than sigh he left the room, and
tightening the belt around his body, he
prepared on the instant to strike on the
trail of the foe. Just at that moment a
footstep was heard, as of one cautiously
the house. The Scout rails
ed his rifle in readiness for use. The
dry branch cracked beneath the tread OF
the intruder, but still he entered not the
door. Half-hoping that it might be a
prowing savage, the Scout loosening his
hunting knife, and then creeping softly
to the window, disposing himself so as
to catch sight Of the one outside, with
out exposing his own person.
For time nothing met his sight. Pres
emily, from behind a clump of bushes,
there emerged - not the expected red
man, but youth of some twenty-,hrec
or four years of age. The young man
was armed with rifle and fully equip
ped for long tramp. He was moving
carefully around, as if in search of some
object - first examining the bushes on
either hand, and then bending down and
intently gazing upon the grass. AT
length, as if satisfied with his scrutiny,
he was about plunging into the woods
when the Scout addressed him.
"My young friend, Mayberry, where
now This way moment"
The young man started and with q
look of surprise turned and FASTENED to.
wards the house, at the door of which
he met the Scout. A silent grasp Of the
hand cnsucd. There was no occasion
for words to explain each others object.
81 have discovered their trail, sir
said the newcomer with a flushed tho
sad countenance. 1--WE have no time to
lose, come -
"But you are not going alone ~ said
the Scout as he stopped in front of the
dwelling, glancing gratefully at the young
man as he spoke.
"Alone to the end of the world, sir
for revenge. The rest are wanted a
home for defence, and they tried to per
suade me to remain, but my mind was
fixed"
"Onc word more, young man," salt
the Scout in a faltering voice-"are al
gone-all!
"Not one saved, sir, but Mabol--ev
cry soul of them shockingly butchered
They will be buried from the block hous
this afternoon"
The Scout hastily dashed tear lror
his eye, then grasping his piece, he sal
-"Let us forward-follow me ~
And the two started like hounds o
the scent, in pursuit of the foe, the Scot
leading the way, his practiced eye ;
once striking the trail.
CHAPT L r III.
For some time not a word was sale
they made their way through the tangle
forest-each seemed to be communin
with his own thoughts. The younger,
manly, athletic youth, with a fine fires
countenance, followed close in the foo
steps Of his companion, whose tall, sill
envy form, gave evidence Of great phys
cal strength. Although he had long pas
, ed the meridian Of life, yet age had n
damped his vigor. His face was brow
with exposure and well scanned wi
5 years, still his rough features wore kin