The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1852-12-25
From the Columbian and Great West.
THE HUNTERS REVENGE.
CHAPTER l.
4 WESTERN LEGEND.

of our Kentucky counties which border upon
the OHIO river, chance caused me to pass the
night in the house of one of the Oldest suryiy.
ING pioneers of ''the dark and bloody ground
lhe sight OF such mcn-relics of departed
age, and memorials of that state of infancy
ir"m which our country has grown into it.
now glorious manhood always possesses for
me the highest interest. | listen to thei,
words with reverence and delight. | nevc,
tire OF their simple loquacity. for feel that
1T is from their stores of traditionarv learning
rather than from the dull pages of historic
lore, that we can become fully aware of all
the peculiar and distinguishing features of
the spirlt-sirring times in which they bore q
part.
lie to whom have alluded, was fine spe
cImen of his class. Though his once stalwar
form was somewhat bent and his white lock.
hung thin upon his broad temples, vet hi.
body and mind were still active and vigorous
Ills cheerful laugh the rudy glow upon hi.
cheek, and the quiet cleaning of his clear
blue eye, that told the good effects of an ear
~ lite OF temperance and active, manly toll
In the opposite chimnev-corncr sat the cray
haired matron whose love had cheered hin
through the tolls of vouth and manhood anf
who now shared the peace and contentmen
of his agr.
soon found 10 my pleasure that the ole
man both remembered well and loved to speak
Of the scenes OF his early davs; and nevo,
had Storv-teller old or Young, a more pleas
ed and attentive listener 1t was a cold, stor
my. clustering winter night. The winds
howIed around the old farm house and drifted
the snow-wreathS against the window names
with t'rv that made the great fire of locs.
that was throwing its cheerful Pickering blaze
over the room, douhlv welcome.
As the night grew colder. we drew our
chars closer around the ho>pitahle hearth
and while the Young folks were enioyinc tho
winter store of apples and nuts. and the old
lady quietly knit. and the house doc slumber-
Ell on the floor, nv venerable hackwooiSman
detailed many thrilling anecdote of the
pleasures and the perils of the past: of the
darno OF the hunter. and the vengeance Of
the red man.
At length. at the earnest re1nest Of the
'onng folks, he told us a story which will
end'avor to reneat accurately. though with
ont hoping to convey the charm impaired to
1t by the simple words and manners of the
narrator.
Without further preface than preliminary
punch at the great backlog, which sent a
cloud of sparks up the huge chimney. vawn-
ing like cavern. and roaring as if in def
ance OF the storm without. the old man pro-
cceded somewhat as follows:
"For several years after the interior of the
state had began to settle up, and was hecom-
ing qniet. this part of the country remained
continually liable to incursions bv the wild.
rowing tribes of Ohio. Companies of Indians
sometimes consisting of thirty or forty. some
times of only three or four, were constantly
crossing over in canoes at nirht. settjno fire
L., 4.
I" barns and fields OF grain, stealing horses.
and sometimes carving off women and chill
dren True there was one petty "stat;onn
not lar from where we now are, but the scant.
though valient garrison could do little fer tho
defense OF the frontier beyond protecting the
families immediately " within or around the
walls and by chasing rctreating parties to the
river. 1t was about the year Il that the
Indians taking advantage of this defenseless
state OF the border, increased their dcnrcda-
tons to an alarming extent. And it was in
the spring Of that year that there appcared at
the station | have mentioned. a man. whose
character and actions seemed for awhile to
muse new spirit into the desponding from
tiermen.
VINO ne was, or whence he came. no ono
knew, though his singular habits and apnear-
ance called forth many inquiries. Tall sim
awy and raw-boned, with sunhurnt counte.
nance. scanned across the forehead with decn
scar deep-sunken eyes. which in moments Of
excitement cleaned with strange. lurid fire
and dressed in the wild. half.Indian costume
1t the times. he presented rather remark a
bic figure. IN spite. however. of his looks
his dress and accoutrements. there was so,.
'h'hs IN ms conversation and manners which
showed him possessed an intelligence and a
breeding above the rude, unlett,red men 4
mong whom he moved.
he most prominent feature Of his cb,r,c-
ter, the one thought of his soul seemed 70 b.
leadiy' uncompromi>ing hostility to the whole
lhulan race In his ordinary intercourse
with men he was shy, taciturn and retirinr
huf IN moments the chase and the conflict
he seemed changed. transformed. and filled
with mysterious fire which rendered him
an "tIect Of wonder even to the brayest old
hunters who looked upon his reckless dar-
ing
mus uniting to their superior intelligence
courage and fierce energy of pur
pose he acquired at once, and WITHOUT ap-
learng to seek it, that ascendancy over the
minds OF the simple back woodsmen. which
<o'h Qualities must ever gain in any commu-