Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1845-01-10
val. XVI

boys followed his example; all that could be
done was 70 look upon the matter Of his
I'quao- WAYS, and that tha end Of it.
| This state Of things continued for some time;
/ Mkc's tomper and cxoctions growing uabcarable
every day. until finally split took place. no:
only b3twccn hims IF and commandant, but many
others III the fort, md tho unruiv bo1tm1n, sworc
he would not 1.-Two among them. Followed only
by youth named Carpenter. whom 10 had
brought up. ana for whom he folt rude but
strong attachment. he prepared Il sort Of cayc in
the rivers bank, furnished it with supply Of
wh!s<oy, and, with his companion, turned in to
pass thc winter, which then closing upon
them. Ia tins place he buried himself. some
times for weeks his POrtcge. provisijn9 what
else was necessary lsovond the whiskey.
At length attempts were used on the part #
those in the fort, TO withdraw Carpenter from
! Fiuk; foul destinations wero made as 10 the m
turo Of their connection; the youth was twitted
with BENG slave, &c, all which (lfinls heard II
all in spite Of his retrcnent) served to breed dis
trust between the two, and though they did not
separate, much of their cordi.tv ceased.
The winter yoro away in this sullen state Of
torpor; spring cano with its revvIng influences.
and 10 celebrate the season. supply of alcohol
was procured. and number Of his acquaintan
ces from the fort coming to rouse OUT Mike, a
desperate frolic Of course cnsued.
/ rhcrn river yGrIls. ana bOttinen songs
ani .niggar broa kdowns, intorsporsed with wrest-
ling matches, jumping. laugh and yoll-tho can
circulating freely, until Mike became somewhat
modified.
~ tell you what II Is, BOYS" he cried the
forts n skunk hole and I'd rather live with the
bars than stay in il. Some on yes BIN trying
70 par. me and my boy, that love like my
cub-bu: no matter. May be 10 is poisoned
against me- bat Carpenter. (sapplng the youth
heavily on the shouder) took you by the hand
when it had forgotten tho touch Of fathers
mohers-you know me to be Il man, and you
amt gong 10 turn out dog{'
Whether il that tho youth flncied some
thing insulting in the manner OF tho appeal not,
VIC can't 81 bat it not responded TO very
warmly. and q reproach followed from Mike.
/ However they drank together and the froic went
on, until Mike, filling his walked off some for
/ ty yards, placed it upon his head, and called to
! Carpenter to take his rifle.
! Tho wild feat of shooting lfcach others
head was tavoritc one with Mikc.-himself aud
boy generally winding up hard fro'io with this
savage, but deeply meaning proof OF continued
confidence; as for risk, tlor eagle eyes and iron
nerves doficd tho might Of whskoy. After their
recent alienation, doubly generous impulse had.
without doubt. induced Fink to propose and sub
lcct hms Eff to the tost,
| Carpenter had been drinking wildly, and with
a bostcrous laugh snaichcd up his rilo. All
present had seem tho parties shoot, and this des
portc aim, instead of alarming, was merely
made mattor of wild jest
..Iolr grog is split, forever, Mikoi''
Kill the old varmint, young un!
..What'Il his skin bring in s.. LOUIS!
Amid a loud laugh, Carpenter raised his ploco
even the jastcrs remarked that no IN steady
--.crackl''-thc can feil---a loud shout-but in
stead ola sno of pleasure, dark frown sottlcd
upon the ftcc of Fink lie made 10 motion
cop: 10 clutch his rifle. though he would have
crushed it. and there he stood. gazing at tho youth
strangely! Various shades of passion crossed bis
tcaturcs--surprso. rage, suspIcion--but at longth
+ 81, n
tho ball had grazed the top OF his head cutting the
SCALP, md the thought of troachary had SGT his
heart on fire.
/ There was n loud call upon Mike to know what
he was waiting for, in which Carpenter joined.
pointing to the can upon his head and bidding INN
fire. if he knew hoWt
! ..Cnrpcntcr. my son. said the boatman, Il
taught YOU shoot differently from that last shot!
! You've missed once, but you won't agaln?'
lie fired. and his ball. crashing through the
forehead of the youth, laid him corpse mid his
rs suddenly hushed, companions.
limo wore on-many ut the fort spoke dark
" Of tho deed. Mike Fink had never been known
10 miss his aim-hc had grown afraid of Carpen-
( ter-he had murdered himi While this feeling
was gathering against him the unhappy boatman
lay in his cave. stunning both sympathy and sus-
tenance. He spoke to none. whom he did come
forth twas as a spectre. and only 10 haunt the
grave OF his boy or if he did broak silence
'iwas 10 burst into paroxysm of rage against the
enemies who had ''.urned his boys heart from
him."
At the for, was man by tho namo of Talbot
the gunsmith of the station; he very loud ant
bitter in his denuncatons of the murderer. a!
he called Fink, which finally reaching tho ears
of the litter. filled him with tho most violent pas
sion and he swore that he would take the life o
his defamor. The threat almost forgotten
when one dav. Talbot who at work IN IN
shop saw Fink enter tho fort. his first visit since
the death of Carpenter Fink approached-h'
was caroworn. sick and wasted: there was no an
ger in his bearing. but he carried his rifle Chad IT
ever COMO without it2) and the gunsmith was not
cooy brave man: moreover. his life had BEEF
threatened.