Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-02-03


There was but one living being, beside his
dog, for whom he seemed to entertain any feel
ing of interest or affection. This was young
hunter, living at the station, and who had once
In an Indian battle, saved the old mans life at
the risk of his own. This boy he sometimes
suffered to join him in his hunting expeditions,
and to share his frugal meals. But even to
him ne never spoke of his past history, and the
boy was too discreet to allude 20 it.
CHAPTER II.
Months had passed since the stranger made
his first appearance at the fort. Spring and
summer had come and gone, and autumn had
thrown his rich mantle Of bright and mellow
hues over the landscape, when one evening,
few hours before set of sun, the hunter and his
young companion might have been seen ascen-
ding and descending the long, green hills which
skirt the shores of the Ohio, on their return
from one CT their long and lonely wanderings
among the recesses of the mountains Descend
ing from the slope of thickly-wooded hill,
they came to the bank of the river, where
sudden bend in the stream forms little cove,
known as the horseshoe. As they were about
to cross the little pebbly beach, in order to
reach the hill which rose in front of them. the
hunters attention was attracted by the unusual
and uneasy motions Of, The dog, running hither,
thither, snuffing the air, and pushing through
the bushes which skirted the bank, with
sharp, quick bark.
Ha old snarl has snuffed something in the
wind. That dogs never wrong. Here, Snarl,
down, down, old fellow, before the redskins
hear. you
The dog came back and crouched at his mas
ter's feet, while he stepped cautiously forward,
looking carefully about for tracks, and peep
ing anxiously into every thicket.
There it is, at last, said he, suddenly
pointing to the ground, and turning signifi-
cant look towards his companion. Sure enough,
there we're two footprints in the sand They
were half effaced, but the keen eye of the hun
ter conld detect at once that they were quite re-
cent, and had been made by moccasin. Az
ter few moments search, they found snugly
hidden beneath the thick underground that
skirted the immediate bank of the river, an In
dian canoe, containing bag of parched corn,
little venison, and some powder
WE'LL said the old hunter, after few mo-
ments' reflection, IN trap the red scoundrels
this time
How is that.' asked his yonng friend.
why, you see the canoe is SO small that
not more than two or three can be in the party.
They must intend 10 return soon, or they
would have brought more provisions, and hid
den them in better place. So Judge they
intend to commit their deviltry tonight and be
off before day. Therefore I'll come down as
soon as the moon rises, lay in way until they
get here, and then think that Black Bess and
myself will answer for two or three scalps TO
hang up in the cabin. In the mean time want
you to go to the fort and put the boys on their
guard. or some of them may be picked off be-
fore they know what hurts EN-
Well, said the youth, I'm willing TO 90 to
the fort and warn them, but you must let me
return and stand guard with you here. There
may be more Indians than you expect, and two
rifles are better than one, anyhow
No, no, boy; dOjustas Ilell you. There's
no chance whatever of their being any more
of 'em; and if there was, why my old scalp
is worth nothing at any rate; but you know
it won't do for you to get hurt just about this
time.'
The old man chuckled, and the young one
blushed in spite of his sun-burnt cheek He
was to be married in few days, to young
girl at the station.
His friend, however, paid no attention to his
blushes, but carefully replacing the canoe, and
erasing their own footprints, he led the way up
rugged path which lay before them. This path
wound along the side of narrow gorge, shut
out from the river by cliffs, and rendered gloo-
nv by their eternal shadows. After tedious
walk OF half an hour, the rocky path brought
them TO the summit Of the hill on which the
hnnter's hut was built.
The hut was Of the rudest and simplest
construction, and almost hidden by the thick
growth Of yonng trees, wild vines and bushes,
which the hunter had left undisturbed. In
front of it stretched the greensward for few
yards, and then the hill went abruptly down,
forming an almost perpendicular precipice, at
the foot of which it sloped off again to the
rivers bank, which was thus considerable
distance from the hut.