The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-09-12
wolfskin shirt, leggifigs Of red leather,

myself the stranger resumed. Wha
say you tc rny taking your second paddle
and keeping you company"
, ~ should like it," told him frankly
I've been wanting company"
So have l." added the hunter. "Ant
I've been wanting some better mode Of con
vevance than these worn out legs through
the deep forest"
Come on" / said, and as | spoke, he
leaped into the canoe, and having deposited
his rife in the bow, he took one Of the pad.
dies, and told Inc he was ready when was
So we pushed Off and were soon clear oi
the whirlpool.
For an hour we conversed freely. The
stranger told me his name was Adams, and
that his father lived in Columbus lie was
out now on mere hunting and prospecting
| expedition, with some companions who had
gone On TO Logansport by horse, and having
got separated from them in the night, had
lost his horse into the bargain. lie said he
had a grea; sum Of money about h.s person,
and that was one reason why he dislikcd to
! travel in the Forest.
J Thus he opened his affairs to me, and !
( was iool enough to be equally frank. | adj
mitted that had some money, and told him
my business; and by a most quiet and un-
prcsuming course OF remark, he drew from
me the fact that ! had money enough to
purchase forty fall LET'S.
Finally the cou,ersation Jagged, and |
began TO give my companion a closer scru-
tiny. | sat in the stern Of the canoe, and
he was about amidS' ip, and facing me. lie
was not large man, nor was lie tall. HIS
hair was of light iiaxen hue, and hung in
long curls about MS neck his features were
regular and handsome; and his complexion
very light. But the color of his face wa,
not what one could call fair. It was a cold,
Dl0odlesS color, Ike pale marble. And for
the first time, too, | EOw looked particularly
al his eyes. They were gray in color, and
had the brilIancy Of giaFinG ice. Their light
was intense, bat cold and glittoring like
snakes. When | thought OF his age, set
him down for not mach over thirty.
Suddenly sharp, cold shuddeT ran thro'
my frame, and my heart leaPed with a wild
thrill. As sure as fatc-I knew it-there
could be 10 dnabt-I bad taken into my ca
noe, and into NY confidence. Gustus karl,
the Wabash robber. Tor a few moments |
feared my motto would botray me. !
looked carefully over his person csain, and
| knew | aas lot mistaken. / coaid looS !
back now and s,c how cunninEiy he had led 4
re on to . confession Of rny circumstances +.
how he had made me tel my affairs, and
reveal the state of NY finances. What /
fool had been. But was too late TO think .
Of the past. | hal enough to DO to look +,
cut Gor what was evidently to come.
| at length managed to overcome all my
outward omotious and then began to watch
my companion more sharply aal closely.
j!v pistols were both handy, and / knew
ilcy we're in order. ior had examined them
lo-h il 10 .lreHg5A when thought Of fir .
Ing At some game.
They were in the breast pockets Of H.
coat, which pockets had been made on par
rose for them, anl | coL.d reach them at an .
instant. Another hour passed away, and
by tha, time had become as-urCl that the
robber would make no attempt upon ne Gn-
ii after uightfall. Il, said that !: would be
that we were both together, for
we could run all night, as one could steer
the canoe while the other slept.
Aye" | added with 4 smile that il
good for me, for every hour is valuable.
would not miss meeting my friend for the
world
ON you'll meet him, never fear" said
my companion.
Ah-hc spoke that with too much mean
ing. l understood it well | Knew what
that sly tone, a7d that strange cleaning OF
the eve meant lie meant that he would
put the on the road II meet cor Kemp IN
another world. ] wondered only now that
l had not detected the Iobber when / first
saw him, for the expression OF his face was
so heartless, so Icy-and that his eyes had
such a wicked look-that the most unprac-
iiccd physioEnomist could not have failed to
detect the villain at once.
Daring the rest Of the afternoon We con-
ycrsed some, bEt nC+ so freely as before.
could see that the villains eyes were not so
frankly bent upon me as he spoke, and then
he seemed inclined 10 avoid my direct ganc-
es. These movements were not studied, nor
even intentional but they were instructive,
as though the very nature led h.Tn thu. At
length night came on. We ate orr sEpper
and then smoked our pipes, and finally my
proposed that should sleep be-
fore he did. At first thought of objecting
but a few moments reflection told ms that
had better behave as though he was an hon
est man; so | agreed to his proposition. He
took seat at the stern, and moved fur
ther forward, and having removed the seat
upon which my companion had been sitting,
| spread my cloak in the bottom of the ca
noe and then having placed my valisc for
pillow lay down. As soon as possible,
drew cut one of pistols, and beneath the
cover Of cough | cooked it. Then NOV
ed my body so that my right arm would be
al liberty and grasping weapon hrmly, with
NV finger upon the guard, drew up my
mantle, sloUched my lat, and then settled
down for MY watch.
Fort tlnateIy for me lie moon was up, and
hough the forest trees thrcw a shadow up /
On me, yet the beams fell idl. Upon Karl,
md | could see his every movement We
we're well into the Wabash, having entered
I about three o'clock.
"You will call me at midnight" said
irowsly.
Yes" he reterned.
"Good night"
GOOD highland pleasant dreams. I'll
lave YOU further on your way than you
hink ere you wake up again"
perhaps So" thought | to myself, as
owered my head aud pretended to lower
myself to sleep.
For half an hour my companion steered
he canoe very well, and seemed to take but
title notice of me: and at the end of that
i,ne could see that his became more unea-
". commenced to snore with long re-
.ular drawn breath, and on the instant the q
,illain started as starts the hunter when he !
.ears the tread Of game in the woods. ,
But bark, Aha-there was before one
lingering fear in my mind that might shoot I
he wrong man :; but it was now gone. As c
he fellow stopped the paddle, distinctly
leard him mutter-
'Oho, my dear sheep-you little Dream Z
d that Gus Karl was your companion. But |
lel do you good turn. If your friend is
lead, you shall follow him, and | take your
raps to pay your passage to Heaven!"
| think these were the very words. At {
ny rate, they were their drift. As he thus I
poke, he noiselessly drew in the paddle,
nd then rose to his feet | saw him reach |
Up over his left shoulder, and when he bro,t /
'ack his hand, he had large bowie knife Il
n it could see she blade g'eam IN the
,ale moonlight, aad saw Kari run hls I'm,
,er along the edge and then feel the polnt!