The Woodstock age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1844-1845, 1845-01-09
TIL 4 DOOM
THE TORY'S GUARD.
CHAPTER uI.-CoNTINuED.
by NEWTON NJ. CURTIS.


gigantic proportions. His face was the
complete personiicotion Of LONELINESS,
yet any enc acquainted with physlognomy
could easily discover in its coarse lines
the marks ofkncon sugacity, dry humor,
and genuine feeling; and these marks did
not belle his character. His eye was
piercing gray one, surmountod by heavy
eyebrows, which looked as if they had
been planted heIter-skcltcr by dame ma
ture, and never had experienced the ben
Gifts of cultivation. His haIr was coarse
and slightly gray, cut short, and from its
appearance each hair seemed TO be pos
sessed of reason and to stand in utter fear
and adherence its ncighbor in either
direction. In short, as the individual him
self expressed it, leach hair was on its
own hook" His nose, which was large
and prominent, bore visible marks of hard
service, as it possessed two distinct
crooks of such peculiar conformation as
denoted that they were Knocked into en-
istancc. His mouth was capacious, and
when his lips parted they disclosed two
rows of teeth, that would, in all appear
ance, laugh at sharks meat steak, or sea
biscuit. His dress was as singular as
his figure. 1t consisted Of cap of dress
ed deer skin, around the top of which was
suspended several loX-lails, and short
Jacket or roundabout as they were call
cd, the lower eXtremtics of which, did
not reach his waist into nearly foot
The sleeves were also nearly six inches
too short, leaving full display for a
wrist and fist, which the individual was
pleased to denomnato as "death's pes
ties" Like Joseph's coat, his was also,
either from choice or necessity composed
ofmany colors. His pantaloons, which
fitted his person closely were made OF
buck-skin, and like their fellow garment
were too short altogether Unlike most
ofthe woodmen Of the day he did not
wear moccasins, but his feet were protcc-
ted by boots Of the hugcst and heaviest
dimensions. On his arm lay rifle OF
remarkable length and weight, and a
powder horn and pouch, together with a
tomahawk and Battle-Ground Judgement a.
round his waist
So intent were the tories on loosina
the grasp of the dogs from the neck Of
Van Loan, that they did not observe the
approach of this individual, and after ex-
changing glances with Meryalc as before
stated, he brought his rife to the ground
and stood leaning his chin upon tho muz-
zle, and quietly viewing the scene
The dogs grasp was at length broken.
and Van Loan who was not materially
injured arose from the ground, foamlne
with rage. The first object that his eye!
met was the figure above described He
stood for few moments like one thun
derstruck; inteutly gazing at the strang
er. The eyes oftho whole assembly fol
lowed his, and all were equally amazed
At length Van Loan found utterance, ant
he exclaimed
WHO the devil arc your
The stranger gazed at him coolly fol
a few moments, and then replied with {
remarkable heavy voice
what business is that ofyour'n, eh?'
Van Loan, was for few momcnt
spcechless again, but at length he re
piled
Don't be unciyil sirrah, or | will have
you arrested. These are suspicious
times.
'Wallp replied the stranger, 'thel
don't you be sarsy, or d-n me I'll boz
your years tor you
Van Loan saw that the impurlurbablt
stranger, was the wrong man to intimd
ate aud he changed his policy,
My friend, said he, soothingly; 'yo'
know that suspicion is natural attend
ant upon such times as these, and yo'
cannot blame us for inquiring into you
business here at this particular time.
You may be friendly to US
Don't call me your friend you inferno
scoundrel, or I'll cut you up in no time
interrupted the stranger-thcn suddenl.
starting as if from a reyerie he approach
ed Meryale, cxclaming as he did So
'Rcggy my lad, Ihis looks ID suspi
cious Why your back looks like rag
ged steak. I'm inclined to opinionat
that some body II make up for this biz
ness or I'll cat an airthquakc!'
While delivering himself of this appar
ent parenthesis, the stranger had un
sheoihcd his knife End cut the cords tina