Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1854-08-16


come his giant force, had, in a mass, closed
with him. 1t was only the work of minute.
At each blow from the terrible club of of iron,
there was one foe the less TO contend WITH
No tomahock could arrest that instrument Of
death in its descent.
Four savages had felt its weight, and lay
writhing amid the leaves the fifth attempted
flight, but the crack ola rifle in the hands of
| the young man soon compelled him, also, to
taste the leaves. The work was now accom-
plished, and the young man felt that his deliv-
erance had been ordered by an all-wise Provi-
dence, who had made his strange ally the in
strument of his present safety.
esThat jobs well finished, at all events,'
said the trapper, cody wiping his bloody in
strunent with some fresh leaves.
ssAnd have to thank you for my life," said
the young stranger.
&c Rather thank that Being that looks arter
us all, that's the advice of an old trapper.-
But l see blood on your shirt; are you hurt p
ssBut slightly. Only the marks of two Of
their arrows, that's ALL
Il will examine them presently but how
| came you on this trail ?''
ss A small party of us were hunting along
| the margin of the lake, when, arriving at the
| mouth Of this stream and observing it's wild
| beauty, we resolved to follow its course, oc-
casionally striking into the depths of the for
| est in search of game. In one of these
cursons, lost my companions, and in search
of them got confused by several trails, and
| finally lost my own. have now been wander
| ;p,r al for M a have
been sllrmishing with Indians since day
| break"
| ssYou are a good shot-have fine rife and
stout heart of your own but little hot
blooded and rash we'll, well, these are the
faults of youth, which time II cure. Young
man, / rather like you, and if so be that you
can put up with a trapper's home, you're well
| come to a bit of vensen and a skin to sleep
upon"
The young hunter accepted his offer with
thanks, and the two proceeded on their way 70
| the cabin. Before they arrived there, Foster
| Lovel, the name of the young man, became ae-
| quainted with the reason for the Indifference
of Hooking regarding the arrows of the saw
| ages. The fact was, the head covering was a
steel helmet, visor, &c. while under the shirt
polished breast-plate of the same material,
relics of chivalry which Hooking had procur-
ed in the colonies and made practical in his
forest home.
Near the door of the cabin, Lovel was sur
| prised to see a beautiful girl, seated upon the
| trunk of a fallen tree, playfully caressng two
large dogs which from time to time gamboled
around her. He thought he never saw an OBJ
! %
manner and dress. and he could not avoid an
exclamation of surprise and delight as he gaz-
ed upon her.
Hooking noticed this, and cloud passed
! over his features. He clutched his iron club
so firmly that had it been Of any softer mate
rial than metal, his fingers must have indented
its surface as he said
ssThe man that should intend harm to that
girl, I'd no more mind Draining him, than 1
would a mercilcss red skin.''
Lovel met the searching gaze of the trapper
with look equally as firm, as he answered.
"You do not know me, sir, or yon would
have known that such remark was unneces-
sary in my presence"
There was much dignity in the young
mans manner, and such noble scorn ex-
pressed in his word, that the trapper was at
once convinced, and seiz;ng his hand with a
| grasp that almost dislocated the joints, he
| said
'.Forgive me stranger, if have wronged
You even in thought; but 1 am as kearful
of that child as though she was my own
daughter
ssNot your daughter, did you say?''
| 'sNo," said the trapper, with sigh ssonce
| the time was, whenI had friends and happy
prospects, but that has gone by these many
years. I'm alone in the world, with nobody
to kear for me except Forest and the two dogs.
| Well, well-but am keeping you out here,
when dare say your wounds ought to be
| looked arter.''
ssIs her name Forest ?''
ssI call her Forest for short, but her name is
Forestina Chace. She is brave-hearted lass
as one could wish to see, and gentle in her
temper as young fawn.''
/ LoveFs wounds, if not of a serious charac-
| ter, were more extensive than he had imagin-
| ed, and the trapper having dressed than skill
fully, prescribed quiet for a few days. Dur
! ing this time he had good opportunity of
making the acquaintance of Forestina the
purity of whose mind charmed him more than
the graceful beauty of her person.
He heard the story of her life from her own
| lips, the substance Of which was as follows
OF her mother she could remember but lit
tie, having died when Forest was only seven
years ofage. Reverses of fortune soon fol-
| lowed after her death, and her father, who