Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-01-22
WHOLE NUMBER 90.


/ sNCt BIZ said MstLel. There halnt bssu
an Indian here ior long time. 4 good while
back II was a famous place for them to crOss I
over in their canoes; and many's the time I've
laid for days and nights at stretch, on The pint
Of that liule island yander, watching the move
men,s Of the redskins, to So chance to riddle
their hide with my old wOGan here and the
hunter patel the brsech Of his gun with manifest
affection. ''Old Cross.F.re.' be continued, used
TO paddle over heresbouis; but me and bin have
had so many cracks al each other along yander,
that he's got afeared 10 venture his old red hide
in this quarter any more. Hes got his ferry at
Short Creek now and there's where we'll have
10 nail him.
Do you think the old fellow himself carried
of RoseP
! 'Jia as sarioin he did as my name Is Lewis
We;zsi.'
Then, Lewis. ! am resolved that my rife
shall kill the internal scoundrsl.'
Tut, tut, EIliJ! Do just As ! tell YOU; did not
fetch you along to talk in thar way. Boy there's
nary man in this part Of the universe ,hsI I'd trust
with Old Crgss-Fire.'
But if fair chance should offer, Lewis, why
may not as well pull at hmP
because it wouldn't be Of no use. al all; for 1t
runs strong in my head that powder and ball cant
Kill him. Ny old woman her. has lried 50 often
to hush his Jaw without doing il. that I've made
nv mind TO try him in some other way. He's
. got a charmed life; that's clear cass'
Fudge, Lewis Do you believe in such old
: wOmen's sOrlesP
Well don't know as DO. rs gi1eral hing;
; but must say tha, I've satisfied myself that Old
2 Cross.Fire is proof agin rife balls. any how
But we mus, move along quicker Ellt We're
b only half way TO Short Creek and We haven't a
e minutes time to spare.
i can keep up with you, move along SAID the
5 youth.
1t is time 10 quit talking now,' observed the
s older hunter in sofened tone after they had
l. left the run in their rear. \ body has to be quiet
P when he gits about Indians " hey apt to get
e about him
e Elliot promised to keep silence. The two
hunters now quickened their pace, though care
5 was taken 10 bring their feet 10 the ground as
lightly as possible. Welzsl, who walked be-
e fore his youthful companions: continually glanced
his practiced eyes around him penetrating the
Inazes of the forest on every side. lie moved
with surprising stiffness, and never uttered sy.-
liable unless il might have been To cheek his com
: rade for makingunnecessary noise.
When the hunters reached the mouth Of
n Short Creek the sun was nearly ready 10 dlsap'
pear behind the bold heights on The opposite
!. shore Of the Ohio. The banks oflhe creek, a
i its confluence with the river were abrupt, though
l. not high, and covered even 10 their extreme bor
ders with luxurant growth Of pawpaws. The
e outer edge of either stream was dry and san
y dy; but a wide strip Of wet and unctuous earjl
next to the waters edge, had been exposed 10 view
r bv the recent subsdence Of ireshct.
This is the end of our tramp whispered Wet
j eel to his companion. They were then stand
ing at the lower angle of the functions Of the
streams-screcned, however. from observation
by the thick pawPaw grove which extended in the
: verge of the precipce.
What is 10 be done, nowl' asked the youth in
o low whisper.
8 I'll see,' said Wetzel. You stay where you
are, and do MT bulge peg, nor make BIZ OF
e noise, while 60 and look round liule.'
He cautiously drew the branches aside, and
glded through the bushes with a quietness pecu-
liar 10 the sklful Indian hunter. Aiter an alb
! sence of several minutes he returned, and made
a signal 10 Elliot to follow him. The lauer step
e ped forward as cautiously as he could, and ac-
$ companed Lewis a few rods up the creek bank,
when the elder hunter called the attention of his
companion to the stumps oflwo bushes, on which
the recent marks ofthe hatchet were visible.
d. This one,' whispered Wetzel, STOPPING down
10 the nearer stump, was cut off by Old Cross
! Fire himself
How do you know thar inquired Elliot.
Can't YOU see that il was cut by leithanded
mani The highest pint of the stump is always
where the heel Of the Ratchet cuts it; and that
high pint is next TO US on this stump, and on the
left side
4 understand you said the youth. Your
reason is conclusive that the bush was cutby a
left-handed man.
Now look at the other stump resumed Wet
eel, 'and give me your idea about that
Elliot carefully examined the second stump,
and ventured his opinion promptly.
This ene.' said he, was cut by right-handed
/ man, because the highest point Of the stump is
on the right side
That's right, Ellit. I've larnt you that much
and it's worth mindin' too.'
f 'Why is this information so vauableF
: It's valuable on this account, Ellr it shows
n us that there have been at least two redskins
here-one left-handed and ono rght-handed
: one.
+ The left handed one is Old Cross-Fre, because
;. he's the only leG-handed man | know of in
these parts-and the other, Judge, is one OF his
! hangers-on.'
But might there not of been more than two,
o Lewis
e 'sothere might, but we canttoll,' said Wetzel,
as he moved near the bank, and cast his keen
If ewes upon the bosom ofthe water.
There's another discover I've made, he ad-
j ded. DO you see that little green wig in the
creek there'
s Elliot glanced his eye in the direction denoted
IS BY his comrades finger, and answered in the af-
e frmative.
'Well Ellit, that little twig is fast to Old Cross