Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-08-17
CHAPTER XI.

We will now follow Mike on bis adventur- |
Gus journey. After many weary hours travel,
the appeals of hunger required him to do
something for the inner man: When he had
dismounted and opened his saddle bags, what
was his surprise TO see under large tree,
where its high and bare roots offered rude
seats in abundance, and near which limpid
stream flowed on in gurgling notes, a man, and
pale face at that, seated careIess!y on a small
Indian pony. He rode directly up to where
Mike was dismounted, and also aIighted. Mike
saluted the stranger and was in turn saluted
" Guess there amt menny sch as we, in these
'ere parts stranger?" spoke the unknown,
whose very countenance gave the lie to his
back woods slang, which he used with so
mucn care. He was tall in stature and slim
even to a fault, nevertheless he had the ap.
pearance of being wiry and muscular. His
couutenance was intelligent and one could see
from the care-Iines across his tall forehead
which could be seen under the close fitting
visor of the coon skin cap, that he was no or
binary man. Yet he had certain marks about
the corners Of the mouth which spoke little in
his favor. The nose was too prominent and
the chin too receding for the man to be natur-
ally intellectual. He was armed with a long
glittering rifle, which he seemed not to know
how to use very dexterously, and various pis-
tolls could be seen peeping from his belt of
broad tanned deer-skin and the loose bosom of
his hunting coat.
Mike replied inthe affirmative to his remark,
and also added" Faith, stranger, which road
you be after travelling at this season of the
yearv Mikes suspicious were aroused, and
he more thln suspected the stranger was not
what he seemed, as soon as he got Il good look
at his countenance.
The unknown apparently needed not the
question, but kept his gaze riveted on White
Wing. "That's purity beast ye has, by AL
saints" muttered he, more than talked
"Would We like to trade! Nine is the bes
Ingen breed?"
"Whar did youg your cratur f-om2" quer
led Mike, evadng the mans question. "I
looks like o'them red varmints beasts, sure
does?"
Where are you travelling, my good man y
asked the stranger without needing Nike
question, in tones altogether different froa
those he had at first used. Mike started in
voluntarily and gazed hard at the stranger an
unconscously uttered his usual 'by st. Pat
rick !'-but seeming not to notice the ques
tion was busted in arranging his halter. Tn
stranger, however, accepted Mikes blunt in vi
tation to partake of the fare before them c
which Mike had an abundance, and seated him
self by the Irishman busiIy engaging in dis
cussing his food and appeasing his appareu
appetite. Ever and anon he would raise hi
eyes and fix them on the features of Mike
and gaze long and earnestly at him; but S
soon as Nike in turn would raise his gaze Q
utter some common place remark, he woul
Immediately ag lin set to and greedy dcvou
his food After getting through their rud
meal, and waiting some few minutes longer
refresh their jaiei steeds, they We're agai
ready for travel. By this time Mixes susp
cions had matured into downright dislike, an
having noted afresh the strange manner an
E the two tongues of the mysterious strange
, attempted to cut his acquaintance. The fe
low stuck to him like Ieech. Mike first a
tempted to elude him by formally saIuting hi
and striking into galIop; and to effect tn
he thus addressed him-"the top o'the NOR
r ing and pleasant journey to ye, mister; Sc
3 inc I'll have to travel sommut faster, I'll
after striking up" And suiting the action
. the word, he started White Wing into swee
! ing gal!op that would apparently soon AM
hiIate the speed of the pony; but not so. T
: stranger instead of taking, or rather acting
the hint so plainly offered, Immediately put
trial the mettle of his pony, and was soon
longside Nike, at half run.
d 'As am travelling this same way said
IS "lers keep company. The darned red SIX
p are so ALFRED thick bout these ere parts, u
L fore you can say skat, your har is gone;
y it's best to keep complny," and so saying,
ne brought his pony down to walk, as Mike,