St. Charles Republican intelligencer. (St. Charles [Charles City], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1857-05-21
Mlistellanp.
T II +
HUNTERS REWARD

In the spring of 1890, two young
men, George Dill and Peter Brown,
both carpenters, launched small boat
on the Monongahela, and having sup
piled themselves with an ample stock
of provisions and ammunition, drop
ped down the river op1n0 Exploring
and hunting expedition proceed
ed unmolested down tM 10 several
hundred miles below Wheeling, where
they landed on the Kentucky side.
and erected cabin of poles, which
they covered with small branches and
moss. 1t was situated short distance
from the rivers bank, near a good
spring, among tall and heavy timber
After storing their effects, consisting of
cooking utensils, few mechanical
implements, several blankets, and some
wearing apparel, into the cabin, they
shouldcred their rifles, and, accompa-
MED by two trusty dogs, bctook them
selves to the woods.
Being aware that this part of the
country was sometimes visited by hos
tile bands of Indians, either to kill
game or attack boats descending the
river, the young hunters kept sharp
lookout, lest they should be surprised
by a superior force. Game was abun-
dant, and they had the good fortune
to kill several deer during their first
excursion After three or four days
absence they returned, laden with
skins and meat 10 their hut, and found
the premises undisturbed. BY ascend
ing small knoll in the vicinity of the
moss-covered cabin, they had clear
view of the river, and could see any
boats that might be passing, whilst
the high grass and underbrush afford
ed them hiding place, where they
could conceal themselves completely
from observation.
A month had passed, and neither
friend nor foe had appeared, and the
hunters continued their excursions and
penetrated farther into the interior,
where they found beautiful country,
with rich soil and fine streams. On
one occasion, they had been absent
ten days, and on returning to their
cabin again found everything in the
condition in which they had left it
They now began to congratulate them
selves upon their peaceful and undis-
turbed occupancy of the country
Their dogs, however, appeared much
excited, and kept moving about for
some time, as if they were scenting
something unusual, but at length en-
tered the cabin and composed them
selves. Dill supposed that some wild
animal had recently passed along, but
Brown was strongly impressed with
the belief that their habitation was
discovered. Before starting Oh theiI
next trip. Brown SO arranged some oI
the articles in the cabin. without men
tioning it to Dill, that the slightest
touch would change their position suf
ficiently to enable him to detect it.
The weather had now become warm
and after being out several days
Brown proposed they would return t
the cabin; Dill demonstrated for som
time, but eventually asscnted, and the,
agreed to start on their return-trip p cal
ly the next morning. SO as to avoi
the heat Of the day, having some eigh
or ten miles to travel.
About quarter of mile inlan
from their cabin, in small open spac,
our adventures had planted few hill
of corn and squashes, which 500
came up, but received no further a
tention. In returning that morning
: they digressed a little from the diret
: course for the purpose of looking 9
]. their "truck-patch." Immediately a
0 ter they arrived there, their dogs e.
hibited urmistakable signs Of alarr