The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-03-20
Miscellaneous.
EVER EFT T. ID u s T. A N.
A Tale of the Black Hills.
BY III. ROBINSON.
CHAPTER l.

how lovely These are passing glimpses
which we catch ola nightless future, and the
and ofunlading day,-those beautiful rehec-
tous which, falling from heaven, are caught
n up by the earth
Clad in his robes ofIight, the san was ris-
inc. and threw his first golden beams upon
one OF those almost intermnable prairies
which stretch out flom the base of the Amer
can Sierra Morena-the Rocky Mountains
and tinged with gorgeous hues long wnv-
Ing grass. The eye might tax its powers of
vision to the utmost, and rest upon nothing to
break the weary sanencss of the scenery;not
a Tree, not shrub, nought, save the mist-cap-
ped mountains far away in the distance, rear
ing their mighty heads against the sky. All
was cImngcIess, monotonous, blank
A'this hour man olnoble bearingmoun
ed upon "A cole black, powerful steed, was
making his way Iesurely across the prairie.
lie was clad IN gray hunting suit, armed
from head to heel. His features, though
somewhat sunburnt, were handsome, and Mt
that moment expressed n fierce determina-
ton. The first glance would tell YOU that lac
vas aman whom it would not be safe to Bul-
~ and yet his look was neither harsh nor for
bidding. A superhly mounted rifle was sung
after the Indian style, at his back while tho
butts oihorse-pistols protruded from the hoI-
sierS.
The stccd he so CALAMITY bestrode was
worthy the study ola painter; of unrivaled
symmetry and matchless speed. In the days
acIIlvairy both horse and rider would have
zone honor to the tilt and tournament, for Il
more graceful cavalier never put n lance in
rest, or entered the lists to do his depOir for
1aIr lady. With an impatient gesture he sud-
denly aroused himself from the reverie into
which he had fallen, gaze his charger the
rem, and swept away like the wind, i'm north
westerly direction.
Hours passed, and still that solitary horse
man urged his steed across the prairie. Tie
sun was high in the heavens ere he drew rein
to rest. AT length springing from the saddle
he threw hImseIfupoh the ground, and suf-
Tered ms horse to feed upon the rank grass
which in some places almost INSTRUCTED his
passage. Gle must he in the neghborhood
ottlls prairie" unused the cavalier. 1.-TWO
days travel will take me to the Nebraska
where may expect to find the object of my
search. lie may have taken refuge with the
Cheyennes, or the Aucheras, hut let him be
Where he may, with the Sioux, the Poncas,
the Crows, or even the Blacktcet tribe, | will
seek him ont and punish his trcachery. Gle
cannot he shall not escape me,"-raising his
hand IN an energetic mauncr,-"I will hunt
him to the confines of perdition. Twill dog
ms footsteps like an avenging spirit. When
he lmugmcs hmselfin safety, will rise up
IKE an appartion before him, and cause the
coward blood to rush back frozen with fear
,Hpo0 his craven heart. When he believes
M@'SGii lar beyond my reach and my powerI
W." gHde like serpent across his path, and
hRethe boa crush him in my embrace.
bnt why do talk? why waste my time
!" words: why express my hatred in threats?
must dcI Yet must proceed with extreme
HgiIahce, and direct every moment with a
wise caution. am in tie heart ofa savage
country, surrounded by the perfdious Black
ieet and Crows. But must trust to my own
address and the swiftness of my steed in case
oan encounter. "Come here, Bayard," he
continued, addressing his horse, "come here:
wit match thee with the heetest ofthy race
Like an arrow shot from the bow thou wilt
year me from mine enemies and beyond pur-
sun lla old friend. you understand me-" he
AIDED rs the eye ofthe dumb beast seemed
10 Iiightcnu up with intelligence, aud he laid
us mead caressingly upon his masters Shout |
. TgF' eS, will trust thee in hour ofdanger.
my wonderful instinct shall be my safe |
guard. Ihere-away now, and eat thy fill, |
WI before set OF sun, we must be far away
towards the Black Hills.
Agreeably to the mandate. the weltrained
animal left his side and commenced feeding
as before, while the traveller cast his ewes
'iGoughttuIIy towards the dark mountainous
,Mtge away tn the northwest. The black
nus MS they are termed, were about seventy
i've i've miles Distant and situated about hun
;Te miles east ofthe Rocky Mountains
b IGso h''Is or moIntains,are singular for the
n n and wiIdpess of their scenery. The
t T,o' ll,an has made them in his ignorance
,,,;,L aooue ofthe presiding deties,and regards
W. "Itn s'lperstitious awe the noises OCCASION
Gn -" suOlerraneous explosions or volcano
l ros heard among them. Their beetinr
buns buns ana broken masses of rocks, piled to the
" No ,r, have grand and imposing effect up
wi n'c Sazer. One would fain PEG pie them
c ""n nordes of banditti, who sally forth and
nD"'Ii't their depredations upon the solitary
for snc OF lonely trapper, and then retreat
omJ '''e'y TO thelr mountain Businesses to feast
N"a IGVel on their iIl-gotten spoiIs.
mo' ~" nour elapsed, and then the traveller re-
Gro ', lucy nus steed and pursued his way. Be-
rio n'gIt he had placed many miles of prai-
Tbo ,"nu between him and that resting place.
b rnG scenery was somewhat changed. more J
"nI and hilly, interspersed with shubberv
ana dry trees. ''''PP0'y 1
oo, ne sun was setting. He stood upon an
ba 'LInence' neasuring with his eye the distance
nv. "au yer TO traverse ere he should rench the
r rio" ranges before him. Twas n clio. {
lnyns.s 'gnt! lie abandoned himself to the !
d oJ y OF beholding the rich colorng that pil-
b, ,u 'he sturdy peaks many miles away. Per- !
jiGft ' le-that lonely horseman thought of '
nga sunset where it sinks to rest in the hone c
abo % more glorfied dawning, when drawing Il
il J;. II the resplendent truths the gospgi,
Rn, ., iPpears in the full assurance of fifth
ofn nose dark passions at work in his bosom Z
nn ~,'ch we have given the reader glimpse, G
nave clogged the minds flight or given +