Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1852-03-11
cHArrBR VI.


In the meantime, the party who had rescued
fSenry Werner were quietly andsteadily purs'i-
ing their way back to the white settlement, and
.f~R iassSs iFscqss thaas aaas - his Nacs Asees.
py home. With heart and feelings wild with
emotion, he could scarcely wait to reach it, SO
anxious was he to know the fate Of his poor
wife. As they neared the lane which led to the
house, they met several of the neighbors, whose
frantic and care-worn looks told them something
had happened. Poor Henry few on wings Of
love, and before they had time to explain, he
saw dat his own dear home was q heap Of ru-
ins, . .. ~. ~.
"Where, on where is my wife and child?
Kind friends, tell me, pray3 Ali wretch
that was, to ever leave you'll" and sinking ex-
hausted upon the ground, he knew nothing more
until he was removed to the house of one of the
neighbors, where he was gradually restored to
consciousness, and knowledge Of his desolate
situation. Sad it was, indeed, to witness his
anguish, as he called upon his loved, lost EN-
ma. ., ... ...
."There was a time" said he, " when could
not harm the meanest thing that lives. Wild
beast and reptile called forth my natural sympa-
thies but, in a few short hours l have grown
fendl Despair and agony have given me
strength; henceforth only live to wreak my
vengeance upon that savage race who has de-
spoiled my heart of all that made life desirable.
Is there any-even one-of this stout band who
will Join me +? If So my friend and brother,
come, and every savage wretch we kill will
sweeten the pangs Of anguish which are des-
tined to ill my weary heart"
When he had ceased speaking, stout and
brawny form stepped forth, and grasping his
hand, while tears Of sympathy were glistening
IN his eye, he said,
ayes, my friend; Joe Hardy will jne you,
and fight tell every drap of blood he has is split
to XII them da----d yarmintsl As I have said
before, have bitter spite agin ERA, an it does
me good to hunt 'em down. All! eff had but
a pack Of hell-hounds from the abode Of dark
ness, how would hunt 'em down, and stand
delighted to see 'em torn to pieces and hurled
with vengeance into the bottomless pit I've
right to feel so, my friends. You needn't call
me unchrstian, an the like O. that. Hav'n
seen nv own mother killed before my eyes, and
nv sister too, my only sister, and her helpless
baby dashed agin' tree? All! don't call mt
unchristian. An eye for an eye an a tool
for a tooth,' is what Joe Hardy believes in. =
He was much overcome by his own feelings
for he had touched upon subject and scenes
upon which he seldom dared to speak. III
said,
SIT made child Of him, and he must stop
HeRceforth he and the unfortunate Henr,
were to be as brothers; for truly they were, 4
misery. For the present, they Joined the sam
party and retraced their steps to the forest, no
ping to find some clue to the destiny Of tn
wife and child Of poor Werner. But all, alas
was vain, for they had no trace Of them; the
did not even know that they lived, and felt tina
twas more than probable they were long ere thl
put 10 death, especially as it would be risking q
much to be encumbered by woman and chilt
Sad consolation but that was the best that cO0l
be offered to poor Henry, who little thought th'
his beloved wife and child, after suffering !
mach were now protected and cared for by I'll
hcrrid creatures against whom their VengeanC
was aimed. They secured the country, and M
several struggling parties of Indians, whom the
shot down like wolves; every one Of which -
Hardy would stop to scalp, that he might %
them to his pile. At length the hunters we
out Of. amunition, and obliged to return, 81
Henry and Joe accompanied them only to get
fresh supply, and then pursue dihesent rous
an hopes Of yet hearing from the loved q
AOst. t . l.. ..t
Bat it's no use hopin'," said Joe to
friend, "them d---d VarmintS amt gOin' TO
bothered with Wimmen and Children, and
-. q
$ = -. = 81. s. ssl 3 ~