Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-02-03
THE STORY TELLER.
THE HUNTERS REVENGE.
A WESTERN LEGEND.
CHAPTER I.

the Ohio river, chance caused me to pass the
night in the house of one of the Oldest surviving
pioneers of 8 the dark and bloody ground.'-
The sight of such men-relics of departed
age, and memorials of the state of infancy from
which our country has grown into its now glo-
rious manhood always possesses for me the
highest Interest. i listen to their words with
reverence and delight. / never tire of their
simple loquacity, for feel that it is from their
stories Of Evolutionary learning, rather than from
the dull pages of historic lore, that we can be-
come fully aware of all the peculiar and distin-
gushing features of the spirit-stirring times in
which they bore part.
lie to whom have alluded was fine speci-
men of his class. Though his once stalwart
form was somewhat beat, and his white locks
hung thin upon his broad temples, yet his body
and mind were still active and vigorous. His
cheerful laugh, the ruddy glow upon his
cheek, and the quiet cleaning of his clear,
blue eye, told the good effects of an early life
of temperance, and active aud manly toll. In
the opposite chimuey-corher sat the gray
haired matron whose love had cheered him
through the tolls of youth aad manhood, and
who now shared the peace and contentment Of
his age
soon found, to my pleasure, that the old
aaR both remembered well and loved 10 speak
of the scenes of his early days; and never had
story-teller, old or young, more pleased and
atte0tive iisteaer. 1t was cold, stormy, blus-
tering winter night. The winds howled
around the old farmhouse, aud drifted the
snOw-wreaths around the window panes with
fury that made the great FIRE of logs, that was
throwing its cheerful, Pickering blaze over the
room, doubly welcome.
As the night grew colder, we drew our chairs
closer around the hospitable hearth and while
the young folks were enjoying the wiater store
of apples and nuts, aud the old lady quietly
knitting, and the old house-dog sIumbering
on the floor, my venerable backswoodsman
detailed many thrilling anecdote of the
pleasures and the perils of the past of the
daring Of the hunter, and the vengeance of the
TedmaR.
Ataength, at the argent request of the young
folks, he told US a story which will endeavor
80 rePeataccarately, though without hoping to
convey the charm impaired to it by the simple
words aOd manners of the narrator.
Without further preface than preliminary
punch at the great backlog, which sent cloud
of sparks up the big chimney, yawning like the
mouth of cavern, and roaring as if in defiance
of the storm without, the old man proceeded
somewhat as follows:
For several years after the interior of the
State had began to settle up, and was becoming
quiet, this part Of the country remained contin-
uaIly liable to incursions BY the wild, rowing
tribes of Ohio Companies of Indians, some
times consisting of thirty or forty, sometimes
of only three or four, were constantly crossing
over in canoes, at night, setting fire TO barns
carrying off women and children. True, there
was one petty station not far from where we
are now; bat the scant, though valiant garri-
son could do little for the defence Of the from
lY within or around the walls, and by chasing
retreating parties of the enemy to the river.
1t was about the year ~, that the Indians,
taking advantage of this defenceless state of
the border, increased their depredations to an
alarming extent; and it was in the spring of
the year that there appeared, at the station
have mentioned, man, whose character and
actions seemed for while to infuse new spirit
into the despairing frontier men.
Who he was, or whence he came, no one
knew, though his singular habits and appear
ance called forth numerous inquiries. Tall,
sinewy, and raw-boned, with sun-burnt coun-
tenance, scanned across the forehead with
deep scar; deep, sunken eyes, which in mo-
ments Of excitement cleaned with strange,
lurid fire. and dressed in the wild halfIndian
costume of the times, he presented a rather
remarkable fgnre. In spite, however, of his
looks, his dress, and accoutrements, there was
something in his conversation and manners.
which showed that he possessed an intelligence
and breeding above the rude, unlettered men
among whom he moved.
The most prominent feature of his character,
the one thought of his soul seemed to be dead
ly, uncomprOmising hostility to the whole In
dian race. In his ordinary intercourse with
men ne was shy, tacturn and retiring; but in
moments of the chase and the conflicts, he
seemed changed, transformed, and filled with
mysterious fire, which rendered him an object
of wonder even to the bravest of the hunters
who looked upon his reckless daring.
Thus uniting to superior intelligence. un.
daunted courage, and fierce energy of purpose.
he acquired at once, and without appearing 70
seek it, that ascendency over the minds of the
simple backwoodsmen, that such qualities must
ever gain in any community. Yet he seemed,
as much as possible, to avoid mingling with his
fellows. He refused to live in the stockade
fort, but built himself little hut on the sum-
NIT of hill, about three miles distant, where
he passed most of his time, with no society
save that of his dog.
But whenever the alarm was given that the
foe had crossed the river, he was seen at the
station, commanding, organizing, and planning,
self,appointed dictator, to whom all yielded
implicit obedience, In the pursuit and the con-
hict he was ever foremost. He sought TO
IL