The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-07-28

ed his labors but little interested him; the
excitement was the irresistible charm which
bound him to his present life. He and Muir
tel, as they lay thus away in the silent
woods, held many an animated controversy
in relation to the prowess of their seperate
nations, during which, sometimes, their dis
pute ran high, but never terminated in hos
tility. Harry, from his lack of knowledge
Of history, would frequently confound men
and events most sadly, and here his antago-
mist possessed decided advantage over him.
When he would place Washington present
at some battle where he wss not, Murtel
would laugh in exultation at his error, and
then set him right; so again, when he would
cohfouL i. "aG.ly-Wine with Bunker Hill, or
Trenton with Lexington, his adversary would
seize and turn it to his purpose in rendering
the Kentucki.n worse bewildered. This
would eventually drive Harry to shelter,
when, like the brave old Jackson, he would
take position behind the cotton bags and
fire Murtel bit of history that come under
his own especial notice.
"We made you fellars hop desp'rate lively
at New Orleans, anyhow" he would ex-
claim.
They were engaged in such controversy
at the present moment, and when Harry had
fred off his reserved battery at Ned, the 9TH
er bade him be quiet, that brace of beaver
were coming down the stream.
"Let 'em cum," replied he, "maybe tha'll
be like the British, tha'll wish they hadn't"
The two beavers cautiously swan along
the shore attracted by the scent of the bait.
Presently one of them approached Harry's
trap, and he broke forth into solloquy:
"Thar is beaver, 1iow," says he, "whut
has some taste-he goes in for the republic,
and its right thar-only reach out your paw,
old fellar, and I'll shake you sartin-take
just anuther smell and you're goner,--hide,
fur and tallow."
"Will you keep quiet?" petuantly inter
rupted the Englshman. "Your noise will
certainly frighten them off,"
Click, went Harry's trap; at that moment
fastening the largest in its gripe and fright
eniug off the other.
81 knew you would scare that one off,
said Murtel.
"No didn't scare that one off," retorted
Harry, for thar he is just whar the Ameri-
kins used TO grab TIE British lion by the
paw.
"Rightfully," said Murtel, "that beaver
belongs to me. Had it, not been for your
noise, would certainly have captured one
of them"
81 never seed Inglishmen what hadn't
excuse" said Harry, continuing his taunt-
ing manner. "Ef the boys of this country
hadn't nllays been in the way of the British,
with thar rifles, tha would hev captured the
country for sar."
Goaded by these taunts of his companion
Murtel sprang over the bank, exclaiming
that he would have it ut all hazards.
81 think see you gittin it," cries Harry
as in an instant he followed Ned over the
bank.
The animal, on seeing them approach
set up beseeching cry, which sounded al
most human, it was so piteous; but unmind
full of its supplications, Murtel killed it, ant
snatcking the body from the trap, stood
ready to defend his prey.
"Drop it," said the Kentuckian, jerking
his knife from his belt
| Ned cast it behind him, and drawing his
own weapon, signifed to his companion to
take it if he could. A conflict of deadly
nature, for the first time, was upon the eve
of commencement between the two trap.
pers, but Jas they nervously clasped their wea'
pons, fiercely watched each others move.
ments, and approached to strike, fifty Ara
pahoes, dressed and painted for war, leaped
with shout from beneath the overhanging
foliage. One of the savages seized the
subject of quarrel, and with Indian expert
ness, took off the skin and suspended il
from his belt.
81 predicate we mout as we'll postpone
our little difficulty" says Harry, for here's
chunk OF fight better wuth takin' hand
in." r..
"No, mol" exclaimed MurteJ, "let us sur
render and trust to fortune-fear motive
will find means to escape from them"
His resolution taken, Murtel threw down
his knife, and Harry, with forebodlng feel
ing of i'll, followed his example. The Indi-
ans observing this movement of surrender,
closed around them, and soon the trappers
underwent thorough search. This ordea
through with, their arms and traps were ta
ken, and the whole party Immediately aftel
moved westward. The prisoners soon dis
covered that the Indians who had captured
them were an Arapahoe party, who had de
scended the Kansas in pursuit of the Paw
nees. The latter tribe, in a recent fray il
the Arapahoe hunting grounds, had slaii
two Of their young men, and they were
thirsting to avenge their fall. Their village
was situated many miles distant, upon the
Kiowa, at the foot of the Rocky mountains
and thitherward they led their prisoners
While portions of the braves hunted for the
subsistence of the party, the remainder 0
, them kept watchful eyes upon their charge
and no time during the long journey did