Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1843-06-03
LANCASTER, CIV. T) SATURDAY., JUNE B. 1918:

ed from the chasm into which he had
fallen, when the hunter, again levelling
his piece, exclaimed
"By heavens, Indian, l shall trus,
my life no longer in such rude power;"
and the report of his refe reverberated
harshly along the grim cavities Of the
cave, while it mingled with the last
deafening howl ofthe animal, as it fell
lifeless into the water below.
Crash rash man." said O-i-chee,
shave you forgotten the more fearful
.perils that surround you? The PAN
theirs howl is common to the Indians
ear, its music may lull him to sleep, but
the sound of rifle has no potent charm.
Silence!" he whispered commanding
ly, throwing his torch down into the
stream, "let darkness hide your rash
act"
The hunter, as we have heretofore
called him, must here be more famil-
liarly introduced to the reader. He
is a tall graceful looking man, probably
of the age of 80 years; but his stern
features would have induced the belief
that he possessed more manly frmness
than was really allotted to his nature.
His early years had been passed in the
eastern sections of the country, and
his education had been such that it
would have fitted him for almost any
station in its councils. He had mar
ried at an early age, but domestic diff
ties had soon caused separation from
his wife, and he became ever after
a melancholy man; his spirits seemed
to have been broken; and when his
parents removed to the banks of the
tumultuous Blackwater creek, he had
accompanied them on their way; and
for few years past had done little else
than scour the woods in pursuit of the
game which iufostod tho n, oun taiao s.u-
tiguous to his home. The Gap of the
creek is we'll known to many; but any
individual who has traversed it, well
knows a sterile spot, where vegetation
never sprung, and has probably listened
with attentive ear to the sounds as Of a
rushing torrent far beneath his feet,
while he stood upon base of rocks
which it would seem, had been eternal
in their duration. ~ Beneath this
massy bed of granite the hunter and
his Indian guide had sought security.
The mornings sun had found the for
mer quie: and calm in his home; the
MONDAY had found that home sheet
Of flame; and the night had found his
family all captives, himself little less,
TO the wild and envenomed hatred the
Black Wolf bore towards the whites.
But, that night also found his enemy
unconsiously sleeping above the very
foe he had pursued, without even a
cy.that his slumbers might be star
tied by the unwelcome clamor of war.
Richard Waivers, for thus we must call
him, had little idea of the companion
who was with him, or what he was, yet
he knew that companion had evinced
sagacity in eluding the pursuit of his
enemies which demanded his attention
and gratitude. Inded, it was to the
ewd-sightedness Of O-i-chee that he
was indebted for the enjoyment of that
darling, (even to the most unhappy be-
ing,) eriSfencet
"And who is O-i-chee!" he mental
ly exclaimed, as the Indian gathered
together the loose faggots Of the cavern
and kindled up fire for their mutual
comfort. "And who is O-i-chee?
Why that restless meaning enquiry af-
ter the fate Of my father, my mother,
my brethren and sisters3 Why was
it? his eye looked calm, and his nerves
were mistaken, but there was that
thrill in his voice which startled me
like the confusedness ofan unwelcome
echo. Who is this incomprehensiblel
| have rendered him nought-given
him nought; and when, TO day, he
struggled with me in my hour of des-
olation, / felt that his dwarfish statue
was sbackle that bent me TO its wear
ing. What are his purposes? TO betray
me2 What are his views? to sssassi-
nate? 1t cannot be. Can it be-"
He sat himself down gloomily, npon
jutting rock, and watched with
keen glance the irregular movements
of the dwarf as he gathered the splln-
tiers around. him TO kindle into a blaze
the fuel which he designed should cast
the chill atmospheric feeling from their
limbs. The soul Of Richard was wrap
ped up in a thousand reflections as he
saw the being before him prepare for
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