The northern tribune. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1847-1855, 1847-11-23

| James River, solitary hOrSeman was pursuing
his way along path that led from the forest
into wild morass.
On either side of the path were dangerous
boys; before the traveller dreary aspect of
ice and reeds; at his back the unknown woods
which he had just left. He had wandered far
from the road anb lost his way.
He covered his face and neck with the
cloak, which dropping over his erect form,
fell in large folds on the back of his horse.
| The sky was dark and lowering, the wind,
sweeping over the swamp, bitter cold. From
! an aperture in the clouds, the last gush of
sunlight streamed over the ice of the morass,
! with that solitary horseman darkly delineated
in the centre.
Suffering the horse to choose his way, the
traveller with his face concealed in the cloak,
seemed absorbed in his thoughts, while the
sun went down, the night came on, the snow
fell in large fakes.
The instinct of the horse guided him through
many devious paths; at last, however, he
halted in evident distress, while the falling
snow whitened his dark fanks.-The traveller
looked around all had grown suddenly dark.
He could not distinguish the path. Suddenly.
however, light blazed in his face and he
beheld, but few PAGES before him, the glow
of tireside, streaming through an opened
door. A miserable hut stood there, on an
island of the swamp, with the immense trunks
of leafess trees rising above its narrow roof.
As the traveller by that sudden light, hur-
ried forward, he beheld, standing in the door.
way, the figure of an old man, clad in the
Indian style, in hunting shirt, leggings and
moccasins, with a fur cap on his brow.
"Who comes thar p the challenge echoed,
and rifle was raised.
A e.. ,bo, <ho,,1 30
him to the path which leads into the high road!'
ION SIGH night as this, Id reether not !"
answered the old hunter. "How'sever if
you choose to share my fire and johnny cake.
you're welcome That's all an old soldier
can sayI"
In few moments, looking into the solitary
room of that secluded hut, you might see the
traveller seated on one side of cheerful fire,
built on the hard clay, while opposite, resting
on log, the old man turned the cake in the
ashes, and passed the whiskey flask.
A lighted pine-knot, attached to huge
oaken post, which formed the main support
of the roof, threw its vivid glaze into the
wrinkled face, of the hunter. The traveller,
still wrapped in his cloak, seemed to avoid the
light, for while he eagerly partook of the
cake and shared the contents of the flask, he
shaded his eyes with his broad chapeau.
Around these two figures were many tes-
timonials of the old mans skill, and some re-
cords of his courage. The antlers of deer,
nailed to post, tie skin of panther, extend
ed along the logs, five or six scalps, suspended
from tle roof, bore testimony to life of des-
perate deeds. By his side, with his powder
horn and hunting pouch, an old rife glowed
redly in the light.
The rude meal was finished; the traveller
raised his head, and glanced covertly around
the place.
"You seem comfortable here. A somewhat
lonely spot, however, in the middle OF the
swamp. with nothing but ice and reeds around
you."
The old hunter smiled. until his veteran
face ,resembled piece of intricate network.
"ff you'd a.been some five years captive
among the Ingins, as have been, you'd think
this here log hut reether comfortable place.!
"You-a captive II muttered the traveller.
"Look thar !" and raising his cap, he laid
bare his skull, which was at once Invested
of hair and skin. The hideous traces OF
savage outrage were clearly perceptible:-
"Thar's whar the Ingins scalped me! bat
old BENJAMIN did not die jest then J!
"Where were you at the time the Indians
captured you"
"In Canada.
"Canadas" echoed the traveller.
"Does that seem pecoolias' chuckled the
old man. "raken captiUe in CANADA was
kept among EN- five years, and didn't get near
a white settlement, until month back. 1
ba;n't lived here more nor three weeks. You
see I'VE had dev'lish tough time Of it !"
"You are not Canadian ;"
"Old Virginny to the back bone! You see
I went to iine the army, near Boston, with
Dan ell Morgan. You mought a-happened to
heard O. that man. strangers A perfect boss,
to fight, mind tell eel" -.
Morgan whispered the traveller, and his
head sunk lower in his cloak.
"Yes, you see Morgan and his men jined
Arnold We heerd of him.
The traveller removed his seat, or'log, from