The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1851-07-23

praifie towards the path OF the missionary,
A. The men appmaehfd. his personal
Appearance. dress and eqnipage maniies
led no friendly design. Ills head was
covered VI h The skin Of a prairie wolf.
with The tail hanging b. hind. Ills ouier
garment was neither coat. lrork or blouse.
In western pallanre il was hunting shiri.
made nf dressed dear skin, with The cape
and>ide strips cnriously naiched and firing
ed. but TO iLc missionary il had an alarm
i 2 aspect.
Over u hung powder. hoin and bullet
pouch. and around his bndy was lealh-
ern bell. in whirh WAS thrust formidable
knife. A loaded rifle carrlessly lay across
ile ri''ers shoulder.
Nor was his personal appearance in The
least degree prepossessing. He sponed
black heald Of al least three weeks
growth. and dark. ellish locks Of hair
could be seen beneath The skin rap. Ills
connienanee. f,om constant exposure 10
The weather, Was swarlhy. and rough
sialwari, hrawny frame secmed 10 The a.
harmed missionary # gigantic proportions;
u had hraved ille storm OF more Than forty
winters.
Every indication painted most wildly
on The periurbed Imagination Of the mis-.
sionary The danger that hung over him.
The lirsl impulse was 10 urge his jadcd
horse into flight. A second ihonghl de-
cided him against The attempt, and breath
ing word Of prayer 10 Heaven Tor pro-
lection, he fell 10 submit 10 fate, with .
CLEAN, of hope iha. The desperate. who
was bui a few yard. from him, might pre-
adventure spare his life.
The saluiaiion that struck on his ears.
in harsh. cultural voice, conveyed M
consolation 10 his mind, and only served
, 10 increase his alarm.
"ilalln. stranger. wha, are you about
there I Where are you riding!
The reply was gwen ~ tile language ol
weakness and submission, and something
was added. with indisiinct uierance, a
bout given up horse and equipments, i
his Lille might be spared.
Learning, on further inquiry, lha, hi
route was across The river TO selllemen
some fifteen or twenty miles distant. TIN
supposed robber replied in a voice by nc
means mild aud alIraciive-
j. You can'l get there tonight; besides
The old ford is washed away, and you
cannol find the new one: /: follow me-
can tix you !"
The term fix' had an ominous import
bul The exact degree Of outrage implied IN
this new form Of spec, h was NOT very
pain 10 The missionary. But there was
noalternalive. lie was alone, and wholly
unprotected, he was small in stature, OF a
slender make, had no weapons but spirit
nal ones, and successful resistance was
hopeless. lie knew not lie path 10 The
river, and were he 10 atiemp, flight, the
death dealing rifle might STOP him. So
he turned, as directed, into the trail, and
followed The guide.
As they slowly rode in Indian file"
through the tall grass, with points Of i'm
Der aud bru>hwood. from The space oflwo
miles, The missionary dew fancy pic
ture on his imagination Of a cave and a
gang OF robbers, who would "fix" him, or
determine his fate. lie brealhed more
freely when he found only single cabin
and rough looking stable for horses, in
cornfield OF few acres, with no signs oI
accomplices.
Light. stranger. and take your saddle
bags-l'lltix your horse"
Taking his saddle bags on his arm as
directed, he entered The cabin through q
low door way. Here was woman and
three children. but their dress and person.
al appearance might. or ighinoi. Indicate
danger 10 the traveller. On her head
was a covering Of coarse cotton, called in
the language Of past generation " sur
bonnet" Ii nsarly Ind her face from
! human observation.
Reaching forward = stool, the only sal.
utalion given was" Take seat by tlit
/ fire. stranger"
Recollecling wha, Ledyar,l and oihe
travellers have sad OF The humanity ant
hospitality Of The female sex, The mission
ary unused on The probabilities Of escapn!
with life. and feeling degree Of reconri
liaiion 10 The loss Of his horse, his saddle
bags, and the contents of his purse, whicl
las, contained but few dollars for travel
4 ling expenses. In his saddle-hags wcr
/ divers articles Of apparel which he coul'
mol spare, and there was the pocket bible
The Gift Of mother now III heaven.
hymn book. and small package ofneall.
. written sermons. which had cost hin
} several months labor, and, as he fancie.l
were admirably adapted 10 disperse III
! clouds Of ignorance that brootled over tl
inhabitants Of Illinois.
!, In The mean Time, The sel,ler. hunie
| or rohber. in whatever vocation he migl,
/ appear, had replenished the FIRE with som
!, logs of dry hickory, while The busy house
!, wife was preparing The homely meal.
consisted Of fried venison steak, cor
:. dodgers" and high favored coffee, WI,
J the sppurtenances Of fresh cream aud es