The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-03-14

0een Sh0f R me eye. Rus was instant
ly associated. of course. with Jacks well
known and curious prediction for tina,
mark in hunting, and perfect storm Of
indignation followed. A meeting was at
once convened at 'the store of which the
Planter was the chairman and at it, by
a unanimous vote, resolution was pass
ed condemning Jack Long 10 be whipped
and driven out Of the counrry-and Hinch
with his regulators appointed to carry il
into effect! He could hardly contain
himself for joy ; for now, whatever ex-
IRENE his pililess malignity might choose
TO indulge itself in, he had no fear of after
claps or questioning. The meeting had
been mere form at any rate. But these
formalities are all-powerful everywhere;
and unsettled and elementary as was the
condition of society here, this rufiian lea
der of ruflians felt the necessity of acting
under their sanction, though he himself
had dictated it. He would and could
have consumma,ed his purpose wilhou,
il: but the faint life of conscience within
him--by species Of logic peculiar to il
self-felt relieved of the grievous respon-
sbilities of such crime, in the sense Of
participating so with many others. Many
a man has gone to the devil in crowd,
who would have been Mortified at under.
taking the journey alone.
1t was the third day after this meeting.
Jack, during all these prosecutions, had
depor,ed himself with the mos, stolid in
difference. Avoiding all intercourse with
the settlers, he had continued TO hun,
with even more assiduity than usual, and
was in grea, measure ignorant Of the
unenviable no,orieiy he was enjoying.
He had heard something Of the charge
with which his character had been assail-
ed, but attributed them all 10 the jealous
enmity he had incurred at the shoting
match. He could understand perfectly
how one man could hate another who had
beat him in shooting, and thought it natu-
raj enough; but he could not understand
how that hatred might be meanly and de-
speralely vindiclive, and therefore gave
himself no uneasness about it. He was
only anxious that his wife should no,
hear and be annoyed by any Of these
things, and preserved his usual cheerful
ness of demeanor.
He had just returned from hunting,
and laying aside his accoutrements. par
took of the simple meal her neat house
wilery had prepared for him; then stretch
ing himself upon the buffalo robe on the
floor. romped with his two rosy checked
boys. who rolled over his great body, and
gambolled and screamed in riotous JOY
around him; but mother wanted some
water from the branch, and the frolic must
be given over while Jack would go and
bring it. So jumping up, he left the lit
lie folks pouling wilfully as they looked
after him from the door, and started.
The stream was only about hundred
yards from the house, and the path lead
ing to i, was through dense high thick
ct. 1t was against Jacks religion ever TO
leave his house without, his gun but the
wife, whom he loved above all the uni
verse Of sentiment and every thing else,
was in hurry for the water, and the dis
lance was so short--so he sprang gaily
ont with the vessel in his hand, leaving
the rifle behind. The water had been
dipped up, and he was returning along
the narrow path closely bordered by
brush, when he felt light tap on each
shoulder, and his career strangely imped-
ed. He had just time 10 perceive that n
lasso had been thrown over him, which
would conGne his arms, when he saw
himself suddenly surrounded, and was
rushed upon by number of men. He
Instantly recognized the voice of Hinch,
shouting, Down with him Drag him
down = as the men who had hold Of the
lasso about his body jerked at i, violently
in the effort to draw him. All his ire
mendous strength was pu. forth in one
convulsive effort, which would have freed
him, but that internal moose had fallen
true, and bound his arms. As it was, he
dragged the six stout men who held it az
ter his frantic bounds nearly to his own
door, before ne was Frustrated, and then
it was by a heavy blow dealt over his
head with the butt Of a gun. The last
objects which met his eye as he sank
down, were the Mortified faces of his two
children and wife looking ont upon him
The blow deprived him Of all senses for
some time, and when he recovered. he
found himself half stripped and dashed 10
tree a short defiance from his house
Hinch in front Of him, with kno,led
rope in his hand, his wife on The ground,
waiting and clinging with pi'eous en,rea!y
round the monsters knees, his children
weeping by her, and outside this group a