Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-04-15

|
board, and taking paper from my pocket,
pretended to be busy readiug.
glanced up occasionally from under my
brows, and was startled to see the apathy Of
the woman las we'll as the many wearing off
rapidly. Her eyes grew animated, and in
unison with his sought my pack oftner and
ohner. They glanced at the dog with evi-
dent dissatisfaction.
Presently | nodded over my paper, like a
sleeping person. Instantly the manner Of
the two persons grew more alarming. FL
nalIy the tall hag fled up my pack, and
weighed it in her hand as well as she was
able. Her eyes flashed liked serpent's,
for it contained large quantity Of specie,
besides valuable jeweIry and costly silks.
| alwyas made practice Of putting my sill
yer money in bag, and depositing it in a
corner Of said pack but my bill were placed
in u belt, which wore next to my person,
round the body
After she had done this. she motioned to
him to come and lift it, which he did, with
apparently as much satisfaction as his other
half had experienced.
lie then opened the door softly, and mo-
toned the dog TO go out Though have
no doubt but Lion understood pantomime
as we'll as any body, he did not offer to stir,
but lay at my feet as quietly as ever. At
last the old hag got impatient, and shook
the poker at him. Lion showed two rows
of white teeth, and uttered low growI.
The pantomime ceased in an instant. The
door was closed, and the poker returned to
its place stirred a little. They were quick
to observe me.
A fine dog" said the man, thinking it
probable | might hear the remark. P" reck-
on Re wants to get out--he growls as though
he did
A pause followed this remark. He
thought | might order him out, but l did no
such thing.
Nice dog" the woman added, after a
moment. "nice dog" and then she offered
him piece of meat, and attempted to fon.
die him. Contrary to her expectation he
refused the meat, and put an end to all fa-
miiarity by showing his teeth again in a
very tes,y manner.
This was something strange for him. l
never knew him to refuse meat before,
when it was offered him. Had Lion shared
my suspicious? Had his instinct taught
him that the hand outstretched was not a
friendly one 2
By this last act Of hostility on the part of
my dog the hag appeared not a little discon-
certed. She retreated almost behind my
chair, and shook her skinny fist at HIM !;
but he did not condescend to express any
uneasiness at that rather decided and cner-
getic expression of her feelings.
l now thought it time to wake up, which
did with preliminary yawn or two The
same apathy came back and settled upor
the features of my entertainers that had be
), fore marked their counteuances. pav,
them to understand that wished 80 retire
| There was but two apartments in the cabr
| and they both left the one was in to max
some arrangements in the other for my az
| comodaion. They were both absent ft
some time and | was quite sure hear
them moving the bed TO another part Of tn
room. They came out at length and wa
told that my bed was ready. They watche
my movements with considerable interes
when | arose to retire. started at frs
without my pack on purpose. The faces c
tie worthy pair Lighted up; returned an
took it, they fell in a moment. This wa
not ALL passed in first, and the woma
attempted 10 shut the door on Lion bu
the latter, putting forth his strength, spran
in alter inc in an instant, almost upsettin!
the hag in the operation.
al thought the creter would like to sta
, by the fire" said she, by way Of apology.
" Call the varmint out--'taint likely tn
gentIemon wants to sleep in the room wit
Beast" added my host, in a way that ex
pressed great deal Of Christian anxiety 10
: my welfare.
'"I prefer to have him with me" | replied
He won't eat the quarter Of meat il
E there, will he :!
ooh, no." | answered. "you are quit
. rght-he never takes anything not his"
n Saying this, wished them good night
4 and closed the door.
f They had provided me with dim tallo'
d candle, aud the first thing | did was to e'
a anime everything in the room Twas prett
we'll numbered up Various kinds of ypg'
). tables occupied differ mt corners anon
# which were pumpkins, potatoes, melon
n &c, &c, together with quarter Of ven
. son, some ierked beef, and skins of animal
The bed next passed under my inspection
d 1t was a poor concern, the frame BEN
,s made of round poles, in the same state tht
/. they were taken from the wood, and til
d clothing upon it was coarse enough tor
a hermit. But what struk me as being Ii
e tie singular, was that the head of the be
IT was turned towards the partition seperatln
1t the two rooms, and right opposite the pi'lo
q was a wide crack, which had the appea
d ance of being left by design
e | began to feel queer-but that is n
" Just the word to express what | mean.
Ie had large sums of money about me, enoug
" to tempt the cupldity of my entertainer
ID at any rate as their actions had already y co
e. vnced me. How easy would it be for the
re to shoot me through the cTevlce, while
,d slept. The idea got possession ofme full
r. and | could not drive it away. wou
a, have fastened the door, but could not, a
as | was impressed with the idea that dang
ce would not come in that direction. ltlt shou
an Lion was there to apprise me of it. | ia
off my coat and brustled about as though
IIy was undressing. put my pistols uno
w my pillow, and laid down-but such an u
accountable and terrible sense ct evil pre-
| ed upon me, that could not think ofsIe'
ing. Lion, too, appeared uneasy-oaI
,e- and put his fore paws upon the bed eve
IL few minutes, then went back to his post
a the door, and laid down in kind OF a
to verish anxiety.
At last feigned sleep, and snored me
en- unsteady but did not tail to look throui
on the crevlce to see what my host and hoste
il. were DOING. They laid down upon the b