The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1852-12-25

The boy had not sat thus many m;nutcs
however. listening to the low. har,l breath;nr
OF his excitcd friend. when hi> attention was
attracted by the 81 yht of familiar object float
ing upon tn" river. 1t Wa. IT,, large hoat 10.
longing t" the station, and rowcd bv an old
and faithful negro, The tuttrrinr of a female
dress IN the stern of the boat, revealed the
presence OF his sister and his hrtrothr,l -
ih'y mad come out TO meet him on his return
irom the chase. Jumping from the grass TO
hail them. his step was arrested bv an occur
renee which struck him at once with terror
and amazrment. The river bank. far below
him. was covered with 4 thickrt Of trees, mat
ted together hv a luxnriant growth of vines
and cr'eprr> OF every description From this
thlckct he bchcld thin curl of smoke arise
followed by the report OF a rifle and single
war-wh"oP. Before he cau, Nave ar speak.
the old negro had fallen heavily from hi, sea,
INTO the water, and two sayascs were seen to
spring into the river, and with their rifles
held above their heads, gain the boat now
drifting with the current
With cry of horror.the Young man prasp-
ed hi, rifle, and rushing forward would have
plunged over the precipicc, had not the strong
hand of the hunter, laid upon hi, shoulder ar
rested his steps.
stop, rash boy, OR YOU will ruin ever
thing, ."
"Hands off. old man, l say MY sister-and
Mary must save them.
~ GU must, and you shall Follow me at
once. II the Indians see you they will push
across the river and then they will be lost for
ever"
by this time the Indian. had placed them
selves IN the bow and stern of the boat, and
were sculI'ns her along, keeping her in the
current. The boat Was SO large and heavy.
That their progress was not rapid. But the
young man saw at glance that hi. compan
ION was right; and accustomed to Weld im-
pliclt obedience to his dictates. he turned re-
iuctantly and followed him down the same
narrow pass which had brought them to the
hut
Back, Snarl stay here, sirrah :" said the
hunter to the dog, who would have followed
them
land now, my boy, look to your tools, we
have work ahcad"
Away, like bloodhounds on the trail they
started down the rocky path The sun had
Set and the twilight glimmer which was left
served only to throw strange, dark shadows
over their rugged pathway, but with the firm
unerrlng tread of hunters ..in a mountain
land, they dashed forward at full specd-
The contrast between the two wa, cr,,,
Inc one furious and half demented at the
idea that those he loved best on earth were
IN the hands OF the brutal savases, crasped
his rifle with very death-grp. al,i with
cienched teeth sprang and bounded ik. a
Wild deer startled from his covert. Th. 9th.
eF' Older and more accustomed to restraining
outward signs OF emotion, went as swiftly. but
win the long, measured tread of a pursuing
panther, taking care as he went, to look to
the printing of his rifle, and to loosen his long
huntlng-knife in its scabbard. Few were the
minutes, (thoush they seemed like hours to
the YOUTH ere they emerged upon the smooth
level beach OF the cove. 1t was, as we have
SAID before, little Pebbly place, few yards
square, with hills coming gently down to it
upon three sides. On that side fur,hes,, but
only few yards distant from the shore, Law a
giant oak, which had been uprooted by somc
tcnS previous storm, and watch now reclined
Lie a fallen monarch, in stern and silent
nalesty' with its giant srms still lifted up to