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

ing the unpoetical cognomen of Horse
beef Falls in Windeer. The dwelling
of the murdered family was in the neigh
borhood to which his steps were lmme-
diatel y directed. The house was desert
ed. He entered the battered door, and
following the crimson train that run along
the floor of the front room, he proceeded
to the fatal bedroom. The Stiffness of
death brooded over the place as he stood
there alone gazing on the crimsoned floor,
still wet with the blood of the victims.
A vengelul fire cleaned in his eyes as
his glance rested on the dabbled walls
and hearth-stone. For a while he re-
NAMED silent--his breast heaving with
emotion, overmastering his utterance.
At length he found words:
"Accursed race!" he muttercd between
his clenched teeth, "a life for each drop
will be too poor revenge!' and he
clutched his rifle with 4 convulsive grasp.
while an expression almost demonial
shot wildly over his face.
For the reader to understand the cause
of the emotion exhibited by the Scout,
we need only say, that the murdered
mother of the family was his only sister,
and the young female carried into captiv-
ty was his sole remaining child, who had
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
clingng in clots to his very feet as if
crying for vengeance, and Il knowledge
of his idolzcd child's captivity-perhaps
more cruel suffering and death, racking
his mind.
Not long did the unhappy man remain
in the chamber of death. With moan
rather than a 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
(ootstep was heard, as of one cautiously
approaching 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
proving 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 a time nothing met his sight. Pres
emily, from behind clump of bushes,
there emerged - not the expected red
man, but a youth of some twentylhrec
or four years of age. The young man
was armed with a 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, Maybcrry, where
now This way moment"
The young man started and with 4
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 flushed tho
sad countenance. ave have no time to
lose, come -
"But you are not going alone - said
the Scout as he stopped in front of the
dwelling, gIancing gratefully at the young
man as he spoke.
"Alone to the end of the world, sir
for revenge. The rest are wanted al
home for defence, and they tried to per-
suadc me to remain, but my mind was
| fixed"
"One word more, young man," sat
the Scout in faltering voice-"are al
gone-all"
"Not one saved, sir, but Mabcl--ev
cry soul Of them shockingly butchered
They will be buried from the block house
this afternoon"
The Scout hastily dashed a tear from
his eye, then grasping his piece, he sal
-"Let US forward-folow me ~
And the two started like hounds o
the scent, in pursuit of the foe, the Scot
leading the way, his praciiced eye ;
once striking the trail.
HAPTER III.
For some time not word was sale
they made their way through the tangle
forcst-each seemed to be communin
with his own thoughts. The younger,
manly, athletic youth, with fine fres
! countenance, followed close in the foo
steps of his companion, whose tall, sill
I envy form, gave evidence of great phys
, cal strength. Although he had long pas
, ed the meridian of life, yet age had n