The Rutland County herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1852-1855, 1853-02-19


Poor Rusion, who died nj Si. i.oni,,
lrfl us n highly entertaining aud ,aluo-
blc work, Scenes in the Far West"
which Is enriched with many n story and
scene that, no doubt, to the people Of the
East, seem like tales from The Arabian
Nights" There Il 30 much originality
about The manners aud linbi,s ~ the
irapper aud froniiers-man, lha, one is
struck with the peculiar language, or
mode Of expressing themselves, rs well
ns their singular costume. They are,
in fact, rs distinct and marked class ne
sailors, aud have rs many odd and quaint
sayings.
generally the commission Of crime,
some disappointment in life, or native
love Of adventure and peril, that makes
these men desert The comforts of ci,ilz.
cd society for the wilds and haunis of
the red man, We can imagine the ter
rible Reaction which takes place when
the storm Of passion, or the wreck Of
disappointed hopes sweeps over the sen
sitiye soul, and leaves dcsola,ion, n
ruin Of the former man. II Is misfor.
tunes like these, which dry up and scorcb
The finest feeling; some mortal wrong
or injustice committed by others toward
them, in revcnging which they have
been compelled TO leave their homes
and become eAiles in the Far West,
A story is told Of an extraordinary
meeting and an act Of revenge, said to
have taken place many years ago, on
the fork of the Pawnce. A party d
four, who had been rowing many years
in the West, all strangers to each other,
were one day accidentally thrown to-
gether, when strange and bloody scene
ensucd. These men presented n sirik-
ing contrast in feature. The youngcs,
was delicalcly made, with long light
hair, and blue eyes; his exposure had
given him rich brown complexion.---
lie was Of the medium stature, and made
for strength aud agility. There was
dark void over his features, which told
that within him the light Of hope had
gone out. lie was travelling on n mule.
with his rifle in his gun-leaihcr nt the
bow of his saddle, when he overlook n
man on foot, with gun on his shoulder,
and pistols in his belt, who was over
six feet, and had n deep. wide scar on
his right check. As day was drawing to
close, they proposed 10 camp, and
brought up at the head Of the Pawnce.
Shortly after they had cncampcd, man
was seen rcconnoiiering them, with
rifle in his hand, and having satisfied
himself that the sign was friendly, he
came modify into the camp, and after
looking sternly at the two men, was ask
ed by Scar Check to "comc TO the
ground" lie was a stout, muscular
man, much older than the other two,
with n dread habi,ual scowl, long, black
matted hair, and very unprepossessing
features. Some common place remarks
were made, but no questions were asked
by either party. twas nearly twilight
when the young man. who had gathered
Buffalo chips TO make fire 10 cook with,
suddenly perceived n man approaching
them on mule. lie came steadily and
fearlessly on to the camp, and casting a
look at the three said, Took yer for In
gins then glancing nj the decrskin cf
the trio, he observed, "Old lcathers---
some time out. ehi' The man was
about fiiiy years old, his grey hairs con
trasicd strongly with his dark, bronzcd
features upon which enre and misfortune
were strongly stamped. lie was only
clad by the miserable skins he wore and
as he dismounied, Scar Cheek asked,
Where from Z" From the Kaw,"
(kana,) he replied. throwing down n
bundle Of otter skins. Aficr unsaddling
and stalking out his mule, he brought
himself TO the ground, and taking his
rife, looked at the printing, and shaking
the powder in the pan be added few
grains To il; then placing thin dry skin
over il to keep II from the damp, he shut
the pan. The group watched the old
irappcr, who seemed mol TO notice Them,
while Scar Cheek became interested aud
showed certain uncAsines.. lie hook
ed toward bis own rife, and once or
twico loosened bis pistol. in hi. belt a. II
they incommoded him. The young man
and the stout man with the sropl e1-
changed glnnees, bot no words passed.
So fir no words had been spoken, and
what little convSrsaiion passed was very
laconic, and not a smile wrcaihed the
lips of any of them.
The little supper was eaten IN silence;
each seemed 10 be wrapped in Lis own
thoughts. II was agreed that ibe watch
should Sc divided equally among the
four, each man standing on euari tso
hours. the Old irappcr taking ibc Gr,i
watch, The yaung man neat, and Scar
Cherk, and be With n scovl following.
II ~as a bright moonlight night, and
over hat Wild waste OF prairie not a
sound wa beard, A. the ihree lay sleep
ing On iLcir blankets. The Old irspper
paced Up aud doun before them, AID
ihcn would stop and muiier 70 himself
o. II canned ls, BOT time ani iLai srar
may have di.sui.el b.m. That boy,
TOO, il issinpse I sel drawn iosards
him lhrn hist illaia With Bis sooul,-
asd lbe muscle, u ihe ia irappsr's face
porkei oon,uhireiy, sh.rh lhr noon.
beams fali.ug upon. dise.osed traces u
by-sone refinement. The ifappsr ngis-,