Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-08-14
VOL. VI.

SQuaW SO near tne nut before.
She fancied dark shadow fitted across her
husbands brow. He made no reply; and on
her repeating the question, said angrily-'how
should he knowl Twas as well TO ask for
bears reasons as an Ingin's.
Tom only staid at home long enough to mend
the broken window, and plant small spot of
Indian corn, and then again set out, telling Su-
san not to expect him home in less than
month. If that squaw comes this way aein','
ne said, as maybe she will, iist put out any
broken victuals you've got for the poor crittur :;
though maybe she won't come, for the Ingins
be onkimmon skeary.'
Susan wondered at his taking an interest in
the woman, and often thonght of that dark look
she had noticed, and of Tom S unwillingness to
speak on the subject. She never knew that on
his last hunting expedition, when hiding some
skins which he intended TO fetch on his return.
he had observed an Indian watching him, and
had shot him with as little mercy as he would
have shown a wolf. On Toms return to the
spot the body was gone; and in the soft damp
soil was the mark of squaws foot, and by its
side little child's. He was sorry then for
the deed he had done he thought of the grief
of the poor widow, and how in would be possi-
bic for her TO live until she could reach her
tribe, who were far, far distant, at the foot of
the rocky mountains; and now to feel that
through his means, too, she had lost her child,
put thoughts into his mind that had never be-
fore found place there. He thong ght that one
God had formed the red man as well as the
white-of the souls of the many Indians hur-
ried into eternity by his unerring rifle and
they were perhaps more fitted for their happy
hunting-grounds than he for the white man 5
Heaven. In this state of mind, every word his
wife had said to him seemed a reproach and he
was glad again to be alore in the forest with
his rifle and his hounds
The afternoon of the third day after Toms
departure, as Susan was sitting at work, she
heard something scratching and whining at the
door. Nero, who was bv her side, evinced no
signs of anger, but ran 10 the door, showing his
white teeth, as was his custom when pleased
Susan unbarred it, when 10 her astonishment
The two deer-hounds her husband had taken
with him walked into the hut, looking weary
and soiled. At first she thought Tom might
have killed dear not far from home, and had
brought her fresh supply of venison but no
one was there.
She rushed from the hut, an soon, breath
less and terrified, reached the squatter's cabin
John Wilton and his three sons were lust re-
turning from the clearings, when Susan ran in
to their comfortable kitchen; her long black
hair streaming on her shoulders, and her wild
and bloodshot eyes, gave her the appearance of
4 maniac. lna few unconnected words she ex-
planned 10 them the cause of her terror, and i'm
plored them 10 set off Immediately in search of
her husband. 1t was in vain they told her of
the uselessness of going at the same time-of
the impossibility of following a trail in the
dark. She said she would 90 herself; she
felt sure of finding him; and at last they were
obliged to use force TO prevent her leaving the
house.
The next morning at daybreak Wilton and
his two sons were mounted, and ready to set
out, intending to take Nero with them; but
nothing would induce him to leave his mistress
he resisted passively for some time, until one
of the young men attempted to pass rope
round his neck, TO drag him away then his
forbearance vanished; he sprung on his tor
mentor, threw him down, and would have stran-
gled him if Susan had not been present
Finding it impossible to make Nero accompa-
nv them, they left without him, but had not
proceeded many miles before he and his mis-
tress were at their side. They begged Susan
to return, told her of the hardships she must
endure, and of the inconvenience she would be
to them. 1t was of no avail she had hut one
answer IL am hunters daughter, and
hunters wife, She told them that knowing
how useful Nero would be to them in their
search, she had secretly taken horse and fol-
lowed them.
The party rode first to Tom Cooper's hut,
and there having dismounted, leading their
horses through the forest, followed the trail,
as only men long accustomed TO a savage life
can do. At night they lay on the ground, COW
cred with their thick bear-skin cloaks for Su-
san only they heaped up bed of dried leaves; !;
but she refused to occupy it, saying it was her
duty to endure the same hardships they did
Ever since their departure she had shown
sign OF sorrow. Although slight and delicate
ly formed, she never appeared fatigued her
whole soul was absorbed in one longing desire
to find her husbands body for from the first
she had abandoned the hope of ever again see
ing him in life. This desire supported her
through every thing. Early the next morning
they were again on the trail About noon, as
they were crossing small brook, the hound
suddenly dashed away from them, and was
lost in the thicket. At first they fancied thew
might have crossed the track of deer or wolf.
but long mournful howl soon told the sad
truth, for not far from the brook lay the faith
ful dog on the dead body Of his master, which
was pierced to the heart by an Indian arrow.
The murderer had apparently been afraid to
approach on account of the dogs, for the body
was lefi as 1t had falen-not even the rifle was
gone. No signs of Indians could be discov-
cred save one small footprint, which was in
stantly pronounced to be that of squaw. Su-
san showed no grief at the sirbt of ,ho ho,l,, .