Plymouth banner. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1852-1855, 1854-03-30

walk to the Ohio. which they had deter
mined 10 cross before sleeping. The
morning was fair, and the frost which
had crisped the fallen leaves again. edg
ing them with silver spangles. giowed
with diamond beauty where touched by
the sun.
They soon left tie river, and mounting
the first ridge, their course lay for miles
along the nearly even tops of Oh exten-
sive range OF highlands. There were
paw paw. hazel and spice bushes. and
young forest trees, trailing snd Chamber
ing vines. and Sd monarchs Of the wood
thick about their steps. and towering
above. For delay there WAS no desire or
excuse. they were scouts on whose ectiv-
ity and vigilance the lives of more than
themselves depended, and they rightly
estimated their responsibilities. They
had not been able to ascertain whe ther
an invasion was to be expected from the
Indians, but had learned sufficient to ex-
cite appre tensions. and induce them to
hurry home and prepare for the worst.
For many miles not word was spoken.
It was tramp. tramp, jncessantly. One
of the oldest hunters led. and his long
quick strides carried him on. over fallen
logs and through thickets, up hill and
down. with such rapidiiy that his com
panions had to exert their utmost strength
to keep pace. His muscles seemed as
unra,axing as iron machinery, and there
was no ire pidaton in the heavings of his
broad deep chest. His nostrls diiated
with the vehemence Of the exercise, his
lips were slightly parted as il 10 furnish
the powerful enginery of his lungs with
an extra supply Of the glorious air that
circula ted through the free woods, and
his grey eye searched and penetrated eve
ry aisle and nook of the endless labyrinth
through which he moved
Carroll was the last Of the file. and
strobe on mechanically, taking every step
truly. and not permitting the space be-
tween himself and the next Of the party
to be widened for an instant. His mind
was occupied By his astonishing expert
ence of the night while on watch. and
he would have spurned that as vision.
had not his head. which ached fe' erishly
| from the wound received, admonishcd
him :hc memory was true. and that he
was neither crazy nor asleep. A slight
pause was made about the middle of the
day. and dinner we'll enjoyed by slen-
! der rivule., whose pure waters sparkled
temptingly to the legweary and thirsty
rangers.
During tho afternoon the atmosphere
became hazy. a smoke. seemingly
fined in the upper air and distilled thence,
curled about the points Of the distant
hills. and settled around the sky, narrow
ing the horizon, imparting yagueness to
objects a: little die tsnce, and involving
the prospects that once in a while open
ed from the brow of the hill. in a pleas
ing dimness. There was an enerYating
balm abroad on the air, and Carroll, had
circumstance allowed. would have felt il
a luxury TO sit upon some PROSTATE trunk,
or rock on the front of hill. aud gaze,
hour after hour into the ilimitable woods
and the sky which melted in the same
unrivaled cloud afar, and were married
in mystery.
The sun had gone down. vast sphere
of blood or solid fire, sinking as if in ma
jestic and gloomy wrath. when our ran
gers stood beside the waters of the Ohio,
and dragging a canoe from an ingenious
hiding place in clump of alders, launch
ed upon its bosom, which gave out a
glitter as of steel, undisturbed as i. was
by speck Of foam, drifting log, or
wave-there were no winds to ruilie it.
no FIRE driven demons to plough its
peaceful current and lash it to fury. The
trees bowed darkly all along the banks.
mingling their washed ruots and droop-
ing branches in the water. which when
swollen by melting snow and rain storms.
rose above their very tops, and rushed on
grandly to meet mightier flood, gather
ed from remote mountains. prairies. and
woods; and then rolled in stately volume
and marvellous power to the ocean. un
agitated but by its own surgings.
The river passed. the canoe again con-
cealed. another mile traversed, fire
kindled. and the hunters rested for the /
night. feeling that another days journey
ing would bring them to the station
where friends waited for them anxiously. I
and children would prattle to them by |
rude firesides, where shonc the light of |
home. The danger was not now SO i'm
pending as to cause constant, nervous !
watching, and though an enemy might
at any moment prowl near. such pos
sibility was not dreaded; and the camp
fire being we'll fed. burned high. and shed
glow that inspired cheerfulness.
Carroll had but few months before
appeared among the pioneers. solitary
wanderer. Little could be drawn from
him as to his history. or former place of
residence. 1t was only known among
his new associates that he was a brave,
adventurous man, who coveted every
place of danger. and asked no spells of
idleness. He joined every expedition
that promised excitement. and was pleas
ed 10 assume hazardous esponsiblities.
He was something Of an enigma to the
hunters. and would have been despised by
them for his reserve and pride, had it not
been for his daring and power of endur-
ance. He would not touch an implemen
of manual labor, but his rifle, which was
one Of singularly complete workmanship.
was his inse parable companion. He was
not the Youngest man by the campfire