Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1843-08-04
MONTPELIER, AUGUST 4, is43.

"if is agreeable to you, we will accompany |
YOU" making step towards the boat. we were !
eager TO be of, for the heat aud smoke were un-
bearable. The yankee answered neither yes nor
no. His attention seemed TO be taken up by tie
proceedings ofhc AcadGns.l
"Thcy're worse than Injuns," said he to
young man standing by him. They shoot more
in nm hour than they could eat in year, in their
formation French wasteuness." ~
"Pve notion o. maxim 'em leave off" replied
the young man.
"The country's theirs or their masters at least"
rejoined the olicr 81 reckon its no business of
ours"
This dialogue WINS carried on with the greatest
possible degree of drawing deliberations, aud I'M
der circumstances in which, certany, none but
Yankee would have thought of wasting time in
words. A prairie twenty miles long and len broad,
aud couple OF TITLES of palmetto ground, all IN
blnze--lhe fumes drawing nearer every minute,
aud having in some places, already reached up TO
the shores of the creek. On The other SIDE
couple of dozen wild Acadinns firing right and
left, without puying the least attention where or
whom their bullets struck. Carleton aud myself
up to our waists III water, AMI the Americans
chatting together us unconcernedly as if they had
been sitting under The roofs of their own block
! houses.
"Dv you live Far from here sail | at last to the
| Yankee, rather impntiently.
"Not so far MS | sometimes wish" answered he,
| with conempluous glance ut the hcadlahs,
"but far enough to get you an appetite for your
supper, ifyou amt got one already" Aud taking
thin roll of tobacco out Of his pocket, he b of
| piece OF it, laid his hands on The muZze Of his
rife, leaned his chin upon his hands, aud seemed
TO have forgotten all about US.
This apathy became lntolerdbe TO men in our
situation.
"My good man," said |, will you put your
hospiiabe offer into execution, and take -
] could not continue for WAS literally sufoca-
| ted with the hent md smoke. The very water OF
the Creek was getting warm.
live notion" said the Yankee, with his usu
al drawl, and apparently only just perceivng our
distress, "Pve notion we had better lie mOvin'
out o. the way Of the fire. Now, strangers, in
with YOU" Aud he helped Carleton and myself
into The boat, where we lay down and become in
sensible from heat and exhaustion"
| When we recovered our senses, we fund our
selves in the bottom of The boat, and the old Yam.
kee standing Ivy us with bottle of whlskey in his
hand which he invited us 10 TASTE. We felt better
for the cordial aud began to look around us.
Before us lay an apparently unfortunately cy-
| press swamp, behind us IA sheet OF water formed
| by the junction of the two creeks, and at present
| overhung by mass of smoke that concealed the
horizon from view. From lime to time
burst Of flame lit up The swamp, and caused the
cypress trees to appear us it they grew out of a
sea of fire.
"Conu," said the old Yankee, eve must get
on. 1T is near sunset and we have far To CO."
"And which way does our road he ?" asked.
Il "Across the cypress swamp, unless you'd rath.
er go round lt.'.
"'The shortest roal is the best" said Carleton.
"The shortest road is the hest" repeated the
Yankee contemporary, aud turning 10 his com
panons "Spuken like Il Briiisher. Well, he
shall have his own way, and the more so us |
, believe it TO be as good one us any oiher.-
James," added he turning 10 one of the mer ego
down further through the Swapping Turtle
hur.
r "Anh our horses p said !.
"rhcy grazing in the rushcs. They'll be
took care OF. We shall have rain 10 night, and
Tomorrow they may come round without smuggling
hoOt."
had found myself once or twice upon the
, borders of the swamp that now lay beIort u, but
= had always considered il impcnetrahe, and dit'
, not understand, us gazed into lts gloomy depths
how we could possibly cross il.
Is there any beaten path or road through The
swamp" inquired OF The Old mnn.
+ "Path road Do you take il for gentle
mans plrk2 There's the path that naiur' ha
Z made" And he sprnng upon tue trunk OF n tree
Il covered with moss and creepers, which rose on
r. oil the depth Of mud that formed the swamp.
$ :" Here's The pa,h." said he.
+ "Then we will wait aud come round with on
+ horses | replied. Where shall we find them !!
"Asyo please stranger. We shall cross tn
:, swamp. Only, il you can't do like your horses
and sup of burushes you are likely 10 iasi Tor IN
e next twenly-our hours"
e "And why SO. There is game and wild fow
10 for the shooting"
70 "No doubt there is, if you can eat them raw
a like the lnjuns. Where will you find, with
70 two miles round, square foot OF dry ground t
j. make your fire on!
To say the truth, we did not altogether like I'll
s. company we had fallen amongst. Thnse Yanl;e
~ squaers bore in general but an Indifferent char
acler. They are said TO fear neither God no
| tn trI \
r. be lile scrupulnus in questions OF property i
short, to be scarce less Wild aud dangerous tina
The Indians themselves.
re- The Yankee who had hitherto acted rs spOkes
VS. man, and who seemed 10 be in some way or olhe
al the chiet OF The party was a man apparently nea
sky years Of age, upwards OF six feet high tiii
ID in person but with such bone aud muscle ns ind
I'd Gated great strength in the possessor. Ills tea
IN ures were Keen and sharp his eye like iacoh'
- his bearing aud manners bespoke m eAnie
ce opinion Of himself and (at least us lar MS we wer
concerne) u lolerabe degree OF contempt 10
We others. His dress consisted of jacket OF skim
secured round the waist by grille, IN whic
ne was stuck long knife leather breecheS, sIra
hat without brim aud moccasins. His compar
ion was similarly uccoulred.
u, "Where is Martini" cried Carleton.
- "Do you mean the Acadian lad who brougl
nj US TO you p
nd "The same"
The Yankee pointed towards The smoke. "Yo
ey der, no doubt, with his countrymcn; but recko
a their Internal hunt is over hear no more shots
he Then we will go to him. But where are Of
he horses ?"
er, I've a notion" said one of the younger me
by ",he stranger don't rightly know what he wan
by Your horses are grazing half mile off. Yc
rs, would not have had us 10 make tie poor beas
IN swim through The creek lied TO The stern OF q
ed boat! 'Lijah is with them
H. sand what will he do with them!
InaI 10 hnck
I'D the fire is out he will bring them round, said Il
MS elder Yankee. "You don't suppose 2" add
he--He left the sentence unfinished, but
smile of scorniul meaning fitted over his feature
MS | looked at Carleton, lie nodded. We W
10, GO with YOU" said ], and trust entirely to 20
ed guidance"
"You do we'll" was the brief reply. Joel" a
IL. ,ncIb u