Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1843-06-03
A.Tasc Ofthe Mohawk:
Written by Cooper. in 1922.

"Nature grows not alone in the VS. and bulk"
SHAKESPEARE.
"This is dismal spot" said the In
dian, while the bleak winds whistled
through the tall pines, and the hol-
low murmurings they gave as they
roamed along the hollow glen, SEEM
ed like the signs ola giant confined in
their gloomy recesses. The oak, the
Ichesnut and the shrubbery were strip
ped oftheir foliage, or only betokened
by the presence of few dead leaves,
that they had once been robed in YER
dure. The scattered trunks Of pros
trate and decaying trees added to the
gloom, while occasional gray rocks
protruded their messy sides above the
snow drifts, and mantled winter with
thousand unpleasant associations.
otis dismal spot-but O-i-chee lays
no traps for the white man. Will you
go on?"
"True, true" said the hunter, as he
recovered from a momentary stupor !;
81 must proceed, but the cold has al
most benumbed my faculties. We
must hasten, O-i-chee; you are more
Injured to this bitter weather than l am,
and | fear we must soon seek some
close shelter where we may raise fire
to warm ourselves. For my part feel
the lassitude which is said to overcome
one in freezing"
"Be brave! be brave!" replied Oh
chez, s'the Black Wolf is not far dis
tant, and the fire which he would make
could not be more comfortable than to
perish in the SHOWS" Then laying
his hand upon his lip in token of silence,
he led the way rapidIy'but with caution
along the bleak defile they were tracing.
Still wild and ftful gusts rolled past
them, while the heavens exhibited dark,
tickle, and hurried clouds which swept
over them like the drift their erratic
movements propelled. "Down!"
whispered the Indian, as he buried
himself in the snow, and pulled, with
a powerful grasp his companion beside
him; s'did you not see them as they
passed below? They will be on our
trail"
"What is TO be done?" enquired the
hunter.
"Let them pass up the rocks on the
other side of the creek; then we must
be nimble footed, or we shall fall into
their hands. Hah! see they are no
longer in sight. Now use every
nerve"
At these words both started TO their
feet, and in the usual hurried trot Of
foresters, made as rapid progress as prac-
;icable towards the bank of the river,
occasionally casting rapid glance on
the track of their pursuers, lest some
loiterer from their ranks might observe
their motions. Arrived at the mouth
ofthe creek. the hunter was for diver
ging further into the wood, and, leaving
his enemies in the pursuit, to take shell
ter in direct flight-but his more sa-
gacious companion lnterposed.
"Do you not fear the snow-prints?"
said O-i-chee "An indians eye would
not let such a trail escape him. We
must fall into their own path, and min
gle our footprints with theirs, till both
are so lost as not to be traced at all then
trust me for an abode of security"
So saying they darted across the fro
zen stream, and followed the path of
their pursueIs, seeming themselves to
pursue. Meanwhile the party ofBlack
Wolf had discovered their footsteps,
end with yell that rang wildly along
the hills, the discovery was announced,
as they struck into and followed it
with increased ardor. AS O-i-chee
had supposed, they soon found them
selves confused by falling on their own
trail, having, from their numbers COM
pletely destroyed that of their intend
ed victims, who continued their route
until they had arrived within a short
distance of the spot where they had
but a few minutes previous thrown
themselves into the snow to elude the
sight of their enemies.
SNOW" said O-i-chee, "follow me-"
as he descended rapidly between two
projecting crags, till lost to the sight of
the amazed and motionless hunter.
But he was soon aroused by the voice
of his guide below.. "What. docs
the white man fear? Let himIall into
the hands of his foe-would he besafe,
let him follow the path | have taken"
Another wild and distinct war-whoop
decided him in his course; and he des-