Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-05-08


to have the pleasure of carrying into ef-
feet ln the mean time, ack had given
himself very little trouble about what
was said of him. He had kept himself
SO entirely part from every body that
he was nearly in perfect ignorance of
what was going on. The deer fell before
bis unerring rifle in as great numbers as
ever. The deers rendered up HIS shaggy
coat, the panther bis tawney bl5e 10 as
frequent trophies 10 the unique skill of
the Hunter.
One evening he had returned laden
down as usual with the SPOTS to bis hat.
Ii was snug little lodge in the wilderness,
that home of Jacks. 1t stood beneath
the shade of an island grove, on hill
side, overlooking a thlcket which border.
ed small stream. No trollsed vines
ran over 1t, nor garden flowers nodded
with gaudy crests about il. But the gray
silver moss hung its malchless dfapefy in
long fringes from the old wlde.armed oak
above, an6 that mild but most pervadng
odor which the winds are skiliful 10 steal
from the breath Of leaves, the young grass
growing, ana the pauii1g auguiShmeut of
delicate wild flowers filed the whole at
moSphere around. These were the per.
fumes and the sights the coy exactlng
taste oil bold rover Of the soiitudes must
have. The fresh face Of nature and her
breathing, sweet as childhood S, could alone
~ ri
grown thus in love with the freedom of
the wilderness. The round happy face
OF his wife greeted him with smiles from
the door as he approached, while his lit
tie boy aud girl, not brown md ruddy,
strove with emulous short steps, patts,lug
over the thick grass, 10 meet hun, first,
and clinging 10 his fingers, prat;led and
shouted to tell their mother of his coming.
He entered, and the precious rlae was
carefully deposited on the accustomed
hooks Of bucks horns nailed against the
wall. The smoking meal her tidy care
had prepared was despatched, md the
hunting adventures Of the day told over.
! Then he threw himself with lis great
Length along the buffalo robe on the floor
to rest and have romp with the children.
While they were climbing over his large
body, and scrambling in riotous Joy about
him, his wife spoke for some water for
her domestic affairs. 1t was hard for the
children to give up their frolic, but Mol.
US wish was strong law with Jack. -
Bounding up he seized a vessel and star.
ted for the stream = the little ones poutng
wist'ully as they looked after him from
The door. 1t was against Jacks religion
! to step outside the door without bis gun;
bot this time Molly was in a hurry for the
water, there was no time to get the gun,
aud 1t was but short way to the stream.
He sprung gaily along the narrow path
down the hill and reached the BRINK. -
The water had been dipped up and he
was returning at rapid pace through the
| thicket, when where 1t was very high and
Sordered close upon the path, he sudden.
| ~ felt something tap him on each shout
der and his progress impeded strangely.
AT the same instant. q number oil men
rushed from ambush on each side Of him,
several OF them holding the end OF the
stout vaw-hde lasso, which had been
thrown over him. He instantly put forth
all his tremendous strength in a convul.
sive effort to get free; and so powerful
was his frame that ne would have sue
ceeded, but for the sure skill with which
the lasso had been thrown, that bound
! him over either arm. As it was, his re-
markabe vigor, nerved by desperation
was sufficient to drag the six strong men
who chung to the rope after him. lie
heard the voice of Hinch shout eagerly,
Down with him. Drag him down -
At that hateful sound supernatural nc
livity possessed him, and writing with a
quick spring that shook Off those who
chung around his limbs, he almost sue.
ceeded in reaching his own door, when .
heavy blow from behind telled him. The
! last objects which met his eve as he sunk
down lnsensbie, were the terror stick
en- aud agonlzed faces Of his wife and
two children looking out upon him. -.
/ When he awoke TO consciousness, il was
to find himself nearly stripped and dashed
to the oak which spread ABOVE his hut
Hincb, with look Of devllish exuitation
stood before him, his wife wailing with
pteous lamentations, chung about the
monsters knees-the children, endeavor.
ing TO hide their faces in her dress
screamed in alright, while outside the
group eight or nine men with guns IN
their hands stood in a circle. That was
fearful awakening 10 Jack Long, bat il
was to a new birth His eye took in the
whole details OF the scene. His enemy
grlnned in his face with wol6sh triumph,
the "qurt," with lis long heavy lash Of
knoited raw-hide 10 his hand. He saw
the brute spurn her violently from MIN
with his loot, until she pitched heavily
against the wretches around; and he
heard them shout with Laughter. A
sharp electric agony, like the irving of an
oak, shvered along his nerves, passed
out at his fingers and his feet, and leiI
him rigid as marble. The murderous
thong fell upon his white skin, whelking
it ia blue ridges, while the dull black
drops spouted aud rolled off to the ground.
Bat he regarded it no more than did the
oak above him, which swayed its moss
wreathed arms and shook its green leaves,
as on any other day, n the wind and
when his wife as every harsh slashing
Z "a l.. T.