The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-08-04

weary days, now alarmed by Indian signs
and again startled by the fresh footprints o
the grizzly bears, which abound in this track
less region, he suddenly came upon the wa.
ters Of the main fork mentioned, and com.
inenced his journey down the stream. Hope
now grew strong within him, and with his
little companion, who thrived because he
knew not of these dangers, be held on his
long and tedious march. They suffered in
credible hardships, but at length reach-
ed the main stream, and thence con.
tinued their way to where it empties into
the broad Missouri. AT the mouth of the
Kansas, Harry met company of traders
and traPpers, with many of whom he was
well acquainted. They had long since Civ
en- him up as dead. He related to them the
adventures which himself and Murtel had
encountered in the Arapahoe country, alter
ing only that portion which referred to the
latter's death--of this he accused the Jndi-
ans, and the child, Ka-am, he claimed as his
own. -,-...r.- -.ft.4.. q, ..-.
The patty Harmer here fell in with were,
after.a successful hunt, descending to st.
Louis. Several Mackinaw boats, built for
the trip, were in readiness, and. packing
their furs ON board, the whole party, Har-
mer and Ka am included; were soon on their
way down the windings of the turbid Mis-.
souri,. Harry was poor, but bis companions
were generous, and, without consulting him
upon the matter, they apportioned sufficient
furs from their stock to bear his present ex-
penses and provide him another outfit for the
mountains. Once more beneath the shad-
ow OF civilization, the trapper's naturally
buoyant nature regained It's tone, and he gave
to the eager ears Of his listening compan-
ions many glowing descriptions of the far.off
Indian hunting grounds he had journeyed
through. ST. Louis was at length reached,
and here, as usual, on return, the trappers
gave themselves up to enjoyment. Harry
first disposed Of his young charge. An old
acquaintance agreed most willingly to raise
him, for which Harry stipulated to pay him
annually certain amount of furs, and the
good Padre of ST. Louis kindly consented to
impart to him lessons of instruction, and, if
his inclination tended that way, he promised
the Kentuckian that he would make him a
pattern Of learning. Harry, being deficient
himself in education, believed that success
in the world depended chiefly upon 1t; and
he, therefore, resolved to do what he con-
sidered a fathers duty towards the young
hali-breed. Having thus bestowed him, he
gave himselfup for a few days to the enjoy
ments of the town. Pleasure soon palled,
with th6se.heh of the mountans-and when
it lost It's charm, they naturally turned their
thoughts towards the Hills, where excitement
never dies. A number of them at length
formed party, with Harry as their leader,
and he visited little Ea-dAt to bid him fare.
we'll, The child appeared to fully corhpre-
bend the separation, and, reaching out his
arms to the kind protector of his infaRcy,
he wept as if his heart would break. The
trapper, kissing him affectlonately, left many
injunctions in regard to care and kindness
towards his child, as he termed him, and bid
ding him long adieu, he departed to join
his companions. 5 @
Time held on its course, and our young
hero grew fine, dark, intelligent STRIPPING,
but Of his father, as he was taught to call
Harmer, he received no tidings, except that
now and then those he resided with obtained
from returning trappers, packages of rich
.furs, which had been forwarded for his sup
port. The Padre kept his promise--he grew
to love the studious and quiet young half
breed. His thirst Cor knowledge pleased
him, and he exerted himself to crafty it; the
consequence YVES, that ere Fa-am had reach
ed his seventeenth year, he had far outstrip-
ped those of corresponding age iHsolid ac-
quirements. In the libraries of the priest
he found histories of the old world, romances
of ancient chivalry, dissertations upon art,
and works Of scietce; from all Of which he
conned lessons with avidity; but the roman
ces of the early crdsades made upon him the
most lasting impression. He pored over
their contents until his Imagination became
fred with desire to emulate those iron
warriors. Strange, too, that surrounded as
he was with influences calculated to enlist
him on the side Of those who hattled for the
cross, all his sympathies were with the Mos.
lem. In his perusal Of the worlds history,
he saw but vast panorama of oppression,
treachery ambition and bIoodshee, and in
the Moslem he discovered, as he deemed, "a
people battling against the combined up
holders of these wfohgs. Thus, while im-
bibing the christian teaching with the good
old priest, he mingled with it strange views
Of his own, and read lessons which, instead
of tempering the hot blood Of his nature,
made it course with more impulsive leap,
The life of our hero was thus flowing on
in an uninterrupted current, when band OF
traPpers arrived from the mountains. They
had been long absent, and among them was
his adopted father, Harry Harmer. On
hearing Of his arrival Ka-am few to meet
him and embraced him withioy For the
first time since reason could comprehend the
tie, he gazed upon him whom he believed to