Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-08-14
SELECT TALE.
The Hunters Wife.

erfullv made, with hardy, weather-beaten,
yet handsome face, strong, iudefatigable, and a
crack shot, he was admirably adapted for hun
ter's life. For many years he knew not what
it was to have home, but lived like the beasts
he hunted-wandering from one part of the
country to another in pursuit of game. All
who knew Tom were much surprised when he
came with pretty young wife to settle within
three miles Of planters farm. Many pitied
the poor young creature, who would have to
lead such a solitary life while others said =
IL she was fool enough to marry him, it was
her own look out For nearly four months
Tom remained at home, and employed his time
in making the old hut he had fixed on for his
residence more comfortable. He cleared and
titled small spot Of land around it, and Susan
began to hope that for her sake he would settle
down quietly as squatter. But these visions
of happiness were soon dspelled, for as soon
as this work was finished he recommended his
old erratic mode of life, and was often absent
for weeks together, leaving his wife alone, yet
not unprotected, for since his marriage old Ne
70, favorite hound, was always left at home
as her guardian. He was noble dog cross
between the old Scottish deerhound and the
bloodhound, and would hunt an Indian as well
as deer or bear, which Tom said was
proof that the lngins was a sort o warmth,
or why should the brute beast take to hunt 'em
nat'ral like--him that took no notice O. white
ment'
One clear, cold morning, about two years af-
ter their marriage, Susan was awakened by a
loud crash, Immediately succeeded by Nero's
deep baying. She recollected that she had
shut him in the house as usual the night before
Supposing he had winded some solitary wolf
or bear prowllug around the hut, and effected
his escape, she took little notice of the circum-
stance but few moments after came a shrill
wild cry, which made her blood run cold To
spring from her bed, throw on her clothes, and
rush from the hut, was the work of minute
She no longer doubted what the hound was in
pursuit of. Fearful thoughts shot through her
brain; she called wildly on Nero, and to her
jov he came dashing through the thick under
wood As the dog drew nearer she saw that
he galIoped heavily, and carried in his mouth
some large dark creature. Her brain reeIed;
she felt a cold and sickly shudde. dart through
her limbs. But Susan was a hunters daugh-
ter, and all her life had been accustomed TO
witness scenes of danger and of horror, and in
this school had learned to subdue the natural
timidity of her character. With powerful
effort she recovered herself, just as Nero drop
ped at her feet a little Indian child, apparently
between three and four years old. She bent
down over him, but there was no sound or mo-
ton; she placed her hand on its little rsked
chest; the heart within had ceased to beat-he
was dead, The deep marks of the dogs fangs
were visible on the neck, but the body was un-
torn. Old Nero stood with his large bright
eyes fixed on the face of his mistress, fawning
on her, as if he expected 10 be praised for what
he had done, and seemed TO wonder why she
looked so terrified. But Susan spurned him
from her; and the fierce animal. who would
have pulled down an Indian as he would deery
crouched humbly at the young woman's feet.
Susan carried the little body gently in her
arms to the hut, and laid ii on her own bed
Her first impulse was to seize loaded rifle
that hung over the fireplace, aud shoot the
hound; and yet she felt she could not do it, for
in the lone life she led the faithful animal SEEM
ed like dear and valued friend, who loved
and watched over her, as if aware of the prec-
ious charge intrusted to him. She thought al
so of what her husband would say, when, on
his return he should find his old companion
dead. Susan had never seen Tom reused. To
her he had ever shown nothing but kindness
yet she feared as well as loved him, for there
was fire in those dark eyes which told of deem
wild passions hidden in his breast and she knew
that the lives of whole tribe of Indians would
be light in the balance against that Of his fay
orite hound.
Having securely fastened up Nero, Susan,
with heavy heart, proceeded to examine the
ground around the hut In several places she
observed the impression of a small moccasined
foot, but not child's. The tracks were deep
ly marked, unlike the usual light, elastic tread
of an Indian From this circumstance Susan
easily inferred that the woman had been carry
ing her child when attacked by the dog. There
was nothing to show why she had come so near
the hut; most probably the hopes of some pet
ty plunder had been the inducement Susan
did not dare to wander far from home, fearing
a band of Indians might be in the neighborhood.
She returned sorrowfnlly to the hut, and en-
ployed herself in blocking up the window, or
rather the hole where the window had been
for the hound had in his leap dashed out the
entire frame, and shattered in TO pieces. When
this was finished, Susan dug grave, and in it
laid the little Indian boy. She made it close
to the hut, for she could not bear that wolves
should devour those delicate limbs, and she
knew there it would be safe. The next day
Tom returned. He had been very unsnccess-
ful, and intended setting out again in few days
in different direction.
Susan he said, when he had heard her sad
story, Il wish you'd lef' the child where the
dog killed it. The squaw IS high sartain to
come back a-seekin' for the body, and It's
pity the poor critter should be disappinted =
Besides the Ingins will be high sartin to put it
down to US; whereas if SO be as they'd found
the body 'pon the spot, maybe they'd onder-
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