The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1857-10-17
A River Adventure.


diana had gone out partly for my healtl
and partly to accommodate one who had e'
er been noble friend to me. and who ha
, purchased great deal of government lane
> At Davenport he was taken sick, and ate
watching with him week, i'll hopes that IL
would soon recover, found that he had
settled fever, and as the physician said h
would not probably be able to move OH un
der month, determined to push on alone
SO | obtained good nurse. and having Sccl
that my friend had everything necessary t
his comfort which money could procure,
left him.
As good fortune would have it, found
party of six men bound on the very route
was going, and l waited one day for thu
sake of their company. At length we Sc
out, with three pack horses to carry ou
luggage, and soon found | had lost moth
ing by waiting. for my companions wcr,
agreeable and entertaining. They wcr,
going on to st. Joseph's where they ha(
mills upon the river, intending to get ou
lumber during the remainder of the sea
son.
On the third day from Loganport W,
reached Waltons settlement on the Little
River. having left the Wabash on the morn.
ing Of that day. 1t was well on into the
evening when we reached the little loc-buil,
inn of the settlement, and we were clad
enough Of the shelte;-for ere we had fairl,
got under cover, the rain commenced to fall
IN great drops, and thickly too. And more
still had to be thankful for. My horse be
gan to show lamencSs in one of his hind
legs, and when leapcd from the saddle
found that his foot panied him much, as
could tel by the manner in which he lifted it
from the ground. | ordered the oSter to
battle it with cold water. ana then went into
the house. where we found a good substantial
supper. and comfortable quarters for that Sec
ton, and that time.
About ten o'clock. just after had retired
and just as l was falling into drow Sc. | was
startled by the shouts ofmcn and the barking
of dogs directly under my window. As the
noise continued | arose and threw on nv
clothes. and went down.
What is it p asked of the landlord. who
stood in the entry way.
'-ih-don't You know. strangcr:9' said the
host. returning. you've heard of Gu>tu>
Karl. perhaps"
Who in the West at that .;,,,c had not
heard Of him the most reckless. daring and
murdcrous robbcr that ever cursed coun-
try. told the host had heard of him of
ten.
We'll, he resumed, thc villain was here
only this afternoon. and murdered and robbed
a man Just up the river. We've been out af-
ter him. but he's gin us the slip. We track
ed him as far as the upper creek. and there
he came out on the bank. fred at us. and kill
one of our horses, and then dove into the
woods. We set the dogs Oil. but they lost
him
And so you've come back bootless:o' |
said.
Yes. the landlord growled But he add
ed. with knowing shake Of his head. 'hc
can't run clear much longer. The country is
in arms, and he'll either leave these huntins,
or be dropped
What sort of man is he o. | asked.
The very last man in the world YOU would
take for Gus Karl. He is small-not bit
over five feet six; with light curly hair. a
smooth white face, and not very stout. But.
love We. he's quick as lightning. and his eyes
got fire in it. He dresses in all sorts of
shapes. but generally like common hunter.
Ohio he's the very devil. do believe
After the tub full of whiskey and water
which the host had provided was all drank
the crowd began to dispcrse, and shortly af-
terwards | went up again to bed, and this
time slept on uninterrupted till morning.
had Just eaten my breakfast, and had
gone out to the front door, when horscman
came dashing up to the place, himself and an
imal all covered with mud 1t had been rain
ing all night. The first thing the new conner
did was to inquire for me. l answered at
once to the name. and he then informed me
that Lyman Kemp could not live, and
that he wished to see me as soon as possi-
ble.'
The doctor says he must die said the mes
senger, and the poor fellow now only asks
for life long enough to see YOU
Poor LYMAN murmured to myself: so
young-so hopeful-with so many friends
and relatives in his far-otf homeland taken
down to die in a strange land | told the
man would set out on my return as soon as
possible. He ate some breakfast. and then
resumed his journey. being bound as far up
as the Pottawatomie border.
settled my bill. and then sent for my
horse. but bitter disappointment awaited me.
found the animals foot swollen very badly.
and it panied him so that he could hardly
step on it. Had the road been good should
have been tempted to try him, but l knew
in some places the mud would be deep. l
went to the host and asked him if he could
end or sell me horse. He could do nei-
her. His only spare horse had been shot
the night before by the Wabash robber.