The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1851-07-30

lteuSuso Vuo tous iss"o& s"~ "e's 'eS'
snd the nissiossry could form no conjecture
hev fer i, might bs from . settlement which
hs hoped 10 reach before nigh'fall.
Anxious and somsshst be~ildered, be
looked 10 each direction for sisns Of . human
hsbitslioo, .hsn On uncouth specimea OF hu.
ssni,y appeared on horse back, and coming
in . rapid movement. and in disgoosl dirsc.
ton across The prairie towards the path Of the
missionary. A the man approached, his per.
son.l appearance, dress and equ'Psgs mani
fss,sd no friendly de"gn. He bssd yes Gov.
cred 9th The skins Of tho prsirie wolf With
the tell hanging behind. Hi' outer garment
i vas either q coat, frotk, OF blouse hunfins
shirt, made Of dressed deer skin, with the cape
and side stripe curiousy uo,ched aud frioged,
bu, TO the missionary II had 40 alarming a..
poet.
Over 1t hung . powder horn and bolls,
pouch. Around bis body was . lesths'n belt,
IN which wss thrust q formidable knife. A
loaded rife csrelsssly lay across The riders
shou der.
Nor vss HE personal appearance 10 the
least degree prePossessing. lie sporied
black bead OF three seeks growth and dark
el6sh locks Of hsir could be seen beneath the
ski csp. HIS couuensnes from constant ex.
posurs 10 The weather, vas svarthy, and .
rough. sialssr, brssny franc seemed 10 the
slsrusd missionary Of gigantic proportions !;
!, had bssved the storm Of more than forty win.
tiers.
Every indication painted most wildly on the
per,utbed Imagination Of the missionary the
danger that hung over him. The first in.
pulse was to urge HE jaded horse into fight.
A second thought convinced him Of the hope
lessness Of tho attempt, and breathing . word
OF prayer to heaven for protection, he felt oil.
ing TO submit 10 his fate, Nth CLEAN Of hope
tina, the dssperado, Who was hut a fee ysrds
from him, nigh. peradveo,ure spare his life
The situation tina, struck on bis ear. IN .
har'h cultural voice, conveyed 90 consolation
to bis mind, and only served TO increase HE
alarm.
Halo, stranger chat are you about
there Whore are YOU riding !"
The reply YES given in tho language OF
msrkne" and submission. and something .ss
up horse and equipments # bis life might DO
spared. Learning on further inquiry that he
route sn sctos, the river TO a settlement
some fifteen or twenty miles distant. the sup
possd robber replied 10 voice by 90 means
mild and attractive, j" gu can't go there to
ri gh,-be besides, the old ford is washed away,
and you cant find the new one follow ne
I can fir IT,"
Tbs term Elk" has On omnoss import, bu,
The ex,c, degree Of outrage ,mpulsed IN this
new form Of speech. vas no, very clear to tho
missionary. But there vas no alternative
He vas alone sod .holly unprotected !; he va.
email in stature. Of . slender make. had no
seapons but spiritual ones, and successful 70.
distance vas hopeless. He kneu no, the path
10 tho river, and we're he 10 auemp, fight the
desth.deaIing rife might stop him. So be
turned o. directed IN o The trail snd followed
he guide. AZ they slowly reds 10 :" Indian
6e," through the tall grass, with points o.
timber and brushwood for the space Of two
milcs, the missionary drew fancy picture on
his Imagination OF cave and q gang Of rob.
bers. Who would soon FIX him, or determine
hls fate. He bre.,hed more freely when he
found only single cabin, rough looking s,s.
bic for horses, and a corn field Of a few acres.
with no signs Of scccmpllces.
"Ligh, stranger, and take your saddle bag.
IN FIX your horse"
Taking his saddle bags on his arm as d.
rec,ed. he entered the cabin through a io~
door way. Here wssswomsn aud three chll.
d,en. but their personsl appearance and dress
might, or nigh, not indicate danger TO the
traveller. On her head was q covering OF
coarse cotton, called, 10 tho language Of q
past generation, q +" sun bonnet" II nearly
bid her face from human observation.
Reaching forward a stool, the only sslu
ts,,on given was" Take sea, by the FIRE,
stranger"
Recollectipg what Ledyard, and other tray
ellers have said Of the humanity and hospital
~ Of the female sex, the missionary unused on
the probabilities OF escaping with life feeling
q decree Of reconc lIis,ion 10 the loss OF his
LAxsaa L. saLILs ka.s ..d La ~