The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1857-02-06
PRAIRIE LIFE.
rALE oT REVENGE.


whose highly entertaining and valuable work
"Seenes in the Far West" is enriched with
many a scene which, no doubt, TO the people
of the East seem like tales from the Arabian
Nights. There is so much originality abou,
the manners and habits Of the trapper and the
frontiersman, that one is struck with their
peculiar language or mode of expressing
themselves, as we'll as their singular costume.
They are, in fact, as distinct and marked n
class as sailors, and have rs many odd and
quaint sayings.
1t is generally the commission of crime,
some disappointment In life, OF native love
OF adventure and peril that make these men
desert the comforts of civilized society for the
wIlds and haunts of the red man. We can
imagine the terrible reaction which takes
place when the storm Of passion or wreck of
disappointed hops sweeps over the sensitive
soul, and leaves desolation--a ruin Of the
former man. II is nisfortunes like these
which scorch and dry mp the finest feeling
some moral wrong or injustice committed BY
others towards them, in revengirg which they
have been compelled 10 lenve their homes
and become exiles in the Far West.
A story is told of an extraordinary meeting
and an act Of revenge, said to have taken
place many long years ago, on the fork Of the
Pawnee. A party OF four, who had been
rowing for many years in the West, all stran.
gers to each other, were one day accidentally
thrown together, when n strange and bloody
scene ensued. These men presented strik.
ing contrast in feature. The youngest was
delicately made, with long hair and light blue
eyes. His exposure had given him rich
brown complexion. He was of medium
stature, and made for strength and activity
There was a dark void over his features
which told that with him the light of hope
had gone out. He was travelling on mule,
with his rifle in his gun leather at the bow of
his saddle, when he overlook mar on foot,
with gun on his shoulder and pistols in his
belt, who was over six feet in height, and had
a deep, wide scar on his cheek. As day was
drawing to close, they proposed to camp,
and brought up at the head fork of the
Pawnee. Shortly after they had camped, Il
man was seen reconnotering them, with II
rifle in his hand, and after having satisfied
himself that the sign vas friendly, he came
moodily into the camp, and after looking
sternly ut the two men, was asked by Scar
Cheek to "come to the ground" He was
stout, muscular man, much older than the
other two, with deep, habitual scowl, long,
black, matted hair, and very unprepossessing
features. Some commonplace remarks were
made, but no questions were asked by either
party. ....-
1t was near twilight when the young man
who had gathered some buffalo chips to make
Gre to cook with, suddenly perceived man
approaching them on a mule. He came
steadily and fearlessly on the camp, and cast.
ing look at the three, said "rook We for
Indians" then glancing at the ieer.skin dress
OF the trio, he observed, "Old leaihers some
time out Ell" The man. was about fifty
years old, and his gray hairs contrasted
strangely with his dark, bronzed features,
upon which care and misfortune were strong
Iy stamped. He was only half clad in the
miserable skins he wore, and as he dismount
ed, Scar Cheek asked, "Where from!" "From
the Kaw," (kansas,) he replied, throwing
down bundle of ,otter-skins. After unsad.
ding and stalking out his mule, he brought
himself to the ground, and taking his rifle, he
looked at the priming, and shaking the pow
der in the pan, he added few more grains to
it; then placing piece OF thin, dry skin over
it, to keep from the damp, he shut the PAN
The group watched the old trapper, who did
not seem to notice them, while Scar. Cheek
became interested; and showed a certain un-
easiness. He looked towards his own rife,
and once or twice loosened the pistols in his
belt, rs if they ncommoded him. The Young
man and the stout man with the scow ex-
changed glances, but no word passed. So far
no questions had been asked as TO who the
other was; what little conversation passed
was very laconic, and not smile wreathed
the lip of any one of them.
The little supper was eaten in silence, each
man seeming to be wrapped in his own
thoughts. 1t was agreed that the watch
should be divided equally among the four,
each man standing on guard two hours-the
old trapper taking the first watch, the young
man next, and Scar. Check and he with the
scowl following.
1t was bright moonlight night, and over
that barren, wild waste of prairie, not sound
was heard MS the three lay sleeping on their
blankets The old trapper paced up and
down, ran his eye around the wild waste be
fore him, and then would stop and mutter to
himself. at cannot be" he said half aloud,
"but the time and that scar may have disguis.
ed him. That boy, too--il's strange feel
drawn towards him; then that villain with the
scowl," aud the muscles of the OLD trappers
face worked convnsively, which the moon
beams falling upon disclosed traces Of by.
gone refinement. The trapper noiselessly
approached the sleeping men, and, kneelng
down, gaZed intently upon the features of
sol Of al ..T
he muttered TO himself again, saying: at
shall be-" and then judging by the stars that
his watch was up, he approached the young
man and woke him, pressing his finger upon
his lip TO command silence at the time, and
motoned him to follow. They walked OF
some distance, when the trapper taking the
Young man by the shoulder turned his face to
the moonlight, and after gazing at il wistful.
ly, whispered in his ear, "Are you Perry
Ward !" The young man started wildly, but
the trapper prevented him by saying, ,"Enougb,
enough! !" He then told him he was his uncle,
and that the man with the scar was the mur
derer of his father; and that he with the scow,
had convicted him (the trapper) of forgery BY
his false oath.
The blood deserted the lips of The young
man. and his eyes glared and dlated almost
from their sockets. He squeezed his uncle's
hand, and then, with n meaning glance, as he
looked 10 his rife, moved towards the camp.
"Nc, nor said the old trapper, "not In cold
blood-give them chance"
They cautiously returned to the camp, and
found both the men in n dead sleep. The
uncle and nephew stood over them. Scar
Cheek was breathing hard, when suddenly he
cried out:
~ did not murder Perry Ward"
aLiarl" said the trapper, In voice Of thun.