Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-11-21

through hls teeth, Deatn 10 'no heu
man !"
Still night held its pail ON the earth
still the moon flung its beam to tighten
the vale of her darker sister-stlll the
stars twinkled, danced and winked-still
rippled on the waters of the Rio Grande.
X
The hunters had partaken of their sup
per-concealing the fire, they prepared
their rihes-and drew around the hidden
Goals For several moments silence was
observed, and nought could be heard save
slight ticking, as Ralph unconsciously
sprung his rifle trigger. Presently the
young hunter abruptly spoke
q Pardon me, Ralph, for speaking to you
so rudely few moments since-think
nothing of it, You know | love you too
much to hurt your feelings wilfully. [
was thinking! aye, thinking,
Ralph-and that's the destroyer of my
mind and body-when you interrupted
me. Yes, good Ralph, | was hinking of
former days-thinking of those bygone
times, when was boy-a happy simple
hearted boy-thinking of the time when |
was a youth, slender, sensitive youth
and Men, Ralph, my friend, thought of
her !-2fhcr !! Then of my boyish pas
sion-of her girlish love. | was carried
back on fancy pinons to those dear times.
, Then came the dark period. The heavy
cloud that settled over and obscured my
once bright fortunes, clouded in fancy my
' mind [ felt its hcaviness and strove to
cast it off 1t left me, and once again |
{ was free. [ started to gain home, and
4 if could, peace, in the western wilds.-
; Then | thought of the dread time when
the Indians deadly knife nearly Glove
n asunder the threads of my life-and then
t | thought of the aoarmaeSt friend ever
!, had on earth, of you Ralph, of you"
n "Did you find time to think of me too,
e Norrad? Heaven bless you You did
h not forget an old hunters kindness" The
i young mans large eye glistened.
e "No, and never shall, Ralph" he re-
+ Piled "Then in imagination, plodded
1t through France and Germany; then
le thought of my return home-honoe 2 home i!
d Oh no no not home! How altered l
at found things My poverty was no longer
II common to me- Her father was also strick-
a en- by its chill hand, and was then worthy
= of his daughter. Ha fends! why tempt
tv me to curse him | cannot do it-he was
fe her fatherW
$. "Don't cuss him, Norrad-its onnatu-
r raj"
# "Then he moved to this wild frontier,
to make fortune-a stumbling block to
as honesty Ito rear again his name. For.
ly tune smiled on him, and his Golfers rapidly
We filled. Again he was rich and-aboOe me
og / neUer cared for money-her love was al
lis l coveted-that always enjoyed-she aoa
lis mine! Again that foul demon Mammor
to incited her father to look do,cn on me
MS Superiority was his aim. How soon, alas
th was he prostrated Two years ago, hi
net rancho was attacked--himsef killed-an(
me his daughter-ny beloved was spirite,
A away! Then again did heaven frown o.
,lt. me. 1t is true l was her now her equal
led and no bar forbade me approach h but
ion pchcrc ,cos she? Oh Red man, deeply hav
-er. your tribes repaid the injury! I deter
cen mined to seek her-auy where-eoer
nee 1ohere! In the Businesses of the Rock
Chain, l sought you, Ralph, and readil
led obtained your aid
air. "And you shall always have it, Norrad.
With "Together we sat out on our perilo'
ds expedition. Two years have rolled arour
the since our roaming commenced. Togetht
cas- we have trod every inch of ground fro
,uth the Colorado to the Rio Grande. Som
Dpa- times we have entertained hopes of succe
led at other times we, or I, have been boz
and ed down with Encouragement. Here '
ont are again inspired with little hope, almo
loot at our setting out place. OF all this al
more l was thinking, Ralph, when-h
keep --- heard you not noise ?"
few "Tis the King Fisher on his way up t
mis- river. Go on Norrad, with what you We
saying"
used "Well. | was pondering these things
hun my mind when"-
the "Confound this fire." interrupted Raj
old who had been endeavoring to smother
mel fame for several moments :" twill bla
war It'll cause US to have bullet into III
BIG we"-his speech was cut short by tie sht
nged and rapid reports of several rifles, and
re as whizzing of dozen bullets. The you
wder hunters rifle fell out of his hand. He
lthed slightly wounded The soft rays of
ana luOOu plSICtu CuEO Gn6 euOdhSIcu UIu
than wood, and with their gentle light illumi
ed y the lovely vale SO rudely awakened by
nged. murderous rifle. A dark form stole 81
been. into the light-a tomahawk cleaned in
ey- silver frosting. A sharp ringing click
,ainst still sharper report, and the warrior spr
ut We forward dead man
cross Fixed him, by confummux!" NUT
but ed the old hunter, as he grasped 20
aim is Norwood BY the arm, and attempted to
,ss nv him away. But the task was no slight
from Another savage showed himself cautio
yously in the light.
other "Norrad," spoke Ralph quick, I"
t fire. me your pop.gun. Load Devilish Sal
banks one hand, if possible. Our har is in
!. and tish way-but we've both smelt burnt
ice der afore this. This blunderbuss wi
3 fast least make tarnal fuss!" Another re
sion broke on the quiet. The savage paic
,ckets. his temerity with his life.
nines. "Better than ! thought for, by conf
elder mux! But the bead is coarse. st
de and that chap a quarter of an inch out sic
his right pepper; Devilish Sal would
n used ,oallced IN, or she'd followed Ralph J
y son on no other trail Hello %
nan 70 Norrad here they come like tarnsti
d-his and"-
1v his "Fly, Ralph! fly, my good fellow