The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1845-02-05
THE AR
A LEGEND OF THE WEST.

On the shores of the Hudson, in times long
since passed away, an isolated being lived, bear
ing the aame of Nick Wolsey. HIS solitary
home was in a valley of the highlands, about a
mile from the rivers bank, and his occupation
consisted in hunting and trapping, and trading
for furs with the Indians. He was tall and guant,
with a peculiarly stern and even melancholy OK
preston OF feature, and, from his lonely gloomy
habits, seemed to claim no kith nor kindred with
any living creature. The only companion of his
hours was a G grizzly deerhound, whose speed and
strength often overmatched the heetest buck
and once he closed with a silver panther, and
despite the monsters furious struggle tore the
w~indpipe from his throat. Crouched before the
fire, in the log cabin, he would witch each move
and gesture OF his muster, and he as ready as
his shadow to obey his beck and look.
Thus year Ind come and gone, and still found
no change in the trapper's homo.
One day a party of Indians of the Mohawk
tribe approached his dwelling and proferod skins
in exchange for the white mans fire water and
gunpowder. Among them was a girl of singu.
lar beauty aad with her Mex WoIsey became
suddenly and deeply enanored. As he looked
at her full, round and f]lullcss form, his eyes
flashed with the fire in his veins, and the volca-
no of passion burst through each fibre Of his
frame. No sooner was this feeling engondered,
than he slrove to win the brawny skin-ls many
a fair one has been won-by pouring gifts init
her lap; and long before 4 cessation Of his pro.
fuseness took place, dozens of strings Of bead
were tWincd around her arms and neck. and
rings and baubles of all kinds bedizened her per.
son. Then the whiskey fisk was offered gratu-
itously to the company, and Nick's suit progress
ed with the brightness and velocity of a sky.
rocket. In u short time, IA demand was made
for the red mans daughter, accompanied by q
present of a Ratchet and knife to the father and
a willing consent obtained.
A chief, whose fiery glance showed the cffccI
of the potent dram, bent his bow, and winged an
arrow perpendicularly to the clouds; and as il
drove into the earth quivering with the force, di.
rected the trapper 10 remain by the side of the
weapon. Then lie shot one some hundred
yards, in a direct line, and then the expectan
birds was conducted to the spot where it fell by
the father and her friends. A third was then
driven TO the ground, Il few feet from where she
stood, and the chief, who acted as priest in the
ceremony, addressed Nick Wosey, by saying al
he again pointed an arrow upwards
. off my white brother would win the bird, he
must catch her ere she gains her nest; " ant
drawing his bow, the arrow twanged from the
string, and away rushed the trappcr at the signal
.Fot a brief second the coquette seemed resolved
70 reach the goal which would have freed he
from her plighted faith; but stopping suddenly in
her rapid path, she turned on her heel, and threw
herself with q ringing laugh, into Nick's out
stretched arms.
A shout of triumph announced the success O
lie emit and In all cayo n,,o tho cnpnDlation oD
peared to give great satisfaction. This was al
Indian youth, an undeclared lover of the trap
per's bride. In secret he had worshipped The
idol of his affection, trusting that time would en-
able him to gain the prize, and when his hops
seemed ripening, he saw her thus suddenly los
to him, and lost forever.
MAY the Great Spirit strengthen my arm!
said he, dashing forward, with all his savage ma
ture reused within him; and like a Tiger spring
ing upon mis- prey, he was about burying his knife
between the shoulders of the unsuspecting trap
per, when backwards he went to the earth as if
w~histling bullet had rushed through his brain, il
the strong grip of Nick's deer-hound.
"Halloa"' exclaimed the trappcr, r%eleasin,
his wife from an embrace resembling a grizzl,
bear in tenderness, "Why, what's this about
eh2'' ELL.
The drawn knife in the fallen Indians grasp
and his ~ferocious aspect revealed the causes O
the dogs unexpected attack, who continued t.
pin him firmly 10 the ground / in his ~torturing hold
Art jealous mang' said Nick, laughing, ant
bestowing a kick of no gentle force on his pros
tralc enemy. cart jealousg" And lifting hin
from the earth, and snatching the blade from
him, he cuffed him, among the jibes and ieer
of his tribe, far away from the scene Of his dis
comflure.
Months rolled away. The maple leaf wore
the brown tint Of scorching autumn, and Mel